License year opens, big game regs in Region 7 see some changes

The 2022 FWP license year opened March 1, which means sportsmen and sportswomen can buy new hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits and nonresident combination licenses is April 1.

Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B, elk B, antelope B, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey and upper Missouri paddlefish – can be made beginning March 1.

Deadlines to apply for permits and special licenses are:

• April 1 - Elk and deer permits (and nonresident combos)

• May 1 - Moose, sheep, goat, and bison licenses

• June 1 - Antelope, antelope B, elk B, deer B licenses.

The biennial season-setting process and simplification efforts resulted in some statewide and regional changes to some statewide and regional big game regulations.

ELK

New for the upcoming season, hunters who draw an either-sex (or brow-tined bull) elk permit may not hunt antlered elk in any other hunting district for the period identified on the permit. This is effective statewide.

For southeastern Montana’s Hunting District 700, the 700-21 either-sex elk permit is now first and second choice only.

For HD701, the archery-only, either-sex elk permit is no longer part of the 900-20 bundle. The archery-only, either-sex permit is now 595-21, and it is first choice only.

For HD702, 704 and 705, the archery-only, either-sex elk permit is no longer part of the 900-20 bundle. It is now 799-21, first choice only with a quota of 1,000. The 799-20 either-sex, archery-only elk permit is also now first choice only.

HD702, 704 and 705 will offer an antlerless elk shoulder season from November 28, 2022 through February 15, 2023. The season will be valid on private land only. Valid tags include unused 700-00, 799-00 and 007-00 Elk B licenses and/or a General Elk license.

DEER

FWP will no longer offer whitetail B antlerless tags as part of the over-the-counter single-region tags. Whitetail B tags will now be similar to how Region 7 mule deer B tags have been handled the past several years.

All whitetail B tags (007-00) will be a drawing for both residents and nonresidents with applications due by June 1.

There will be no second whitetail B tag (007-01) for residents; these have been combined into 007-00.

Whitetail B tags will not be offered over the counter unless there should happen to be surplus available.

ANTELOPE

There were no changes for antelope regulations. As usual, final quotas will be determined after population surveys are conducted in early July and approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.

MyFWP app available this week; E-Tags now an option

This week, Fish, Wildlife & Parks launched the new MyFWP mobile app that will store and display licenses, permits, and digital carcass tags, known as E-Tags, which can be used in the field without cellular service. To use the app, hunters and anglers will need a MyFWP account, which is a digital profile that stores licenses, permits and related information. After downloading E-Tags to a phone, hunters should not hit the validate button on the app until they have actually harvested an animal.

To create a new account, visit fwp.mt.gov. Users need to make sure to link their ALS number to the MyFWP account to ensure their hunting and fishing licenses are attached to their account.

Digital carcass or E-Tags are optional, but once hunters choose an E-Tag they will not be able to opt for a paper tag. Hunters will also still have the option to print paper copies of licenses they purchase online or at FWP offices.

How to buy licenses, apply for permits beginning March 1

Hunters and anglers can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website by simply clicking on “Buy and Apply.” Most FWP offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For questions about tags and the new app, the FWP licensing call center will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. from March 1 through April 1; after April 1, the hours will return to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The call center can be reached at 406-444-2950.

To apply for a special license or permit, hunters and anglers will need to have a valid email address.