Officials warn hunters against trespassing while in CWD zone

With the sale of 600 special tags for the Libby Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Wildlife Zone, Montana State Game Warden Tamie Laverdure-Fitchett is asking hunters to respect private property.

General hunting season begins Oct. 26, and for the first time, officials have set up a special hunt in the CWD zone to help gauge the disease’s prevalence. Beginning in August, hunters were allowed to buy two extra tags known as Special CWD B licenses for antlerless white tailed deer.

“During archery season, they did a great job of obeying private landowner laws and we want to encourage the same [during general big game season],” Laverdure-Fitchett said.

But landowners in the zone have expressed concern about trespassing during the upcoming season, she said. Hunters are required to ask a landowner’s permission before entering to hunt. That includes chasing after an animal, she said.

Homeowners who spot trespassing hunters are encouraged to take down identifying information, including license numbers, and report it to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Game Warden Sgt. Jon Obst said that given the length of the season, hunters should not feel the need to encroach on private property to bag game.

“You got five weeks, you don’t need to push it,” he said. “People just get buck fever. It’s just not worth it.”

During the roughly five weeks hunters have access to area, roughly 10 miles in radius, they are required to test any animals harvested at the Libby Special CWD Hunt Sampling Station. The facility is located at the Montana Department of Transportation shop on U.S. Highway 2.

They also must document where the animal was killed. Test results will be available between 10 and 14 days, and will be posted at fwp.mt.gov/cwd.

Officials hope to use the data to track the spread of CWD throughout the region.

“We couldn’t deal with it without hunters,” Laverdure-Fitchett said, who pointed out that game wardens are no longer collecting road kill deer to test.

For information about meat processing and taxidermy, officials recommend checking with area providers regarding their requirements.

For any and all hunting violations, Laverdure-Fitchett can be reached at 406-291-1954.

“Have fun and do it safe,” she said. “Enjoy it.”