ALL the fees collected at Montana State Parks (park entrance, camping, sale of firewood, shower costs, Passports, etc.) return directly to the operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of State Parks. In this way, our visitors help pay for things like garbage collection, painting buildings, providing educational brochures and tours to repairing vandalism and replacing worn out picnic tables. Park fees, however, pay for less than one quarter of park costs.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

Did you know that FWP's Parks Division maintains the State Capitol complex lawns, trees, and landscape features in Helena? Our most photographed work is the colorful Montana flower logo directly in front of the Capitol. Every spring, Helenans volunteer to create this flower art. We also care for the Governor's residence grounds.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

Road improvements at Makoshika State Park near Glendive now makes travel inside the park far easier. Look for improved drainage, safer engineering, and road alignments more "user friendly" for park visitors, especially those with larger vehicles or towing trailers. For years the park road into the park was unpassible when wet, today it is rare for a park visitor to get trapped in the park after a cloud burst.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

In 1991 the Montana Legislature approved a $3.50 fee on the registration of recreational vehicles. These revenues were earmarked to provide recreational vehicle services and facilities in State Parks. Eight years later, you will find RV dump stations in seven State Parks: Black Sandy unit of Hauser Lake; Clearwater Junction/Salmon Lake; Frenchtown Pond; Lewis and Clark Caverns; Logan; Missouri Headwaters; and Wayfarers unit of Flathead Lake.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

Work continues on an inter-agency Montana State Trails Plan. The plan will provide a long-range strategy for Montana's trail system in the 21st century. It is a lively topic for many recreationists, who value everything from interpreted historic trail corridors to good outdoor hiking and motorized opportunities.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

For the last three years, the US Forest Service, the Mikal Kellner Foundation for Animals and FWP invited the ingenuity of cardboard boat designers, builders and captains to enjoy in a wonderful day of family fun at Spring Meadow Lake near Helena. Racers build boats completely out of cardboard and duct tape. This year's entries included streamlined kayaks, a paddle wheeler, and Shamu the Whale, complete with functioning blowhole.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

The final phase of a multiseason survey of recreational users on the Clark Fork River ended August 31, 1999. The project will provide recreational use data, to make future management decision for the Gorge. We are seeking information on types of recreational use, numbers of people, users perceptions of river conflict and their recreational experience. An FWP intern in the Cyr/Tarkio/Forest Grove Fishing Access Site areas west of Missoula is conducting the survey. CONTACT MISSOULA.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

The lion's share of funding for purchasing new Fishing Access Sites (FAS), as well as for improving and maintaining our 312 existing sites, comes from a portion of fishing license fees. One dollar from each resident fishing license and $5 from each non-resident license is earmarked for the FAS account. Additional federal funding is received from taxes on fishing tackle and motor boat fuel for improvements at some sites.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

This summer 24 students from various colleges around the state completed internships in Montana parks. Students pitched in on basic entrance and maintenance duties, organized campfire programs, created educational trunks, conducted surveys and other various tasks. This seven-year-old program saves FWP money, and gives recreation, history, education and biology students practical experience. Summer internship announcements are posted at every college in Montana in January of each year. CONTACT HELENA.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

Last winter, museum conservator Rita Kaunekas, and conservation technician Lynne Caine, prepared an Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPMA) for Chief Plenty Coups State Park. The plan identifies the routine work that the park will do to keep critters on the run. Since insects never disappear for good, an IPMA helps us keep after them efficiently. The plan is to use a freeze-thaw process of freezing the artifacts, then vacuuming them once they thawed to room temperature.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

In the last issue, in the Giant Springs Conservation Easement article, the Conservation Fund, rather than the Trust for Public Lands, should have been identified as the assisting organization.
(Parks - September 01, 1999)

As has been the case for the past two years, all hunters who purchase a deer A license this year must decide where in the state they would like to hunt during the general season. Each hunter's license must be validated. Those who select a hunting area from among the "Southwestern 8" (eight districts located in southwestern Montana) must confine their hunting of mule deer bucks to that area.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

The 1999 hunting seasons mark the first year of a double tagging procedure for black bear in Montana. This year all black bear licenses are composed of a carcass tag and a hide tag. The carcass tag must be attached to the carcass of the bear and the hide tag must be attached to the hide. Montana's 1999 black bear regulations state that "after each tag is properly validated the carcass tag must be attached to the carcass and the hide tag must be attached to the hide.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

