The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 283 and 285, which includes portions of Missoula and Powell counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 28, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 28, 2000)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 1 in western Montana will close at midnight on Friday, December 29, 2000. The district includes portions of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Powell and Sanders counties.
(Headlines - December 28, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 319 and 341, in portions of Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Madison and Jefferson counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday December 28, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 28, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 301, which includes portions of Gallatin and Park counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 28, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for lions in the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 28, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana Region 7, which includes all Montana Hunting Districts beginning with the number 7, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 28, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for all districts had been met.
(Headlines - December 28, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 310, 311, 360, 361 and 362, which include portions of Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson and Broadwater counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, December 27, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 26, 2000)

MILES CITY--Severe winter weather in portions of eastern Montana prompted the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission to establish special game damage hunts in portions of Hunting Districts 703 and 705. Hunting for the special season is open for: * antlerless mule deer by holders of special antlerless mule-deer damage hunt license, unused "A" deer license or unused antlerless mule deer "B" license valid in Montana during the 2000 general season.
(Headlines - December 22, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting district 270, which includes a portion of Ravalli County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 23, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district has been met.
(Headlines - December 22, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 300, 302, 328 and 329, in portions of Beaverhead County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, December 22, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for lions in the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 22, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana Hunting District 250, in portions of Ravalli County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 21, 2000. The order ending the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met.
(Headlines - December 20, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 313 and 316, including portions of Park, Carbon and Sweet Grass, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, December 20, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 19, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 300, 302, 328 and 329, in portions of Beaverhead County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, December 20, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for lions in the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 19, 2000)

The hunting of male mountain lions in north-central Montana hunting districts 413 and 432, which includes portions of Cascade, Meagher and Judith Basin counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, December 20, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 19, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana Hunting District 250, in portions of Ravalli County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 19, 2000. The order ending the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the district had been met.
(Headlines - December 18, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 318 and 350, in portions of Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 19, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 18, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 204, 260 and 261, which includes portions of Granite, Missoula and Ravalli counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Monday, December 18, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for these districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 18, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 320 and 333, which include portions of Madison, Silver Bow, Gallatin and Jefferson counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, December 18,2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 18, 2000)

Governor Marc Racicot today lauded the land-conservation ethic of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commissions saying their work and achievements will be the conservation hallmarks of the 1990s. "Eight years ago, I don't think anyone could have imagined the important land- conservation ethic this commission would forge for Montana," Racicot said.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

Great Falls artist Cliff Rossberg is the winner of the year 2001 Montana Migratory Bird Stamp competition. Rossberg, winner of the contest in 1999, produced a colorful image of a pair of Canada geese flying through the Missouri Breaks near Fort Benton. Unique also to this year's theme, was depiction of a turn-of-the-century steamboat as part of the design to highlight FWP's first 100 years of conservation in the state.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

Smith River permit applications for the 2001 float season are now available at all Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices. Applications postmarked on or before Feb. 15 are entered into a random drawing. The application fee for Montana residents is $20, which may be paid by personal check, cashier's check or money order. For non-residents, the cost is $40, which may be paid by cashier's check or money order. Non-residents may not use personal checks.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

If finding a Christmas gift for the outdoorswoman on your list has you stumped, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has the answer. Why not give her something she is sure to love, and that will pay dividends for years to come? FWP is offering a winter workshop in 2001 as part of its highly popular "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" program. Ice fishing, cross-country skiing and winter survival are some of the "hot" topics covered in the classes being offered Feb.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' annual Hunting and Harvest Survey are now underway with calls to hunters of moose, sheep and goats. Other big and small game hunters will be surveyed beginning the end of January. Wildlife managers will use information collected during the survey to estimate the 2000 harvest and to recommend quotas for upcoming hunting seasons. According to FWP wildlife researcher Candy Hinz, about 80,000 Montana households will be contacted over the course of the survey period.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215, which includes portions of Granite, Powell, Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, December 15, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 318 and 350, in portions of Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, December 15, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana Hunting District 124, which includes a portion of Sanders County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 16, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for lions in this district had been met.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

