Two ewes were recently confirmed killed by wolves on private land in the Blacktail area east of Dillon. USDA Wildlife Services confirmed the depredations on Oct. 23.
(Headlines - November 01, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement recovered the remains of a dead wolf south Dillon on Oct. 16. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requests that anyone with information about this incident call 406-582-0336 or 1-800-TIP-MONT.
(Headlines - November 01, 2006)

Redd counts for all three drainages were higher than last year, with the Flathead increasing 53 percent, the Swan up 21 percent, and the South Fork at record levels. According to FWP Fisheries Biologist Tom Weaver, better flows improved access to traditional spawning areas for the adult bull trout this summer as compared to last year.
(Headlines - November 01, 2006)

The Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board announced that a report on efforts to meet the goals of the Flathead Lake and River Fisheries Co-management Plan is now available for public comment. The report covers the results of the first 5 years of the Fisheries Co-management Plan and makes recommendations for mid-term adjustments. The major recommendation in the report is an increase in the nonnative lake trout daily angling limit on Flathead Lake from 20 fish to 50 fish.
(Headlines - November 01, 2006)

The recent weekend found warm, almost balmy weather in southeastern Montana with temperatures nearing the 70-degree mark. Some hunters found success with big game and upland game birds over the weekend. Reports from the Hysham check station along I-94 indicate hunters harvested more mule deer and white-tailed deer than the previous weekend.
(Hunting - October 31, 2006)

Harvest numbers stayed strong for the first week of big game season in west-central Montana. Cumulative totals for the region’s three check stations showed white-tailed deer harvest up 58 percent from last year. Mule deer harvest was reported 38 percent above last year’s week one totals while elk harvest was up just slightly.
(Headlines - October 30, 2006)

Two separate wolf depredation incidents were recently confirmed on private land in the Paradise Valley. In each case, one calf was confirmed killed by wolves.
(Headlines - October 30, 2006)

A male grizzly bear cub of the year was killed Oct. 22 by a Burlington Northern train just east of Marias Pass on the southern edge of Glacier National Park.
(Headlines - October 27, 2006)

Hunters using the state wildlife management areas along the Rocky Mountain Front need to remember to store food properly to avoid attracting bears into camp.
(Headlines - October 27, 2006)

Hunter numbers were up overall during the opening days of the general big game season in southwest Montana. Although deer harvest was comparable to the last year, elk harvest was up by over 70 animals.
(Headlines - October 27, 2006)

The 2006 big game season in FWP Region 5 opened with a variety of weather conditions and hunt results.
(Headlines - October 26, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is seeking public comment on a proposal to acquire approximately 20 acres of riverfront property along the Clark Fork River in the Alberton Gorge. If acquired, the property would become a part of the Alberton Gorge Recreational Corridor, a seven-mile segment of the Clark Fork River located approximately 30 miles northwest of Missoula.
(Headlines - October 26, 2006)

The Hysham check station is open most weekends during the 2006 fall hunting seasons. The check station has been open for several past hunting seasons at the Hysham rest area adjacent to Interstate 94. Wet and muddy conditions hindered some hunter's plans for the opening of the antelope and deer and elk season, but many were still fortunate enough to experience some success.
(Hunting - October 24, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Lolo National Forest have again agreed to a limited mountain lion hunt in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area. The hunt, scheduled to begin the second week of December, started in 1998 as part of an effort to reduce mountain lion encounters in the north Missoula area.
(Headlines - October 23, 2006)

Harvest numbers were up for west-central Montana’s big game opener Oct. 22. Deer harvest was particularly strong with a reported total 79 percent above last year’s opener. Elk harvest was comparable to last year and above the five-year average.
(Headlines - October 23, 2006)

Montana's 2006 general big game hunting season—or rifle season—for deer and elk opens Oct. 22 and generally ends Nov. 26.
(Headlines - October 20, 2006)

Montana's sage-grouse hunting season closes Nov. 1. Hunting for partridge, pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse and turkey will continue, with some exceptions, until Jan. 1.
(Hunting - October 20, 2006)

While Montana's black and grizzly bears prepare to hibernate this winter, Montanans can prepare for the bear's reappearance next spring by visiting Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' new Be Bear Aware web page at fwp.mt.gov on the Wild Things page under Hot Topics.
(Headlines - October 20, 2006)

The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is seeking comment on its draft Greater Sage-Grouse Comprehensive Conservation Strategy. The strategy is the second of two documents that together will comprise a complete conservation assessment for greater sage-grouse. The Conservation Assessment of Greater Sage-grouse and Sagebrush Habitats were completed in 2004. The draft strategy is available online at www.wafwa.org .
(Headlines - October 20, 2006)

