In response to the first confirmed positive tests of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Montana, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is making plans for a mule deer hunt in the south-central part of the state.
“The success of this effort is obviously going to hang on hunters,” Greg Lemon, FWP information officer, told montanauntamed.com. “We’ve lined out the plan to provide us with a variety of options. Before we got to some type of agency removal or sampling of the deer we would be doing everything we can to use hunters by using partners … to try and help us out.”
FWP requested one thousand special mule deer B licenses for the hunt with a goal of obtaining samples from 300 different deer. The Fish and Wildlife Commission will consider that request at its Dec. 7 meeting in Helena. If accepted, licenses will go on sale Dec. 11 for two different hunting periods. The first would be Dec. 15 through Jan. 14 and the second Jan. 15 to Feb. 15.
Update: Some confusion has ensued when using the term “B” tag. FWP will be selling 100 either-sex “B” tags in the proposed hunt.
- FWP will sell 500 licenses for each of the two season segments. Of those, 100 will be either-sex tags while 400 will be for antlerless animals only. Licenses will cost $10 for residents and $20 for non-residents.”
The hunt will end when FWP reaches its sampling objective.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supports the hunt and urges its members as well as other sportsmen and women to assist the cause in acquiring the number of samples needed for testing.
Find more details here.
(Photo source: Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks)