A two-day Snowmobile Safety Instructor Workshop will be held Dec. 3-4 at the Yogo Inn in Lewistown. The workshop will start at 10 a.m. Dec. 3 and end at 1 p.m. on Dec. 4.   Participants are trained and certified to teach the Montana snowmobile safety class.
(Parks - November 01, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting open-water fishing contest applications for 2006. Contest applicants must submit the open-water contest application form to the Helena FWP office on or before Nov. 11.
(Fishing - November 01, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 331, which includes portions of Beaverhead, Silver Bow and Madison counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, November 2, 2005.
(Hunting - November 01, 2005)

Montana waterfowl hunters can rest assured that avian flu virus strain currently active in Asia and eastern Europe is not yet a problem here, state wildlife officials said today.
(Hunting - November 01, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announces that the Axtell Fishing Access Site on the Gallatin River southwest of Bozeman will be closed for improvements beginning on November 7, 2005.
(Headlines - October 31, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking applicants to fill 12 volunteer positions on the first-ever Region 3 Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). FWP will ask the committee to provide input and guidance on the variety of natural resources and issues addressed by the agency.
(Headlines - October 31, 2005)

Sage grouse hunting season ends Nov. 1 and mountain grouse season ends Dec. 15.
(Headlines - October 28, 2005)

A new offering on Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' web site is designed to help hunters and others in the outdoors learn more about the state's wolf population.
(Headlines - October 28, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recently approved 20 ice-fishing contests for this winter.
(Fishing - October 28, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking trail recreationists to serve on the State Trails Advisory Committee.   The committee advises the agency on the expenditure of $1 million of Recreational Trails Program funds, discusses recreational trails issues and recommends solutions to trails issues.
(Parks - October 28, 2005)

It's tough to draw a Montana license to hunt bighorn sheep.   For the fall 2005 season, about two percent of all applicants, with or without bonus points, were successful in drawing one of the 407 bighorn sheep licenses, including either sex and ewe only licenses.
(Hunting - October 28, 2005)

Based on past statistics, more than 80 percent of this year's moose hunters will be successful. Bull moose make up about 70-75 percent of the harvest and 25-30 percent are antlerless. Big game hunters hold Montana’s moose population in high regard and many seek the opportunity to hunt a moose.
(Hunting - October 28, 2005)

Many hunters who own ATVs enjoy using their machines to get to the hunt. But for hunters who are stalking an animal, an ATV is the last thing they want to see.
(Hunting - October 28, 2005)

Officials at game check stations gather information needed to manage Montana's wildlife resources. When hunters stop at checking stations, they may be asked a variety of questions including how many deer, elk or antelope they saw and in which drainages or general locations their hunting took place. Hunters should remember that state law requires them to stop at all game checking stations on their routes of travel to and from hunting areas.
(Hunting - October 28, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear biologists say hunters need to take steps to bear proof their hunt 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 taken with a bow or rifle.
(Hunting - October 28, 2005)

Reporting violations observed in the field immediately is part of ethical hunting.   Montana’s 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668) call-in line is open 24 hours a day.
(Hunting - October 28, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks removed four mule deer bucks from an area on the west side of Helena after they acted aggressively towards a local teen that was preparing to deliver newspapers on Tuesday morning.
(Headlines - October 28, 2005)

The opening days of the general big game hunting season in Region 3 brought mixed results. Hunters may have been better off armed with sunscreen than ammunition.
(Headlines - October 28, 2005)

If your mind goes blank when you hear the words "riparian habitat" you are not alone. Yet one of your favorite outdoor spots is likely a plant-rich place along a river, stream or lake—in other words a riparian habitat. Are you attracted to the lush vegetation surrounding a mountain stream, a ribbon of graceful cottonwoods along a prairie stream, or the plant-rich shores of a lake?   These are some of Montana's typical riparian habitats.
(Headlines - October 27, 2005)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet in Helena Nov. 3 at the FWP headquarters, 1420 East 6 th Ave, at 8 a.m.
(Headlines - October 26, 2005)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, hunting district 303, which includes portions of Park County, will be closed to all hunting of bighorn sheep, effective one-half hour after sunset on Friday, Oct. 21, 2005. The order halting the hunt came after the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met.
(Hunting - October 19, 2005)

Dr. Michael Kuglitsch of Butte, MT, was convicted in Powder River County Justice Court on two counts of hunting while his privileges were revoked, hunting big game animals without a license, using the license of another person, failure to obtain landowner permission to hunt and accountability for conduct of another person. This is his second incident in Montana where major charges were brought and severe penalties were enforced.
(Hunting - October 18, 2005)

Deer and elk hunters in southeastern Montana are encouraged to submit heads of harvested animals as part of a statewide chronic wasting disease monitoring campaign.
(Hunting - October 18, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists and wardens removed four bighorn sheep from the reintroduced Greenhorn Mountains population on Friday, October 14, 2005.
(Headlines - October 18, 2005)

