Montana FWP Restricts Deer Licenses Due To EHD/BT

With hunting season underway, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks has made some decisions regarding the number of deer permits in response to the reports of epizootic hemorrhagic disease and blue tongue in the state.

What did MT FWP do?

At a commission meeting earlier this month. FWP officials decided to place limits on hunting licenses for white-tailed deer.

So far, the limits are only for hunting in northeast Montana, but that could change.  Cases of deer exhibiting the symptoms have been found across the state.

What changes were made?

The commission decided to limit the total number of Deer B licenses for the region to 2000 total, with a limit of one per hunter.  At the time of the meeting, FWP estimated that around 1400 licenses had already been purchased.  At the same meeting, it was decided that hunters who had already purchased multiple licenses would still be allowed to use them.

What do hunters need to know?

The virus responsible for both diseases is transmitted by midges, and infected deer can start showing symptoms in a matter of hours.  The diseases can't be transferred between deer, nor are they transmittable to humans.

FWP says that meat harvested from an infected deer is still safe to eat, provided it's cooked properly, but they still advise not to hunt a deer that visibly appears sick, which in the case of EHD and BT, means foaming at the mouth, a swollen head and appearing uncoordinated.

Of course, there's more than just EHD and BT to be on the lookout for.  There are other diseases hunters need to be aware of.

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