Archery, upland bird hunting seasons begin this weekend

Bowhunters and upland bird hunters are done waiting as the first day of those seasons begins this weekend.

The first day of big game archery seasons is Saturday for elk, deer, black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain lion and wolves.

The general seasons for black bear, sheep, moose, mountain goat and wolf begin Sept. 15.

Hunters should check to make sure they have the appropriate licenses and tags for the species they are seeking.

For bird hunters, Friday is the opener for mountain grouse, partridge, sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse as well as wild turkeys.

Hunting is closed for sharp-tailed grouse west of the Continental Divide in Montana while game officials work to try and restore the birds in the western part of the state.

The pheasant opener is Oct. 7.

For more specifics, refer to the regulations book or visit Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website fwp.mt.gov.

Stage 1 and 2 fire restrictions have been lifted on Kootenai National Forest lands in Lincoln, Flathead and Sanders counties. Stimson Lumber Company officials said their land is again open to public use.

Stoltze Land and Lumber Company property in Flathead, Lincoln and Lake counties are open to public use, but not to motorized access. Other restrictions include the prohibition of camping, fires of any kind, use of internal combustion engines, smoking and fireworks.

Hunters who harvest a deer, elk or moose and want to submit a sample for testing can go to https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/chronic-wasting-disease for more information.

Hunters are asked to report sick-looking deer, elk or moose. If you shoot an animal that looks diseased or sick, report it immediately to your local FWP office for further instructions and limit handling it. FWP staff will need to diagnosis and verify diseased or sick harvested animals to determine if an animal is fit for consumption or eligible for a replacement tag.

Officials are also asking hunters to respect private land, ask permission and know where they are hunting.

FWP also offers a free online program called The Montana Hunter-Landowner Stewardship Project. This project is an information program for anyone interested in promoting responsible hunter behavior and good hunter-landowner relations in Montana.

The program is delivered through an interactive website utilizing questions, videos, and feedback as well as opportunities for you to test your knowledge on a variety of practical topics related to hunter-landowner relations and responsible hunter behavior.

Go to fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter/hunterLandowner to learn more and complete the program.

Hunters should also be prepared to deal with black and grizzly bears in many areas of Montana.

Grizzly distribution is denser and more widespread than in previous years. Officials offer these tips for hunters:

Carry and know how to use bear spray. Keep it within easy reach and be prepared to use it immediately.

Stay alert, especially when hearing or visibility is limited. Watch for environmental indicators of recent bear activity. If there is abundant fresh sign of grizzly bears in the area, consider hunting elsewhere. Let other hunters know when bears and/or fresh sign are observed.

Travel and hunt in groups whenever possible. This can help you make casual noise to alert bears to your presence, and it may also increase your chances survival in the event of a bear attack.

Follow all food storage regulations. Contact the applicable land management agency (i.e. U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc.) to learn what food storage rules apply where you’re hunting.

Avoid carcass sites and concentrations of ravens and other scavengers.

Carry the equipment you need to process a carcass and get it out of the field as quickly as possible.

If you harvest an animal, remove it from the field as quickly as possible.

For more tips on staying safe in bear country, visit FWP’s Bear Aware web page.