The fishing closure on the Upper Big Hole River from Rock Creek Road (approximately five miles south of Wisdom) to the mouth of the North Fork (15 miles north of Wisdom) was lifted Friday, October 14, 2005.
(Headlines - October 14, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will increase its brucellosis surveillance of cow elk this year and is asking hunters in southwest Montana for help.
(Headlines - October 14, 2005)

The 1,000 volunteers who teach Montana Hunter Education remind all hunters of the three basic rules of gun safety...
(Hunting - October 14, 2005)

Montana’s 2005 archery seasons for deer and elk will close one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, Oct. 16.
(Headlines - October 14, 2005)

With the opening of Montana's 2005 general big game season just a week away Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials are reminding hunters that they must secure permission to hunt on private lands.
(Hunting - October 14, 2005)

Fall is an ideal time to give your wildlife listening skills a workout. There is a palpable quiet in the outdoors, broken occasionally by the scuttle of leaves or a squirrel chattering. Sounds seem to be particularly clear in this still before winter's storms.
(Headlines - October 14, 2005)

Reporting violations observed in the field immediately is part of ethical hunting.   Montana’s 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668) call-in line is open 24 hours a day.   Callers can remain anonymous and may receive a cash award for their tip.
(Hunting - October 14, 2005)

With antelope and upland game bird seasons in full swing, Montana hunters are helping wildlife officials at check stations gather information needed to manage the state's wildlife. When hunters stop at checking stations, they may be asked a variety of questions including how many deer, elk or antelope they saw and in which drainages or general locations their hunting took place.
(Hunting - October 14, 2005)

When planning a hunting trip, it is important for hunters to be mindful of the regulations associated with using State School Trust Land.
(Hunting - October 14, 2005)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently adopted final 2006 fishing regulations.
(Fishing - October 14, 2005)

With the opening of Montana's general deer and elk hunting seasons next week, state wildlife officials want to take advantage of more than 100,000 hunters and modern technology to help monitor wolves. "Connecting hunters and the Internet brings more eyes and ears to Montana’s wolf monitoring program and will yield important and timely information,” said Carolyn Sime, who coordinates FWP’s wolf conservation and management program from Helena.
(Headlines - October 14, 2005)

A seasonal closure to all fishing at the mouths of two Jefferson River tributaries will begin Saturday, October 15, 2005 and remain in effect until November 30, 2005.
(Headlines - October 13, 2005)

There are as many ways to make a big game hunt memorable and fun as there are hunters, or so it seemed in talking with long-time hunters at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Montana's general big game hunting season for deer and elk opens Oct. 23 and ends Nov. 27. While each hunter I interviewed described their personal experiences, the ways they made hunting more fun generally fell into two main categories: the tried and true and the new and unexpected.
(Headlines - October 13, 2005)

Twenty-four Montanans were drawn today from among 6,200 applicants for a license to hunt bison in Montana this winter.
(Headlines - October 11, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks announces that an environmental assessment for the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park Electrical and Lighting Improvement Project is now available for public comment.
(Headlines - October 11, 2005)

A public meeting will be held by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Livingston on October 19 to facilitate discussion about the potential acquisition of a fishing access site on the Shields River.
(Headlines - October 06, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), Region One, has written a draft environmental assessment (EA) to purchase a conservation easement over approximately 7,200 acres and fee-title interest of up to 3,680 acres in the north Swan Valley on land currently owned by Plum Creek Timber Company. The project area is centered about 20 miles south of Bigfork, between the towns of Swan Lake and Condon.
(Headlines - October 05, 2005)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Commission will tour facilities in northeast Montana on Wednesday, Oct. 5 and meet in a formal session on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Scobey.
(Headlines - October 04, 2005)

The public is invited to hear an overview of economic, demographic and cultural changes in Montana at a session scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6 at FWP's Glasgow headquarters.
(Headlines - October 04, 2005)

Montana hunters have the opportunity to take part in some of the finest hunting found anywhere. But each autumn, some individuals unwittingly or knowingly violate the state’s game laws. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials ask that hunters take the time to review Montana's hunting rules and regulations to ensure they act within the law and are prepared to recognize when others violate the law.
(Hunting - October 03, 2005)

The hunting of all black bears in the Deer/Elk Hunting District 510 portion of Bear Management Unit 510, in portions of Carbon County, will close one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, October 5, 2005.   The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the district had been met.
(Hunting - October 03, 2005)

FLATHEAD RESERVATION FISH AND WILDLIFE BOARD TO MEET OCTOBER 12 AT THE NATIONAL BISON RANGE IN MOISE The Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board will meet on Wednesday, October 12 at the National Bison Range Headquarters in Moise.   According to Board Chairman Sid Rundell, the agenda includes a proposed license fee increase,   and a report from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding accomplishments and future plans.
(Headlines - October 03, 2005)

Nearly 6,200 hunters submitted an application for Montana's upcoming 90-day bison hunting season. A total of 5,992 residents and 185 nonresidents submitted applications.   Earlier this month, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission approved the sale of 25 either-sex bison licenses for use between Nov. 15 and Jan. 15, 2006; and 25 either-sex licenses for use between Jan. 16, 2006 and Feb. 15, 2006.
(Headlines - October 03, 2005)