Youth-only pheasant, waterfowl hunt to open

Montana’s young hunters will have the state’s waterfowl and pheasants pretty much to themselves this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23-24.

Licensed hunters ages 15 and under may hunt ducks, geese, coots, mergansers and ring-necked pheasants statewide on these two special days set aside for youngsters, but they must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult.

Though the accompanying adult may not shoot, he or she can assist with setting decoys, calling and retrieving.

The two-day youth hunt is open to legally licensed 12- to 15-year-olds who have completed hunter education and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age, and properly certified and legally licensed apprentice hunters 10 to 15 years of age who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult “mentor” at least 21 years of age.

All regulations apply. The Canyon Ferry WMA is an exception only to the youth waterfowl season shooting hours—they will be one-half hour before sunrise to noon.

Remember, all hunters must ask first to gain permission to hunt on private land.

Montana’s general waterfowl hunting season opens Sept. 30 for most species and Oct. 7 for pheasants.

TIP-MONT works 24-7 to stop poachers

Montana’s outdoor crime-stopper help line, TIP-MONT, has an online option to report poachers and other hunting-season violators.

Alert citizens can report poaching and violations of hunting regulations by going to fwp.mt.gov and clicking “TIP-MONT” to use the online report form, or by calling 800-TIP-MONT or 800-847-6668.

Online TIP-MONT reports remain confidential and are managed under the same guidelines that protect all crime-stopper callers.

The most common hunting season violations reported include failure to obtain permission from landowners before hunting on private property; wasting any part of a game animal suitable for food; failure to properly validate a license or tag, or securely fasten it visibly 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; failure to leave evidence of sex attached.

Callers to 1-800-TIP-MONT, and those who file reports online, may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash award of up to $1,000 if the information leads to a conviction.

Important upcoming dates

Oct. 6: Antelope archery season closes

Oct. 7: Antelope general and pheasant season opens

Oct. 15: Deer, elk and mountain lion archery season closes

Oct. 21: General deer and elk season opens

Oct. 21: Fall mountain lion season (without dogs) opens