Important hunting deadlines

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has posted important dates for hunters in Montana. The biggest change this year is the deadline for residents and nonresidents to apply for deer and elk permits - now March 15. Drawings for those permits will take place in mid-April as opposed to July. Other important dates include:

• Feb. 16 - FWP Commission addresses hunting districts with pending quotas and finalize quotas for those hunting districts. Hunters interested in applying for special deer and elk permits in those districts should wait until after Feb. 16 to make their choices and submit applications.

• March 15 - Deadline to apply for deer and elk permits (new).

• March 15 - 2012 season regulations available (online).

• Early April - 2012 deer/elk/antelope regulations available (printed).

• Mid-April - Drawing for deer and elk permits.

• May 1 - Deadline to apply for moose, goat, sheep and bison licenses (no change).

• June 1 - Deadline to apply for antlerless deer B, elk B and antelope licenses (no change).

• July 16 - Drawing for antlerless deer B and antlerless elk B licenses.

FWP urges hunters to apply for licenses online. For more information, visit online at fwp.mt.gov and click on "hunting."