Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently approved the state wildlife agency’s adoption of a conservation plan for black- and white-tailed prairie dogs and is now seeking comment on a tentatively approved annual rule to regulate prairie dog shooting on public lands. The commission voted unanimously to approve Montana’s first prairie dog conservation plan at its January meeting in Helena.
(Headlines - January 31, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will provide the results of fish population monitoring on Canyon Ferry, Hauser and Holter reservoirs, and review the effectiveness of fisheries management decisions on these waters, during a public meeting February 12 from 7-9 p.m. at the FWP headquarters building, 1420 East Sixth Ave., in Helena. Data from the 2001 fish population monitoring indicates a decline in rainbow trout and yellow perch and an increase in the number of walleye in Canyon Ferry.
(Headlines - January 29, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on a proposal that specifically defines "landowner" for recreational floating of the Smith River.  The definition will be used to allow specific landowners to float the Smith River for recreation.
(Headlines - January 29, 2002)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting district 240, in portions of Missoula and Ravalli counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, January 25, 2002. 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. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

To those who have never tried it, ice fishing is sometimes looked upon as an oddity.  So, too, are the practitioners of this sport.  Seen from a distance, the forlorn-looking souls huddled over the ice often evoke feelings mixed with both pity as well as a strange sense of wonder:  why would anyone subject themselves to this treatment? Once you’ve spent a little time on the ice, however, you’ll soon see a different picture.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

The Montana Watershed Coordination Council is seeking nominations for its annual award for innovative approaches to watershed restoration. The Montana Watershed Stewardship Award was established in 1999 to recognize outstanding efforts that contribute to locally inspired watershed management. Watershed groups and organizations are eligible. The winner of Montana’s award also will be nominated for the National Watershed Award.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on the proposed adoption of new rules giving FWP the discretion to issue supplemental game damage licenses for antlerless deer and elk to hunters as an alternative to issuing a kill permit to a landowner in certain game damage situations.  When FWP issues supplemental game damage licenses, the landowner may by law designate some or all of the resident hunters who receive the supplemental game damage licenses.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the rules that regulate fishing contests.  Fishing contests have grown annually from a handful of traditional contests to nearly 50 annually in the state.  A fishing contest is any event, contest, derby or tournament where an entry fee is charged and in which people compete to win prizes or cash for the capture of fish.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the rules for the purchase of two-day fishing licenses.  The proposed rule change would allow residents who purchase a two-day fishing license to request a refund by returning the two-day license to an FWP office when they apply for a season fishing license. Comments may be made in writing until Feb. 15 addressed to Karen Zackheim, 1420 East Sixth Ave., PO Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on proposed rules regulating the use of snowmobiles on open, public water.  The proposed rules would close all public waters within the state to snowmobiles, while still allowing snowmobiles to cross or enter public water if the water is frozen or it is necessary to cross a small stream while traveling on snow.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

FWP internships offer a variety of "hands-on" work experiences that enable a student to combine career goals with on-the-job training.  For the past 10 years this program has benefited both students and FWP. Applications must be postmarked no later than Monday, Mar. 4.  The typical internship is 12 weeks long, totaling 480 hours with an average wage of $8 per hour.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

Smith River permit applications for the 2002 float season are now available at all Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices, as well as on the Internet. "We’ve put them on the Internet along with making them available at the FWP offices in order to make the application process as convenient as possible," says Joe O’Neill, FWP Smith River manager. Applications must be postmarked on or before February 15 for entry into a random drawing.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' annual survey of Montana's big and small game hunters will begin the end of January.  Wildlife managers will use information collected during the survey to estimate the 2001 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 a four-to-six week period.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

The annual interagency Northern Yellowstone Cooperative Elk Count has been completed, and this year's total of 11,969 elk is 11 percent below last year's count of 13,400 elk.  Annual elk counts are a group effort by the National Park Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Forest Service. The counts are typically made from four fixed wing airplanes flying the same day over 68 winter range count units inside and outside Yellowstone National Park.
(Headlines - January 25, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on proposed changes to the rules that regulate fishing contests.  Fishing contests have grown annually from a handful of traditional contests to nearly 50 in the state in each of the past five years.  A fishing contest is any event, contest, derby or tournament where an entry fee is charged and in which people will compete to win prizes or cash for the capture of fish.
(Headlines - January 23, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on the proposed adoption of new rules giving FWP the discretion to issue supplemental game damage licenses for antlerless deer and elk to hunters as an alternative to issuing a kill permit to a landowner in certain game damage situations.  When FWP issues supplemental game damage licenses, the landowner may by law designate some or all of the resident hunters who receive the supplemental game damage licenses.
(Headlines - January 23, 2002)

By order of the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking fisher in Trapping District 2 of western Montana will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, January 25, 2002.   Trapping District 2 includes portions of Deer Lodge, Granite, Lewis and Clark, Mineral, Missoula, Powell and Ravalli counties. For more information, visit FWP's web site at "Trapping and Hunting Status and Closures," or call the toll free number at 1-800-711-8727.
(Headlines - January 23, 2002)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 200 and 201, which includes portions of Mineral, Sanders and Missoula counties, closed one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, January 20, 2002. The hunting of male mountain lions in north-central Montana hunting districts 422, 423, 424, 425 and 442, in portions of Lewis and Clark and Teton counties, closed at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 20, 2002.
(Headlines - January 22, 2002)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 4 in north central Montana will close one-half hour after sunset Tuesday, January 22, 2002. The district includes portions of Hill, Glacier, Chouteau, Toole, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, Cascade, Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Meagher, Park, Judith Basin, Fergus, and Petroleum counties.
(Headlines - January 22, 2002)

