Montanans have put over $3 million to work protecting or enhancing habitat for wild or native fish through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program created in 1995 by the Montana Legislature. Applications for the next round of funding are due Jan. 1 to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Habitat Protection Bureau. The simple one-page applications are available from FWP regional offices in Kalispell, Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Billings, Glasgow, Miles City or the Fisheries Division in Helena.
(Headlines - November 26, 1999)

The Block Management Working Group, a 12-member committee of landowners, hunters, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff, will meet in Billings Dec 8-9 to discuss improvements to the state's popular hunter access program. The meeting will be held at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Ln., from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8; and from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9. A public open house is also scheduled on Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
(Headlines - November 26, 1999)

Montana's 1999 general big game hunting season will close Sunday, Nov. 28 at one-half hour after sunset. The general season closure includes hunting for black bear, elk, deer, mountain goat, mountain lion, moose and bighorn sheep. Montana's 1999 general river and stream fishing season is set to close Tuesday, Nov. 30.
(Headlines - November 26, 1999)

On Dec. 1 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will have an ideal holiday gift ready the Early Bird State Parks Passports. The annual windshield decalsthis year with an image of a bitterroot--the Montana State Flower-- allow unlimited entrance into state parks without paying a daily fee, even when visiting without a vehicle. "Keep the receipt in your wallet and you can bicycle or walk in," says Doug Monger, FWP Parks Division administrator.
(Headlines - November 26, 1999)

Ice fishing, cross-country skiing and winter survival will be some of the "hot" topics covered in classes being offered this coming February at a winter outdoor skills workshop hosted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The workshop is scheduled for February 18-20 at the University of Montana's Lubrecht Forest, 30 miles east of Missoula off U.S. Highway 200.
(Headlines - November 26, 1999)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) announce a process for completing a fisheries co-management plan for the Flathead Lake and River system by October 2000. An advisory group will be assembled and will work along with FWP and CSKT from January through June to complete draft alternatives for the plan.
(Headlines - November 22, 1999)

A Parks Passport for low-income residents and families is among the new State Parks fee proposals the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission tentatively adopted in October. "We're looking at new ways to make our State Parks more accessible for all Montanans," said FWP Parks Administrator Doug Monger. "A State Parks Passport for low income residents is just one proposal in our new fee rule that we hope will make Montana State Parks more inviting places to visit.
(Headlines - November 12, 1999)

Montana anglers spend nearly 3 million days a year in pursuit of an array of fish in the state's rivers, lakes and streams, FWP's latest angler survey reveals. Montana angling surveys, now conducted every two years, have been done as early as 1958, when 1.42 million angler days were recorded. An "angler day" is one angler fishing one body of water for any length of time in a given day. The 1997 Montana Statewide Angling Pressure Survey shows: Angler's log 2.
(Headlines - November 12, 1999)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife Council will meet in Lewistown at the Yogo Inn on Thursday, Dec. 2, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Discussion will focus on defining "public hunting access", deciding how large the Block Management Program should be and how that program should be funded in future years. The public is invited to observe the Council's proceedings and participate during times designated for public input.
(Headlines - November 12, 1999)

The bipartisan Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA, H.R. 701) passed a major milestone in Washington, D.C. today when the U.S. House of Representatives' Resources Committee voted to forward this historic conservation legislation to the House floor for full consideration.
(Headlines - November 10, 1999)

Your year 2000 Montana State Parks Passport sports a new look. In place of numbers and letters, you will find the Bitterroot (the state flower). In future years, you will see more colorful Montana symbols on our passports. The passport is valid for one license year (March 1st to the last day of February), but "Early Bird" Passports purchased between December 1st - February 15th are valid immediately upon purchase, if permanently affixed to the interior windshield on the lower left side.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

Every two years, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission reviews the fees charged at Montana State Parks. The Commission is considering several changes for 2000-01. The most notable include: Adopting a "low income passport" that enables people who meet existing Medicaid and Food Stamp eligibility to purchase State Parks Passport at the discounted rate of $16. Dropping the vehicle entrance fee at Ulm Pishkun and charging $2 per person.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

We suspect that our park field staff cringe each spring when Helena staffers call and offer their services. It is a tradition, however, for central office park employees to complete at least three days of "field work" to stay in touch with our park resources and our visitors. We work under the direction of our rangers, caretakers and frontline employees. We trade our familiar tools for hammers, post-hole diggers, and, yes, even toilet brushes.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

FWP now joins other land-management agencies in planning how to prepare for and host visitors during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, 2003-2006. FWP administers several parks important primarily for their ties to the Corps of Discovery: Giant Springs, Headwaters of the Missouri, Clark's Lookout, Beaverhead Rock, and Pirogue Island. FWP manages other lands along the expedition's route including a series of fishing access sites in the Blackfoot River corridor.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

Have you ever considered being a campground host, visitor-center attendant, or special-project volunteer? Now is your chance to get involved in this exciting and rewarding program. Campground hosts are needed at State Parks and Fishing Access Sites located around the state. Volunteers help us staff our visitor centers, provide evening/weekend programs, and help with special one-time-only projects. CONTACT HELENA.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

In memory of his father, who was a fly fishing guide on the Madison River, Mike Herrick of Bozeman has established the Vaughn Herrick Memorial Raffle. Mike is donating the proceeds to FWP specifically for improvements at his father's favorite FAS. Mike worked through the Region 3 Office to sort out details of possible projects. This year's donation was used for badly needed road improvements. Future donations will be used for weed abatement, fire rings and picnic tables. CONTACT Bozeman.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

We are glad to have survived summer. But we would never make it without our seasonal employees. Montana State Parks administers 41 parks and 315 fishing access sites, and other affiliated lands, statewide. With fewer than 50 permanent employees, seasonal employees play an invaluable role in visitor contacts, site maintenance, and resource management. In fact, seasonal employees in Montana State Parks often take on duties that are eligible only to permanent employees in other states.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

By this time of year, many, though not all, of our State Parks have settled into winter "hibernation." Water lines have been drained, tipis put away, entrance stations closed, and signs mothballed. Montana's winter weather dictates some of this park rest. State Park staffing requires it as well.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

State Park employees are a frugal bunch. Consider, for example, Don Morris and Ray Swartz, parks maintenance staff in Region 4, out of Great Falls. When they observed that the single bid received for parking lot improvement at the regional headquarters was high, they took it upon themselves to do the job. They saved Montanans $13,800 and got the job done in a single day. The FWP Commission formally recognized Ray and Don for a job well done. CONTACT GREAT FALLS.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)

From August through September, Bannack State Park held public meetings and solicited concerns and preferences to be considered in Bannack State Park's first comprehensive management plan. A group of interested citizens and FWP staff are now gathering data and researching options to shape the plan's recommendations. Bannack's 30,000 annual visitors love its solitude, freedom from commercialization, and ghost-town character.
(Parks - November 01, 1999)