The black bear hunting season reopens for the fall on Sept. 15 in most areas of Montana. Hunters should check the regulations for exceptions. Under Montana law, bear meat, or the meat from any other big game animal, can not be wasted, thrown away, left in the field or allowed in any other way to become unfit for human consumption. A hunter is also prohibited from abandoning in the field the head or hide of a harvested black bear. The regulation applies, unless the meat is determined to contain trichinella. Trichinella is a parasitic disease found in 15 percent of Montana’s black bears. An optional, free-of-charge testing service for trichinella is offered through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Information on trichinella and instructions on how to submit samples for testing are available at all FWP offices. Bear meat must be kept in an edible condition until test results are obtained. Hunters will be notified of the results by mail.
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