"Connecting Communities With Trails" will be the theme of the Montana State Trails Symposium to be held in Billings on April 5 - 7, 2001. Darlene Tussing, Coordinator of the Symposium Host Committee said the symposium will bring people together from across the state who are interested in developing trails and greenways, and promoting bicycle/pedestrian trails.
(Headlines - December 15, 2000)

Recommendations from the citizens council appointed to help Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks develop a wolf management plan were accepted by Governor Marc Racicot last week. The advisory council was formed in May in anticipation of the wolfs eventual delisting under the federal Endangered Species Act.
(Headlines - December 13, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 312 and 393, which include portions of Gallatin, Park and Meagher counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, December 13, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined has been met.
(Headlines - December 12, 2000)

The Alternative Livestock Advisory Council will meet Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. in the Department of Livestock conference room, 301 N. Roberts, room 319. The five-member Advisory Council meets as required to discuss issues related to the regulation and licensing of alternative livestock facilities in Montana.
(Headlines - December 11, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 202 and 203, which includes portions of Mineral and Missoula counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 12, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for these districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 11, 2000)

The hunting of male mountain lions in northcentral Montana hunting districts 411 and 412, in portions of Fergus, Golden Valley, and Judith Basin counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 12, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 11, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana hunting district 102, which includes portions of Lincoln and Flathead counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, December 10, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for lions had been met.
(Headlines - December 08, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana Hunting District 104, which includes portions of Lincoln County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 9, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met.
(Headlines - December 08, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana hunting district 130, which includes portions of Lake and Missoula counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, December 8, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for lions in this district had been met.
(Headlines - December 07, 2000)

GLASGOW, Mont. --Extreme winter weather conditions in northeastern corner of Montana prompted the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission to establish special game damage hunts in Hunting Districts 640 and 641. Severe winter weather has resulted in substantial game damage on private property in these areas.
(Headlines - December 06, 2000)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 200 and 201, which includes portions of Mineral, Sanders and Missoula counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 7, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for these districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - December 06, 2000)

Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet in the FWP Helena office, 1420 East Sixth Ave., Dec. 14, and at the Colonial Inn Best Western, 2301 Colonial Drive in the Lewis Room, on Dec. 15. The meeting will begin at 8:00 a.m. both days. The Commission will take final action on a number of land exchanges, conservation easements and an acquisition on Dec.
(Headlines - December 05, 2000)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' annual Hunting and Harvest Survey will begin Dec. 6 with calls to hunters of moose, sheep and goats. Other big and small game hunters will be surveyed beginning the end of January. Wildlife managers will use information collected during the survey to estimate the 2000 harvest and to recommend quotas for upcoming hunting seasons.
(Headlines - December 05, 2000)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana Hunting District 121, which includes a portion of Sanders County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, December 6, 2000. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for lions had been met.
(Headlines - December 05, 2000)

A proposal for work at Chief Plenty Coups State Park, available for public review now, deals with park issues such as fire protection, needed classroom space, and traffic flow. Improvements to the site to-date include a comprehensive pest control program in the museum, upgrades to make the restrooms handicapped accessible, and many small maintenance and improvement projects. Since 1993, $403,830 has been spent on restoration, preservation, and development projects at this important site.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

Periodically, Montana State Parks initiates a land acquisition or exchange to acquire lands within or adjacent to a park to enhance or preserve the natural character, geological integrity, historical, or recreational value of the park. A significant land exchange to acquire the "jump face" of the buffalo jump at Ulm Pishkun State Park and the area at the base of the jump is underway now.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

The Friends of Makoshika are the force behind a $48,000 Tourism Infrastructure Improvement Program (TIIP) grant to rehabilitate the amphitheatre at Makoshika State Park. FWP brought $50,000 in matching funds to the table so work could proceed on the stone terraces and stairs, new benches, electrical wiring, and trail improvements.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

The Montana State Parks staff is an accomplished crew, equally adept at welding and plumbing as they are at developing historical displays and brochures to tell a park’s story to visitors. These folks use everything from motorboats and canoes to backhoes and computers to get the job done. And, they work in some of the most scenic parts of Montana.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

