You have heard about whirling disease and New Zealand mud snails. Now meet a new threat—the zebra mussel.   Responsible for millions of dollars in damage to waters, shorelines, crafts, irrigation pipes, water treatment facilities and power plants in 20 states and two Canadian provinces, zebra mussels are present in the Missouri River in South Dakota and are heading our way.
(Fishing - April 30, 2004)

Restoration of some limited recreational bull trout fishing has always been a long-term goal of bull trout conservation in Montana. Now, with an experimental bull trout season beginning this spring on three waters—Hungry Horse Reservoir, the South Fork of the Flathead River and Koocanusa Reservoir—this goal is within sight. Season dates vary depending on the water.
(Fishing - April 30, 2004)

Big game hunters who plan to submit applications for deer B and antelope licenses and special elk and deer permits must have their applications to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena, or postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service, no later than June 1.
(Hunting - April 30, 2004)

Every spring, many Montanans are faced with a tough question, “Is that tiny fawn or bear cub abandoned or not? The answer is no. If you care, leave them there.” “If you are ever tempted to remove a newborn wild animas from the wild, in almost every case FWP will ask you to return the animal to the location where it was picked up,” said Ron Aasheim, FWP conservation education administrator.   It is illegal to remove or possess game animals and other creatures from the wild.
(Headlines - April 30, 2004)

The Future Fisheries Improvement Program recently awarded $40,000 to two drought-related stream projects, amid signs that drought may be a factor again this summer in some portions of Montana. “We are seeing signs that the drought is still with us, making these two projects important additions to the efforts so many are making to help keep water in Montana’s streams and rivers,” said Glenn Philips, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks habitat protection bureau chief.
(Headlines - April 30, 2004)

Hunters will have plenty of new choices this summer when it comes to purchasing over-the-counter hunting licenses. The choices include: * The A9 (resident)/ B12 (nonresident) antlerless elk license, intended to control elk numbers, is available in certain hunting districts and is in addition to the elk that may be harvested with a general elk license. * The deer B license for an antlerless mule or whitetail deer in addition to the deer that may be harvested with a deer A license.
(Hunting - April 30, 2004)

Montana’s new online Fishing Guide is here just in time for the May 15 opening of fishing season on the state’s creeks and streams. “The Fishing Guide is easy to use and packed with information anglers need,” said Janet Hess-Herbert, who manages FWP’s Internet site. “It offers angling and recreation information on hundreds of fishable waters in the state, including lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams.
(Fishing - April 30, 2004)

Women interested in learning the basics of beginning bird watching are invited to a weekend workshop sponsored by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the Great Falls Audubon Society June 25-27.   “This workshop is for the beginning birder who wants to learn to identify birds through field marks, sounds and habitat,” said Liz Lodman, FWP coordinator of the Becoming An Outdoor Woman workshops.
(Headlines - April 30, 2004)

The opening of Montana's general fishing season May 15 marks the day that fish in the state's smaller creeks and streams once again become fair game for anglers. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks urges anglers to carefully check the new 2004 Fishing Regulations before they take to the water. Montana's fishing regulations are available at all FWP offices and from license providers throughout the state. You can also find the fishing regulations on the Internet at: www.fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

Fish will do the darnedest things. Sometimes fancy tracking equipment catches them at it. Other times a biologist in the field has a memorable “fish encounter.” Here are some examples. A 32-inch bull trout astonished biologists by surviving a trip through the turbines at Libby Dam in northwestern Montana. The fish, tagged after spawning in a stream in British Columbia, was tracked making the 100-mile trip down to Libby Dam.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

Montana’s new online Fishing Guide is here just in time for the May 15 opening of fishing season on the state’s creeks and streams. “The Fishing Guide is easy to use and packed with information anglers need,” said Janet Hess-Herbert, who manages FWP’s Internet site. “It offers angling and recreation information on hundreds of fishable waters in the state, including lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

