The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, August 7 and 8, at the Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters, 1420 East Sixth Avenue in Helena. Heading the agenda for the meeting, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday at 2:15 p.m., will be the adoption of emergency fishing regulation changes for the Ruby River in southwestern Montana and tentative adoption of a plan developed by FWP for the long-term management of Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park.
(Headlines - August 01, 1997)

At its meeting on July 17, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission adopted tentative lynx quotas for the 1997-98 trapping season. Tentative fisher and bobcat quotas for 1997-98 were previously set on May 30. Fish, Wildlife & Parks researchers noted an increase in detection rates of lynx during track surveys conducted last winter west of the Continental Divide.
(Headlines - August 01, 1997)

The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is now seeking public comments on proposed emergency changes in fishing regulations on the Ruby River in southwestern Montana. The proposed regulation changes, requested by FWP, were adopted by the Commission on July 7 at the same time it approved several land leases and a land purchase to secure about six miles of public fishing access to the waterway's renowned trout fishery.
(Headlines - August 01, 1997)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks is now accepting public comments on proposed permit harvest quotas for the 1997 fall wild turkey season. The FWP Commission is scheduled to adopt final quotas at its August 8 meeting in Helena. The proposed quotas remain the same as were in place for the 1996 fall season. Permits are available for hunting in three special permit hunting areas of western and southwestern Montana (comprising portions of FWP regions 1 and 3).
(Headlines - August 01, 1997)

The FWP Commission will set final harvest quotas for the 1997 deer, elk and antelope hunting seasons at its August 7-8 meeting in Helena. Draft quotas were adopted by the Commission in June. As soon as these quotas are finalized, FWP will complete this year's drawing for licenses and permits. The drawings are scheduled to be conducted on August 9, 10 and 11.
(Headlines - August 01, 1997)

Hunters hoping to pursue mountain lions this fall and winter are reminded that the deadline for purchasing 1997 licenses is August 31. Applications for mountain lion licenses submitted through the mail must be postmarked by that date. Mountain lion licenses are available only at FWP offices. Hound handlers must also obtain a free hound handler permit no later than August 31 to hunt OR chase mountain lions. A hound handler permit can be obtained in the same manner as a mountain lion license.
(Headlines - August 01, 1997)

All Bowhunter Education classes ended July 31, and no more classes will be taught until after January, 1998. Regulations state that: o All resident youth, 12 through 17 years of age, are required to present a Montana Hunter Education Certificate when purchasing any hunting license. These same youths also are required to present a Montana Bowhunter Education Certificate to purchase a Bow and Arrow License.
(Headlines - August 01, 1997)

Montana's Future Fisheries Review Panel will meet in Helena on Thursday, July 24, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Third Floor Conference Room, Montana Historical Society, 225 N. Roberts. The panel was appointed in 1995 to review lake and stream restoration project proposals and to determine those projects eligible for funding under the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, created by the 1995 Legislature.
(Headlines - July 18, 1997)

The Montana Whirling Disease Task Force will meet in Helena, Thursday, July 10 to discuss "fishing regulations in a whirling disease environment." The meeting will be held in Room 325 of the Capitol Building beginning at noon. The task force was formed in 1995 by Gov.
(Headlines - July 03, 1997)

That Montanans remain concerned about the welfare of our wildlife resources is evidenced by the continuing use of FWP's toll-free--800-TIP-MONT--hotline (800-847-6668) to report observed or expected violations of state fish and game laws. At a recent meeting, the TIP-MONT program's Board of Directors awarded $2,750 in cash rewards to seven of those who offered tips leading to the apprehension of violators.
(Headlines - July 03, 1997)

The Board of Directors of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep's (FNAWS) Montana Chapter has donated $1,000 to Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Turn In Poachers (TIP-MONT) program to be used in paying rewards to persons providing information leading to arrests and convictions in cases regarding the illegal killing of bighorn sheep in Montana.
(Headlines - July 03, 1997)