Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 87
FOR THE COURIER HELENA – The Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted regulations for Montana’s first traditional muzzleloader season at its meeting on Aug. 20. House Bill 242 was passed in the 2021 Legislative Session and established a nine-day muzzleloader heritage hunting season for deer and elk that begins on the second Saturday following the end of the regular season. For 2021, the season is Dec. 11 to Dec. 19. To address this new statute, the commission adopted the following regulations, most of which are based on language from the sta...
FOR THE COURIER The 2021 Migratory Bird Regulation booklets contain language on wanton waste of game that is no longer accurate. Because the regulations were printed before the Montana Legislature changed the statute, the information is outdated. The regulation reflecting the new statute reads: “Waste of Game (MCA 87-6-205) Wanton Waste – No person shall kill or cripple any migratory game bird pursuant to this part without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the bird and retain it in his/her actual custody. Under Montana law, it is unl...
FOR THE COURIER The Fish and Wildlife Commission approved changes to elk shoulder seasons in several hunting districts at its meeting on Aug. 20. All changes apply to this coming hunting season. However, no early shoulder seasons were added. Elk shoulder season changes made by the commission: a shoulder season in hunting district 314 that applies to LPT 314-00 only and is not valid on public lands; extending shoulder season to Feb. 15, 2022 for HDs 262, 290, 298, 314, 390, 391, 393, 411 east of Montana Highway 238 only, 417, 502, 510, 511,...
FOR THE COURIER Antlers, horns, hides and skulls that were confiscated by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks enforcement will be auctioned on Sept. 25 at the National Auction House in Billings. Items include 50 big horn sheep skulls, 390-plus-inch bull elk, moose, deer, elk, bear, mountain goats, mountain lions, martins, antelope, bobcats and more. Most of the items come from poaching incidents. Montana statute requires FWP to sell seized items at public auction. This includes all birds, animals, fish, heads, hides, teeth or other parts of any...
FOR THE COURIER GLASGOW- Hunters and anglers out in the field this fall may see a new friendly face. Wyatt Pickens was recently hired as the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks field warden in Glasgow. Pickens will be covering Valley County and sharing working the Breaks districts (631 and 632), Fort Peck Reservoir, and the Missouri River with Warden John Huberty. Pickens, originally from Colorado, holds a bachelor's degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from MSU-Bozeman, where he was a Warden...
FOR THE COURIER HELENA – After a public comment period that drew more than 26,000 comments, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted several changes to the 2021/2022 wolf hunting and trapping regulations at its meeting on Aug. 20. Changes include eliminating quotas, increasing the number of wolf trapping and hunting licenses allowed for individual hunters, extending wolf trapping seasons and the allowance of snares for trapping wolves. Wolf regulations were adopted as follows: A harvest of 450 wolves shall initiate a commission review with p...
FOR THE COURIER HELENA – Watercraft inspectors at the Wibaux inspection station intercepted a motorboat entering Montana with mussels attached. The Wibaux inspection station, located on the Montana-North Dakota border on Interstate 94, has intercepted 12 of the 54 mussels boats intercepted so far this year. This boat was unique in how the mussels were attached to the boat. Invasive mussels have byssal threads they use to attach to underwater surfaces. The threads or “hairs” are an adaptation found on invasive zebra and quagga mussels but are n...
FOR THE COURIER HELENA – The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission is seeking public review and comment on several wildlife-related items and the 2022 Montana fishing regulations, all of which were approved for comment during the recent commission meeting. Wildlife proposals include the wild turkey augmentations in north-central Montana, bighorn sheep augmentation on Wildhorse Island, Adaptive Harvest Management Plan for Mule Deer and the 2022 Annual Work Plan for Elk Management in Areas with Brucellosis. More information on the wildlife p...
FOR THE COURIER Montana’s archery hunting season for deer and elk begins Sept. 4, and just like in every other form of hunting, being successful while hunting with a bow requires careful planning and preparation. If you plan to hunt during the archery season, here are five tips for being safe, responsible and successful: Practice, practice, practice. Being proficient in archery takes patience and repetition. Practice shooting your bow in the same manner in which you’ll be hunting. Begin practicing well before the hunting season. Know and respec...
FOR THE COURIER Grizzly bears have the potential to be found anywhere in the western two-thirds of Montana (west of Billings), and their distribution is denser and more widespread than in previous years. Some areas with dense concentrations of grizzly bears are very accessible to hunters, especially during the archery season. Keep these precautions in mind when hunting in grizzly country: Carry and know how to use bear spray. Keep it within easy reach and be prepared to use it immediately. Stay alert, especially when hearing or visibility is...
FOR THE COURIER GLASGOW-Although most hunters respect the land, property, and wildlife they are hunting, others may not. The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 Citizens Advisory Council, recognizing that this is an ongoing issue, raised the need to annually remind hunters to be good stewards of the land and respect both private and public property. Every hunting season, there are reports of vandalizing of Block Management Area (BMA) boxes, hunters driving off road, trespassing, hunters being shot over, littering, livestock being shot, and...
FOR THE COURIER GLASGOW- Biologists for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks are expecting that many areas of the region will be challenging for upland bird hunting this fall. However, some areas with good habitat conditions should have fair bird populations for hunters prepared to find them. Habitat conditions, spring adult populations, and recent brood observations vary widely across the region for all species. Most noticeably, the severe drought has negatively impacted vegetation throughout the season and has likely led to a decrease in nest and b...
