Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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Montana FWP and participating land owners will open some Block Management Areas (BMAs) for spring turkey hunting along the Milk River and one area south of Zortman. Twelve areas will be open for the spring turkey season, beginning April 14, and running through May 20. 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 landowners and hunters the l...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hunter Education course dates have been set for many areas across Region 6. 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. Future application deadlines include May 1 for moose, sheep and goat, and June 1 for deer B, elk B and antelope. In the next month, classroom courses (for youth) are being held in Hinsdale (March 5), Glasgow (March 8), Saco (March 12), and Scobey (March 12. All students must registe...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks game wardens are seeking any information regarding multiple mule deer killed in McCone County in the evening hours of Sat., Oct. 14. At least eight deer were found, including one fawn still barely alive, that were shot with a shotgun. The deer were found scattered over two miles near road 528 in northern McCone County, on the north end of the Remuda Twitchell BMA, about 10 miles east of Hwy 24. A local resident reported the dead deer early Sunday morning to the...
MARC KLOKER FOR THE COURIER A free youth outdoor skills event is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 15, at the Glasgow Trap Club. The event is organized and funded by donations and volunteers from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Hi-Line Sportsmen, Ducks Unlimited, and the Glasgow Trap Club. Youngsters under age 10 are scheduled from 10-11:30 a.m., with registration beginning at 9:30 a.m. Parents/guardians need to be on hand to register and sign-in. Youth will be invited to participate in possible...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program is sponsoring two beginning kayaking classes on Aug. 26 and 27 at the First Dredge swim beach just north of the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery near Fort Peck. One class will be offered each day (participants will choose their preferred day), and the classes will take place from 1-5 p.m. both days. Participants will learn from experienced instructors about different types of recreational kayaks and equipment, fishing from a...
A popular Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 program that allows children and their 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 the 44 different location sites across Montana’s Hi-Line. The “Kids to Fish” program lets youngsters check out fishing rods, reels and use basic tackle, such as hooks, bobbers, and sinkers. Typically, eight rods are at each location, and usually a tackle box is available to borrow to and be able to use the available tackl...
The 65th Montana legislature ended in late April by balancing a $10.3 billion-dollar- budget for the biennium of 2018 and 2019. My first session was in 2013, and we had about $550 million of general fund cash on hand. However, because spending was not curtailed and the revenue projections did not materialize, at the end of May 2017, only $76M remains in the general fund cash balance. A year ago at this time we had a balance of $343M. The budget is based on revenue and expenditure estimations. If estimations deviate then you are not balanced....
With the recent surge in temperatures in Northeast Montana, ice thickness has decreased dramatically, according to the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Service (FWP). Marc Kloker, information and program manager at FWP Region 6, reported that many of the Wardens in the region are reporting poor ice qualities, and that the recommendation is to stay off the ice at Fort Peck. Kloker added most all smaller reservoirs are currently or close to completely thawed at press time. Kloker said this was especially true near inlets, runoff creeks, edges of...
Two moose were recently spotted at Duane Mattfeldt's place, east of town, located near the Milk River Bridge on MT Hwy. 24. The moose originally appeared north of the railroad tracks near the Valley Veterinary Clinic, and were eventually seen on Mattfeldt's land Jan. 4. The moose, likely a mother and her yearling calf, seem to come and go from the property. Although sightings have been sporadic, it appears the best time to see them has been between 8 and 8:30 a.m. on any given day. Once the time...
Montana FWPs’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) will meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Fort Peck Fish Hatchery, located at 277 Montana Highway 117, just north of Fort Peck. The meeting is open to the public and will include the induction of the newest CAC members. There will also be department updates, details about FWP’s Vision and Guide document, and wildlife, comm.ed., fisheries and law enforcement updates. Each of FWP’s seven administrative regions has a volunteer CAC to help guide policies and programs. The R...
MONDAY – FRIDAY AUG. 22-26 Beginning band lessons will be held in the middle school music room. Here is the following schedule: Flutes 9-10 a.m.; Clarinets 10-11 a.m.; Saxophones 11 a.m. - 12 noon; Trumpets/French horns 1-2 p.m.; Trombones/Baritones/Tubas 2-3 p.m.; Percussion 3-4 p.m. The lesson schedule on Wednesday, Aug. 24, will be afternoon only, time to be announced, as there is a middle school open house on that day. WEDNESDAY – AUG. 24 2-5:30 p.m. - The Valley County Health Department is holding “Back-to-School Clinic” at the Health...
