As Montana seeks to manage the risk and stop the spread of brucellosis, hunters and landowners will be working together this fall.

Important dates for hunters

Hunters from Montana, and Washington recently won Montana's deer, elk, antelope, bison, and mountain lion SuperTag lotteries.

Many Montanans are devoted to the blue grouse. Some have enjoyed memorable hunting experiences, while others recall Sunday meals around a cast iron roaster of savory grouse breasts smothered in mushroom gravy.

Don't wait until it is too late. Hunters who haven't already asked permission from private landowners to hunt need to do so as soon as possible.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks toll-free hotline for reporting wildlife poaching, property damage, and violations of fish and game laws is in operation 24 hours a day.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comment from individuals, cities, counties, state and federal agencies and private associations on 11 applications for the Montana Off Highway Vehicle Program grant funding. About $160,000 is available in 2009 for these grants.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on 61 applications competing for about $1 million in grants for trail maintenance and development work.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds-off-highway vehicles owners, including motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), quadricycles, dune buggies, amphibious vehicles and air cushion vehicles, have registration and use rules that are worth reviewing before setting off on a hunt.

I’ve been studying bear-human conflict for the past 17 years, and have heard all sides of the ‘firearms versus bear spray’ debate among big game hunters. The issue is: If you're hunting and you encounter an aggressive bear—is it better to shoot it, or use bear spray to repel it?

With Montana’s upland game bird and bow hunting seasons underway beginning Sept. 6, it is a good time to review the basics of hunting safely in bear country.

Hunters, if you haven't traveled in Central and Northwestern Montana recently, you may be surprised and sobered by the signs instructing visitors on how to avoid problems with local grizzly bears.

A recent survey of hikers in Glacier National Park revealed that 35 of the 50 people interviewed who thought they were carrying bear spray actually had the wrong product. Hunters may have the same false sense of securtiy. Grizzly bears can be found throughout western Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded and bears are returning to historic ranges.

August 22, 2008 Montana Fishing Roundup This is a brief synopsis of fishing conditions and reports from select waters across the state. For more detailed information, contact a fly shop, bait store, or boat marina for the particular water. For detailed information on river flows, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mt/nwis/current?type=flow