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November 6, 2024

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Hunters play a key role in successfully meeting the objectives of the shoulder seasons.

Here, hunters can find all they need to know about taking advantage of shoulder season opportunities in hunting districts where they are approved.

Hunters should not expect shoulder season hunts to be easy. Like always, elk hunting in Montana is a challenging endeavor.

As mentioned, shoulder seasons are opportunities to hunt antlerless elk primarily on private land. Hunter success will depend on landowner cooperation and FWP has worked hard to engage landowners and keep them apprised of the important role they play.

Likewise, hunters have a responsibility to be respectful of the land they hunt on and to be courteous with and respectful of landowners.

As always, hunters need permission to hunt on private land. A shoulder season in no way grants anyone permission to hunt on private land.

Block Management and Elk Shoulder Season Hunting Opportunities

Some cooperators who enroll land in the Block Management Program have chosen to allow public elk hunting ONLY during the archery only and general firearms hunting seasons.

However, other Block Management cooperators have chosen to allow public elk hunting during all legal seasons for their respective hunting districts including the shoulder seasons.

Hunters will need to look at the specific Block Management Area maps and the chart in the Block Management Hunting Access Guide to determine when public elk hunting will be allowed on a specific BMA.

Hunters interested in hunting elk on Block Management Areas during elk shoulder season dates prior to the general firearms hunting season are advised to check the particular Block Management Area on which they plan to hunt on a daily basis to determine if a Block Management Area fire closure is in effect.

The Block Management Hunting Access Guide and maps for lands enrolled in the Block Management Program will be available beginning mid-August, either online or upon request, in accordance with regional directions in the Hunting Access Guide or on the website, from FWP regional and area offices.

Hunters are reminded that for Block Management Areas that require reservations, no reservations may be made prior to August 22.

Block Management Program contracts are typically negotiated for a time period of Sept. 1 – Jan. 1. However, multiple cooperators have decided to include their lands in the early and/or late elk shoulder seasons.

Hunters will need to look at the specific Block Management Area maps and the chart in the Block Management Hunting Access Guide to determine when public elk hunting will be allowed on a specific Block Management Area.

Elk Hunt Information

For answers to your localized questions about shoulder seasons, contact FWP in the respective regions:

Region 1 (Northwest Montana)

Headquarters Office 490 North Meridian Road Kalispell, MT 59901 Phone: (406) 752-5501 Fax: (406) 257-0349 Email: fwprg12@mt.gov