With Montana's general big game hunting season for deer and elk opening Oct. 22, and pheasant season open until Jan. 1, this is the season for telling hunting stories. Though many hunters say that every hunt is a good one, inevitably some go from good to unforgettable.
(Hunting - October 20, 2006)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife Council is seeking public comment through Nov. 17 on draft recommendations on legislative proposals related to hunting, outfitting, FWP enforcement, and upland game bird program issues.   The previous deadline of Oct. 30 has been extended to allow for additional public comment.
(Headlines - October 20, 2006)

The outlook for deer and elk in northeast and north-central Montana is rosy, but expect to see lots of orange in portions of the Missouri River Breaks.
(Headlines - October 19, 2006)

Ryan Rauscher, FWP's regional native-species biologist, is a winner of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Performance
(Headlines - October 19, 2006)

Data from the first two weekends of operation at the Havre game-check station indicate that hunter success is mixed, but mostly lower.
(Headlines - October 19, 2006)

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. 20, 2006. The order halting the hunt came after the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met.
(Hunting - October 18, 2006)

Surplus deer and antelope licenses are still available for a few hunting districts in north central Montana.
(Headlines - October 17, 2006)

Hunters along the Rocky Mountain Front should be aware that grizzly bears are still out and active.
(Headlines - October 17, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Region 7 has published an environmental assessment concerning the purchase of a permanent road easement from Beaver Creek county road, north into several sections of National Forest in Powder River County, approximately 23 miles east and north of Ashland, MT.
(Inside FWP - October 17, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks said today that hunting for antlered buck mule deer in southwestern Montana Hunting Districts 325 and 330 will open Sunday, Oct. 22, which is the statewide opener for most general big game hunting seasons.
(Headlines - October 17, 2006)

Hunters looking for deer north of Choteau in the old Teton Spring Creek Preserve need to remember that the preserve has been replaced by a cooperative hunting area.
(Headlines - October 17, 2006)

There will be a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting Wednesday evening, October 18, beginning at 7 p.m. at the FWP headquarters on 490 North Meridian Road in Kalispell.
(Headlines - October 17, 2006)

As the Region 5 area heads into the second weekend of the 2006 rifle antelope season, the hopes are for better weather and perhaps cheaper gas prices.
(Headlines - October 13, 2006)

A proposal to relocate Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (YCT) from both the Upper and Lower Deer Creeks within the heavily burned Derby Fire area to suitable habitat outside of the burn area has been released by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in cooperation with the Gallatin National Forest, for review and comment.
(Headlines - October 13, 2006)

Deer and elk hunters this year in north central Montana will be faced with an embarrassment of riches.
(Headlines - October 12, 2006)

State fisheries workers are in the middle of gathering rainbow trout population estimates on the Missouri River.
(Headlines - October 12, 2006)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Oct. 19 at the Fort Keogh Research Station, 243 Fort Keogh Rd., in Miles City beginning at 8 a.m. The FWP Commission will make final decisions on the 2007 annual rule for the sale of non-resident combination licenses; the 2007 fishing regulations; acquisition of the Shields River fishing access site in Park County; and the classification of 15 exotic species under the regulation for import and possession of these species .
(Headlines - October 12, 2006)

The fishing closure on the Upper Big Hole River from Rock Creek Road south of Wisdom to the mouth of the North Fork will lift on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 12:01 a.m. Average daily flows measured at the U.S. Geological Survey gauging station at Wisdom have been at or near 65 cubic feet per second for seven consecutive days, exceeding the criteria of 40 cfs set in the Big Hole Drought Management Plan for reopening the river to angling.
(Fishing - October 12, 2006)

State officials are seeking public comment on a proposal to buy an easement on 62 acres on Big Spring Creek north of Lewistown.
(Headlines - October 11, 2006)

Elk hunters in Montana have enjoyed good hunting and healthy populations of elk and this year promises more of the same. A series of mild winters followed by favorable precipitation during the spring growing season has helped more elk calves to survive the winter and has kept elk productivity high.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

Abundant whitetailed and mule deer populations across Montana are the result of several years of relatively mild winter conditions and favorable spring precipitation. These positive conditions helped increase winter survival of adults and deer fawns. "We expect to see some good deer hunting this season. Montana's deer populations in general have been stable to increasing in most regions across the state," said Quentin Kujala, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife management bureau chief.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks conservation education experts recommend hunting as a way to spend meaningful time with young people. A variety of hunting opportunities geared especially to young hunters help to make young hunters first experiences more successful and fun.
(Headlines - October 06, 2006)

