Chase the Hunt, Protect the Tradition
With all the excitement of what we’re chasing in the field this fall, FWP has a reminder worth carrying along with the tags, maps, and extra ammo: how we hunt matters, too. Most hunters do a great job respecting the land, wildlife, and people who make access possible. But every season still brings reports of busted BMA boxes, off-road driving, trespassing, litter, livestock being shot, and hunters shooting over one another. None of that does our hunting traditions any favors. A little common sense goes a long way: know where you are, ask permission, shut the gate if you found it shut, stay off muddy roads and standing crops, pack out your trash, know your target and what’s beyond it, and leave the place looking like you were never there.
FWP’s Protect the Hunt effort is really about protecting something bigger than one good day afield. Programs like Hunter-Landowner Stewardship help strengthen the trust between hunters and landowners, while the Thank a Landowner portal gives us an easy way to recognize the folks who open their gates and give hunters opportunities every fall. Access isn’t something we should take for granted, and keeping it often comes down to a thousand small choices made when nobody is watching. If you see trespassing, vandalism or other hunting and fishing violations, report them through 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668). Chase the elk, chase the deer, chase that bird dog disappearing over the next hill, but take care of the country while you’re doing it. After all, “The Outside is in Us All.”
