Archery Equipment Standards
The Commission adopted new archery equipment standards similar to those set by a nationally recognized bowhunting organization. The new regulations require that a compound bow's maximum "let-off" not exceed 80 percent. Compound bows have mechanical devices that reduce the force an archer must exert on the bowstring to draw back and hold the bowstring steady. Also in the new standards, the bow can be no shorter than 28 inches, and a broadhead is also defined.

Trophies Defined
The Commission adopted definitions of several "trophy" animals, in cooperation with a citizens working group. These definitions use Boone & Crockett Club measurement methods, though the actual measurements are based on Montana records. The definitions apply to all antlered and horned big-game animals.

Restitution ranges between $2,000 and $30,000 for illegally taken trophy animals meeting the new Montana trophy definitions. The 2000 Hunting Regulations will contain details.

Mule Deer Permits
The Commission removed the license-validation requirement for antlered buck mule deer in a portion of southwestern Montana formerly known as the "Southwestern 8." About two-thirds of this area will now be open to any hunter with a general deer license. In the remaining areas, hunters will need to apply by June 1 for a special permit. Permits will be unlimited or limited, depending on what is required in a particular area to meet population objectives. Hunters may check the 2000 Hunting Regulations to determine if an area they want to hunt requires a special permit obtained through a drawing.

Missouri Breaks Archery Permits
Areas with limited or unlimited archery permits in the Missouri Breaks are unchanged. Hunting district 417 was added to the Missouri Breaks area, with an unlimited number of archery permits available. An archery harvest survey will be conducted in the Missouri Breaks area for the 1999 and 2000 hunting seasons.

Mountain Lion Season
The 2000 mountain lion season will be similar to the 1999 season. The only significant change is that the Commission established special permits, representing 25 percent of the mountain lion harvest quota in each of nine hunting districts in Region 1. Applications for the permits, which limit hunters to the hunting district for which the permit is valid but allow lion hunters to hunt throughout the season, are due by Sept. 17 to the FWP regional office in Kalispell. The remaining 75 percent of the mountain lion harvest quota in each of these nine hunting districts will be filled by hunters with lion licenses. Lion licenses, required whether a hunter has a permit or not, must be purchased by August 31.

Big Horn Sheep
A number of changes were made in the big horn sheep regulations, including adjusting permit levels, establishing three new areas and closing one. Hunters should check their 2000 Hunting Regulations for details.