FOR THE COURIER HELENA – Are you ready for hunting season? FWP can help. In addition to the following hunting forecast, FWP provides online information about hunting access, including our popular Block Management Program. Through the program, we coordinate with landowners to provide hunting access to more than 7 million acres of private land. The interactive Hunt Planner map allows users to look at information for various species, including hunting districts and regulations. The hunt planner interactive map is a great way to access our block m...
FOR THE COURIER The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet in person on Aug. 20 at the State Capitol in room 303. Additional seating is available in the balcony. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. Public comment via Zoom will be managed with the system utilized by the Legislature. People interested in commenting must register online via the Fish, Wildlife & Parks website by 12 p.m. Aug. 19. Members of the public will also be able to comment in person at the meeting or at any FWP regional office. "We're grateful to the Legislative Services...
FOR THE COURIER HELENA – Hunters are now able to obtain the 2021 Block Management Area (BMA) program information. Hunters are encouraged to request their 2021 BMA Access Guide online and download or print individual BMA maps at fwp.mt.gov/BMA. By utilizing the FWP website fwp.mt.gov/BMA, hunters will have instant access to the Access Guide and up-to-date BMA maps and rules for every individual BMA enrolled in the program. “Obtaining these individual BMA maps and rules via our website are key to successfully utilizing the BMA program as not all...
FOR THE COURIER Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announces the annual fishing regulation photo and kids’ art contest. Winners will see their work on the front and back cover of the 2022 fishing regulation booklets. All submitted photos will be considered for the contest, but the department will give special consideration to photos that highlight the diversity of people and fishing opportunities that Montana has to offer. Photo contest: Photo must be vertical (portrait) mode, or suitable for tight vertical cropping to fit the available space on t...
It’s that time of year when ice anglers and other recreationists will be heading out to Montana’s “hard” waters for the winter season. Everyone needs to be safe around ice, whether ice fishing, ice skating, hunting, snowmobiling, or just taking a walk. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks reminds folks that safety should be the number one concern during a day out on (or near) the ice. And when on the ice, remember: Anglers and other recreationists should be familiar with the water body they plan to fish or recreate on. The safest folks are those w...
As Montana enters in Phase Two of the Reopening the Big Sky Plan, the Valley County Health Department has released the following guidance for events held in the county for workers, volunteers and attendees. Workers, volunteers, and attendees participate in the event at their own risk. Each event plan should address each recommendation: Social distancing of six feet between persons or household groups is always recommended. Masks are recommended for all volunteers or employees assisting with the event. Frequent hand hygiene using hand sanitizer... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and participating land owners will open some Block Management Areas (BMAs) for spring turkey hunting along the Milk River and also one area south of Zortman. Up to 11 BMAs could be open for the spring turkey season, beginning April 9, and running through May 15. Most of the properties are located along the Milk River between Hinsdale and Nashua. One additional property is located just south of Zortman in Goslin Flats, which is a portion of the Square Butte BMA. “The BMA spring turkey hunt worked well for both l... Full story
Scott Thompson was recently appointed as the Region 6 Wildlife Manager for Montana of Fish, Wildlife & Parks. He will be based out of Glasgow and replaces Mark Sullivan, who became the Region 6 Supervisor in October of 2015. Thompson, 37, is originally from Butte and holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Animal and Range Science from Montana State University-Bozeman. He has been employed with FWP since 2003. Thompson started his career in Culbertson as the area wildlife biologist. Along with other duties, Thompson worked close...
All Valley County high school seniors are eligible to apply for a substantial college scholarship that will be awarded in February by the Hi-Line Gobblers chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. Scholarship winners will be announced at the Hi-Line Gobblers’ 10th annual fundraising banquet, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, at St. Raphael’s Catholic Church Parish Hall in Glasgow. This is the second year the Barb Marsh Memorial Scholarship will be presented to qualifying high school seniors; last year two $1,000 scholarships were awa...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will hold four public meetings in northeast Montana in January to gather comments on proposed hunting seasons and rules for the next two years.The tentative rules and regulations, available for review and comment online now at fwp.mt.gov, were approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at their December meeting, and include statewide and local hunting regulations for antelope, black bear, bighorn sheep, bison, deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain lion, and upland game birds. Every two years FWP considers...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) have developed a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed action of translocating up to 40 sage grouse biennially between 2016–2020, from Montana to Alberta, totaling up to 120 sage grouse over the five-year period. In Canada, sage grouse are classified as an endangered species, and Canadian wildlife officials say sage grouse numbers in southeastern Alberta have declined about 80 percent since 1970. The proposed translocation is intended to counter f...
Abbi Kolstad found this rare Milk River bull moose on Nov. 7 and filled one of the only three moose permits issued along north-central-and-east Montana. According to Jon Kolstad, Abbi's father who was by her side on the hunt, she actually passed up many moose, including a few bulls, during her search this fall. This moose is sure to` make its way to a Valley County record book, though. Also an all-state basketball player, Abbi is a senior at Glasgow High School.... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens are seeking information on a wasted bull elk, likely shot early in the week of Oct. 25, in southern Phillips County. On Nov. 1, Warden Todd Tryan said a caller reported seeing a dead 6X6 bull elk that had been field dressed and left. The elk was located near the upper end of Plum Coulee Trail on private property in hunting district 622. Anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to call Warden Todd Tryan at 406-263-0067, Warden Ben Morin...