Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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Monday, June 24, alongside Wildlife Manager Brett Dorak, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Dustin Temple held a press conference to address the status of eastern Montana’s mule deer. “Our job at FWP is to manage Montana’s wildlife resources by providing full contextual, transparent, accurate data with full context,” Director Temple said. “Across the state, we are making the effort to ensure our management of mule deer is based on the best science and data.” FWP biologists have completed annual spring surveys. For Region 5, the numbers...
Biologists conducting spring deer and elk surveys found some areas with improved herd growth and some areas with lower recruitment due to poor habitat conditions and disease. During the spring season, FWP wildlife staff get a pulse on deer and elk numbers by conducting aerial spring trend surveys or green-up flights across the state. These flights occur in the same areas year after year so biologist can understand population trends. During the flights, staff count the total number of deer and elk they see and classify fawns/calves and adults...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Bowhunter Education course dates have been set for Glasgow, with an in-person course taught by volunteer instructors starting Monday, June 24, and a field day for online students on Thursday, June 27. These bowhunter education courses are free of charge. In-person bowhunter education class Bowhunter Education classes are taught by skilled volunteer instructors and offer hands-on learning experiences, mentoring opportunities, and the ability for students to ask questions of experienced bowhunters. Students must be...
The new Montana Mule Deer Citizen Advisory Committee will meet twice this spring and help the department identify important issues in mule deer management and goals for the new mule deer management plan. This is an early step in the planning process with multiple opportunities for public input before the plan is finalized in time to inform the 2026-2027 hunting season-setting process. Members of the committee include Valley County residents Eric Albus, Hinsdale, and Mitchell Griebel, Glasgow. “Most Montanans have a familiar appreciation for m...
The Fish and Wildlife Commission is accepting public comment on agenda items for its June 20 meeting. The meeting will be held through Zoom only. To make a comment during the meeting, you must register by noon on June 19 on Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ website. Written comments can also be submitted through May 27 on the FWP website or sent to 1420 E. 6th Ave., Helena, MT 59601, Attn: Erik Wickman. The following proposals are up for public comment: Resident SuperTag Draft Rules: At its April 17 meeting, the commission authorized FWP to draft a...
Landowners have until May 1 to apply for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Elk Hunting Access Agreement (EHA) Program. These EHA agreements, which were established by the 2001 Legislature, provide landowners with an elk license (including elk B), an either-sex permit or combination of the two in exchange for allowing free public hunting access for elk management purposes. The licenses/permits issued through this program may be designated to an immediate family member or an authorized full-time employee of the landowner valid only on the l...
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be streamed live on Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ website, https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/april-2024-meeting, and YouTube, www.youtube.com/@MontanaFWP. The commission will take public comment on agenda items from registered commenters on Zoom. Those who want to make a comment on Zoom must register on the Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ website by noon on April 16. Written comment on most agenda items were accepted thr...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications from landowners who are interested in participating in the 2024 Block Management Program. Application deadline is June 1. Through the Block Management Program, landowners and FWP work together to help manage wildlife and public hunting activities on enrolled lands. Landowners and FWP enter into voluntary agreements that determine how hunting will be conducted on the landowner’s property. Items such as permission requirements, times when permission will be granted, hunting opportunities pr...
Hunters have until April 1 to apply for deer and elk permits and nonresident combination licenses. Hunters can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website; click on “Buy and Apply.” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers several tools to help hunters navigate the application process. Click here to watch a video tutorial for Montana residents; click here to watch a video tutorial for nonresidents. To see a playlist of all FWP’s hunting license video tutorials, click here. For help with understanding how bonus points are used, you can v...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment related to the environmental impacts of the proposed list of funding awards for the 2024 Trail Stewardship Program (TSP) grant cycle. This year the program is recommending $2,000,000 in grant funds to 36 projects around the state. In total, FWP received 40 applications requesting $2.33 million in funding. Applications were submitted by federal and state agencies, towns, cities, counties, recreational clubs and nonprofit organizations. Eligible projects include development and rehabilitati...
Whether you love hiking, hunting, biking or fishing, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to hear your thoughts on what matters most for the future of outdoor recreation in our state. Over the next few months, FWP will be gathering input from the recreating public as it updates its Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). SCORP serves as a guide for local, state and federal agencies as they work with FWP to develop future outdoor recreation opportunities across the state. SCORP also outlines outdoor recreation goals for the state over the...
The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2024 hunting, fishing and conservation licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B licenses, elk B licenses, antelope B licenses, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey – can be made beginning March 1. A new online feature this year is the option for applicants to reapply for the same offerings as last year with just a sim...
The hunting and trapping of wolves in Region 5, 6 and 7 closed a half hour after sunset Jan. 21. The order halting the harvest of wolves in these regions came after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota of five wolves in these regions had been met. With the exception of Wolf Management Unit 313, wolf harvest quotas elsewhere in the state have yet to be met. Those interested in up-to-date information on the status of Montana’s wolf harvest can view FWP’s wolf dashboard, https...
