Special hunt licenses on sale Monday
In response to the detection of chronic wasting disease in the Libby area, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is selling 600 antlerless white-tailed deer B licenses for the upcoming archery and general hunting seasons.
The Special CWD B licenses will go on sale Monday, Aug. 19 starting at 8 a.m. at select providers in Northwest Montana. Starting at 10 a.m., hunters will then be able to purchase licenses online at fwp.mt.gov.
Hunters can purchase up to two Special CWD B licenses. Anyone who purchases a Special CWD Hunt license will receive a letter with additional information, or hunters can visit fwp.mt.gov/cwd for more info.
The Special CWD B licenses can only be used in the Libby CWD Management Zone (see attached map), which includes portions of Hunting Districts 100, 103, and 104. The hunt will occur at the same time as the archery and general hunting season and follow the same regulations for dates, weapon restrictions, and access.
All deer, elk and moose harvested within the Libby CWD Management Zone, including any harvested with a Libby Special CWD Hunt B license and any harvested with any other type of license, must be checked and sampled within three days of harvest. For more info about sampling, visit fwp.mt.gov/cwd. Animals will be tagged with a unique identification number. Hunters can use that identification number to look up test results on the FWP website (fwp.mt.gov/cwd). Test results are usually available within three weeks. Hunters who harvest an animal that tests positive for CWD may receive a replacement 2019 license.
To reduce the spread of CWD, whole carcasses, whole heads or spinal columns cannot be taken out of the Libby CWD Management Zone unless the animal has tested negative for CWD. Hunters are strongly encouraged to dispose of hides, bones and trimmings at approved landfills such as the such as the Lincoln County Landfill. If the carcass is processed within the CWD Management Zone, any brain and spinal parts must be discarded in the Lincoln County Landfill.
CWD is a progressive, fatal disease affecting the nervous system of mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. There is no known transmission of CWD to humans or other animals, including pets or livestock. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that hunters harvesting a deer, elk, or moose from an area where CWD is known to be present have their animal tested for CWD prior to consuming the meat, and to not consume the meat if the animal tests positive.
Select Providers Where Hunters Can Purchase CWD B Licenses Starting at 8 a.m.
Libby
Koocanusa Resort and Marina
Libby Sports Center
Mac’s Market
Thompson Falls
S and S Sports Inc.
Big Bull Sports LLC
Troy
Booze N Bait
Yaak Mercantile and Tavern
Steins Troy Market
Trout Creek
Lakeside Motel and Resort
Eureka
The Ranch Hand Inc.
Northwest Sports Center
Kalispell
FWP Region 1 Headquarters
Noxon
Aitken’s Quik Stop
CWD Public Information Meetings in Northwest Montana
Friday, Aug. 16 – Libby, Ponderosa Room, City Hall, 952 East Spruce St., Noon
Monday, Aug. 19 – Eureka, Glacier Bank, 222 Dewey Ave, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 21 – Polson, Kwataqnuk Resort, 49708 US 93, 6 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 22 – Trout Creek, Lakeside Resort, 2955 Montana Hwy. 200, 6 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 26 – Kalispell, FWP Region 1 Office, 490 N. Meridian, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 28 – Libby, Ponderosa Room, City Hall, 952 East Spruce St., 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Kalispell, FWP Region 1 Office (in conjunction with Flathead Wildlife, Inc., 7 p.m.)