The drawing for resident and nonresident antelope licenses will happen during the first week of August. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks sometimes gets asked why this drawing happens so late in the year compared to other species.
The simple answer is that FWP uses this information to provide quick adjustments to quotas so that hunting opportunities closely reflect antelope availability.
A month or more after fawning in early May, antelope congregate in larger groups, which makes them much easier to find and classify. FWP biologists conduct aerial surveys in July to achieve sex and age ratios and index abundance. Surveys are best conducted early morning and late in the day with sunny and clear skies when antelope are easier to spot.
Data from these surveys provide justification for adjusting license quotas for the drawings. Antelope surveys are completed, quotas are adjusted, and the drawing occurs within about three weeks.
Survey data is also used later in the year to guide decisions by the Legislature, FWP Commission, other organizations with wildlife interests and governmental agencies.
Survey and inventory of antelope allow FWP to monitor trends in wildlife populations to help make management decisions in real time that affect population abundance, wildlife conflicts, hunting and harvest opportunity, habitat management decisions, and other recreational opportunities for diverse user groups. Wildlife survey and inventory is an important part of FWP’s mission.
To check antelope drawing results, go to fwp.mt.gov/hunt/regulations/antelope.
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