A popular Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Region 6 program that allows children and their families to check out free fishing rods and tackle is in full swing again this year. Just in time for summer fishing, FWP staff is in the process of restocking the 46 different location sites across Montana's Hi-Line. The "Kids to Fish" program lets youngsters check out fishing rods and reels and basic tackle, such as hooks, bobbers, and sinkers. Typically, eight rods are at each location, and a...
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...
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...
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...
Jordan Keys, 19, of Fort Peck, was charged with violations involving hunting from a public highway, unlawful possession and transportation of a game animal, and using a rifle in a weapons-restriction area. The driver of the vehicle, Robert Greenfield, 46, of Chinook, Wash., was charged with unlawful possession and transportation of a game animal. On Nov. 13, Glasgow Game Warden Todd Tryan received a call from Valley County Sheriff's office dispatch stating an eyewitness had just observed an indi...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has named Mark Sullivan as the new Regional Supervisor for Region 6. He is replacing Tom Flowers. The Fort Peck resident holds a master's degree in wildlife management from Montana State University. His previous roles with FWP include work as a wildlife management biologist in Malta and block management coordinator for Region 4. His most recent position with the organization was wildlife manager for Region 6. FWP Director Jeff Hagener told the Great Falls Tribune...
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...
As nightfall sets in sooner and longer in the fall, there is a risky mix on Montana roads that requires drivers to be extra alert. There might be increased traffic from drivers ed students filling their hours, parents driving to out-of-town ball games, and haul trucks with big loads. At the same time, does and fawns are attracted to roadside vegetation, which also brings the bucks close to roads during breeding season. As a result, we see a rise of deer-vehicle collisions. A State Farm 2015 statistic indicates that Montana has the highest...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Bureau of Land Management would like outdoor enthusiasts to be “Bear Aware,” even in Region 6. Although bear encounters are rare in most of Region 6, there are currently some bears present in the Little Rockies and the Bears Paw Mountains. In addition, bears are occasionally found wandering far from their traditional areas, and preventative measures should always be taken to prevent wildlife encounters. FWP recently relocated a black bear that was rummaging through garbage cans at Camp Creek campground,...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is reminding youngsters that a hunt for deer, limited to eligible hunters between the ages of 12–15, will take place this Thursday and Friday, Oct. 15–16, 2015. These dates coincide with Montana's annual 2-day teachers' convention, which are no-school days for most public school students. The 2-day youth hunt is open to: -Legally licensed 12-15 year olds who have completed hunter education and who are accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age...
ANTELOPE Montana antelope populations are continuing to recover and grow from previous years’ winter kills and low fawn numbers in central and eastern Montana. This year, there are even a few more special licenses available reflecting that improving status. Successful antelope-license applicants may recognize increased fawn production in many areas as populations respond to this year’s favorable weather and habitat conditions. Montana’s antelope archery season will close Oct. 9. The general rifle season for antelope will run Oct. 10-Nov. 8. Her...
For wild upland birds—grouse and pheasants and such—it’s all about the hatch and chick survival. Well, almost all. A really bad winter can knock things back for a year or two but generally, if there is a good hatch and good survival among the chicks, especially a few years in a row, there will be great hunting. Looking back a few years, Montana’s seen good hatches and good survival for game birds. So, at a state-wide scale, things should be pretty good for hunters this fall. Conditions for nesting and brood survival, however, can vary widely...
State wildlife officials are hosting public hearings to discuss and take comment on a draft environmental impact statement for bison conservation and management in Montana. For the Region 6 area, the upcoming hearing will be held in Malta on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Bison are currently designated as both a wildlife species in need of management and a species in need of disease control in Montana. The draft statewide bison conservation and management EIS, prepared by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, considers the possibility of bison restoration...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Hunter Education course dates have been set for the Glasgow area, Aug. 14-16. This will be the last hunter education class offered in the Glasgow area for this year’s hunting season. To be eligible to hunt and be fully certified during the 2015 season, hunters must be 12 years old by Jan. 16, 2016. The hunter education class will be held in the Quonset building at the FWP headquarters in Glasgow. Classes will run from 4:30-9 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8-10 a.m. on Sunday. For the h...