Two diseases mostly affecting wild birds have been detected recently in Montana. These include pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV), which has become more widespread in the past month, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been detected in Montana since 2022. Mortality in wild birds from HPAI tends to cycle with waterfowl migrations, and detections of HPAI in Montana have increased recently due to seasonal migrations. Hunters, livestock and pet owners, and other residents may have questions about these pathogens and what precautionary...
The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 30 and Wednesday, Jan. 31. Participants can attend in person at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation headquarter in Helena or via Zoom. The meeting runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 and from 8 to 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 31. The 13-member advisory committee, appointed by the governor, is charged with reviewing FWP’s access programs and offering recommendations to help achieve program goals and maintaining good relations between hunters and l...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Fort Peck Multispecies Fish Hatchery in Fort Peck. The public is welcome to attend. FWP will give updates on current Region 6 fisheries, wildlife, enforcement, education, and parks and outdoor recreation happenings. Each of FWP’s seven administrative regions has a volunteer CAC to help guide policies and programs. The Region 6 group meets three to four times a year. FWP ensures that its meetings are fully acc...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host two meetings in January to discuss proposed 2024 upland game bird hunting regulations. FWP staff will present proposed 2024 upland game bird seasons and regulations, along with recent trends in upland game bird populations, harvest, and hunting pressure. The meetings are being held in Glendive and Scobey, as eastern Montana attracts many resident and nonresident upland gamebird hunters. Both meetings will have options for people to attend virtually. The purpose of the meetings is to share information...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is forming an advisory council to help begin the process of developing a new statewide mule deer plan. The Mule Deer Citizens Advisory Council (MDCAC) will consist of 10 to 12 people and will identify expectations for the new mule deer plan, which could include expectations for development process, management actions and goals, and results. “As we begin the process of developing a new mule deer plan, we are really open to taking a different approach, if that’s what the public wants,” said FWP Director Dusti...
The results are in from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Havre check station for the 2023 hunting season. The check station was open for eight weekends from Oct. 7 (the opener of general antelope and pheasant) through Nov. 26 (the end of the deer/elk general season). Overall, hunter numbers and upland game bird harvest were above average, and big game harvest was below average. Biologists gather a lot of valuable information and biological data on game animals brought through check stations. FWP appreciates all hunters’ cooperation in t...
The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday, Dec. 19, via Zoom from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The 13-member advisory committee, appointed by the governor, is charged with reviewing FWP’s access programs and offering recommendations to help achieve program goals and maintaining good relations between hunters and landowners. Members are Ed Beall, chair, of Helena, Eric Albus, of Hinsdale, Cynthia Cohan, of Butte, Lee Cornwell, of Glasgow, Paul Ellis, of Bozeman, Everett Headley, of Stevensville, Donna McDonald, of Alder, Rod P...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recently appointed six new members to the Montana Wetlands Protection Advisory Council. Region 1: To be determined Region 2: Bridger Pierce Region 3: Justin Julian Region 4: Chris Evensen Region 5: Beverly Wornom Region 6: Ken Jansa Region 7: Stephen Christian The council advises FWP on general management and direction of the Migratory Bird Wetland Program. The program was established by the Montana legislature in 1985 and is funded with state migratory bird hunting license fees. “We’re grateful for these mem...
City of Glasgow and FWP fisheries staff have begun pumping water out of Home Run Pond to clean up the pond and improve the fishery. Pumping equipment will be positioned at Home Run Pond through late this week. Members of the public are asked to avoid disturbing hoses, pumps, and other instruments, and stay off any ice that forms on Home Run Pond throughout the winter. Next spring, the pond will be filled and stocked with rainbow trout. For any questions about the project, please contact FWP fisheries biologist Jared Krebs at 406-808-7068 or...
Montana K9 Safety, along with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, will offer a free workshop for dog owners interested in learning how to free dogs from traps. The workshop is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Best Western Plus, 1425 US Hwy 2 (on the hill) in Havre. For centuries, people have trapped furbearers across Montana. Fur trapping is highly regulated, biologically sustainable, and an important part of Montana’s cultural history and outdoor lifestyle. However, sometimes traps that attract or surprise targeted animals...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a series of virtual and in-person public meetings around the state to present proposed hunting regulations for 2024/2025 hunting seasons. The Region 6 meeting will be held in Glasgow on Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cottonwood Inn. This will be the only meeting held in Region 6. There will be a Zoom option available for these meetings that can be found by going to https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/biennial-season-setting, where the full list of proposals can be found...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Havre hunter check station was active over the weekend of general deer and elk opener (Oct. 21-22), with the number of hunters checked the highest in recent history. The youth deer season also coincided with the general season opener, which tends to increase hunter participation, and the weather was warm and dry. This was the third weekend that the check station has been open, as the station began collecting data Oct. 7 and 8 for the opening weekend of pheasant and general antelope. There were 386 hunters in 1...
