THREE FORKS, Mont. — New hunting rules are coming to Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks, including an online lottery system that starts at the end of August.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks said hunters who want to access the park will need to apply online during the week before they plan to hunt. Applicants will pick three days for the following week, and if selected, they will be assigned one of those days and sent a parking permit.
Six hunters will be selected per day, and the application will be free every week.
The online lottery application will be open 8 a.m. - 4p.m. on Wednesdays, starting August 26 and running through January 15, 2027.
FWP said the changes came as interest in hunting at the park grew. The agency also said it wanted to keep hunting available while managing it safely.
“In order to continue to manage that safely, we’re hopeful that this new online reservation system will help manage hunting at a level so that it can continue to do so safely,” said Morgan Jacobsen of FWP.
FWP also released a new map showing where hunting is allowed, what hunters can hunt in those areas and where hunting is prohibited.
The park also had weapon limits in place. Handguns, shotguns, archery equipment and muzzleloaders were allowed, while rifles were not permitted.
You really have to be familiar with the boundaries of the area where you have permission to hunt or where your license is applicable. So yeah, hunters should spend some time getting familiar with that," Jacobsen said.
Anyone with questions about hunting at the park could contact Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks or Missouri Headwaters Park staff.