News you can use
News you can use
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 59
From One Montana One Montana's Master Hunter Program is accepting applications Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 for the 2022 program. Class locations include Missoula in March, Helena in April, Big Timber in April, and Havre in May. Each class will consist of two three-day consecutive weekends, Friday through Sunday. A two-day weekend rendezvous in June is also required for qualifications, field exercises and the final exam. The Master Hunter Program is an advanced education program for...
From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Two Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks law enforcement cases from the fall of 2020 were completed, including an unlawfully killed bull elk in Blaine County, and a bull moose in Phillips County. Lucas Sterling of Columbia Falls, 42, pleaded guilty to charges of hunting without a license and unlawful possession of a bull elk. Sterling killed the elk during the 2020 archery season in the Bear Paw Mountains in Blaine County. Sterling was hunting without the required special permit for the hunti...
From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks TOWNSEND — Waterfowl hunting opportunities will be limited on the Canyon Ferry Wildlife Management Area this year during both the youth and general waterfowl seasons due to ongoing extreme drought. Pond 2 at the WMA is dry, Pond 4 is expected to be completely dry in about a week, and water levels in Ponds 1 and 3 are also down significantly. There has not been any water going into Ponds 2 or 4 for more than two months, according to Adam Grove, wildlife biologist for Montana Fish, W...
From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks HELENA — Montana’s young hunters will have the state’s waterfowl and pheasants pretty much to themselves Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 25-26. Licensed hunters ages 15 and under may hunt ducks, geese, coots, mergansers and ring-necked pheasants statewide on these two special days set aside for youngsters, but they must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult. While the accompanying adult may not shoot, he or she can assist with setting decoys, calling and retrieving. Prior to the youth hunt...
From Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks 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 landown...
By Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 6 Due to a washout, County Road 145 North in northwestern Hill County that provides vehicle access to the Lost River WMA is closed approximately ¼ mile south of the main parking area. It is still possible to hike from the road closure to the main parking area. Alternate Routes: Turn north off US Highway 2 at Rudyard onto the Rudyard Road N. Travel approximately 25 miles north and then turn east on Road 240 N. Travel ½ mile and turn north on Road 95 N. Continue 4 miles, then turn e...
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks Montana’s archery hunting season for deer and elk began 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 befor...
From Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks 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. People should 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 i...
By Fish, Wildlife and Parks 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...
By Fish, Wildlife and Parks Although most hunters respect the land, property, and wildlife they are hunting, many others do not. FWP would like to remind hunters and all outdoor enthusiasts 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, or BMA, boxes, hunters driving off road, illegal trespassing, hunters being shot over, littering, and livestock being shot. FWP encourages everyone to be good stewards of the land....
By Fish, Wildlife and Parks The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee recommends the use of bear spray and urges hunters to learn other bear-aware safety measures. Hunters in bear country need to: • stay alert and look for bear sign • carry bear spray and know how to use it, • hunt with a partner, leave detailed plans with someone and check-in periodically, • pay attention to fresh bear sign. Look for bear tracks, scat, and concentrations of natural foods, • use caution when hunting areas that have evidence of bear activity...
Antelope • 900 Aug. 15–Nov. 8 • Archery Sept. 5–Oct. 9 • General Oct. 10–Nov. 8 Bighorn Sheep • Archery Sept. 5–Sept. 14 • General Sept. 15–Nov. 29 Bison • General Nov. 15–Feb. 15, 2021 Black Bear • Archery Sept. 5–Sept. 14 • Fall Sept. 15–Nov. 29 Deer and Elk • Archery Sept. 5–Oct. 18 • Youth-Deer Only Oct. 15–16 • General Oct. 24–Nov. 29 Backcountry - HDs 150, 280, 316 (no archery-only season in 316) • Archery Sept. 5–Sept. 14 • General Sept. 15–Nov. 29 Moose • General Sept. 15–Nov. 29 Mountain goat • General Sept. 15–Nov...
By Fish, Wildlife and Park 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. Landowners may grant permission in person, over the phone, in writing or by posting signs that explain what type of...
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks Since 2015, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has allowed children as young as 10 to hunt with a mentor for two seasons without completing hunter education. The decision of whether the child is ready to be an apprentice hunter is left up to the parents or guardians, but FWP offers some tips that may help them to make that decision, and to make the experience safe and positive. Physical and emotional maturity: Is your child ready? According to FWP Outdoor Skills and Safety Supervisor Wayde...
