FWP proposes elimination of cow elk license for PTHFV hunters

Tagging an elk in Northwest Montana’s Region 1 is no easy feat and if a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks proposal is approved, the difficulty will only increase.

There is a proposal, submitted by FWP Libby area wildlife biologist Sam Martinez, to eliminate the Permit to Hunt from a Vehicle (PTHFV) opportunity for antlerless (cow) elk in Region 1 Hunt Districts 100, 101, 103, 104, 121, 122, 123 and 124.

Districts 100, 101, 103 and 104 include large portions of Lincoln County.

Public comment is being accepted through Sunday, Nov. 23 with the potential for final action to be taken at the state Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting on Thursday, Dec. 4.

To submit a comment, go to https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/december-2025-meeting. Scroll to the bottom and provide contact information such as name, city or town of residence, state and email address. There is a space to type comments. When finished, click the blue “Done” button.

Comments may also be made during the meeting in Helena at the State Capitol building, Room 317, any FWP Regional Office, Region 1 is in Kalispell, and via Zoom.

Those who wish to comment via Zoom must register by noon Wednesday, Dec. 3. To register, go to https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/december-2025-meeting. Scroll down to the “Comment at meeting” header.

According to Martinez’s proposal, after the 2021 license year when the PTHFV for antlerless elk was converted from a draw license to a general, the number of PTHFV applications for hunters has increased considerably year to year. 

According to FWP figures, applications for the permits were 111 in 2018, 104 in 2019, 85 in 2020 and 78 in 2021. In 2022, the applications were 122, 147 in 2023 and 164 in 2024.

But, as of a few months ago, only 41 applications for the permit had been received in 2025.

His proposal states that because the licenses are valid for life once approved, the number of hunters holding a PTHFV license should be considered cumulatively. Estimated harvest data indicates that antlerless harvest is greater in some Hunter Districts during the rifle season, when antlerless is only open to PTHFV, than B licenses and archery combined. 

As the region continues to manage for growing elk herds while balancing public opportunity through B license quotas, PTHFV harvest exceeds B license harvest in some HDs.

The proposal argues that the public harvest opportunity is disproportionate and should be eliminated. According to the proposal, there was public comment at a FWP meeting in Libby earlier this year with concern for unknown rates of cow elk harvest by PTHFV holders.

Cow elk harvests have increased in the last three years in the three of the four districts that include Lincoln County. In HD 100, the 2022 harvest was 11 and in 2024, it was 33.

In HD 101, 33 cows were taken in 2022 while 60 were taken in 2024. In HD 104, 39 cows were taken in 2022 while 42 were harvested in 2024. In HD 104, 22 cows were bagged in 2022. In 2024, the number was just 18.

According to FWP, residents and nonresidents certified as permanently and substantially non-ambulatory, as defined by State Law, may apply for a PTHFV. The certification is valid for the life of the holder or until changed by the Montana Legislature.

Permits are obtained by submitting an application and having the signature of a Montana licensed medical provider on the form. The disability must be permanent lifetime and fit at least one of three categories.

The non-ambulatory class means permanently, physically reliant on a wheelchair or similar appliance or device for mobility.

The substantially impaired mobility class means the virtual inability to move on foot due to a permanent physical reliance on crutches, canes, prosthetic appliances or similar compensatory appliances or devices. 

The documented genetic condition means a diagnosis derived from genetic testing and confirmed by a licensed physician.