For the 2006 hunting season, hunters will have access to nearly 9 million acres of land statewide through the Block Management Program administered by Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The program assists landowners in managing hunting activities on lands under their control, and provides hunters with public hunting access to private and isolated public land free of charge.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

To help hunters determine who owns the land where they want to hunt, FWP has developed a Directory of Montana Maps that explains how to find maps that identify both public and private land ownership.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

It's time for hunters who plan to hunt on private land to be thinking about securing permission from landowners. Montana law requires hunters to obtain permission for ALL hunting on private land.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

Montanans who plan to travel out-of-state or to Canada to hunt big game, including deer, elk and moose, should know that it is now illegal to bring heads and spinal cords from harvested game animals back with them from a state known to have chronic wasting disease. CWD is a brain disease in deer and elk that is always fatal.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

Before going afield to hunt, it is always wise to review the proper ways to handle and transport wild meat.
(Headlines - October 06, 2006)

Before going afield to hunt, it is always wise to review the proper ways to handle and transport wild meat.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

Many hunters who own OHVs enjoy using their machines to get to the hunt during bow or rifle season. But for hunters stalking animals and who value stealth, an ATV is the last thing they want to see in the backcountry.   "In Montana, we can take steps now to head off some of the contentious situations other, more populated states, are running into," said Bob Walker, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Trails Program Coordinator.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

All hunters born after January 1, 1985 are required to provide proof of completing a Montana hunter safety and education course, or a hunter safety course from any other state or province, prior to applying for or purchasing a hunting licenses, whether the hunting license is for the rifle or archery season.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

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 - October 06, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks requests that hunters report any sightings or signs of wolves.  A gray wolf is, on average 2.5 feet tall; 5-6 feet long; 70-120 pounds with a broad snout, round ears and fur ranging from gray, black or tan to white. FWP must prepare annual reports to document the recovered status and distribution of the Montana wolf population.
(Hunting - October 06, 2006)

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 06, 2006)

One interesting aspect of a family's hunting heritage is helping the next generation to select his or her first rifle.  Your son or daughter may choose a brand new, state-of-the-art rifle; a classic and timeless hunting piece imbued with family stories; or something in between. In the end what really matters is the hunting heritage that comes with choosing that first rifle. In my family we leaned toward passing on a classic because I grew up in a hunting family with many guns.
(Headlines - October 06, 2006)

Three wolves, members of the Freezeout pack in the Centennial Valley, were killed between Sept. 29 and Oct. 3 following wolf-related livestock depredation on the north end of the Centennial Valley beginning Sept. 29.
(Headlines - October 06, 2006)

Ten swift fox trapped by Fish, Wildlife & Parks and translocated to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation were released in new habitat last week.
(Headlines - October 04, 2006)

Comments will be accepted through Oct. 30 on a proposed conservation easement on 402 acres along the Milk River west of Hinsdale.
(Headlines - October 04, 2006)

The Region 6 Citizens Advisory Council will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the Chinook Motor Inn in Chinook.
(Headlines - October 04, 2006)

FWP's new fisheries biologist responsible for Fort Peck Lake is learning how to manage diverse fisheries, including this fall's Chinook salmon collection
(Headlines - October 04, 2006)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Law Enforcement report the death of a female gray wolf. The radio-collared wolf carcass was recovered on September 28 from Skalkaho Pass, east of Missoula.
(Headlines - October 04, 2006)

The fishing closure on the Big Hole River from the mouth of the North Fork of the Big Hole to Dickie Bridge near Wise River will be lifted on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 12:01 a.m. The Middle Reach of the Big Hole was closed to fishing on Aug. 10. The fishing closure was made in response to extremely low flows in the river that met the triggers set in the Big Hole Watershed Committee Drought Plan for a fishing closure. Average daily flows at the U.S.
(Fishing - October 03, 2006)

The Region 7, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Citizen Advisory Council is scheduled to meet in Miles City at Miles Community College, Room 106 on October 18, 2006.
(Inside FWP - October 02, 2006)

In the past two weeks Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has received and responded to numerous calls reporting injured antelope in the Billings Heights area. Up to three antelope have been reported as moving around town with arrows lodged in their bodies.
(Headlines - October 02, 2006)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 5 Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) will meet on Tuesday, October 10. The meeting is scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at FWP’s Region 5 office in Billings. The public is welcome to attend, though space in the public meeting room and time for discussion may be limited.
(Headlines - October 02, 2006)