Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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Governor Greg Gianforte and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) announced on Nov. 26 the launch of a new, interactive public access map designed to enhance outdoor recreation activities on state trust lands for Montanans. “Montana was recently named the best state in the nation for outdoor enthusiasts and this new map will serve as a great tool for folks to get out and explore hunting and recreational opportunities across the Treasure State,” Gov. Gianforte said. “...I encourage Montanans to get out and enjoy this map w...
Hunters can help ensure the future of public access for generations to come. Remember “It’s Up to Us. Respect access. Protect the hunt.” This is a message from FWP and partners to encourage hunters to always practice conscientious behavior and show respect for private land and the access landowners provide. There are five actions hunters can take to show respect for landowners to ensure the hunting tradition continues: – Plan ahead for access – Respect private property – Practice safe hunting behavior – Turn in poachers – visit tipmont.mt.gov...
Hunters will again have the opportunity to thank landowners who allow hunting access on their land. The “Thank a Landowner” web portal is an easy way for hunters to pass on a note of thanks and a photo to landowners who have allowed them access. FWP collects these submissions and mails the letters and photos to all landowners who were identified. Last year, nearly 600 hunters submitted a thank you note to private landowners through the portal. This portal is part of the “It’s Up To Us” campaign to promote ethical hunting and help improve...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks encourages folks to be bear aware, even in the “Hi-Line” area of central and eastern Montana. Many folks are heading into the field for fall hunting, and bears are often very active this time of year as they are looking for high calorie food sources before hibernation. Bear populations are expanding, and although bear encounters are rare in most of central and eastern Montana, there are known black and grizzly bears in all kinds of habitats along the Hi-Line. This includes the Little Rockies and Bear Paw Mou...
In Montana, maintaining positive relationships between hunters and landowners is a critical part of our culture and our heritage. In many towns around the state, these relationships extend well beyond hunting season as landowners and hunters share a commitment to their communities and ways of life. Over the years, however, things have changed and it’s more common now for hunters to use access programs to hunt private land, rather than gaining access through a direct contact with a landowner. To help promote hunter ethics and build awa...
Montana’s millions of acres of private land offer some excellent hunting opportunities—the only catch is gaining the landowner’s permission to hunt. It is Montana law that hunters obtain landowner permission to hunt on all private land. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will greatly improve results when attempting to secure hunting access to private land. • Show courtesy to the landowner and make hunting arrangements by calling or visiting at times convenient to the landowner. • Plan ahead and secure permission well in advance o...
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. Montana law requires hunters to obtain permission for all hunting on private land. Whether pursuing upland game birds, coyotes, gophers or any other wildlife, hunters must have permission from the landowner before hunting on private property. This also includes entering private land to retrieve wildlife or to access public land to hunt. Landowners may grant permission in person, over the phone, in wri...
Pheasant season opens on Saturday, Oct. 12. This fall, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will release nearly 18,000 birds on wildlife management areas, fishing access sites and some school trust lands around the state. This is the third year of the annual pheasant release program. In 2022, the Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the release of up to 50,000 pheasants annually on FWP WMAs through 2026. In 2021, the Legislature authorized spending up to $1 million each year for the program. The purpose of the program is to get new hunters out in...
General antelope season opens Saturday, Oct. 12, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 10. For information about what to expect this season, check out Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hunting forecast, https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/seasons/forecasts FWP provides online information about hunting access, including our popular Block Management Program, which provides hunting access to more than 7 million acres of private land. Information can be viewed on this website, https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/access FWP’s interactive Hunt Planner, https://fwp.mt.gov/gis/maps/hunt...
No matter what brand you have, all of us are familiar with Forward Facing Sonar (FFS). By far the most controversial subject in freshwater fishing today. The smaller walleye world is seeing the conversations and even repercussions of FFS the Bass world has been going through for several years now. To compare anything that has come before FFS in the fishing industry is just nonsense. I remember when my Dad had the paper graph with a pencil and then upgraded to a digital screen on the counsel, or when swim baits took the fishing industry by...
It’s fall and hunting season is upon us. Soon the mornings will be crisp and cold and the leaves will be turning. Under the Big Sky, this is the season many of us spend the whole year looking forward to. In the following forecasts, FWP outlines what hunters can expect for deer, elk and pronghorn seasons around the state. We also have a fairly in-depth upland game bird forecast. Along with this great information, we have some tips on being safe in bear country and the importance of being good stewards when hunting on private lands. D...