            The hunting of all 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 Wednesday, January 23, 2002.             The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for lions in the district had been met.             For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 22, 2002)

The hunting of all 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 Saturday, January 19, 2002.  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. For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 18, 2002)

A planning document designed to kick off the next phase of Montana’s effort to prepare for the anticipated recovery and federal delisting of the state’s gray wolf population is available to the public. The draft “Montana Wolf Conservation and Management Planning Document” is based on recommendations made by Montana’s Wolf Management Advisory Council, a mix of livestock producers, hunters, educators, conservationists and other citizens.
(Headlines - January 16, 2002)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Wednesday, Jan. 23 and Thursday, Jan. 24 in Helena at the FWP Headquarters building on 1420 East Sixth Ave., beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and resuming at 8 a.m. on Thursday.  Wednesday’s work session, which is open to the public, will focus on a review of the FWP budget. During Thursday’s session, a final decision will be made on the appointment of the Paddlefish Roe Advisory Committee.
(Headlines - January 15, 2002)

The hunting of female 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 Wednesday, January 16, 2002.  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. For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 15, 2002)

Black bear hunters in Montana are now required to successfully complete a bear identification test in order to obtain a Montana black bear hunting license.  The new identification program is intended to prevent mistaken killings of grizzly bears and to help Montana maintain its black bear hunting season, said Thomas Baumeister, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ hunter education program coordinator.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

In the Pacific Flyway, the duck hunting season will close on Jan. 11; in the Central Flyway, the duck hunting season closed Jan. 3.  The goose hunting season in the Pacific Flyway closed on Jan. 6 and the Central Flyway will close on Jan. 11, 2002.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ annual survey of Montana’s big and small game hunters will begin the end of January. Wildlife managers will use information collected during the survey to estimate the 2001 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 a four-to-six week period.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

Smith River permit applications for the 2002 float season are now available at all Fish, Wildlife and Parks office, as well as on the Internet. "We’ve put them on the Internet along with FWP offices for convenience," says Joe O’Neill, FWP Smith River manager. Applications must be postmarked on or before Feb. 15 for entry into a random drawing. Results will be mailed out by the middle of March. Refunds will be mailed by the end of March.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

Looking for a special Valentine's gift that captures the spirit of Montana, endures throughout the year, and can be shared with a partner?  The Early Bird State Parks Passports are on sale now through Feb. 15 at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters in Helena and at FWP regional offices. The annual windshield decal—with the FWP logo celebrating Montana's state bird, the Meadow Lark—allows unlimited entrance into State Parks without paying a daily fee each time.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

Avalanches are powerful, unpredictable and can occur at any time.  The best way to avoid an avalanche is to recognize the warning signs and to steer clear of avalanche-hazard areas. There are two types of snow avalanches: · Loose snow avalanches that begin in a small area, but grow larger, taking on more snow as they descend; and · Slab avalanches that start as a large slide.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

Three Montana organizations are offering young people the opportunity to learn one of the oldest trades in the West. The Montana Trappers Association, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Montana 4-H will hold the third annual Youth Trapper Camp, June 14-16, 2002 in the Bears Paw Mountains, south of Havre.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

With the 2002 license year, Montana's hunting and fishing licenses will have a new look and be dispensed in a new way by FWP's new Automated Licensing System (ALS). For the past 100 years, Montana's license agents have been writing or typing information on licenses, storing copies and then shipping the carbon copies and fees to FWP in Helena.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

State wildlife officials are holding public meetings throughout the state on the proposed regulations for the 2002 hunting season.  Some additional meetings have also been scheduled in Helena, Glendive, Miles City, Ekalaka, Ashland, Ennis and West Yellowstone.
(Headlines - January 11, 2002)

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, January 9, 2002.    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.  For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 08, 2002)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 340, which include portions of Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 7, 2002. The order haling 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. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 07, 2002)

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 Tuesday, January 8, 2002. The hunting of all 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 Tuesday, January 8, 2002.
(Headlines - January 07, 2002)

The hunting of all 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 Tuesday, January 8, 2002. 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. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.
(Headlines - January 07, 2002)

The hunting of male mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 290, 291 and 292, in portions of Powell, Granite and Missoula counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 5, 2002. 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. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 04, 2002)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 5 in southcentral Montana will close at midnight on Sunday, January 6, 2002. The district includes portions of Fergus, Golden Valley, Meagher, Musselshell, Petroleum, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, Park, Yellowstone, Big Horn, Carbon and Treasure counties. For more information visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 04, 2002)

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 Saturday, January 5, 2002.  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. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 04, 2002)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 3 in southwestern Montana will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 7, 2002. The district includes portions of Beaverhead, Broadwater. Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, Meagher, Park and Silver Bow counties. For more information visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - January 04, 2002)

Make the outdoors part of your New Year by participating in FWP’s popular "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" winter workshop. Ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are some of the "hot" topics covered in the classes being offered Feb. 8-10 at the University of Montana’s Lubrecht Forest, 30 miles east of Missoula off U.S. Highway 200.
(Headlines - January 03, 2002)

            State wildlife officials have set dates for public meetings throughout the state on the proposed regulations for the 2002 hunting season.
(Headlines - January 02, 2002)