Due to chronic wasting disease (CWD), a special hunt will be held in Region 4 of Montana this fall. The hunt was announced by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (Montana FWP) last week and will occur in Hunting District (HD) 400 south of Chester along the Marias River near the Moffat Bridge. Montana FWP will use the hunt “to determine the prevalence of the disease in the area,” according to a press release.

Hunters can purchase 50 mule deer either-sex B licenses and 300 mule deer antlerless B licenses for the special hunt area in HD 400. Other deer licenses for HD 400 will be valid in the Moffat Bridge special hunt area, according to the agency. CWD B licenses will be valid Oct. 26 to Dec. 1; regular HD 400 deer licenses are valid Oct. 26 to Nov. 17.

The agency hopes to fill its quota of 25 mule deer buck samples and 120 antlerless mule deer samples in the targeted HD. Once the quota is met with regard to the mule deer buck samples, all remaining licenses will become valid only for antlerless deer. When 120 antlerless mule deer samples are collected, the special hunt is over and all remaining CWD B licenses are no longer valid.

Hunters are allowed to purchase one either-sex mule deer CWD B license and up to three antlerless mule deer CWD B licenses. Licenses go on sale Sept. 23 at the following license providers:

At 10 a.m., licenses will also be available online at fwp.mt.gov.

Anyone who harvests a mule deer with this license is required to submit a sample for testing at the Moffat Bridge CWD check station. You will have to document the exact kill site. All samples must be checked within three days of harvest. Any hunter who harvests an animal that tests positive for CWD may receive a replacement 2019 license.

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