Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Thursday, Dec. 11, at the FWP Headquarters building on 1420 East Sixth Ave., beginning at 8 a.m.
(Headlines - November 25, 2003)

Montana’s State Parks will serve as history classrooms for fifth graders around the state who participate in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ annual poster contest.   After studying a park, students will create a poster to illustrate the history lesson they learned.
(Parks - November 25, 2003)

Christmas shoppers accustomed to purchasing Montana State Parks Passports as stocking stuffers for their Montana friends will have to find another gift. "Be ginning in 2004 Montana vehicles will be able to enter any State Park free of charge, so a resident State Parks Passport won’t be needed any longer," said Doug Monger, FWP Parks Division administrator.   The $30 car window decal allowed unlimited visits to Montana’s parks for the year.
(Parks - November 25, 2003)

The hunting seasons for deer and elk, fall black bear and mountain lion hunting without hounds all close Nov. 30.   The mountain lion hunting season with hounds opens Dec. 1.
(Hunting - November 25, 2003)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife (PL/PW) Council will meet in Billings at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center Dec. 15-16 to discuss the Block Management Hunter Access Program and other issues related to Montana hunting access.   The 15-member council, comprised of hunters, landowners, and outfitters appointed by Gov. Martz, will meet Monday, Dec. 15, from 1– 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 16, from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
(Headlines - November 25, 2003)

A special game-damage hunting season for deer and elk in northeastern and north-central Montana will begin Monday, Dec. 1 and extend through New Year’s Eve. Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Supervisor Jim Satterfield has approved three separate hunts, but they have the same aim: reducing numbers of big game that have descended on landowners’ hay and crop land because of drought conditions and early winter weather.
(Hunting - November 25, 2003)

I returned to Montana this summer with a full time job and hopes of enjoying my passion for real hunting and fishing, the kind I knew as a youth in Georgia. But, where to start in Montana?   I knew in this state your best friend is more likely to serve jail time for you than to give up information on his sacred hunting spot.   As a new Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist, I thought a colleague might have some inside information.
(Hunting - November 25, 2003)

Early results from a portion of the 1,055 wild deer and elk submitted for chronic wasting disease testing this hunting season show that none of the animals were infected by the fatal ailment, state wildlife officials said today. The tissue-samples from deer and elk harvested by hunters this season, or collected by FWP, were sent Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. for analysis. Results from the first 457 samples tested to date are negative for CWD.
(Headlines - November 21, 2003)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks volunteers provided more than $863,000 in services this year, according to an FWP report on volunteers who work in State Parks and at fishing access sites. The report doesn’t include an estimated 3,000 additional FWP volunteers who give hatchery tours, work at game check stations, help fisheries biologists in the field or perform other tasks. “Our volunteers and interns are an integral part of our team.
(Headlines - November 14, 2003)

General fishing season on Most of Montana’s smaller rivers and streams in the western and central fishing districts closes Nov. 30.   In the eastern fishing district, the season on rivers and streams extends year round. Fishing is also open year round on all of the state’s lakes and reservoirs.   Emergency regulations are sometimes in effect to protect a fishery, for example when low water flows combined with winter freezing present a threat.
(Fishing - November 14, 2003)

The furbearer trapping season opened Nov. 1 for beaver, otter, muskrat and mink, while the bobcat, marten, fisher and wolverine seasons open Dec. 1 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials say furbearer populations are generally healthy in most areas around the state. “The furbearer species of most interest to trappers right now is the bobcat,” said Brian Giddings, FWP furbearer coordinator in Helena.
(Hunting - November 14, 2003)

The mountain lion harvest reporting telephone number in the 2003 Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations is incorrect. To report the harvest of a mountain lion, hunters need to call the harvest reporting line at 406-449-1065. Copies of the 2003 Mountain Lion Hunting Regulations are available at all FWP regional offices, from FWP license providers and the FWP headquarters office in Helena.
(Hunting - November 14, 2003)

Lessons learned the hard way might be the lessons we remember longest. In my case, I learned the value of a good flashlight years ago one moonless night in the Elkhorns, looking for a runaway mule.   I found my flashlight had dead batteries just when I needed it most. The switch had turned on in my pack accidentally and burned out the batteries.   Fortunately, Socks, my horse, could see in the dark and we made it safely back to camp late that night.
(Hunting - November 14, 2003)

New federal funds amounting to nearly $1.1 million will flow into Montana as its 2004 share of State Wildlife Grants, a national program aimed at funding state fish and wildlife efforts to manage species in the greatest need of conservation.   “We’re grateful for the efforts of our Congressional delegation and our many supporters in securing this important fish and wildlife funding during these difficult budget times,” said FWP Director Jeff Hagener.
(Comprehensive Fish & Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CFWCS) - November 14, 2003)

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 Wednesday, November 12, 2003. 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.   For more information, call the toll free number at 1-800-385-7826.
(Hunting - November 10, 2003)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northcentral Montana hunting districts 405, 447 and 471, in portions of Cascade, Chouteau, Judith Basin, and Fergus counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, November 12, 2003.    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 has been met.
(Hunting - November 10, 2003)

The hunting of all 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 Friday, November 7, 2003.    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 has been met.   For more information, call the toll free number at 1-800-385-7826.
(Hunting - November 05, 2003)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 311, which includes portions of Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson and Broadwater counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, November 5, 2003. 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.   The winter season will open on December 1, 2003.
(Hunting - November 03, 2003)