Montana Hunters' Most Common Violations

Every hunting season some individuals unwittingly or knowingly violate the state’s game laws.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials urge hunters to review Montana's hunting rules and regulations to ensure they act within the law and that they recognize when others violate the hunting regulations and related laws.
Here are some of the most common game violations:

•    Failure to obtain permission from landowners before hunting on private property.
•    Wasting part of a game animal suitable for food.
•    Failure to properly validate a license/tag or to securely fasten the tag in a visible manner to a game animal immediately after it is taken and before it is moved or transported from the kill site.
•    Taking game from the wrong hunting district.
•    Using someone else's tag on a game animal you killed, or tagging a game animal that someone else killed.
•    Shooting game animals on or from any public highway or public right-of-way.
•    Taking game without a license or the proper permit.
•    Failure to validate a big game tag.
•    Not leaving evidence of the sex or species of the game animal attached.

FWP encourages hunters to protect the future of their sport by hunting responsibly and reporting hunting violations to the toll-free 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668) number or report a violation online at fwp.mt.gov, then click "Enforcement".

Catching Up...

On the way home from chasing sage chickens the other day we spied these two sunning themselves it seemed taking advantage of yet another in a week-long string of Indian Summer afternoons. At first glance we thought "two young cows" but upon closer inspection (click to enlarge) turns out a couple young bulls just hanging out.

I bought Greg's old Hyde drift boat recently and now, of course, my equally well-used though still very much rowable drift boat "the infamous wood and fiberglass Greeny" is up for sale. The price is $2800, ready to fish it includes an Adams Boat Trailer, 3 Carlisle Oars, 3 life jackets and a 30# anchor. Add a little TLC, a touch or two of epoxy, glass and paint and the old gal should be good to go for years of more or less casual use.

Rifle season starts tomorrow, though I probably won't join in the fun and games until later when things quiet down a bit. Yesterday the town and the local highways were jamb-packed with rigs of every sort. Tary much longer and there won't be flat spot left to set up camp. Every season it seems fewer and fewer rigs show up not laden down with an assemblage ATVs and trust me this one is no exception. As my friend Andrew puts it...Like NO ONE WALKS...Amen.

Happy Trails and Good Hunting Until Next Time...Which I vow will be sooner rather than later...Yes, I know, heard that one way to often of late but...

Time to Clean House...and Senate...and Oval Office...Kick 'Em All Out and Start Over...

Regardless of your political affiliation or lack thereof, what’s wrong with this picture?

Glacier National Park Closed, workers furloughed without pay.

Yellowstone National Park Closed, workers furloughed without pay.

About 400 other national parks, workers furloughed without pay.

CMR National Wildlife Refuge Closed (at height of elk bow season no less, hunters and campers asked to leave, workers furloughed without leave.

More than 500 other National Wildlife Refuges Closed, no hunting, no wildlife viewing, workers furloughed without pay.

Thousands Waterfowl Production Areas closed, waterfowl and upland bird hunting curtailed, workers furloughed without pay.

US Forest Service and BLM offices closed, hunters forced to seek information elsewhere, workers, including Law Enforcement, furloughed without pay.

Even the friggin' toilets within all federal properties are signed closed until further notice.

Many, many small towns which depend largely on hunter money hurting big time, countless workers furloughed without pay until further notice.

800,000 federal workers furloughed without pay.

United State Congress et al, including President Obama and his White House Staff  Doing Nothing as Usual, still receiving full pay and benefits!!!!!