State of Montana Website Montana State Parks Website
Welcome to FWP Region 3
Region 3 FWP Region 3 Office
1400 South 19th
Bozeman, MT 59718
Phone: (406) 994-4042
Phone: (406) 994-4043
Fax: (406) 994-4090
E-mail: fwprg3@mt.gov

Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 8 AM-5 PM

Helena Area Resource Office
930 Custer Ave. W.
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (406) 495-3260
Fax: (406) 495-3273

Butte Area Resource Office
1820 Meadowlark Lane
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 494-1953
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday, 12:30 PM-4:15 PM

FWP's administrative Region 3 is located in southwest Montana and includes the counties of Beaverhead, Broadwater, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Madison, Park, Silver Bow, and part of Deer Lodge. Region 3 encompasses 18,089 square miles, which is more than 12 percent of the total land area of Montana. About 60 percent of the region is made up of public lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Southwest Montana is made up of broad valleys comprised of prairie habitats of grasslands, sagebrush, and wooded riparian areas rising to foothills and mountains as high as 11,000 feet in elevation. Most of the lower lands are privately-owned, while most of the higher reaches are federally-owned by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management.

Region 3 is home to nine state parks, including Montana's oldest—Lewis and Clark Caverns—and Bannack State Park, the site of the first Territorial Capital. The region is headwaters to some of the most renowned trout rivers in the U.S., including the Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson, upper Missouri, upper Yellowstone, Beaverhead, and Big Hole. About 26 percent of Montana's angling takes place in Region 3, and the region boasts 95 fishing access sites. Big game hunting is a major draw in southwest Montana. Approximately 50 percent of the elk harvest in the entire state happens in Region 3.

Recent Region 3 News

The Gardiner area landowner who lost thirteen of his sheep to wolves late last month has asked Fish, Wildlife and Parks to amend his shoot on sight permit granting permission to take a second wolf. The landowner says he will be shipping his cow/calf pairs which were grazing in the area of the depredation to summer pasture in another location at the end of the week, while his remaining live sheep were moved immediately following the depredation event. Therefore, the landowner says there will no longer be a need for the permit.
(Region 3 - Fish & Wildlife - 05/14/2013)
Firewood cutting for personal use is allowed by permit (free) on the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area through August 31st, and the access road is now open.
(Region 3 - Recreation - 05/13/2013)