Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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Joining Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), Governor Greg Gianforte July 11 visited with a longtime partner of the Block Management Program in Valley County to thank him for his partnership and celebrate increasing hunting access for Montanans. "Through Block Management, Montanans have access to nearly eight million acres of private land to hunt and recreate, and even more when considering the access those acres provide to adjacent or isolated public lands," Gov. Gianforte said. "I'm...
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 and Parks Region 6 game wardens are seeking any information regarding vandalism that took place at the Glasgow Base Ponds FAS north of Glasgow near Saint Marie. Damage occurred by vandals firing both rifle and/or pistol bullets and shotgun pellets at signs and the on-site latrine, resulting in significant expense to replace and/or fix those items. The damage was first recorded by Warden Wyatt Pickens on May 23. Anyone with possible information about this is encouraged to visit https://myfwp.mt.gov/fwpPub/tipmont to...
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...
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...
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...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on open water fishing contests proposed for the 2024 open water season. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Applications for fishing contests may be approved, approved with conditions or denied by the FWP Fisheries Division in Helena. Conditions placed on contests may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts and/or require additional access site maintenance when needed. Information on the proposed...
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... Full story
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... Full story
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...
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...
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... Full story
Hi-Line Sportsmen is again offering their Hunter Mentoring program this year. The impetus behind the program stemmed from Andrew McKean's work on the national R3 campaign (Hunter Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation) and a 2016 survey of hunter participation showing a drop of 2.2 million hunters in the country. McKean said, "That R3 movement really became a national campaign to match up existing hunters (mentors) with apprentices (people who either had never hunted before or who had limited...
A free youth pheasant and waterfowl weekend kick-off event is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 19, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Havre Trap Club for any youth aged 10 and older. Parents or other mentors planning to hunt with the youth are expected to attend as well. This event is planned ahead of the youth pheasant and waterfowl weekend of Sept. 23-24, which is open for properly licensed youth ages 10-15. The kick-off will include a barbecue “open house” for youth and their adult-hunting partners to learn about the youth bird-hunting weekend, ask ques...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) will meet from 10 a.m. to approximately 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29, at the Sleeping Buffalo Hot Springs meeting room. The public is welcome to attend. FWP will give updates on wildlife season setting for 2024-25, fisheries plans and regulations, access projects, and more. Following a working lunch for CAC members and FWP staff, there will be a short tour of local FWP sites. Each of FWP’s seven administrative regions has a volunteer CAC to help guide policies and pro... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 will host two informational meetings on several fish-related topics, including proposals for the 2024 Fishing Regulations, the Statewide Fisheries Management Plan, and the Fort Peck Management Plan. The meetings will be held in Glasgow starting at 6 p.m., on Monday, Aug. 28, at the FWP headquarters Quonset room (1 Airport Road), and in Havre at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Best Western Great Northern Inn (1425 US Hwy 2). Montana’s famed fisheries provide amazing recreational opportunities, from b... Full story
1 Years Ago: Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, in collaboration with Carroll College and Montana State University, has confirmed this season's first signs of West Nile Virus-positive mosquitos in Phillips, Sheridan, Blaine, Cascade, Prairie and Teton counties. In addition, an American White Pelican near the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Sheridan County tested positive for West Nile Virus (WNV). No case of human infection has been...
The bat walks scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 12 was cancelled due to weather, and has been rescheduled for Friday, Aug. 18 at 8:30 p.m. Join Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US Army Corp of Engineers for an evening presentation and walk, learning about and observing these fascinating creatures. To kick things off, FWP Region 6 biologist Nikie Hussey will deliver a presentation on bats and their importance in our ecosystem. This will be immediately followed by a “bat walk” around the Downstream Nature Tra... Full story
What do bats do at night? Aerobatics! Join Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the US Army Corp of Engineers for an evening presentation and walk, learning about and observing these fascinating creatures. The Bat Walk will take place beginning at the Downstream Campground Amphitheater, starting at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12. To kick things off, FWP Region 6 biologist Nikie Hussey will deliver a presentation on bats and their importance in our ecosystem. This will be immediately followed by a “bat walk” aro... Full story
HELENA – While mule deer populations remain steady in portions of the state, spring green-up surveys conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife biologists showed populations in some parts of the state remain lower than desired, and as a result, licenses available to hunters in those areas have been cut back. Over the past few years, persistent drought, particularly in southeast Montana, has affected both survival and recruitment rates for mule deer. This drought has also, at times, been coupled with hard winters, making it e...
A popular Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 program that allows kids and their friends or families to check out free fishing rods and tackle is in full swing again this year. In time for summer fishing, FWP staff has restocked and maintained over 350 fishing rods in most of the 41 different location sites across Montana’s Hi-Line. The “Kids to Fish” program lets anglers check out fishing rods and reels equipped with basic tackle, such as hooks, bobbers, and sinkers. Typically, eight rods are at each location, and some places have a tackl...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is kicking off the biennial hunting season-setting process earlier to allow for more public engagement and greater transparency. Public involvement will begin in June and end in November. Scoping meetings will be held for the 2024-25 seasons, along with information on the draft elk management plan. Region 6 scoping meetings are being held in: • Glasgow - June 29, 6 p.m., Cottonwood Inn, with a *virtual option (54250 U.S. Hwy 2) *Virtual option link will be available at the season setting link below In the p... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will kick off the biennial hunting season-setting process earlier to allow for more public engagement and greater transparency. Public involvement will begin in June and end in November. In the past, public involvement happened primarily in December and January. FWP will conduct scoping meetings around the state from June 15 to July 15. FWP staff will look to hunters to provide broad input on regulation changes they’d like to see. Staff will also look for feedback on a few specific proposals. These scoping meeting...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Thursday, April 13, at the Cottonwood Inn Convention Center. The public is welcome to attend. FWP will give updates on current legislative bills, fisheries, wildlife season setting for 2024-25, and a presentation on shooting range development. Following a working lunch for CAC members and FWP staff, there will be a short tour of local shooting range facilities. Each of FWP’s seven administrative regions has a volunteer CAC to help gui...