With the opening of the general stream-fishing season on Saturday, May 15, it is time to make sure you have a copy of the new 2004 Fishing Regulations in your tackle box. "A quick review of the first 14 pages of the regulations provides an important refresher for every angler," says FWP Fisheries Management Bureau Chief Karen Zackheim. “The angler’s next stop will be the color-coded sections with specific information on each of Montana’s three fishing districts.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

Restoration of some limited recreational bull trout fishing has always been a long-term goal of bull trout conservation in Montana. Now, with an experimental bull trout season beginning this spring on three waters—Hungry Horse Reservoir, the South Fork of the Flathead River and Koocanusa Reservoir—this goal is within sight. Season dates vary depending on the water.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

The Bull Trout Identification and Education Program on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website has helped thousands of anglers across the western U. S. improve their trout identification skills.   The site, launched three years ago, is a cooperative educational project of FWP, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Idaho Fish and Game, Idaho Council of Trout Unlimited, and Avista Utilities.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

Planning a fishing trip can be a fun learning experience before you ever get to the point of baiting the hook and reeling in dinner. With some adjustments for age, consider these options for helping your child get the most out of the next fishing trip. First, the license. You can buy your license at an FWP regional office, an outdoor sporting goods store that provides licenses—or online at the FWP web site at www.fwp.state.mt.us or at www.discoveringmontana.com under Online Services.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

Where do you take a child fishing that is easy to get to, relatively safe and offers the best possible chance of success? Don’t let this dilemma delay your fishing trip. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has taken some of the guesswork out of fishing with kids by designating ponds for kids and stocking some other ponds with kids in mind. Here is a quick survey of a few prime children’s fishing ponds in the state. For a detailed list, check the FWP web site at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - April 28, 2004)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park’s Director Jeff Hagener will be on hand Friday, May 7 at the Wilma Theatre in Missoula to welcome world-renowned wildlife ecologist Dr. George Schaller as the keynote speaker for the International Wildlife Film Festival. The weeklong event, set for May 1-8, is now in its 27 th year of celebrating wildlife through films and other media.     Schaller’s keynote speech is set for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 7 at the Wilma Theatre.
(Comprehensive Fish & Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CFWCS) - April 27, 2004)

Tagging and tracking fish has saved the lives of some fish and provided invaluable insights into the lives of others. For example, after years of tagging paddlefish populations and doing population counts, fisheries biologists in eastern Montana are confident that the ratio of tagged to non-tagged paddlefish is about 37 to 127.   Applying this knowledge, to annual fish population survey results help verify that the harvest, now set at 2,000 a year, is sustainable.
(Fishing - April 22, 2004)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comment on a proposed sage grouse conservation and management plan and on an environmental assessment that examines three sage grouse management alternatives. A plan to conserve and manage Montana sage grouse, a native upland game bird that a number of groups have petitioned for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act, has been in development for nearly three years.
(Headlines - April 20, 2004)

Since 1951, some anglers have belonged to an exclusive club of individuals who keep diaries of their angling experiences for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. At that time, about 350 dedicated anglers took on the job of keeping fishing logs. Compiling the information from these many individuals was tedious at best in the days of IBM keypunch equipment. But the angler’s information was invaluable.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

Fishing diaries kept by 848 dedicated anglers who fish in Montana tell us that the five most commonly caught fish in the spring and summer are rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout, yellow perch and kokanee salmon. In winter, the top five most commonly caught fish are yellow perch, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout, and mountain whitefish.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

Montana’s native fish populations are one of the state’s “treasures.” Westslope cutthroat trout, Yellowstone cutthroat trout, the threatened bull trout, and artic grayling are considered “species of special concern” by the state due to population declines, reduced distribution, the shrinking of traditional habitats and other factors.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

