Several hundred Montana big game hunting licenses left over from last week's special drawings will be available on a first-come first-served basis Sept. 2 through Sept. 12.   Only "mail-in" applications will be accepted. Hunters who received a deer B or elk permit through the special drawings, are not eligible to apply again for that species.   Hunters who were awarded a 2003 antelope license, however, may apply for a doe/fawn antelope license.
(Hunting - August 29, 2003)

REVISED FWP COMMISSION AGENDA   EDITORS NOTE: The FWP Commission agenda for the Sept. 11 meeting has been revised. Issues relating to the Teton Spring Creek Bird Preserve, north of Choteau, will be discussed at a later meeting.   MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS COMMISSION TO MEET IN BILLINGS SEPT. 11   Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Thursday, Sept. 11, in Billings at the Billings FWP Regional office, 2300 Lake Elmo Dr., beginning at 8 a.
(Headlines - August 27, 2003)

Cooler weather has reduced water temperatures on the lower Bitterroot River and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Fisheries Manager Pat Saffel has lifted the request for anglers to limit their fishing to only the morning hours.  The request was lifted on Monday, Aug. 25, 2003.
(Fishing - August 27, 2003)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on 12 fishing contests proposed for this winter and next spring. All but two of the proposed ice-fishing contests have been sponsored in past years. The two new derbies proposed are: *         Olney Hunter Safety Ice-Fishing Derby, sponsored by Thad’s Tackle Shop and the Stillwater Bar, to be held on Lower Stillwater Lake on March 7, 2004.
(Fishing - August 26, 2003)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission reduced the fishing limits at Clark Canyon Reservoir today to protect the native burbot population and rainbow and brown trout. The emergency daily and possession limit now in effect for trout is two fish, down from five, and for burbot (or ling) the daily and possession limit is two fish down from 10. The reservoir is at a new record-low pool of about 10,758 acre-feet.
(Fishing - August 22, 2003)

For the first time, some lucky Montana hunters will be offered the opportunity to harvest two elk this hunting season. A new state law enacted in April gave the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission the authority to issue a second elk license for antlerless-elk only to some hunters who receive an elk permit through the special drawings.
(Hunting - August 22, 2003)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission selected two organizations to auction the 2004 moose and sheep hunting licenses. The annual bighorn sheep and Shiras moose hunting license auctions raise funds for bighorn and moose management efforts.   The bighorn sheep license auction will be conducted by the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep at the foundation’s annual convention Jan. 14-17, 2004.
(Hunting - August 22, 2003)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has set the final 2003-2004 furbearer quotas.  The quotas are unchanged from the tentative recommendations with a few exceptions.  In Western Montana, the otter quota increased in trapping district 2 from 13 to 18.  The bobcat quota in southwestern Montana’s trapping district 3 increased from 175 to 200.   In trapping district five the bobcat quota increased from 300 to 350.
(Hunting - August 22, 2003)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has set final 2003 deer, elk and antelope permit quotas recently.   Deer quotas in the Billings and Glasgow areas, FWP Regions 5 and 6, reflected the greatest change from the 2002 season, with antlerless mule deer B licenses, and some antlerless whitetail deer B licenses, increasing by 50 to 500 depending on the hunting district.
(Hunting - August 22, 2003)

The final early season migratory bird seasons and bag limits have been set for 2003 as follows: Mourning Dove Season: Sept. 1 – Oct. 30 Bag Limit: 15 daily and 30 in possession   Common Snipe Season: Sept. 1 – Dec. 16 Bag Limit: 8 daily and 16 in possession   Sandhill Crane Pacific Flyway:   Sept. 6 – Sept.
(Hunting - August 22, 2003)

Restrictions have been lifted on the import of wild game from Canada.   Hunters will be required to have an import permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a valid Canadian hunting license or tag will be required. The USDA put restrictions on the import of ruminants from Canada such as deer and elk in May when a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE was confirmed in a domestic cow from a farm in northern Alberta.  The restrictions were lifted Aug.
(Hunting - August 22, 2003)

