Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is poised to capture the secrets of one of the most elusive and unusual of Montana's turtle species, the spiny softshell. Softshell turtles are common in the U.S., but in Montana there are only two populations that inhabit the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers and their tributaries. These two populations are isolated from other spiny softshell populations in the U.S.

The Private Land/Public Wildlife Council will meet on June 11-12 at the Upper Canyon Tate Ranch, 24 miles south of Alder, to discuss hunting and fishing access issues. Council members will meet beginning Wednesday, June 11 at 8 a.m., working on issues related to changes in Montana land ownership and land management, outfitting, wildlife management, and Montana’s hunting and angling traditions.   The meeting will continue Thursday, June 12, from 8 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Snowmobile Advisory Committee (SAC) will meet in Great Falls on June 20-21. The group will meet Friday, June 20 at the FWP Region 4 office from 3-6 p. m. in the conference room. Saturday, June 21 the group will meet at Good Eats Catering, 801 2 nd Ave. North, at 10 a.m. to hear the Montana Snowmobile Clubs give their annual report.

Montana’s $5 SuperTag lottery chances for big game hunts are on sale for 2008 with plenty of hunts available. An unlimited number of five dollar SuperTag chances are available for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, elk, deer, antelope, mountain lion and bison in any legal district open for that species.The usual cost for applying for a special moose, sheep or goat license drawing, is $80 for residents and $755 for a non-resident.

The deadline to apply for FWP’s special license drawings for elk, deer and antelope licenses and special permits is June 2. Hunters can apply in minutes for special big game hunting permits and licenses on the Internet by going to the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov and using FWP’s Online Services.  For those who don’t own a computer, Internet access is available at Montana’s 80 public libraries and 30 branch public libraries.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger announced the winners of the 19th annual Montana State Parks Poster Contest on May 16 during a ceremony at 2 p.m. at the State Capitol building in Helena. The theme for this year's contest   was "Experience Montana State Parks." Fifth grade students were asked to illustrate an experience they might have in a state park and to describe it in words.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced the Rosebud Battlefield State Park management plan was approved today following an 18-month process to solicit public involvement and thoroughly examine future opportunities for the park. The plan is the work of a 14 member advisory committee and includes many suggestions from area residents and the public on protecting park resources and improving visitor services.