Temporary Outfitter Client Days Available on Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is now accepting applications from one-boat outfitters for temporary client days on the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers for use in 2008.

 

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission adopted rules creating a temporary client day system on the two rivers in 2005. The temporary client days are available to one-boat outfitters who are currently not permitted to outfit on these rivers and one-boat outfitters who are currently permitted to operate on these rivers, but want additional days.

 

Under the rules, a one-boat outfitter is defined as an outfitter who operates no more than one boat and is the sole guide. Outfitters must also be licensed by the Board of Outfitters to apply for these days.

 

The temporary client day system is based on the recommendations of the Beaverhead Big Hole Citizens’ Advisory Committee. The committee wanted to create an opportunity for one-boat outfitters without them having to purchase an authorized outfitter’s business in its entirety. The temporary client day system went into effect in 2006.

 

The system allows one-boat outfitters to apply for a maximum of 60 temporary client days on the Beaverhead River and/or a maximum of 60 temporary client days on the Big Hole River.

 

This is the third year that FWP has implemented the temporary client day system. The rules state that after a one-boat outfitter has used temporary clients days for three consecutive years, the number of temporary clients days he or she may apply for in the following year may not exceed the highest number of temporary client days used in one of the previous three years.

 

This will affect outfitters who received temporary clients days in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Outfitters should check their records to determine how many temporary client days they used in each of those three years.

 

Information packets and applications are available from the FWP regional office in Bozeman Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 31 and submitted to:

 

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Region 3

1400 S. 19 th Avenue

Bozeman, MT 59718

 

FWP will notify successful applicants by February 15. The temporary client days will be available for use in 2009.

 

Commercial use rules are in effect on the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers. These rules require outfitters and guides on these rivers to obtain permits and pay required fees. For more information, contact Molly Wainwright at 406-994-6359 or mwainwright@mt.gov or Jerry Walker at 406-994-3552 or gwalker@mt.gov.