The Alternative Livestock Advisory Council will meet Monday, April 8 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Department of Livestock conference room, room 319, at the corner of Sixth and Roberts in Helena. Tentative agenda items include an overview of hybrid testing programs and regulations, Chronic Wasting Disease information from other states, and exhibition policies in place for deer and elk.
(Hunting - March 27, 2002)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southeastern Montana Region 7, which includes all Montana Hunting Districts beginning with the number 7, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, March 25, 2002. 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. For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - March 25, 2002)

Where can you learn Dutch oven cooking, tour Montana's first territorial capital, raise a tipi and learn to tan a hide the old fashioned way? Montana's State Parks will feature these activities and many more this season. "Our goal is to highlight the unique assets of the parks and the talents and backgrounds of local area people," said Doug Monger, FWP Parks Administrator.
(Headlines - March 22, 2002)

"Those critters don’t mind us – they don’t even move when they see us!" Wildlife biologists regularly hear this comment from people relating how wildlife are unaffected by their presence, whether they are riding through the country on a motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, or are on foot or horseback. But the science of wildlife biology takes a closer look at how recreation impacts wildlife and the environment.
(Habitat - March 22, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park's award-winning web site has a new look "We're proud of the fact the FWP’s web site has been so popular, clocking some 2,500 visitors a day," said FWP Director Jeff Hagener. "We’re hoping our new, streamlined designed keeps visitors interested, informed, and eager to come back." FWP'S new homepage at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Inside FWP - March 22, 2002)

Montanans interested in helping to identify issues associated with wolf management may attend one of four remaining community work sessions or comment online. Wolf management information and comment areas can be found at FWP’s Wolf Management link under Hot Topics on our home page. Community work sessions will continue through April 1. The sessions will be held from 6:30-9 p.m.
(Wild Things - March 22, 2002)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet in the FWP Helena office, 1420 East Sixth Ave., Thursday, March 21 at 8 a.m. The Commission will make final decisions on Future Fisheries Improvement Program projects to be funded, fishing tournament rules and the two-day resident fishing license fee refund.
(Inside FWP - March 13, 2002)

The Fort Peck Fisheries Management Plan is completed and available to the public at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices in Glasgow, Missoula and Helena.  Copies of the plan may be obtained by calling the FWP Glasgow Area Office at 406-228-3700 or by writing: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, RT 1-4210, Glasgow, MT 59230.  The Fort Peck Fisheries Management Plan is also available on the FWP web site at fwp.state.mt.us at the Notices tab.
(Fishing - March 13, 2002)

The hunting of female mountain lions in the northeastern Montana portion of Hunting Districts 680 and 690, which includes portions of Choteau, Blaine, and  Hill will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, March 13, 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 website at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - March 12, 2002)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215, which includes portions of Granite, Powell, Deer Lodge, and Silver Bow counties, closed one-half hour after sunset on March 11, 2002. The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 314, which include portions of Gallatin and Park counties, closed one-half hour after sunset on March 11, 2002.
(Hunting - March 12, 2002)

            To Margaret Moddison, Montana’s State Parks are a reason to go on living. "Parks are my heart throb," Moddison says. Moddison, a native of Great Falls, currently sits on the boards of the State Parks Futures Committee II and the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Foundation.  Moddison chairs the State Parks Futures Committee II and is the only member of both the new Committee and the 1989 State Parks Futures Committee.
(Headlines - March 08, 2002)

The wait is over. The annual Smith River permit drawing has taken place and the results are in the mail and on the Internet. "We received 3,752 permit applications this year," says Joe O’Neill, Fish, Wildlife and Parks Smith River manager. "We gave out 706 permits." The 59-mile scenic float south of Great Falls has become increasingly popular. Last year, FWP received about 4,252 applications. Two years ago, 4,294 people sent in applications.
(Headlines - March 08, 2002)

Montanans interested in helping to identify issues associated with wolf management, but who can’t attend one of the scheduled community work sessions, can comment on online.  Wolf management information and comment areas can be found at  FWP’s Wolf Management link at: www.fwp.state.mt.us . In addition, community work sessions will continue through March. The sessions will be held from 6:30-9 p.m.
(Wild Things - March 08, 2002)

Handling archery equipment safely, wildlife conservation, tree-stand safety, laws, ethics and sportsmanship will be some of the topics covered in a Bowhunter Education class offered for adult women.  The class, to be held at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch west of Dupuyer, will begin Friday, June 21 at noon and run to Sunday afternoon, June 23. Participants will have an opportunity to shoot bows and arrows and take part in field exercises simulating a hunting experience.
(Hunting - March 08, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently set the 2002 hunting regulations and details will be available soon in Montana’s 2002 big game hunting regulation booklet, which will be available at FWP offices and license providers the first week of April.  Some of the season and regulation changes adopted for deer, elk, black bear, bighorn sheep and upland game bird hunting are summarized below.
(Hunting - March 08, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds turkey hunters that the deadline for applying for a Turkey Special Permit is March 15.  Applications should be sent to the appropriate FWP regional office.
(Hunting - March 08, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds hunters that the Nonresident General Big Game Combination Licenses and Landowner Sponsored Licenses are sold through a drawing process through the FWP State Headquarters office in Helena.  Applications must be postmarked on or before March 15 and addressed to:  Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Attn:  Nonresident Big Game Drawing, 1420 East Sixth Ave., P.O. Box 8012, Helena, MT 59604-8012.  For further information contact FWP at 406-444-2950.
(Hunting - March 08, 2002)

Change is one of the inevitable realities of life, even for those simple, treasured rituals related to one of the state’s most popular activities—hunting.  Hunting and fishing regulations and procedures at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks change on a regular basis.  For example, this year the agency changed to an Automated Licensing System to streamline the sale of licenses and the record keeping involved.
(Hunting - March 08, 2002)

The final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Game Bird Farm and Shooting Preserve Programs is available to the public by contacting Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.  "This document and the environmental analysis it required was in response to a significant increase in the number of both game bird farms and shooting preserves in the state over the past decade," said Tim Feldner, FWP permit manager.
(Hunting - March 08, 2002)

The TIP-MONT Program's Board of Directors awarded $10,400 to 21 individuals who offered tips that led to apprehending violators in 2001. Violations included, among others, shooting from the road; unlawful use of two-way radios; hunting elk in a closed season; and, in one case, 29 counts of possessing unlawfully taken game animals, according to Debbie Bingham, TIP-MONT coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena.
(Hunting - March 08, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) will grant approximately $643,495in federal Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Program funding to local public outdoor recreation projects this year.  Project applications are due July 1, 2002.  Typical facilities eligible for funding include ball fields, campgrounds, golf courses, ice-skating ponds, picnic facilities, tennis courts, playground equipment, and hiking trails.
(Headlines - March 08, 2002)

The deadline for this year’s Montana State Park’s poster contest, April 5, is fast approaching.  "We're looking forward to seeing how this year’s fifth graders interpret the theme, which was selected shortly after September 11 to reflect our renewed awareness of how precious our way of life is," said Debbie Cheek, FWP Parks Division field support. The theme is "Montana State Parks—A Symbol of Freedom, Inspiration and Hope.
(Headlines - March 08, 2002)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 202 and 203, which includes portions of Mineral and Missoula counties, closed one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, March 5, 2002.  The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for these districts combined had been met. For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - March 06, 2002)