A look at Montana's non-resident hunter numbers

HELENA — Many Montana hunters are concerned about overcrowded hunting areas — but are nonresidents to blame?

According to Montana Outfitters and Guides Association Director Will Israel, the number has stayed relatively steady.

“On average, big-game nonresident hunters, we see 30,000 to 35,000 per year as the total number,” Israel said. “And for small-game hunters — which would be upland bird, turkey, so on and so forth — I think you’re probably around 15,000 to 20,000. So in total, it hovers around that 50,000 mark of nonresident hunters that come here every year.”

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Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks focuses on two key numbers: actual hunters and hunter-days. Hunter-days represent the total number of hunters multip