By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for trapping otters in Trapping District 4 in north central Montana will close one-half hour after sunset Saturday, April 3, 2004. The district includes portions of Hill, Glacier, Chouteau, Toole, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, Cascade, Lewis and Clark, Meagher, Park, Judith Basin, Fergus, and Petroleum counties. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - April 01, 2004)

A national wildlife conservation group recently recognized Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) for his leadership in championing federal funding for state-based wildlife conservation under the State Wildlife Grants program. The Teaming With Wildlife Coalition honored the Montana senator for advocating state wildlife conservation funding and for his commitment to America’s wildlife. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks presented the award to Burns at the Teaming With Wildlife summit in Washington, D.C.
(Comprehensive Fish & Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CFWCS) - March 19, 2004)

Are you coming up short on tax-free charitable contributions on your 2003 tax return? Consider two easy-to-make contributions that will help Montana’s fish and wildlife. The easiest is to check the box on your 2003 Montana return under the soaring eagle symbol. A check mark here allows you to automatically make a tax-deductible contribution to Montana’s nongame wildlife programs and wildlife viewing opportunities in the state. Your contribution becomes a deduction on your 2004 tax return.
(Headlines - March 19, 2004)

Montana’s big game regulations for deer, elk, antelope, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and turkey hunting will be available the end of March at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks regional offices, the state headquarters building in Helena and from license providers across the state. For Internet jockeys, the regulations are also on the FWP web site at www.fwp.state.mt.us under Hunting and then Regulations. Scroll down to find the Regs.
(Headlines - March 19, 2004)

The first in a series of five “Fish of Montana” fish posters produced by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will be available this spring. This poster features members of the pike, sturgeon, paddlefish, gar, catfish, freshwater drum and codfish families Future posters in the series will be released every six months for the next two years. Eventually all 86 species of fish in Montana will have their 15 minutes of fame.
(Fishing - March 19, 2004)

More than $454,000 in funding was approved recently by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park Commission for 27 Future Fisheries Improvement projects. The funding will be matched by more than $1.3 from outside sources. The FWP Commission makes final decisions on funding requests based on recommendations from a 14-member citizen panel. Sponsors of approved projects enter into an agreement with FWP to maintain project improvements through responsible land-management practices.
(Fishing - March 19, 2004)

The National Wild Turkey Federation recently recognized Lennie Buhmann, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks warden in Broadus as “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year” in Montana. Broadus is a popular turkey hunting area. Buhmann was honored during the recent NWTF national convention in Columbus, Ohio for his enforcement work aiding wild turkey conservation, restoration and ethical hunting.
(Headlines - March 19, 2004)

Last year when Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks launched its automated licensing system, some of us low-tech types wondered if we could trust the thing to work. Was the benefit going to offset the bother of learning to live and do business with a new system? I was personally relieved to find out that the answer is yes. But last year was just the beginning.
(Headlines - March 19, 2004)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 322, 326 and 330, which include portions of Beaverhead and Madison counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, March 9, 2004. 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 website at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - March 08, 2004)

Montana teachers may now apply to the Future Fisherman Foundation for grants of up to $5,000 for developing fishing and boating classroom programs.   “About 200 teachers a year from across the state teach fishing, water resources and boating education in their classes,” according to Dave Hagengruber, FWP’s angler education specialist. “This is a good opportunity for Montana teachers who want to expand or upgrade their fish and boating teaching materials.
(Headlines - March 08, 2004)

The Helena Forest Foundation and the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Becoming an Outdoors Woman program cancelled the snowshoe class scheduled for  March 20.  The class will be rescheduled for next winter.   If you have questions, call 406-444-2615.
(Headlines - March 05, 2004)

A trapper education class is set for March 13 in Butte from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office, 1820 Meadowlark Lane.  The class, sponsored by the Montana Trappers Association, will cover trapping regulations, ethics, safety, furbearer identification, equipment and trap setting.  The class is open and free to the public. Children under the age of 12 years must be accompanied by an adult.
(Headlines - March 05, 2004)

The Tri-Agency Youth Trapper Camp is set for June 11-13 at Beaver Creek Park in the Bears Paw Mountains, south of Havre. Families are encouraged to participate, though youngsters 10 years of age and older may attend without an adult.   Tents are available with adult chaperones for these youngsters. The Montana Trappers Association, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana 4-H sponsor the camp to teach youngsters traditional trapping skills.
(Headlines - March 05, 2004)

It’s time for hunters and anglers to purchase their new 2004-2005 licenses, and when they do they will notice some licensing changes. Free youth combination licenses for first time young hunters will please many and advertisements in the Big Game regulations booklets may surprise others. Here are details on some of the changes.
(Hunting - March 05, 2004)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking project proposals that will help maintain flows in streams and rivers and reduce the impact of the low water levels that may occur in some parts of the state this summer. The deadline to apply for this funding is March 29.  The Future Fisheries Review Panel will evaluate proposals on April 1 and the FWP Commission will consider projects recommended for funding by the review panel for final approval on April 6.
(Fishing - March 05, 2004)

Montana’s 2004 bighorn sheep auction license brought in $160,000 at the annual convention for the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep in Reno, Nevada in January. FWP received 90 percent of the auction amount to bolster bighorn sheep research efforts and to supplement trapping and transplanting budgets. FNAWS earns 10 percent for administration and its own bighorn sheep management efforts.
(Hunting - March 05, 2004)

On this season’s income tax form the soaring bald eagle marks where you can make a tax-deductible contribution to Montana’s nongame wildlife programs and help support wildlife viewing. Most Montanans enjoy casual wildlife viewing and participating in activities like bird watching involving species such as blue birds, hawks, owls, bats and loons. So, whether you or an accountant prepare your 2003 tax return, take time to make the check-off that counts for Montana’s nongame wildlife.
(Headlines - March 05, 2004)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on proposed rules to manage the relocation of prairie dog colonies, a seldom-used management option. The proposed rules cover all stages of relocation and are designed to reduce impacts on adjacent lands or the potential for spreading disease. The party carrying out the move would be responsible for all associated expenses State law recognizes the dual need to conserve prairie dogs and to control them.
(Hunting - March 05, 2004)

We were flying the east slope of the Elkhorn Mountains in the Kimber Gulch area to count elk for a winter survey a few years ago when suddenly I noticed another plane. It was coming in well below us to scout the elk, while we generally try to stay higher to avoid disturbing the wildlife.   We pulled up and circled until the other plane left.   Private aircraft flying low over wintering elk is becoming more common in many areas where people search for older bulls soon to drop their antlers.
(Hunting - March 05, 2004)

The hunting of female mountain lions in northcentral Montana hunting districts 400, 401, 403, 406, 415, and 441, which includes portions of Toole, Pondera, Liberty, Chouteau, Glacier and Teton counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, March 6, 2004.   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.
(Hunting - March 05, 2004)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet March 11, at FWP Headquarters, 1420 East Sixth Ave. in Helena at 8 a.m.
(Headlines - March 02, 2004)