By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for trapping otters in Trapping District 2 in western Montana will close at midnight on the evening of Thursday, March 3, 2005.
(Hunting - March 01, 2005)

Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet in Helena March 10, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the FWP headquarters, 1420 East 6 th Ave.    The morning work session will include updates on legislative issues; noxious weed control; statewide river recreation rules; and river recreation rules and fisheries issues on the Beaverhead and Big Hole rivers. Beginning at 1 p.m.
(Headlines - February 25, 2005)

The new year for hunting and fishing licenses begins March 1. This means that current fishing and hunting licenses expire on February 28, with the exception of licenses that cover fur trapping and mountain lion hunting. Licenses for the 2005 license year are now available at FWP offices and license providers. Licenses can also be purchased online at fwp.mt.gov.........OTHER NEWS regarding turkey, black bear, Lake Five open house
(Headlines - February 25, 2005)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Region 6 Citizens Advisory Council will meet Saturday, Feb. 26 in Glasgow
(Headlines - February 22, 2005)

The public can view the winning entries in FWP's state-park art contest at the Region 6 headquarters in Glasgow.
(Headlines - February 22, 2005)

Interest in protecting people's privacy in the electronic age will lead Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to ask licenses buyers this year whether or not they want their names included on a mailing list, officials said today.
(Headlines - February 22, 2005)

A legislative subcommittee's proposal could phase in a Montana resident hunting and fishing license fee increase over two years beginning in 2006.   If approved by the Montana Legislature, the proposal from the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks' subcommittee would result in the first general increase for resident hunters and anglers in more than 10 years.
(Headlines - February 22, 2005)

The hunting of all female mountain lions in Montana hunting district 301, which includes portions of Gallatin and Park counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, February 23, 2005. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - February 22, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in central Montana hunting district 540, which includes portions of Meagher and Wheatland counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, February 23, 2005. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - February 22, 2005)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for trapping otters in Trapping District 4 in northcentral Montana will close at midnight on the evening of Thursday, February 24, 2005. The district includes portions of Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Meagher, Petroleum, Pondera, Teton and Toole counties. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - February 22, 2005)

Nearly $1 million is available for Recreational Trails Program and OHV Program grants in the state this year. Grant applications must be submitted to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks by July 1.
(Parks - February 22, 2005)

Women interested in hunting upland game birds next fall are invited to attend a clinic March 11-12 in Great Falls to help prepare for the hunt. The clinic begins Friday evening at 7 p.m. and runs all day on Saturday. Clinic participants will practice shotgun shooting, see how to use a hunting dog, learn how to care for birds in the field and take part in a hunting experience.
(Hunting - February 18, 2005)

Raccoons, with their ringed tails and little bandit masks are unmistakable. Unlike bears, raccoons don't hibernate, so Montanans may experience a raccoon raid winter or summer.
(Hunting - February 18, 2005)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has approved the final 2005 hunting seasons and regulations. The regulations will remain similar to those last season with a few significant changes. Hunting quotas will be established later this spring.
(Headlines - February 18, 2005)

Spring turkey season is April 9-May 15. Licenses are available from all Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices and most license providers throughout the state. Hunters who wish to hunt in a special spring male turkey permit area must apply by March 15 for a permit and must purchase a spring turkey license before hunting.
(Hunting - February 18, 2005)

At Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, you could reliably judge the time of year by the type of questions front desk staffers receive by phone and in person. For example, the new hunting and fishing license year begins March 1.
(Hunting - February 18, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment by March 25 on tentative changes to a rule that sets State Parks fees through 2006.
(Headlines - February 18, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Region One, has written a draft environmental assessment for the purpose of developing a fishing access site on Lake Five in Flathead County.
(Headlines - February 17, 2005)

Spring Hunter and Bowhunter Education Classes have been scheduled for northwest Montana. All hunter and bowhunter education classes are free of charge and open to hunters and non-hunters alike. Many students take the courses for the firearm safety, bow safety, and outdoor survival information, even if they don’t plan to hunt.
(Headlines - February 17, 2005)

