The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved a hunt created to gauge the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in southcentral Montana. It will begin on December 15 and go through February 15. Licenses will go on sale Monday, December 11.
“For the hunt to be successful in obtaining enough samples to accurately determine disease prevalence, participation of both hunters and landowners is critical,” said Barb Beck, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) Region 5 supervisor and CWD incident command team lead.
The hunt area will span more than 1,200 square miles, south of Laurel. It will include portions of hunting district 575, 502, 510 and 520.
The Bridger Special CWD Hunt will target both white-tailed and mule deer. FWP will sell 600 licenses for each species. The breakdown is as follows:
- White-tailed deer
- 100 either sex licenses
- 500 antlerless licenses
- Mule deer
- 100 either sex licenses
- 500 antlerless licenses
FWP will operate a check station each day from 10 a.m. to one hour after sunset in Joliet. All successful hunters are required to submit their animal for CWD sampling. This can be done at the check station or at the FWP Region 5 headquarters in Billings during normal business hours. Hunters will have 72 hours from harvest to submit the animal for sampling.
Find more info here.
FWP officials are also considering a CWD hunt in northern Montana after a mule deer shot north of Chester turned up CWD positive.
(Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks)