The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1959-04-09
Opening Dates For
Big Game Season
Set BY Commission

Set By Commission
The Montana Fish and Gam.
Commission took final action on
the opening dates and hunting
areas for big game during its
meeting earlier this week The
types and length Of seasons will
be set in May or June. In this
way. opening dates will be known
to the public in sufficient time
to make long.range vacation
plans. The necessary information
such as range condition, winter
survival and returns from the
hunter missionaries will also
be available to use in making
final decisions.
In regard to deer and elk.
several areas lying in the more
remote high mountain regions
will open at an early date in
order to allow as much time
as possible for hunting these
areas in the early fall before
roads and trails are blocked by
snow. The earliest season in Mon.
tana this coming year will he
September 6 when hunting will
be open for both deer and elk.
as we'll as moose. in the AbSa.
roka Wild Area lying JUS, north
of Yellowstone Park. In order
to reach this region hunters
must travel over high passes
which ordinarily snow in by mid.
fall.
The Bob Marshall Wilderness
Area in the Upper South and
Middle Forks of the Flathead vii!
again open to elk and deer on
September Is as il has for many
years. The goat and grizzly bear
season will also open at this
same time in the area.
A strip of high mountains along
the Idaho-Nlontana divide extend.
ing from Mineral county to the
Bitterroot area will open on Sep
TENDER 20. This same opening
date will be used for the head.
waters of the West Galla,in and
West Yellowstone areas. In this
latter area. moose and bighorn
permits will open to conform
with the opening of the elk sea.
son. This opening date will allow
period of pleasant hunting prior
to fall storms.
There will also be an early
opening date for deer on Oc,o.
Der II in the Missouri breaks in
northern Garfield and southern
Phillips and Valley counties. The
deer season will open on this
date as well as in the southeast
crn portion of Bighorn county
and the southwestern portion Of
Powder River county. These are
rather remote areas in need of
somewhat more hunting pressure.
The majority of the remainder
Of the state will open on October
Ii. the regular opening date for
elk and deer. A few areas. par.
ticularly rather large tract in
south central Montana. will open
later on November l.
In regard to antelope, one unit
will open In southern Phillips
county on September 6 as an aid
In pushing antelope from alfalfa
seed crop areas. Those areas in
the southwestern part of the state
will open September Is. the Hi.
Line on September p and the
remainder OF the state. princi.
pally in central and eastern Mon.
tana. on October II.
Moose openings will conform,
for the most part. with the open.
ing Of other big game seasons in
the areas. The earliest opening
will be September 8 In the Ab.
saroka Wild Area north of Vel.
lowstone Park. The northwestern
corner of the state and Mcagher
county will open September Is.
The upper Gallatin and IVES,
Yellowstone areas and also in the
Bitterroot Range will open on
September 20. The remaining
moose hunting areas. particularly
In southwestern Montana. will
open at the regular big game
opening date. October 10.
The earliest opening date for
mountain goat will be Sep.cm.
Der Is In the Pioneer and Crazy
Mountain ranges. September Is
will be the opening date for this
big game species In the Bob Mar.
shall Wilderness area Of the Flat.
hcad-Sun River country and also
In the Cabinet range. The re.
naming goat areas will open DC.
tobcr IS.
The earliest opening date for
mountain sheep will be Scptcm.
Der IS In the Kootcnai area In
northwestern Montana. The Gal.
latin.Bcartooth unlimited area