Nearly every angler in the state has a favorite, often secret, fishing access site. “With 320 fishing access sites to choose from across the state, anglers enjoy good access to the state’s blue ribbon streams and rivers, lakes and reservoirs,” said Allan Kuser, FWP fishing access site coordinator. Most of the fishing opportunities at these access sites are on rivers and streams.   Fifty-eight sites are on lakes and reservoirs, including 14 warm water fisheries stocked by FWP.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

This year it is easier than ever to get the Montana State Lands permit anglers need for the new license year. A $2 state lands access fee is now included in the $6.25 price of the conservation license, replacing the $10 state lands recreational use license for hunting, fishing and trapping activities on state lands. Others planning to hike, watch birds and wildlife or otherwise recreate on state lands are still required to purchase the $10 state lands recreational use license.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

At least 20 percent of illegal fish introductions documented by FWP have occurred in the past ten years.   In total there have been more than 400 unauthorized fish introductions in waters across the state, involving 49 species of fish.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

Anglers need to be aware that aquatic diseases and nuisance species can easily   spread from one water body to the other. For example, whirling disease, a bacterial parasite that causes deformities and death in trout, is found in many waters in Montana. In the Madison River, New Zealand mud snails are established and can be accidentally spread and invasive aquatic plants are another threat.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

A $5 Warm Water Fish license is required to possess warm water game fish caught on designated waters in Montana’s Central and Eastern Fishing Districts.   Some of the most popular warm water sport fish include: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, burbot, walleye, sauger, black crappie, white crappie, channel catfish, yellow perch, northern pike, and tiger muskellunge.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

Fishing without a license is the most common wildlife violation in Montana, with an average of 500 or more citations a year.   Probably equally common, but often unrecognized, is the violation of Montana’s "Daily and Possession Limits." "Twenty years ago everything, including the Fishing Regulations, was simpler," said John Ramsey, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks law enforcement program manager. "Today the Fishing Regulations are your guide as you move from one body of water to another.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

Crimes involving the state’s fish, wildlife and State Parks resources occur year round. “Calls to TIP-MONT are always in season. Whether it’s hunting season, fishing season, or year-round recreation, we get reports of violations,” said Debbie Lewis, TIP-MONT coordinator. Montana’s popular TIP-MONT Program and hotline (1-800-847-6668) enlists outdoorsmen and women in reporting crimes they observe, including those on U.S.
(Fishing - April 20, 2004)

A fish species that has survived for eons will be on anglers’ minds during the 2004 paddlefish season set to open May 15 on the Yellowstone River from the mouth of the Big Horn River to the North Dakota state line. The Missouri River below Fort Peck dam is open to paddlefish snagging year round. Anglers at Intake Fishing Access Site on the Yellowstone River are required to catch and release paddlefish caught between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. (MDT) on every Wednesday and Sunday.
(Headlines - April 14, 2004)

Montana State Parks open for camping on May 1. New for 2004, Montana residents have free daily entry into all 42 Montana State Parks. A new, optional $4 fee paid with a vehicle’s registration makes the vehicle’s license plate a state parks pass. Camping at state parks, where camping is available, ranges from $12-15 a night. At a few select parks, there are special overnight facilities, including cabins, tepees and a yurt. For details, check the FWP web site at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Parks - April 14, 2004)

Trail riders seeking funds for off-highway trail maintenance, education, and noxious-weed control may benefit from a free grant-writing workshop offered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' on May 8. The workshop, set for 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Wheat Montana at the junction of Highway 287 and Interstate 90 near Three Forks, will help agencies, organizations and clubs apply for Off-Highway Vehicle Grants available through the Off-Highway Vehicle Program administered by FWP.
(Headlines - April 14, 2004)

Nearly $1 million is available for recreational trails projects in the state this year. Grant applications must be submitted to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks by July 1. Grants from the Recreational Trails Program can be used for motorized and non-motorized, multiple use, community, rural and backcountry trails. Off-Highway Vehicle Program funds can be used to maintain and rehabilitate existing OHV trails, but not to construct new routes.
(Headlines - April 14, 2004)

