Montana Closing LMU 680 to all Hunting of Female Mountain Lions

February 23, 2026
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Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Commission just dropped a bombshell for big cat hunters: Lion Management Unit (LMU) 680 is now off-limits to pursuing female mountain lions, effective one-half hour after sunset on Monday, February 23rd, 2026. This isn't some minor tweak—it's a targeted shutdown aimed at protecting breeding females in a high-pressure zone, with hunters urged to monitor quotas on the Montana FWP website for the full scoop. While the move screams wildlife management pragmatism, it's sparking whispers among 2A enthusiasts who see it as another layer of bureaucratic red tape creeping into the great outdoors, where self-reliant hunters have long exercised their rights to manage predators that threaten livestock, deer herds, and even human safety. Digging deeper, this closure fits a pattern in Western states grappling with mountain lion populations exploding after decades of protection—Montana's cats now number over 1,700, up from near-extinction lows, leading to more attacks on game and ranchers' herds. Pro-2A folks get why quotas matter: unchecked lions decimate elk and mule deer, the very backbone of hunting seasons that fund conservation via Pittman-Robertson dollars from our firearms purchases. Yet, gender-specific bans like this raise eyebrows—why not holistic management? It echoes the selective restrictions we fight in gun laws, where female or assault labels justify carve-outs without addressing root overpopulation. For the 2A community, it's a rallying cry: just as we defend every round in the mag for self-defense, hunters need flexible tools to balance nature's predators without nanny-state micromanagement eroding our traditions. The implications ripple wide—expect pushback from outfitters and rural Montanans who view hounds and rifles as essential for control, much like AR-15s for home protection. If LMU 680's females go unchecked, spillover into adjacent units could tank quotas everywhere, squeezing access for all. 2A patriots, keep eyes on FWP updates and voice up: our Second Amendment roots in self-reliance extend to stewarding the wild. This isn't just about cougars; it's about preserving the hunting heritage that forged America's firearm culture. Stay vigilant, check those sites, and hunt on where you can.

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Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Conservation Commission just dropped a bombshell for big cat hunters: Lion Management Unit (LMU) 680 is now off-limits to pursuing female mountain lions, effective one-half hour after sunset on Monday, February 23rd, 2026. This isn’t some minor tweak—it’s a targeted shutdown aimed at protecting breeding females in a high-pressure zone, with hunters urged to monitor quotas on the Montana FWP website for the full scoop. While the move screams wildlife management pragmatism, it’s sparking whispers among 2A enthusiasts who see it as another layer of bureaucratic red tape creeping into the great outdoors, where self-reliant hunters have long exercised their rights to manage predators that threaten livestock, deer herds, and even human safety.

Digging deeper, this closure fits a pattern in Western states grappling with mountain lion populations exploding after decades of protection—Montana’s cats now number over 1,700, up from near-extinction lows, leading to more attacks on game and ranchers’ herds. Pro-2A folks get why quotas matter: unchecked lions decimate elk and mule deer, the very backbone of hunting seasons that fund conservation via Pittman-Robertson dollars from our firearms purchases. Yet, gender-specific bans like this raise eyebrows—why not holistic management? It echoes the selective restrictions we fight in gun laws, where female or assault labels justify carve-outs without addressing root overpopulation. For the 2A community, it’s a rallying cry: just as we defend every round in the mag for self-defense, hunters need flexible tools to balance nature’s predators without nanny-state micromanagement eroding our traditions.

The implications ripple wide—expect pushback from outfitters and rural Montanans who view hounds and rifles as essential for control, much like AR-15s for home protection. If LMU 680’s females go unchecked, spillover into adjacent units could tank quotas everywhere, squeezing access for all. 2A patriots, keep eyes on FWP updates and voice up: our Second Amendment roots in self-reliance extend to stewarding the wild. This isn’t just about cougars; it’s about preserving the hunting heritage that forged America’s firearm culture. Stay vigilant, check those sites, and hunt on where you can.

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