Students in north-central and northeastern Montana are encouraged to enter regional competition for the national State Fish Art Contest.
(Headlines - February 17, 2005)

Increases in bighorn sheep permits, larger antelope hunting districts and simpler distribution of antlerless whitetail licenses headline changes to Region 6 hunting regulations.
(Headlines - February 17, 2005)

Students required to pre-register for March 9-12 Bowhunter Education class in Glasgow
(Headlines - February 17, 2005)

Bowhunter Education classes in Yellowstone County have been finalized and will get underway at the Billings Rod & Gun Club the Week of March 7 and Laurel Rod & Gun Club the week of March 14.
(Headlines - February 16, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will accept public comment on an environmental assessment of the rules governing recreational use on the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers in southwest Montana.
(Headlines - February 15, 2005)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 6 in northeastern Montana will close at midnight on the evening of Wednesday, February 16, 2005.
(Hunting - February 14, 2005)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for trapping otters in Trapping District 1 in northwestern Montana will close at midnight on the evening of   Sunday, February 13, 2005.
(Hunting - February 11, 2005)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission acted unanimously today to lower the daily and possession limits of yellow perch in Canyon Ferry. Effective Feb. 14, 2005, the daily and possession limit will be 15 for yellow perch. The previous limit was 50 per day with no possession limit.
(Fishing - February 10, 2005)

Unique opportunities for college students are available again this summer through the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks internship program. Positions in the Billings area include fisheries fieldworkers in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.
(Headlines - February 09, 2005)

When Brent Mitchell went out on the ice to fish Little Bitterroot Lake on January 28, the last thing he expected to do was to catch a state record fish. But he did, and the fish is huge. Well, at least by pygmy whitefish standards.
(Headlines - February 09, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 323, 324, 325 and 327, which include portions of Madison and Beaverhead counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, February 9, 2005.    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 web site at www.fwp.mt.
(Hunting - February 08, 2005)

Women interested in hunting upland game birds next fall are invited to attend a clinic March 11-12 in Great Falls to help prepare for the hunt. The clinic begins Friday evening at 7 p.m. and runs all day on Saturday.
(Hunting - February 04, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting written comments through Feb. 28 on projects proposed near Helena at Spring Meadow Lake State Park and the planned Education Center. A public meeting will also be held Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at FWP Headquarters, 1420 East Sixth, in Helena.
(Parks - February 04, 2005)

The Montana Trappers Association is sponsoring a trapper education course in Missoula, Saturday, Feb. 12. The free class, set for 8:30 a.m. at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, 3201 Spurgin Rd., will cover trapping regulations, ethics, furbearer identification, health and safety, fur handling and trap setting.
(Hunting - February 04, 2005)

Communities hoping to be considered for outdoor recreation funding available through the Land and Water Conservation Fund have until Feb. 18 to submit an application to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
(Headlines - February 04, 2005)

Most Montanans participate in wildlife viewing and other nongame-related activities. Last year about 2,000 of them also made a tax-deductibe contribution, raising about $25,000 to help support wildlife viewing in the state. It is so easy. Just look for our national symbol on line 49 of your 2004 Montana income tax return form.   The soaring bald eagle marks where, with a check mark, you can make a tax-deductible contribution.
(Wild Things - February 04, 2005)

TIP-MONT, the "crime stopper" program managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, rewards callers who report natural resource crimes to 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668.) A caller may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000, if their information leads to an arrest.
(Hunting - February 04, 2005)

When it comes to predicting the unpredictable, snow jockeys at Internet avalanche centers in Bozeman, Missoula and northwestern Montana’s Glacier Country are the best.
(Parks - February 03, 2005)

Results of over 400 deer and elk tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in south-central Montana since the spring of 2004 indicate the disease has not infected the area’s wild, free ranging herds.
(Headlines - February 02, 2005)

FWP seeks public comments through Feb. 21 on a proposal to release wild turkeys along the Milk River and major tributaries near Chinook
(Headlines - February 01, 2005)