Our mission is to enforce Tribal hunting, fishing, and recreation laws; educate the public; and encourage compliance with all Tribal regulations.
Eligibility
The Game Warden Program serves all of the public recreating on the Flathead Reservation. Non-CSKT Members recreating on the Flathead Indian Reservation are required to purchase a Tribal Conservation permit and associated licenses for various recreation on Tribal Lands. Failure to do so and carry permit on your person while recreating could result in a fine.
Joint state-tribal recreation permits are available at https://ols.fwp.mt.gov/ or by clicking below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What job requirements or education do you need to be a Tribal game warden?
All CSKT Game Wardens have to be post certificate through the Montana Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) Professionals Program within of hiring. All employees in the State of Montana who work as Law Enforcement Officers must go through this program. A GED is minimum education. There is an age limit is 21 year of age for law enforcement activities in the state. Some wardens have served in various branches of the military. A love of nature and desire to protect the resource is a must for the conservation.
I didn’t know I needed permit and what do I need?
The CSKT require a Conservation Permit to access (hike, bike, bird hunt, fish, etc.) tribal lands. There are additional license to purchase depending on what type of recreation you would like to do. Please see our annual regulations link.
How to get to various trail heads on the Reservation?
There are maps for sale in our office in Polson (406 6th Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860). Various trail hiking apps will show you where trail heads are, however there are issues with land status information provided by those maps. You may wind up on a tribal members private land instead of tribal recreational land, or follow trails that doesn’t actually exist! For some trails see our Mission Trails Link.
Can my non-CSKT member spouse hunt with me?
Depends on what you are hunting.
If you are hunting migratory waterfowl or pheasants, yes, as long as your spouse has a valid Conservation permit and applicable upland game bird and waterfowl permits and stamps and on their person.
If you are hunting big game on the Reservation, then no, CSKT members are not allowed to hunt big game in the company, nor may they be assisted by non-members in any aspect of the pursuit, kill, field dressing, or transportation of unprocessed game from the place of taking to the place of the hunters dwelling.
There is an exception for the Yellowstone Bison Hunt.
Does my non-CSKT member Spouse need a Conservation Permit when we are recreating together?
Yes, per Ordinance 44D, all non-CSKT members engaging in recreation alone or with a CSKT member shall have a valid permit on their person, when engaging in that activity.