Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is now accepting applications from one-boat outfitters for temporary client days on the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers for use in 2008.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission adopted rules creating a temporary client day system on the two rivers in 2005. The 

temporary client days are available to one-boat outfitters who are currently not permitted to outfit on these rivers and one-boat outfitters who are 

currently permitted to operate on these rivers, but want additional days. 

Under the rules, a one-boat outfitter is defined as an outfitter who operates no more than one boat and is the sole guide. Outfitters must also be licensed by the Board of Outfitters to apply for these days. 

The temporary client day 

system is based on the 

recommendations of the Beaverhead Big Hole Citizens’ Advisory 

Committee. The committee wanted to create an opportunity for 

one-boat outfitters without them having to purchase an authorized outfitter’s business in its entirety. The temporary client day system went into effect in 2006.

The system allows one-boat outfitters to apply for a maximum of 60 temporary client days on the 

Beaverhead River and/or a maximum of 60 temporary client days on the 

Big Hole River.

This is the third year that FWP has implemented the temporary client day system. The rules state that after a one-boat outfitter has used 

temporary clients days for three 

consecutive years, the number of temporary clients days he or she may apply for in the following year may not exceed the highest number of 

temporary client days used in one of the previous three years.

This will affect outfitters who received temporary clients days in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Outfitters should check their records to 

determine how many temporary client days they used in each of those three years.

Information packets and 

applications are available from the FWP regional office in Bozeman 

Applications must be postmarked by December 31 and submitted to:

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 

Region 3, 1400 S. 19th Avenue, 

Bozeman, MT 59718 

FWP will notify successful applicants by February 15. The 

temporary client days will be available for use in 2009.

Commercial use rules are in effect on the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers. These rules require outfitters and guides on these rivers to obtain permits and pay required fees. For more information, contact Molly Wainwright at 406-994-6359 or mwainwright@mt.gov or Jerry Walker at 406-994-3552 or gwalker@mt.gov.