Most Common Mistakes Made by Hunters

Print

We have the opportunity in Montana to participate in some of the finest hunting anywhere. With the 2008 big game season underway, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks asks hunters to take the time to review Montana’s hunting rules and regulations to ensure they act within the law and are prepared to recognize when others violate the law. Any violation can be reported to 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668).

 

The most common game violations are:

 

• Failure to properly validate a license/tag (must always cut out three notches) and securely

fasten the tag in a visible manner to a game animal immediately after the kill and before it is

moved or transported from the kill site

 

• Failure to obtain permission from landowners before hunting on private property

 

• Using someone else’s tag on a game animal you killed or tagging a game animal that someone else

killed. Party hunting is not allowed in Montana

 

• Shooting or attempting to shoot game animals or game birds from a vehicle

 

• Shooting game animals on or from any public highway or public right-of-way

 

• Using a vehicle (including all-terrain vehicles and aircraft) to concentrate, drive, rally, stir-up, or

harass game animals.

 

• Failure to stop at a check station going to or from hunting or fishing areas, even if you have no

game or fish

 

• Failure to leave evidence of the sex of a game animal attached

 

• Failure to wear at least 400 square inches of hunter (fluorescent) orange clothing above the waist

at all times while hunting big game during firearm hunting seasons

 

• Wasting any part of a game animal suitable for food

 

 

FWP encourages hunters to protect the future of their sport by hunting responsibly and calling the toll-free 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668) number to report witnessed or suspected property vandalism, trespass, or wildlife violations.

 

In addition, hunters are reminded to put out their campfires before leaving an area. Despite the low number of wildland fires in 2008 due to more moisture, dryer conditions this fall could contribute to increased fire activity. Just because the mornings are cold, doesn’t mean fires can’t spread quickly!

 

Most human-caused fires in southwest Montana start in the fall, either from cigarettes or warming fires. Seventy-eight percent of the wildland fires on the Gallatin National Forest so far in 2008 have been human-caused.

 

To properly put out your fire, mix water, earth, and embers and stir them until they’re cool enough to hold in your bare hand. Remember to bring along a shovel and bucket.