The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1960-05-12
Fish And Game Commission
Adopts Big Game Seasons


adopted by fish and game com
mission. Quotas for these four
special-licensed big game species
were only tentatively set. how
ever.
Maps and regulations will be
printed as soon as possible so
that persons desiring these Ii
censes will have the necessary
information to make area choic-
es. Present regulations will be
entirely adequate for hunters TO
plan their fall trips. II is antici-
pated that maps will be available
at licensed dealers and other
sources about midJune. All ap-
plications for special licenses
must be submitted 10 the Helena
office of the fish and game and
postmarked not later than mid
night. July 81. This does not APP
ply, however, TO unlimited goat
and sheep areas. Hunters do not
draw for licenses in unlimited
areas but are still required 10
have special licenses.
Antelope
Fifty-six areas will be open TO
antelope and approximately 20
$50 of these animals will be al
lowed. The heavy antelope pro-
ducing districts in southeastern
Montana will offer the most Ii
censes while smaller numbers
win be issued in portions OF
western Montana.
Earliest opening date for this
species will be in South Rosebud
(Area 72) from September 4 thru
Is. Twelve areas will open Sept.
Is and close Oct. 10. The remain
ing areas will open Oct. 2 and
9, with closing dates scheduled
for Oct. 80. A late antelope area
North Valley, No. Ga will open
Oct. 80 and run through Nov. q
Hunters are reminded that sec
ond and third choices for popular
areas. west of central Montana,
have practically no chance of
drawing a permit These areas
are generally filled on the first
choice drawing. The department
advises hunters TO make second
and third choices in the more
spsrsely populated eastern Mon
tana areas so as to stand a bet
ter chance TO get a permit for
their antelope this fall.
Moose
Moose hunters have a chance
at some sos permits TO be issued
for the coming season. Hunters
for the largest Of big game spe-
cies have stood only about a
seven to one chance of getting
a permit in the last few years.
Opening dates range from Sept.
6 to Oct. is while closing dates
range from Nov. 20 or Dec. 81.
Montana is one Of only four
states permitting a significant
amount of moose hunting and
has a potential for leading all
states except Alaska. Over a u
year period harvests have in
creased from about so animals in
1913 to over 100 animals in 1858
and 1859 Through better man
agement of this species, ii is
expected that harvests will be
increased in coming years.
Mountain Goats
Five goat areas will be open
TO hunting on an unlimited basis.
A total of 40 licenses will be
drawn in the IL open areas where
quotas have been set. The largest
quota is for the Crazy Mountains
near Livingston where 100 goats
may be taken. Early seasons will
open Sept Is. Is and 25 with
other seasons opening Oct. IS.
General closing date is Nov. 20.
Mountain Sheep
A large area Of southwestern
Montana, including portions Of
Park. Gallatin, Madison. Sweet
grass. Saltwater and Carbon
will be open again this
year to unlimited licenses for
bighorn rams. Hunters are re-
minded that hunting this area
will present a real challenge and
success has been low. This area
will open Sept. Is and close
Oct. 30. Tentative quotas have
been set for three area - 80 in
the Observation-Disclosures area, 40
in the Sun River area and four
in the Rock Greek area. Only
rams having horns with q three
quarter curl will be legal
Montana is about equal TO two
other states in providing big horn
sheep to hunters Harvests are
and have averaged as
sheep annually since 1858. While
the average for the previous five
years was only four per year.
The increased harvests achiev-
ed by the special seasons of re-
cent years are the result OF pro-
gressfve management and restor-
alton of antelope, moose. noun
tain goats and sheep.