Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds black bear hunters that licenses must be purchased by Aug. 31, a Wednesday, for the fall season.  Hunters may purchase a license on the Internet at fwp.mt.gov under Hunting, or at FWP offices and FWP license providers.

All mail-in applications must be postmarked no later than Aug. 31. The cost of a black bear license is $15 for residents and $350 for nonresidents.

Hunters may purchase only one black bear hunting license and harvest one black bear per year.

Black bear hunters must have successfully completed the Black Bear Identification Test and must present a certificate of completion when purchasing a black bear license.  The program aims to prevent mistaken identity killings of federally protected grizzly bears and to help Montana maintain its black bear hunting season. 

The Black Bear Identification training and test are available on FWP’s web site at fwp.mt.gov under Education and then Hunter Education. A paper version may be obtained at   FWP regional offices or from a FWP license provider.

Hunters are also reminded it is illegal to harvest black bear cubs, defined as bears less than one year old.  It is also illegal to harvest female black bears with young.

The new 2005 black bear hunting regulations are available on the Internet at fwp.mt.gov and from all FWP regional offices and from FWP license providers. 

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