The fact that nonresident outfitted hunters can hunt anywhere in Montana now, a side effect of a recently passed initiative that changed the way the state licenses out-of-state hunters, has one outfitter concerned.

Prior to this hunting season, outfitters were guaranteed a portion of the state's big game licenses each year for nonresident hunters. Those hunters had to be with the outfitter at all times and could only hunt on lands for which the outfitter was permitted. That isn't the case this season.

Winnett outfitter Mike Huff sees the situation as a "bad deal."

"I don't think people knew this was going to unleash these people onto public land who are with an outfitter," Huff said.

He said it provides a "free pass" for some outfitters to expand their territory.

Huff has complained to the Bureau of Land Management, where he is permitted to hunt on property near Winnett, as well as to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Huff said one White Sulphur Springs outfitter has been dropping clients off to hunt at the gate to his permit area.

"As a hunter and a sportsman and an outfitter, I don't think it's right," he said.

Craig Flentie, of the BLM's Lewistown Field Office, said it is the agency's contention that if someone is commercially outfitting on BLM land they need a permit. But beyond that, Flentie wouldn't comment.

FWP's Region 4 warden Capt. Mike Martin said the rule change does create a gray area that a disreputable outfitter may choose to exploit. All outfitters are required to have an operation plan that shows which parcels of land they are allowed to hunt on, Martin said.

"Where it might get a little fuzzy is where do we draw the line for services provided by an outfitter?" he said.

As an example, Martin said that if an outfitter were driving his client from Block Management Area to Block Management Area (private lands that the state has leased for public hunting), then the outfitter needs to include that in their operation plan.

"Now, it's harder to enforce the rogue outfitter if he wanted to abuse the system," Martin said.

Under Montana law, a big-game outfitter cannot accompany their client onto public or private lands where they are not permitted; that much is clear. They couldn't, for example, help their client by dragging their game back across land where they are not permitted to outfit or even walk them to a designated hunting spot; that would be providing a service.

However, an outfitter could point to a place on a map and suggest it as a place for their nonresident client to hunt. It also seems that an outfitter could stop, while driving their client, and let them hunt public land or a Block Management Area if they spotted a game animal from the road.

"It results in all this running amok wherever you want," Huff said. "I don't think it's right."

Martin said some outfitters may benefit from the change, but it will probably take a few seasons to figure out any advantages or disadvantages to the new system.

"The act of outfitting is providing a service for compensation; we have to evaluate it case by case," Martin said. "Before, when a person had an outfitter-sponsored license, it was a real clear line."