The only three-generation teaching team in Montana’s Hunter Education program has spent more than 60 years training young Montana Hunters in west central Montana. Bob, Andy, and Danny Larsson are considered the cornerstones of Hunter Education in St. Ignatius.   Bob, who has taught since 1957, is one of the first Hunter Education Instructors in Montana.   His son, Andy, joined the instructor ranks in 1991.   Andy’s son rounded out the team in 2002.
(Headlines - August 22, 2003)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission agreed today to close the middle reach of the upper Big Hole River, a 28-mile stretch, to all angling effective Sunday, Aug. 24. The extremely low flows and high water temperatures threaten the survival of the river's native Arctic grayling population and other fish populations.
(Fishing - August 22, 2003)

After three years of extensive public scrutiny and cooperation, Montana wildlife officials today released the state's recommended plan to conserve and manage a recovered gray wolf population, a plan that initially appears acceptable to federal authorities.
(Headlines - August 21, 2003)

A wet spring and lush forage in many parts of the state through spring and early summer gave mule deer a good start this year before hot, dry weather moved in drying out forage in some parts of the state. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ spring 2003 population surveys showed mule deer numbers at average to above average in most of Montana.
(Hunting - August 15, 2003)

Upland game bird hunters should have slightly improved hunting opportunities compared to last year, with pockets of good hunting and some areas where it may be harder to meet the bag limit. The season for most upland game bird species begins Sept. 1. “Our varied weather has directly affected bird habitat, resulting in good production in some areas and pockets of poor production in others.
(Hunting - August 15, 2003)

In Montana, upland game birds consist of sage and sharp-tailed grouse, blue, ruffed and Franklin’s grouse, pheasants, wild turkeys, and Hungarian (grey) and chukar partridge. Most upland game bird seasons begin Sept. 1 with the exception of ring-necked pheasants.   Pheasant hunting for Montana residents and for nonresidents is Oct. 11-Dec. 15. The sage grouse season will close Nov. 1, while the mountain grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and partridge hunting seasons will close Dec. 15.
(Hunting - August 15, 2003)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear biologists say hunters need to take steps to bear proof their hunt this year by thinking ahead about what they will do if they see a bear. The likelihood a hunter will encounter a bear is real and it may increase when a game animal is shot. Last year, deer and elk hunters reported seven different encounters with grizzly bears in the western part of the state alone.
(Hunting - August 15, 2003)

Revisions to the wording of Montana’s hunter education law made last spring by the Montana legislature go into effect Oct. 1.   The new wording states all residents and nonresidents born after Jan. 1, 1985 must take a hunter education course and present the hunter education certificate the first time they buy a Montana hunting license. Until Oct.
(Hunting - August 15, 2003)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wardens say hunters need to be aware that littering while you’re hunting, fishing or camping could end your fun for a year. “Most hunters and anglers don’t know that under Montana law, if they are convicted of littering, they forfeit their licenses and the privilege to hunt, fish, camp or trap for one year from the date of the conviction,” said Jim Kropp, FWP Enforcement Division Chief. For sportsmen, this littering law has real teeth.
(Hunting - August 15, 2003)

For the 2003 hunting season, hunters in Montana will have access to over 8.5 million acres of land statewide through the Block Management Program administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.   The program assists landowners in managing hunting activities and provides hunters with free public hunting access to private and isolated public land.
(Hunting - August 15, 2003)

With the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service predicting a fall flight of more than 10 million mallards, prospects for Montana waterfowl hunting appear much better than anticipated earlier this year. The best news for waterfowl hunters is that late-winter snowfall and spring rains significantly improved nesting conditions for ducks and geese across the prairies of southern Canada and the north-central United States.
(Hunting - August 13, 2003)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds black bear and mountain lion hunters that licenses must be purchased by Aug. 31, a Sunday, for the fall season.   Hunters may purchase a license at any FWP office on or before Friday, Aug. 29.   Licenses will be available through Aug. 31 at FWP license providers open on weekends. Residents who currently hold a 2003 conservation license can buy a black bear or lion hunting license on the FWP web site at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - August 08, 2003)

