FWP Aims To Stem Abuse Of Disabled Hunter Permits

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is proposing action meant to curb the abuse of a special permit issued to disabled hunters.

Permits to hunt from a vehicle are issued to Montana hunters with disabilities certified by a medical professional.

In some places, those permit holders can access gated roadways on some state and national lands and can shoot cow elk with only a general big-game license.

But citing reports of abuse, the FWP commission at its Friday meeting gave initial approval to a plan that would ban permit holders from shooting shoot cow elk without an additional elk permit.

Commission chairman Bob Ream says he hopes it will be a temporary measure until the Legislature tightens the criteria to qualify for the permits.

Associated Press