Black bear hunters are required to successfully complete the Black Bear Identification Test and must present a certificate of completion when purchasing a Black Bear License. The program aims to prevent mistaken identify 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 www.fwp.state.mt.us under Hunting, or a paper version may be obtained at any FWP regional office or license provider's establishment.

A hunter may legally take one black bear per license year. 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 2002 black bear hunting regulations booklet has details on black bear hunting and is available at all FWP regional offices and license providers' establishments.

Also, mountain lion hunters have until August 31 to purchase a license. Mountain lion licenses are available at all Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices and FWP license provider's establishments.

By September 30, nonresidents must apply for the hunting harvest permit required in FWP Region 1 by submitting their name, address and phone number, 2002 ALS Number, lion hunting district number and a $3 nonrefundable fee to: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region 1, 490 N. Meridian Road, Kalispell, MT 59901. The special permit application can be made on a 3x5" card.

Drawing results will be available the second week of October from the FWP Kalispell office. For details on the hunting harvest permit, call (406) 752-5501. Mountain lion hunting regulation booklets will be available the end of August.