Hunters and others returning to the United States from Canada will be restricted from bringing back certain wild game or wild game products as a result of a temporary ruling by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA placed restrictions on the import of some wild game from Canada in May when a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy was confirmed in a domestic cow from a farm in northern Alberta.   The restrictions are to prevent the introduction of BSE into the United States.
(Hunting - August 08, 2003)

Applications are due by Sept. 5 for tundra swan hunting permits for the 2003 season.   In the Pacific Flyway, which includes Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area near Fairfield, 500 permits will be offered for swan hunting in Cascade, Chouteau, Toole, Liberty, Hill and the portions of Teton and Pondera counties east of U.S. Highway 287 from Augusta to Choteau and U.S. Highway 89 from Choteau to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
(Hunting - August 08, 2003)

Montana’s Forest Legacy Committee will meet Aug. 12, in Helena to examine three grant requests totaling $9.7 million. Forest Legacy projects generally seek to increase available wildlife habitat, provide public access, maintain productive forests or protect the health of watersheds on private lands. The seven-member Forest Legacy Committee, representing private landowners, federal and state agencies, reviews and recommends Forest Legacy grant proposals for funding.
(Headlines - August 08, 2003)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife Council will meet in Missoula, Sept. 3-4, to discuss the Block Management Hunter Access Program.   The sixteen-member council, comprised of hunters, landowners, and outfitters recently appointed by Gov. Judy Martz, will meet at the C’Mon Inn, 2775 Expo Parkway. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the meeting will run from 1–5 p.m., and on Thursday, Sept. 4, from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
(Headlines - August 08, 2003)

With the summer riding season underway, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds Off-Highway Vehicle users to check their gear and brush up on safety and rules. "Now is a good time to check your riding gear, tools and the survival items you routinely carry on a ride.   Make sure everything is in working order, and replace batteries and missing items," said Ray Paige, FWP's Trails Program specialist.
(Headlines - August 08, 2003)

Aug. 13      8 to 9 p.m. @ Giant Springs State Park The ninth in the "Personalities at the Park Series." Capt. William Clark will be portrayed by Park Ranger, John Phillips, Pompey’s Pillar National Monument veteran. For details call: 406-727-1212 Aug. 14      7 p.m. @ Travelers' Rest State Park Every Thursday evening to Sept.
(Headlines - August 08, 2003)

Today's announcement that the westslope cutthroat trout is not warranted for listing as a federally threatened species reaffirms that continuing efforts to protect and restore the native trout is paying off for the fish and for the people of Montana, state fish and wildlife officials said. “We are in absolute agreement with this second confirmation that the westslope cutthroat trout is in good hands in the State of Montana," said Chris Smith, FWP's chief of staff.
(Headlines - August 08, 2003)

Wildlands Fire Display Lone Pine State Park, five miles southwest of Kalispell August 1 through August 31 CONTACT: Art Sedlack 755-2706 or Dave Landstrom 751-4574, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Come and see the   Wildfire display featuring dramatic photos by Karen Nichols and Gary Harding on display at Lone Pine State Park .   The display also offers current information regarding area wildfires, and hands-on displays for visitors.
(Parks - August 07, 2003)

  Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks closed the Yellowstone River to angling from noon to midnight daily on the stretch of river from Big Timber to Huntley, effective Friday, Aug. 1 at noon. Water temperatures have exceeded 73 degrees since mid-July on the river.   “Confining fishing to the morning hours will help reduce the stress already on the rainbow and brown trout that populate this 105-mile stretch of the Yellowstone.
(Fishing - August 01, 2003)