News you can use
News you can use
Sorted by date Results 1 - 21 of 21
GLASGOW - It's that time of year when ice anglers and other recreationists head out to Montana's "hard" waters for the winter season. Whether ice fishing, ice skating, hunting, snowmobiling or just taking a walk, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks staff reminds recreationists 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...
From the Department works with communities, landowners and conservation groups With the understanding that private lands, particularly working landscapes, are a vital component for wildlife habitat, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has developed a new strategy addressing wildlife movement and migration. The new strategy was developed over the last year out of experience working with conservation organizations, landowners and others in response to growing public interest in...
HELENA - The Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a public hearing via Zoom Dec. 15, at 10 a.m., to consider the proposed adoption, amendment and repeal of rules pertaining to field trial regulations, game bird dog training and game bird farms. The 2019 Legislature enacted House Bill 29, which changed the legal requirements for certain activities relating to field trials and the training of dogs using captive-reared upland game birds. In addition, HB 29 made some of FWP's...
Montana FWP Montana's outdoor crime-stopper help line, TIP-MONT, has an online option to report poachers and other hunting-season violators. Now alert citizens can report poaching and violations of hunting regulations by going to the FWP website at http://www.fwp.mt.gov . Click "TIP-MONT" to use the online report form. The TIP-MONT toll-free number — 1-800-TIP-MONT or 1-800-847-6668 — is the best way to report crimes that are in progress, or where immediate assistance is nee...
Montana FWP The Hunt Roster is one of the ways FWP selects public hunters to participate in hunts where animals are causing damage to stored agricultural crops or private property. FWP may also utilize other means of hunter selection in lieu of the roster including first-come, first-served advertised opportunities, unsuccessful special license or permit applicant lists, or lists of names supplied by landowners. In some cases the use of other hunter selection methods may...
Montana FWP Whether you're tying on a salmon fly or putting a night crawler onto a hook, during Father's Day weekend, everyone in Montana can fish for free. While this family-oriented opportunity allows anyone to fish without a license on June 20-21, all other fishing rules and regulations are in effect and must be followed. FWP encourages all would-be anglers to be aware of boating and water safety on Montana's rivers and streams, particularly this year as many rivers across...
Montana FWP People looking to get outside and enjoy spring will continue to have ample opportunities with Gov. Steve Bullock's phased approach to re-opening the state, which was announced Wednesday. Most of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' sites typically open and operational at this time of year remain so. This includes all FWP fishing access sites, most state parks and those wildlife management areas that don't have seasonal closures. People heading outside still need to...
Montana FWP As a reminder to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing guidelines should be followed at all Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sites. People need to keepa 6-foot distance from fellow recreators. While fishing access sites, state parks and wildlife management areas remain open - check for seasonal closures and openings - fishing piers, playgrounds and group-use facilities are closed to the public. Maintenance at FWP facilities will be cut back and...
Montana FWP To protect the public and staff from the spread of COVID-19, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed its offices around the state to the public beginning last Friday. "With license sales and applications, traffic through our offices has been robust even with warnings about social distancing and public safety due to COVID-19," said FWP Director Martha Williams. "FWP will continue to sell licenses online and help customers with questions regarding their license purch...
To protect the public and staff from the spread of COVID-19, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks closed its offices around the state to the public beginning at 5 p.m. Friday. "With license sales and applications, traffic through our offices has been robust even with warnings about social distancing and public safety due to COVID-19," said FWP Director Martha Williams. "FWP will continue to sell licenses online and help customers with questions regarding their license purchase thr...
By Montana FWP With big game season opening last weekend, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would like to stress the importance of being safe this year. Last hunting season, Montana experienced more hunting-related injuries and deaths than the past several combined. One of the deaths even resulted in the hunting partner being charged with negligent homicide. All of these tragedies had the same factors in common: loaded firearms. The incidents involved loaded firearms that were...
Montana FWP Are you looking for more hunting opportunity this year? Due to the abundance of both mule deer and white-tailed deer, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 6 biologists elected to increase antlerless quotas in many of the hunting districts in Region 6. Every two years, FWP considers changes to all hunting seasons, proposes changes from the previous biennium and encourages public comment before the Fish and Wildlife Commission makes its final decisions. Part of...
Montana FWP Each spring and summer, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks receives several calls from people who have picked up deer fawns or other wildlife. FWP advises against this practice for several reasons. The agency does not accept, hold or rehabilitate deer and elk because the animals rarely survive the stress of captivity, and because of concerns with the spread of disease. So FWP's likely response would be to tell people to leave the animals alone or return them to...
Montana FWP A brief encounter involving a mountain biker and a family group of mountain lions on a forested trail system north of Whitefish highlights the need to be aware of possible wildlife encounters in the outdoors and to follow safety precautions. On the afternoon of June 28, an adult male riding a mountain bike reported encountering a group of 3-4 mountain lions on the Whitefish Trail system near Haskill Lake. The biker said the lions briefly followed him down the...
Montana FWP Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hunter Education course dates have been set for many areas across Region 6, including two dates in Havre. All hunter education classes are free of charge. Many classes are being held prior to the March 15 application deadline for special permits for deer and elk. In the next few months, classroom courses (for youth) are being held in the following towns, with the start date listed: Malta: Feb. 25; Hinsdale: Feb. 25; Glasgow: Feb....
Montana FWP For the third year, FWP Region 6 has a shoulder season that allows antlerless elk hunting with a specific B-license. The past two years, the shoulder season was two weeks long, but this year the season has been extended 15 days and will run from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15. Elk licenses - general elk or B-licenses - valid during the archery and general seasons are not valid for the shoulder season in Region 6. Hunters must have previously applied for this opportunity...
Montana FWP FWP is seeking public comment on a draft Montana Mountain Lion Management Strategy. Over the last 25 years, FWP has made significant investments in field research that helps inform mountain lion management. Because lion populations function in big landscapes, a new management approach includes defining four lion ecoregions, large landscapes of similar habitat within which populations perform similarly. FWP will then develop estimates of mountain lion numbers...
Montana FWP FWP's Region 6 Citizen Advisory Council will meet from 12:45 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Havre Inn & Suites conference room in Havre, for a special legislative meeting. The meeting is open to the public, and state senators and representatives in the region have been invited, as well. There will be both Helena and Region 6 FWP staff there to present material and answer questions. The main purpose of this meeting is for the department to share with...
Elk shoulder seasons in Montana have gotten off to a quiet but effective start. Wildlife managers in the regions with active shoulder seasons are seeing hunters taking a few elk and being effective at reducing late summer and early fall landowner conflict with the animals. “Landowners have seemed to be satisfied that early shoulder seasons provided them with a tool to get trusted hunters on their croplands with a minimum of hassle,” said Mike Thompson, wildlife manager for FWP region 2 in Missoula. “We’ve received reports...
CHINOOK - A Hays man has been convicted on two misdemeanor criminal counts in connection with the illegal killing of two elk in southeastern Blaine County last year. William J. Hughes, 35, initially was charged with hunting without a valid license for illegally killing a bull elk on Bureau of Land Management land in the Missouri River Breaks, hunting during a closed season for shooting at a cow elk with a rifle during the archery-only season, and accountability for the...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are seeking information from the public about the illegal killing of a bull elk in southern Blaine County. FWP Warden Dirk Paulsen of Chinook said the elk was shot and killed sometime between Oct. 24-27 on Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation school trust land in the John Coulee area east of Cow Creek and south of the Hays road. The poaching took place in Hunting District 621, where a special permit is required to harvest a bull elk. Paulsen said the animal’s b...