Montana’s two-day, youth-only deer hunt is coming up Oct. 17 and 18, and general deer season opens Oct. 26. Now is a good time to consider signing up for the Apprentice Hunter Program and the application is available on Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ website at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/apprentice-hunter. The apprentice hunter program allows people ages 10 and older to hunt as apprentices with a mentor for two seasons without completing a Hunter Education course. People interested in the Apprentice Hunter Program should visit the website and...
The Fish and Wildlife Commission is accepting public comment on agenda items for its Oct. 10 meeting. The meeting will be held at the Montana State Capitol in Room 102 and through Zoom. Written comments can be submitted through Sept. 19 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: 2025-26 Fishing Regulations – FWP is proposing 48 regulation changes, and the rest of the regulations as written in the current 2024 regulation book, for the 2025-26 Montana F...
Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks is seeking public input for a proposed public shooting range project in Glasgow. A public scoping meeting will be held at the FWP Region 6 headquarters in Glasgow, in the Quonset building meeting room, on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 5:30 p.m. Written comments on the proposal must be received by Aug. 31. FWP is seeking to lease property from the City of Glasgow where the current Glasgow public shooting range is located, approximately one-half mile north of Glasgow off Skylark Rd. FWP would improve and manage the...
Fisheries management of northeast Montana's ponds and small reservoirs can be a challenge. Habitat limitations, excess nutrient input from multi-use practices, and extreme winter and summer conditions can all negatively impact these biologically and recreationally important fisheries. In addition to these challenges, illegal fish introductions are a pervasive issue that further complicate management. Whether done intentionally or by accident, it is illegal to move or introduce live fish from...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host public meetings around the state to present proposals for the 2025-26 fishing regulations and answer questions from the public. The public meetings will all be held at 6 p.m. and at the following locations: Aug. 27, Miles City, Miles City Community College, Room 110 Aug. 28, FWP Office, Glasgow, 1 Airport Rd. Aug. 29, FWP Office, Billings, 2300 Lake Elmo Dr. Sep. 12, Statewide Zoom Meeting This past spring FWP held meeting around the state to gather input on regulation changes. That input helped to...
As you are hunting, hiking, and exploring Montana this fall, be sure to take a break from scanning the horizon and look down at the ground once in a while. Not only will this help you avoid stepping on a cactus or a rattlesnake, but you might also see one of eastern Montana’s rarely seen critters…the greater short-horned lizard, commonly known as a “horny toad.” If you do, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks would like to know about it. The greater short- horned lizard, Phrynosoma hernandesi, was once considered the second most abundant reptile...
The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Friday, Aug. 16, at 8:30 a.m., at Montana WILD and via Zoom. The deadline to submit written comments on most agenda items was July 25. However, public comment will be taken during the meeting; those wishing to make a comment must register at fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/august-2024-meeting. Registration deadline is Thursday, Aug. 15 at noon. Agenda items for the Aug. 16 commission meeting are: Resident SuperTag Administrative Rule Selection of Organizations to Auction 2025 Shiras Moose, Bighorn Sheep...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is looking for public feedback on work from a citizen advisory council tasked with developing guiding principles for developing a new Mule Deer Management Plan. “We know how concerned people are with mule deer numbers across the state,” said FWP Director Dustin Temple. “Our focus is developing a new plan that will guide our efforts to manage herds well into the future. The council’s work is a critical first step for our planning process.” In early 2024, FWP solicited applications from Montana citizens to serve on...
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...
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 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 State Trails Advisory Committee (STAC) will meet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Zoom. updates to the Recreation Trails Grant Program (RTP) and the Trail Stewardship Grant Program (TSP) for the 2024 grant cycle. For information on how to join the Zoom meeting, go to fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission-councils-committees/state-trails-advisory-committee. STAC advises FWP on trail issues in Montana, including funding, use and the promotion of recreational trails across land ownership....
The Montana Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee (OHVAC) will meet from 1 to 4 p.m. via Zoom. The committee will review and discuss updates to the Off Highway Vehicle Grant Program (OHV) and the Summer Motorized Trail Pass Grant Program (SMTP) for the 2024 grant cycle. For information on how to join the Zoom meeting, go to fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission-councils-committees/ohv-advisory-committee. OHVAC advises FWP on trail issues in Montana relating to the funding, provision of, development, renovation, maintenance, management, usage and...