Hunters headed afield this year in Montana are reminded that they need to purchase a State Lands Recreational Use License if they plan to hunt on accessible State School Trust Lands this fall. The rules that opened Montana's State School Trust Lands contain provisions that either prohibit or restrict open fires, motor vehicle use, parking, discharge of firearms, camping and some other activities.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

Upland game bird hunters headed afield this fall need to be aware that when transporting any harvested sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, mountain grouse and partridge, they must leave one wing naturally attached for identification purposes. The wing is to remain attached at all times while the birds are being transported from the place where they were taken until they have arrived at the permanent residence of the hunter or the person who processes the same birds.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

Upland game bird seasons begin in Montana September 1 and, in some instances, run through December 15. Hunters are encouraged to consult upland game bird hunting regulations which are available at all license agents and FWP headquarters.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

For the second consecutive year, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has eliminated hunting for either-sex mule deer during the archery-only season in many hunting districts throughout the state. In other words, antlerless mule deer cannot be taken legally by bowhunters in many hunting districts.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

If your trails club or agency needs money to create, complete, renovate or maintain a recreational trail, Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) has money to help get the job done! The Recreational Trails Program, one part of the 1998 Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century (TEA 21), will provide $600,000 for Montana trails. FWP's State Parks Division administers these funds with advice from the citizen's State Trails Advisory Committee.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

FWP's 1999 Block Management Program has enrolled about 930 landowners and nearly 7.3 million acres for public hunting access to private lands and isolated public lands. To reduce hunting pressure on some Block Management Areas (BMAs), some landowners have instituted rest days, hunter limits, and alternating days of big game and bird hunting.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

FWP announced today that there are a limited number of surplus deer and elk permits and antelope and deer B licenses that will go on sale September 7. The licenses will be sold first-come, first-served by mail only from the Helena Headquarters through September 17. After the 17th, remaining licenses will be sold first-come, first-served in the regions for which the licenses are valid.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Council will meet in Helena August 25-26 at Jorgenson's Holiday Motel. Council members recently appointed by Gov. Marc Racicot will discuss issues involving public hunting access and private landowner concerns. The meeting, which is open to the public, will be from 1-4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 25; and from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 26. For more information, contact Alan Charles, FWP Landowner/Sportsman Coordinator, at (406) 444-3798.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

Season dates may vary from those listed below. Check 1999 hunting regulations for specifics. Big Game Deer and elk archery Sept. 4----Oct. 17 Backcountry deer and elk Sept. 15---Nov. 28 General deer and elk Oct. 24----Nov. 28 Antelope (archery) Sept. 4----Oct. 9 Antelope (gun) Oct. 10----Nov. 7 Bighorn sheep Sept. 15---Nov. 28 Black bear Sept. 15---Nov. 28 Lion (no hounds; area quota restrictions). Oct. 24---Nov.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

Montana's FWP Commission adopted final trapping regulations for the 1999 furbearer trapping season at its regular meeting August 6 in Helena. Many of the changes adopted were recommended by the statewide Trapping Advisory Committee, a ten-member group made up of trappers and non-trappers appointed through FWP and the Commission. The advisory committee recently completed a year of work to come up with recommendations to reduce conflicts between trappers and other recreationists.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

A law requiring hunters to obtain permission for ALL hunting that occurs on private land went into effect July 1. Alan Charles, FWP's Landowner/Sportsman Coordinator, reminds hunters of the change and encourages all hunters to begin securing permission from private landowners as early as possible. Since 1965, only big game hunters have been required by law to have landowner permission, unless the private land was posted with signs or orange paint.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

At its meeting on August 6, the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission set tentative 1999 waterfowl hunting seasons and regulations. Waterfowl seasons will be finalized after season framework dates are received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service later in August. Public comments on the following will be accepted through August 31 by FWP's Wildlife Division, PO Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)

The deadline for purchasing 1999 mountain lion licenses is August 31. Applications for lion licenses submitted through the mail must be postmarked by that date. Mountain lion licenses are available only at FWP offices. Hound handlers are reminded that they must also obtain a free hound handler permit no later than August 31 to hunt or chase mountain lions. A hound handler permit can also be obtained at any FWP office.
(Headlines - August 20, 1999)