Fish and Wildlife Commission approves changes to elk shoulder seasons

Press release

The Fish and Wildlife Commission at its meeting Aug. 20 approved changes to elk shoulder seasons in several hunting districts.

All changes apply to this coming hunting season. However, no early shoulder seasons were added.

Elk shoulder season changes made by the commission are:

• a shoulder season in hunting district 314 that applies to LPT 314-00 only and is not valid on public lands;

• extending shoulder season to Feb. 15, 2022 for HDs 262, 290, 298, 314, 390, 391, 393, 411 east of Montana Highway 238 only, 417, 502, 510, 511, 520, 530, 540, 560, 575, 580 and 590; 

• including public lands in expanded shoulder seasons in HD 411 east of Highway 238 and HDs 417, 530, 540, 580 and 590. These public lands include the Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area.

Elk shoulder seasons provide the ability to harvest more antlerless elk. Several hunting districts remain above population objective even with late shoulder seasons. The extension of the late season is intended to increase antlerless harvest or alter elk distributions. The extension applies to all elk licenses and permits valid for shoulder seasons in these hunting districts except in HD 314.