Following public review of the Master Site Plan and Management Plan, Frenchtown Pond State Park is getting a "facelift." Project design and construction teams will organize this fall to tackle the construction scheduled for spring 2001. Improvements to the park will include a new restroom facility, interior road system upgrades with a sidewalk to make routes between facilities wheelchair accessible, new signage, security lights, a new location for the park host, and landscaping improvements.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

"Follow the investment trail" is an old saying in boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies and small family businesses when talk turns to "priorities." Following that "trail" through the Montana State Parks 2000 budget, a colorful journey, shows top priorities are: The resources--protecting and enhancing the natural, historical and recreational features that make our parks what they are today.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

Every region of the state benefits from dollars allocated to State Parks from the "boat-in-lieu" of tax program (funding generated from boat registrations in each county throughout Montana). A Boating Advisory Committee works with FWP Regional Parks Managers, Regional Supervisors and Helena parks staff to select projects that enhance basic boating and water based-recreation opportunities at FWP sites.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

Missouri Headwaters State Park is expected to be a major destination for thousands of people celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. These folks are likely to visit some or all of the historical sites noted in the extensive journals kept by Lewis and Clark. Park Manager Ray Heagney, Missouri Headwaters State Park, says the park already attracts informed visitors from Poland, Japan, Russia, France, Israel and Germany.
(Parks - December 01, 2000)

The 2001 Montana State Parks Centennial Passport celebrates Fish, Wildlife & Parks first 100 years. The passport, available at FWP Offices, is valid for one license year (March 1st to the last day of February) "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 - December 01, 2000)

A hunter's and a wildlife manager's big game hunting season experience can be mountain ridges apart and as different as missing or hitting the target. But by the measures tracked by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists and wildlife managers, this big game season was a success. While hunter numbers appear to be down slightly, harvest was up, based on information from game check stations around the state.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)

Montana's general land-trapping furbearer season for bobcat, marten, fisher, and wolverine opens Dec. 1. The general water-trapping furbearer season began on Nov. 1 for beaver, otter, muskrat and mink. Trapping seasons end on Feb. 15, 2001 for terrestrial furbearers and April 15, 2001 for the semi-aquatic furbearers. Season closures may vary, however, if harvest quotas are met prior to season closing dates. The bobcat season runs until Mar.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)

Montana's mountain lion winter hunting season begins Dec. 1 and hunters can expect a change when they report their harvest. To streamline the process of aging the lion, FWP personnel may pull a tooth after visually examining the lion when the hunter registers it. "The lion's age is an important piece of data in managing this species," says Rich DeSimone, Fish, Wildlife & Parks mountain lion research biologist in Helena.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reports that calls to TIPMONT, the 800 "crime stopper" number for reports of natural resource crimes, soared during this year's big game season. "TIPMONT was busier than any other time of year with calls from hunters and others reporting possible big game violations or following up on previous calls to TIPMONT," said Shelly Hiron, FWP TIPMONT coordinator. Hiron estimates that TIPMONT averaged 70 calls on weekends during big game season.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)

The Parks Division of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is again sponsoring a statewide poster contest for students in grade 5 this year in celebration of FWP's 100 years as a state agency. The poster theme is: "We celebrate the past while looking toward the future. What will Montana State Parks be like 100 years from now?" The contest will enhance students' understanding and appreciation of the resources that exist in Montana's State Parks.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)

Looking for a special Christmas gift that captures the spirit of Montana, endures throughout the year, and that can be shared by the recipient? The Early Bird State Parks Passports, on sale Dec. 1 at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters in Helena and region offices, are a great way to give "Montana" for the holidays.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)

The first annual public meeting to review Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' fisheries data on three popular upper Missouri River reservoirs is set for Tuesday, Dec. 12 in Helena. "This will be our first meeting to review our surveys and discuss fish-management strategies on Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter reservoirs," said Karen Zackheim, FWP's fisheries management bureau chief. The meeting will be held from 7-10 p.m. at FWP Headquarters, 1420 East Sixth Ave., in Helena.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife (PL/PW) Council will meet in Billings Dec. 7-8 to put the final touches on a legislative proposal to generate more funding for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunting access programs. PL/PW is a diverse citizens group appointed by Gov. Marc Racicot to address hunter access issues. The council will meet at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center, 1223 Mullowney Lane, beginning Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m.
(Headlines - December 01, 2000)