Montana apprentice hunter program

[Swedishhunter]

My son will be 10 in May this year. We have been looking at the apprentice hunter program, but the more I understand the rules the more limited the opportunity really seems.

Here is what I gather:
1. Not open to anything that has a draw. So no antelope or applying for a general deer combo
2. There may be youth elk/deer combos leftover. but since he is not 15 he is not allowed to hunt elk and therefore cannot buy this tag
3. Leftover B tags are ok, but those go on sale in April and since his birthday is not until May he cannot buy a leftover until then at which point I assume many of them will be gone

Anyone on here who has taken advantage of the program? How did you go about it? I guess our best bets are either small game or leftover B tags that don't sell out? thanks

 

[Tim McCoy]

You might need to call FWP about the limited draw verbiage. The Combo licenses are not listed in the Deer or Elk permit section. So the apprentice hunter may very well be eligible for a BG Combo or Elk Combo or Deer Combo, and I suspect they are.

 

[Swedishhunter]

You might need to call FWP about the limited draw verbiage. The Combo licenses are not listed in the Deer or Elk permit section. So the apprentice hunter may very well be eligible for a BG Combo or Elk Combo or Deer Combo, and I suspect they are.

I did talk to a nice lady at FWP and she told me since the youth big game combo included elk we couldn't buy that unless you are 15 or older. I guess if there are adult Deer combos left over we could technically buy that, but that is a $600 tag. Thanks.

 

[Tim McCoy]

Ya, MT deer are not cheap. Makes me wonder why all the hoopla if they can't even put in for a deer combo?

 

[jjenness]

Only game apprentice hunter can shoot as 10 year old is deer, bear and Turkey.

 

[MTHusker]

Only game apprentice hunter can shoot as 10 year old is deer, bear and Turkey.

Yep, and they have to use their parent/guardians tags.

 

[Tim McCoy]

This says the apprentice gets the tag, if I am reading it right. http://fwp.mt.gov/fwpDoc.html?id=69596

Regardless, it's a great idea. I have time to study it as my oldest grandkid won't be 10 till 2019.

 

[Swedishhunter]

Yes, I am pretty sure the "apprentice" gets the tag, but can only buy OTC or surplus tags since he/she is not eligible to participate in any draw.

 

[Swedishhunter]

Only game apprentice hunter can shoot as 10 year old is deer, bear and Turkey.

Wouldn't you also be able to get an antelope tag if there are leftovers? How about small game?

 

[MTHusker]

I can not find where it says, but I am pretty sure, if you are a 10 or 11 y.o., you can not buy a tag. I spoke with warden here in Glasgow late last summer about my then 9 y.o. nephew from out of state, he turned 10 on the 6 of November, he then could have hunted with his dad on his father's tag. It is a pretty confusing deal. I do not think anyone who will not be 12 years of age can get a tag. To do so, seems to me they would have had to change the whole permit process. Instead of just adding the apprentice program.

 

[Tim McCoy]

The link I shared talked about the under age 12 being able to buy some unlimited tags. Lower lh corner of the second page I think. But you are right, that is one very confusing program the way they explain it makes it very hard to follow.

 

[jjenness]

The apprentice hunter gets their own tag, and does not have to use their parents tag.

 

[MTHusker]

I stand corrected, they can indeed get their own deer tags or others available. I spoke with Helena Enforcement division today, it took a little while but they finally answered my question.

 

[Montana]

This is a great program super thankful it got passed. SCI was a huge supporter of this bill passing. Both financially and in time.
Pretty sweer.

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