Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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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 Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet virtually on Wednesday, April 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will be streamed live on Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ website, https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/april-2024-meeting, and YouTube, www.youtube.com/@MontanaFWP. The commission will take public comment on agenda items from registered commenters on Zoom. Those who want to make a comment on Zoom must register on the Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ website by noon on April 16. Written comment on most agenda items were accepted thr...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications from landowners who are interested in participating in the 2024 Block Management Program. Application deadline is June 1. Through the Block Management Program, landowners and FWP work together to help manage wildlife and public hunting activities on enrolled lands. Landowners and FWP enter into voluntary agreements that determine how hunting will be conducted on the landowner’s property. Items such as permission requirements, times when permission will be granted, hunting opportunities pr...
Hunters have until April 1 to apply for deer and elk permits and nonresident combination licenses. Hunters can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website; click on “Buy and Apply.” Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers several tools to help hunters navigate the application process. Click here to watch a video tutorial for Montana residents; click here to watch a video tutorial for nonresidents. To see a playlist of all FWP’s hunting license video tutorials, click here. For help with understanding how bonus points are used, you can v...
Whether you love hiking, hunting, biking or fishing, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to hear your thoughts on what matters most for the future of outdoor recreation in our state. Over the next few months, FWP will be gathering input from the recreating public as it updates its Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). SCORP serves as a guide for local, state and federal agencies as they work with FWP to develop future outdoor recreation opportunities across the state. SCORP also outlines outdoor recreation goals for the state over the...
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 hunting and trapping of wolves in Region 5, 6 and 7 closed a half hour after sunset Jan. 21. The order halting the harvest of wolves in these regions came after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota of five wolves in these regions had been met. With the exception of Wolf Management Unit 313, wolf harvest quotas elsewhere in the state have yet to be met. Those interested in up-to-date information on the status of Montana’s wolf harvest can view FWP’s wolf dashboard, https...
Two diseases mostly affecting wild birds have been detected recently in Montana. These include pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV), which has become more widespread in the past month, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has been detected in Montana since 2022. Mortality in wild birds from HPAI tends to cycle with waterfowl migrations, and detections of HPAI in Montana have increased recently due to seasonal migrations. Hunters, livestock and pet owners, and other residents may have questions about these pathogens and what precautionary...
The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 30 and Wednesday, Jan. 31. Participants can attend in person at the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation headquarter in Helena or via Zoom. The meeting runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 30 and from 8 to 11:45 a.m. on Jan. 31. The 13-member advisory committee, appointed by the governor, is charged with reviewing FWP’s access programs and offering recommendations to help achieve program goals and maintaining good relations between hunters and l... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Fort Peck Multispecies Fish Hatchery in Fort Peck. The public is welcome to attend. FWP will give updates on current Region 6 fisheries, wildlife, enforcement, education, and parks and outdoor recreation happenings. Each of FWP’s seven administrative regions has a volunteer CAC to help guide policies and programs. The Region 6 group meets three to four times a year. FWP ensures that its meetings are fully acc... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host two meetings in January to discuss proposed 2024 upland game bird hunting regulations. FWP staff will present proposed 2024 upland game bird seasons and regulations, along with recent trends in upland game bird populations, harvest, and hunting pressure. The meetings are being held in Glendive and Scobey, as eastern Montana attracts many resident and nonresident upland gamebird hunters. Both meetings will have options for people to attend virtually. The purpose of the meetings is to share information... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is forming an advisory council to help begin the process of developing a new statewide mule deer plan. The Mule Deer Citizens Advisory Council (MDCAC) will consist of 10 to 12 people and will identify expectations for the new mule deer plan, which could include expectations for development process, management actions and goals, and results. “As we begin the process of developing a new mule deer plan, we are really open to taking a different approach, if that’s what the public wants,” said FWP Director Dusti...