Landowners interested in releasing ring-necked pheasants this year have until May 15 to submit an application.   Under Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Upland Game Bird Release Program, landowners who attempt to establish pheasant populations in suitable habitat can be reimbursed for releasing pheasants. Landowners can apply if the land in the project area remains open to reasonable public hunting.
(Headlines - April 14, 2004)

Each spring newborn wildlife start off with the chance to live their entire lives in the wild. For too many creatures this chance is cut short when well-meaning people "help" nature. "As caring humans, it is natural to want to rescue a young animal we think is abandoned," said Kurt Cunningham, FWP Education Bureau Chief. Cunningham said in almost every case the newborn animals are not orphaned, but they appear that way by nature’s design.
(Headlines - April 14, 2004)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds Off-Highway Vehicle users that spring is a good time to brush up on OHV safety and the laws. To assist OHV riders in preparing for the riding season, FWP has produced a handy pocket-sized brochure summarizing the OHV laws; required fees, decals and registration; safety tips; grant programs for OHV trails; and OHV contacts in Montana. The brochure is available at all FWP and County Treasurers' offices.
(Headlines - April 14, 2004)

Work to conserve native fish habitat in Montana is gaining traction. On the Yellowstone River and its tributaries, the native range of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout, Pat Byorth, a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks fisheries biologist, is working with private landowners to plan and fund habitat restoration projects.  A second biologist will be hired soon to work with landowners on the Big Hole River interested in preserving Arctic grayling habitat. Both positions are funded by U.S.
(Headlines - April 14, 2004)

The hunting of all mountain lions in north-central Montana hunting districts 422, 423, 424, 425 and 442, in portions of Lewis and Clark and Teton counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, April 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 - April 05, 2004)

The deadline to purchase a black bear spring hunting license is April 14. The black bear hunting season begins April 15, with closing dates that vary by bear management unit. Licenses purchased after April 14 can only be used for the fall black bear season. First time black bear hunters are required to successfully complete the Black Bear Identification Test and must present the certificate of completion when purchasing a Black Bear License.
(Hunting - April 02, 2004)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has approved 32 fishing contests for 2004. Under the state’s fishing contest rules, applications for open water fishing contests were due Nov. 1. There are no holiday weekend contests under the new rules and contests may not be held on consecutive weekends on any water except Fort Peck Reservoir and Flathead Lake. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits, and most contests require catch-and-release fishing.
(Fishing - April 02, 2004)

This year big game hunters who plan to submit applications for big game hunting licenses and permits have three options: *  Use the new Online Licensing Internet service; *  Go to an FWP regional office where a completed application can be entered into the Automated Licensing System; *  Mail in a paper application.
(Hunting - April 02, 2004)

This is the season for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' home-study boating course. The course, available at all FWP offices, consists of a 71-page safe-boating manual, a workbook and test, and a registration card. The course helps families comply with a state law requiring youngsters 13 and 14 years old to have a motorboat operator's certificate while piloting a motorboat without an adult on board.
(Education - April 02, 2004)

Hundreds of outdated wooden signs from Montana State Parks and Fishing Access Sites have been recycled to house birds and bats around the state.   Over the years, as outdated, worn or vandalized parks and fishing access site signs were replaced with new aluminum ones, Doug Frazier and Morgan Dollinger, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' parks maintenance team in Missoula, stashed the old wooden signs away, certain they would find a good use for them.
(Headlines - April 02, 2004)

The average bear covers a lot of territory to gather the 10-20,000 calories a day it requires. Today a bear’s search for natural foods often puts it on private land and in contact with humans. “The fact is that today many of us are choosing to live where bears have lived for centuries.
(Headlines - April 02, 2004)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet April 15 in Bozeman, at the FWP Region 3 Headquarters, 1400 South 19th, beginning at 8:30 a.m.
(Headlines - April 02, 2004)

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)