Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
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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...
Montana’s bison hunt is set to open Nov. 15 in areas in southwestern Montana near Yellowstone National Park. The annual hunt attracted more than 10,420 individual applicants for a limited number of either-sex bison licenses. Sixty-nine residents and three nonresidents were successful in the drawing. Up to 200 second-choice applicants could be called to participate but only if enough bison migrate into the state from YNP. The bison season will close Feb. 15, 2016. BIG GAME SEASONS UNDERWAY Antelope Open through Nov. 8 Bighorn Sheep Open t... Full story
Shane Sinclair, 15, shot this beautiful antelope south of Forsyth on Oct. 26. Shane is a freshman at Glasgow High School.... Full story
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Havre game check station was fairly active over the weekend of general deer and elk opener, with most species seeing an increase in harvest from the past few years. This is the third weekend that the check station has been open. Weather conditions over the opening weekend of general big game season were warm and dry with very little wind. There were 221 hunters in 113 parties checked, which was up 23% from 2014. Hunter numbers were lower on Saturday, but activity picked up on Sunday when the majority (71%) o...
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... Full story
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...
This bunch of young hunters took full advantage of the youth-only pheasant and waterfowl hunt this past weekend. Enjoying their bountiful pheasants from south of Hinsdale were, left to right, Trey Johnson, Loden Idler, Montaya Idler, Kristian Price, Gage Siefert, and Danika Hillman.... Full story
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...