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks A youth hunt for deer limited to youngsters between the ages of 12–15 was approved for Oct. 17-18. These dates coincide with Montana’s annual two-day teachers’ convention, which are no-school days for most public school students. The two-day youth hunt is open to: • legally licensed 12- to 15-year-olds who have completed Hunter Education and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age; • properly certified and legally licensed apprentice hunters 10-15 years of age who a...
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks Editor’s note: With the regular hunting season about to start, we are re-running this release on caring for land and property. Although most hunters respect the land, property, and wildlife they are hunting, many others do not. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would like to remind hunters and all outdoor enthusiasts to be good stewards of the land, and respect both private and public property. The FWP Region 6 Citizens Advisory Committee, recognizing that this is an ongoing issue, raised the n...
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hunters shouldn't wait until opening day to discover their license and carcass tags are faded and need to be replaced. Hunters and anglers with licenses that are displaying faded text making them difficult to read can have those licenses replaced at no cost at their regional Fish, Wildlife and Parks office. License providers will soon receive new license paper that will not fade as is the issue with the current yellow paper. This paper was shipped to providers during the week of Sept. 9. The new...
GREEN SHOOT MEDIA You don’t want to alert nearby wildlife with a loud UTV or ATV, so walking is usually your best bet. Packing appropriately can lessen the exhaustion you feel throughout your trek and ensure you’re alert when game is in your sights. Keeping your gear’s weight manageable isn’t the only factor you should consider. Here are some other beneficial tips to remember when preparing for a hunting excursion, from the experts at Field and Stream. SAFETY FIRST Make sure you save room in your bag for the crucial safety...
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks Each fall tens of thousands of Montana men and women spend anywhere from a few hours to several weeks hunting. Most have a wonderful time; a few run afoul of the law. Here are 10 problem areas, courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens, that hunters seem to stumble over year after year: 1. Trespassing. Hunters must have landowner permission before hunting on private land. In Montana, private land does not have to be posted for a hunter to be guilty of trespassing. Ask first. 2....
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks This fall, like every autumn, thousands of first-time hunters will safely hit the Montana landscape, all because someone volunteered the time to teach them properly. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ hunter education program annually graduates about 7,600 students, who are taught by close to 1,300 volunteer instructors. That’s right — volunteer. For bowhunter education, which is required for all first-time bowhunters, about 350 volunteer instructors teach 2,100 students annually. In FWP Regio...
From Fish, Willdlife and Parks KALISPELL — An additional white-tailed deer in the Libby area is suspected to be positive for chronic wasting disease. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks collected a sample from the adult doe that appeared symptomatic and was euthanized in the center of town along Second Street. The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado tested the sample and identified it to be suspected of CWD infection and will run a second test for confirmation. If confirmed, the n...
The hunting of all mountain lions in north-central Montana hunting districts 400, 401, 403, 406, 415, and 441, which includes portions of Toole, Pondera, Liberty, Chouteau, Glacier and Teton counties, closed at one-half hour after sunset Tuesday. The closure notice for the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met. These districts will re-open for the hunting of mountain lions for the Winter Season beginning Dec....
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks Tag holders who have not checked their license and carcass tags in a while should do so well in advance of their hunting trip to ensure they haven’t faded. Hunters and anglers with faded licenses can have them replaced at no cost at their regional Fish, Wildlife and Parks office. Replacement at a FWP office for faded licenses does not count against the number of replacements an individual is allowed. Faded licenses can also be mailed to FWP for replacement: P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 5...
From Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hunters shouldn’t wait until opening day to discover their license and carcass tags are faded and need to be replaced. Hunters and anglers with licenses that are displaying faded text making them difficult to read can have those licenses replaced at no cost at their regional Fish, Wildlife and Parks office. License providers will soon receive new license paper that will not fade as is the issue with the current yellow paper. This paper was shipped to providers during the week of Sept. 9. The n...
From Fish, Wildife and Parks Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 4 is scheduling a special chronic wasting disease hunt south of Chester this fall along the Marias River near the Moffat Bridge. The hunt is designed to determine the prevalence of the disease in the area. For the hunt, FWP will sell 50 mule deer either-sex B licenses and 300 mule deer antlerless B licenses that can only be used in the special hunt area, which is in Hunting District 400. In addition, all other deer licenses valid in HD 400 will be valid within the...