The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Committee will meet Wednesday, Dec. 19, via Zoom from 1 to 4:30 p.m. The 13-member advisory committee, appointed by the governor, is charged with reviewing FWP’s access programs and offering recommendations to help achieve program goals and maintaining good relations between hunters and landowners. Members are Ed Beall, chair, of Helena, Eric Albus, of Hinsdale, Cynthia Cohan, of Butte, Lee Cornwell, of Glasgow, Paul Ellis, of Bozeman, Everett Headley, of Stevensville, Donna McDonald, of Alder, Rod P...
Montana K9 Safety, along with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, will offer a free workshop for dog owners interested in learning how to free dogs from traps. The workshop is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Best Western Plus, 1425 US Hwy 2 (on the hill) in Havre. For centuries, people have trapped furbearers across Montana. Fur trapping is highly regulated, biologically sustainable, and an important part of Montana’s cultural history and outdoor lifestyle. However, sometimes traps that attract or surprise targeted animals... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a series of virtual and in-person public meetings around the state to present proposed hunting regulations for 2024/2025 hunting seasons. The Region 6 meeting will be held in Glasgow on Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cottonwood Inn. This will be the only meeting held in Region 6. There will be a Zoom option available for these meetings that can be found by going to https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/biennial-season-setting, where the full list of proposals can be found... Full story
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...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on two environmental assessments (EAs). For more information, including how to submit comments, click on the link provided or visit fwp.mt.gov/public-notices. White Bear Fishing Access Site EA FWP is proposing a project to provide security features and develop additional recreational amenities to mitigate undesirable and illegal public behavior at White Bear FAS near Great Falls. The proposed project would provide the following benefits: Provide additional security features to increase...
To promote the importance of hunter ethics and improved hunter behavior, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is partnering for a second year with several hunting and agriculture organizations to “protect the hunt.” While the campaign encourages hunters to always practice conscientious behavior, it focuses particularly on showing respect for private land and the access landowners provide. The slogan is: It’s up to us. Respect access. Protect the hunt. Landowners play an important role in sustaining healthy wildlife populations, contributing to our e...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking a current high school student to fill a two-year term on the Future Fisheries citizen review panel. FWP’s Future Fisheries Improvement Program grants approximately $1 million annually for projects to improve and restore Montana’s wild fish habitats. The 14-member citizen review panel meets twice a year to review proposals and recommend projects to the Fish & Wildlife Commission for funding. Review panel members are appointed by the governor, or his representative, and must represent a variety of int...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several proposals slated to go to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in October. Comment is open through Sept. 19. After public comment, commissioners can offer amendments to the proposals as they see fit. The proposals and supporting documents, commissioner amendments and collected public comment are available on the commission webpage. The commission will make a final decision on these proposals at its meeting on Oct. 19. 2024 Fishing Regulations FWP is asking the commission to...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a trapper education field day in Billings on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the FWP office located at 2300 Lake Elmo Drive. Students must register for the field day in advance at: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education/trapping. Capacity is limited to 35 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must also complete the free online education course prior to the field day. To purchase a Montana resident Class C Trapping License, residents 12 and older must complete a Montana trapper...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Law Enforcement Division will hold its first ever Women’s Warden Workshop on Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Montana WILD in Helena. The workshop is open to anyone 16 years or older who is interested in becoming a warden. Registration is not required. The workshop will cover topics including: a day in the life of a warden how to become a warden opportunities to meet FWP’s female wardens case presentations mock investigations ride-along opportunities Anyone who is interested in the warden profess...
The upland game bird season is less than one month away, and hunters will soon be able to refer to the Projects Access Guide, published annually by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program (UGBEP). Hunters can now view and download the new guide and maps online: https://fwp.mt.gov/conservation/habitat/upland-game-bird-enhancement-program/access-guide. The guide contains all active projects administered through the UGBEP including Open Fields, habitat management leases, food and cover plots, CRP enhancements, shelterb...
Block Management Area (BMA) Program information for 2023 will be available to hunters beginning Aug. 10. Hunters can request their BMA Access Guide online and can print individual BMA property maps and rules at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/access/blockmanagement. The Block Management webpage allows hunters to download the Access Guide, up-to-date BMA maps and rules for every individual BMA enrolled in the program. These individual BMA property maps and rules are important for hunters to know and understand for each property they plan on hunting. Not all...
