Elk NetworkSwan River National Wildlife Refuge Open to Bowhunters

General | September 12, 2018

Archery hunters have new hunting opportunities in Montana’s Swan Valley. The 1,961-acre Swan River National Wildlife Refuge, located off Montana Highway 83 at the south end of Swan Lake, has a new archery-only weapons restriction area.

At the refuge, bowhunters can only harvest deer and elk and must follow the hunting regulations outlined for Hunting District 130. Portions of the refuge remain open to waterfowl hunting. Hunting is prohibited within 100 yards of primary refuge roads, trails, parking areas or observation platforms.

Archery season began Sept. 1, 2018; however, bowhunters can also pursue deer and elk at the Swan River National Wildlife Refuge through the general hunting season, which runs Oct. 20-Nov. 25 this year.

“This archery-only area provides a great new opportunity for bowhunters in Region 1. This land was previously closed to all big-game hunting. This change not only increases hunting opportunity, it also provides a unique archery-only option that was not available in northwest Montana until now,” said Neil Anderson, FWP Region 1 Wildlife Manager.

Find more information here.

(Photo source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)