The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will hold an open public forum and a meeting in Hamilton on Thursday and Friday, March 5 and 6. The open forum, scheduled to take place from 7-9 p.m. at the Bedford Building (city hall), is part of a Commission visit to western Montana. The forum format will give Commissioners an opportunity to meet one-on-one with residents of western Montana and discuss issues or topics of personal interest to those in attendance.
(Headlines - February 27, 1998)

Hunters--if you are planning on heading up to the high country of Montana for some black bear hunting this spring, TAKE NOTE : * Black bear licenses (both resident and nonresident) to be used during Montana's 1998 spring black bear hunting season (beginning April 15) must be purchased by April 14 ; black bear licenses purchased after that date can be used only to hunt bears during the 1998 fall season; they cannot be used anytime during the spring season.
(Headlines - February 27, 1998)

Fish, Wildlife and Parks will conduct a series of public hearings across Montana in the coming weeks to receive comments on proposed new rules outlining those procedures used by the agency for designating certain fishing access sites as "primitive" sites and the types of developments that may occur at them. The hearings, will be held at FWP's regional offices in Billings on March 4 and in Missoula on March 9, and at the agency's Helena headquarters on March 18.
(Headlines - February 27, 1998)

Montana's Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Council will meet in Great Falls at the Ponderosa Inn on Wednesday, March 18, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., for a work session and supper, and on Thursday, March 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 14-member council, comprising landowners, hunters and outfitters from throughout the state, was appointed by Governor Racicot to provide ongoing review of FWP's Block Management (hunter access) Program and other related issues.
(Headlines - February 27, 1998)

Recent heavy snowfall has created potentially dangerous snow conditions in many areas of the state. If you plan to be snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing, please check snow and avalanche conditions before you head out. Avalanche advisory information is available from the U.S. Forest Service in the following areas: northwestern Montana (800)-526-5329; west-central Montana (406)-549-4488; and southwestern Montana (406) 587-6981.
(Headlines - February 27, 1998)

Since 1983, the Watchable Wildlife Program has relied heavily on the Wildlife Tax Check-off for funding. Montana Income Tax forms include a line and box for those check-off contributions. In addition, the check-off is a tax-deductible contribution available to all Montana taxpayers. In 1983, more than 6,600 Montana taxpayers contributed to the check-off. FWP revenues at that time exceeded $35,000. In 1996, only 1,951 taxpayers contributed $16,081 to the tax check-off.
(Headlines - February 27, 1998)

The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission on February 6 set seasons and regulations for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, antelope, black bears and upland game birds for the 1998-99 biennium. Commissioners also set seasons and regulations for deer, elk and mountain lion hunting during 1998.
(Headlines - February 13, 1998)

At its meeting on February 5 in Helena, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission revised the administrative rules regarding floating on the Smith River southwest of Great Falls. Changes to the annual rule were considered because use of the river by floaters has reached levels where a review of management was required by the current management plan. Proposed revisions were tentatively adopted by the Commission in December.
(Headlines - February 13, 1998)

The Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is now seeking public comments on a proposed rule that would establish a fee and registration system for commercial users of Alberton Gorge on the Clark Fork River west of Missoula who launch from FWP-administered fishing access sites. The registration process, which was tentatively adopted in January pending receipt of public comments, would be initiated this April and extend through March 15, 1999.
(Headlines - February 13, 1998)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is now seeking public comment on a proposal to require all commercial users of state fishing access sites and other FWP-administered lands to register with FWP before undertaking any activities on those lands. Commissioners tentatively approved the registration requirement at their January meeting.
(Headlines - February 13, 1998)

A Wyoming-based outfitter, who for a number of years also has held an outfitting license for hunting operations in southeastern Montana, recently was fined $10,000 and received other penalties from a Wyoming judge for a series of illegal hunting activities over several years.
(Headlines - February 13, 1998)