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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Licenses Then And Now

Montana Fish, Wildlife And Parks

Hunting

A Montana hunting license is as good a deal today as it was 90 years ago, perhaps even better.

In 1905, the state issued its first resident hunting and fishing licenses for $1. That license entitled the resident to one elk, three deer, one mountain goat, one bighorn sheep and ten mountain and prairie grouse.

There were no limits on waterfowl and fish. However, it was illegal to hunt moose, antelope or pheasants.

The average monthly farm income in the Rocky Mountain states at the turn of the century was about $26, so a hunter had to work slightly more than a full day to buy a license.

Today, resident licenses to take the same amount of game would cost $218. That is $52 to shoot one elk, one deer, upland birds and go fishing, plus two additional antlerless deer licenses at $16 and sheep and goat tags for $150.

Even at today’s prices, it still costs about a day and a half of labor for the worker who makes $17 an hour. Considering insurance and medical benefits, this is an average wage for the region today.

This comparison doesn’t take into account the increases in game since the turn of the century, when records indicated that Montana had only about 3,000 elk. Deer were scarce.

Today, the state holds more than 100,000 elk and perhaps 5,000 deer.

By the way, the back of the 1905 Montana license stated every male 15 years and older needed a license. Apparently, women could hunt for free.