Hunters reminded to use extra caution and follow fire restrictions

GREAT FALLS – Although the fading hours of daylight may suggest that we are in the heart of autumn and moving rapidly towards winter, fire danger across parts of north central Montana and especially along the Rocky Mountain Front remains high, and hunters and all other outdoor recreationists are reminded to be extra cautious to prevent any new fire starts.

While parts of the state have experienced some precipitation over the past few weeks, large portions of Region 4, especially along the Rocky Mountain Front have not seen any measurable moisture.  Coupled with the extreme drought of the past spring and summer, current dry conditions and high winds have the potential for human caused fires to start easily and spread rapidly.  Over just the past month, six human-caused fires have started on the Rocky Mountain Front, including the Crown Mountain Fire, which is still actively burning.

Due to these human starts, the Rocky Mountain Ranger District and parts of the Lincoln Ranger District have returned to Stage 1 fire restrictions.  Under Stage 1 fire restrictions, fires are allowed only in Forest-Service provided metal rings at designated campgrounds and developed recreation sites.

Before heading out this autumn, please check for the most current updates at the location you will be hunting and camping at and check current fire restrictions in place at  www.mtfireinfo.org   Current restrictions for all FWP managed properties including Wildlife Management Areas can be found at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions