Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 147
Brown trout and rainbow trout will have increased access to habitat when 12 side channels are reconnected to the Bighorn River below Yellowtail Dam. Livestock can be managed and lake habitat for largemouth bass and yellow perch can be improved when fencing is installed on Buer Pond near Scobey. These projects are two of eight that recently received funding by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission through the Future Fisheries Improvement Program (FFIP). Approximately $240,000 in funding was approved to improve Montana fisheries. The...
Wolf and Furbearer Trapping and Hunting Regulations for the 2022-2023 season are now available online. Print versions will be available at FWP offices and other outlets in a few weeks. Hunters and trappers will notice these regulations were combined into one book this year. A couple of things to point out in the regulations include: Trapper education is required for any resident trapper who has not purchased a trapping license for three years in their lifetime (does not need to be consecutive). This does not apply to those trapping for the purp...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has been hosting a series of public meetings to gather ideas about local elk management issues and population objectives. On Sept. 26, from 6 to 8 PM, staff will host a question-and-answer session via Zoom. To participate in the online session, you must register at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/elk-plan-scoping by noon on Sept. 25. Videos from regional elk scoping meetings can be viewed at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/elk-plan-scoping. FWP began developing a...
In the coming weeks, anglers will have several opportunities to comment on fishing regulation proposals for the 2023/24 regulation booklet. These proposals were developed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff after working with the public on identifying what changes were needed in the current regulations. In all, 42 proposals for the 2023/2024 Montana Fishing Regulations will be out for public comment through Sept. 22. The proposals can be reviewed online at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities. Final commission action on...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several proposals slated to go to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in October. Under the new commission process, FWP is taking public comment on these proposals now through Sept. 22. Commissioners can offer amendments to the proposals as they see fit. The proposals and supporting documents, commissioner amendments and collected public comment will be available on the FWP website two weeks prior to the commission meeting, Oct. 6. The commission will make a final decision on these...
More exciting events are happening this weekend at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. A full list of this summer’s events at the Caverns can be found online at fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lewis-and-clark-caverns. Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park’s Speaker Series will welcome Mike Jetty who will speak about “Native Americans Today” on Friday, Aug. 26. This program will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the campground amphitheater. Join park ranger Radonich on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the campground amphitheater for a closer look at the skins and skulls...
The annual application period for the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP), a grant funding program administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, will open Sept. 1. The purpose of WHIP is to accomplish large-scale restoration of private and publicly owned high-priority wildlife habitats through noxious weed management. Grant expenditures are limited to herbicide, mechanical, biocontrol and re-seeding treatments, specifically to restore wildlife habitat functions. Grazing management improvements may also be funded through the program...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comments from the public on a set of recommendations for commercial-use and recreation management on the Madison River, one of the most popular fisheries and recreation destinations in the state. Public input in this process is especially important because it could inform recreation management for other rivers in Montana. The recommendations were developed by a 12-person work group representing a variety of interests that the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission tasked with looking at management...
A full fishing closure will go into effect on a section of the upper Big Hole River due to low flows. The closure begins at the river’s confluence with the North Fork of the Big Hole River upstream to Saginaw Bridge. This section will be closed to fishing starting at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11. The closure will remain in place until lifted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in consultation with the Big Hole Watershed Committee, or until Oct. 31. The fishing closure replaces a hoot owl fishing restriction that has been in place here since J...
Block Management Area (BMA) Program information for 2022 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 https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/access/blockmanagement. The FWP website, https://fwp.mt.gov/hunt/access/blockmanagement, 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...
More exciting events are happening in the coming weeks at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. A full list of this summer’s events at the Caverns can be found online at fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lewis-and-clark-caverns. August 5 and 6: Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park’s speaker series will welcome Kali Armstrong on Friday, Aug. 5, at 8 PM. at the campground amphitheater. The topic of her presentation will be announced that evening. Park ranger Radonich will present “Goodness Snakes Alive!” on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 8 PM at the campground amphith...
Daily hoot owl fishing restrictions are being implemented for sections of the Gallatin, Beaverhead, Big Hole and Clark Fork rivers to reduce fish stress and mortality during high water temperatures. Hoot owl restrictions prohibit fishing each day between 2 p.m. and midnight. These restrictions go into effect at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 29: • Gallatin River: from the mouth of the river to Cameron Bridge Fishing Access Site • Beaverhead River: from the mouth of the river to Selway Park FAS • Big Hole River: From the North Fork of the Big Hole...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will hold a public hearing via telephone to collect comment on an administrative rule change that was proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at its June meeting. The public hearing will be Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. and will be on a rule proposal to postpone the implementation of a commercial use cap on the Madison River. The public comment hearing will be held via phone. A previous announcement of this hearing, mistakenly referred to it as a Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. In 2020, the Fish and Wildlife...
A daily fishing restriction is now in place for the lower Madison River to reduce fish stress and mortality during high water temperatures. The hoot-owl fishing restriction, which prohibits fishing each day between 2 p.m. and midnight, applies from the Warm Springs Boat Launch to the Madison River’s confluence with the Jefferson River. Water temperatures in the lower Madison have exceeded 73 degrees for three consecutive days, meeting criteria for the restriction. Two years ago, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted a permanent, s...
More exciting events are happening this month at Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park. A full list of this summer's events at the Caverns can be found online at fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lewis-and-clark-caverns. July 16 and 17 On Saturday, July 16, at 8 p.m., Radonich will present "Night Skies at Lewis & Clark Caverns" at the campground amphitheater. Radonich will guide you through the constellations and tell the stories behind the stars you see when you look up at the night sky. Among the wonders...
The Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet over Zoom at 6 p.m. on Aug. 2 to consider a proposal to postpone the implementation of a commercial use cap on the Madison River. In 2020, the commission adopted rules regarding the recreational use of the Madison River. These rules included a commercial use cap that would limit fishing outfitting and guiding for each outfitter and guide to the number of trips they reported in 2019 or 2020, whichever is higher. The commercial use cap is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2023. However,...
A Shepherd man lost his hunting privileges for 16 years and will pay fines and restitution exceeding $6,000 after pleading guilty to 16 state and federal charges of poaching mule deer and leaving some parts at a federal recreation area. Brayden Reed, 19, pleaded guilty in Yellowstone County Justice Court to four counts of unlawful possession of deer, two counts of wasting game, three counts of hunting during a closed season, two counts of unlawful use of equipment, two counts of hunting without...
Have you ever wanted to be a tour guide or work in caves? At Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, you can do both. Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park is hosting a hiring event for seasonal tour guide positions on Monday, July 11. Applicants can come to the main visitor center any time between 1 PM and 4 PM where on-the-spot interviews will be held. These positions will not exceed 90 work days. Tour guides lead hikes through the caverns two to three times a day. The position entails walking 6 miles of moderately steep terrain plus about 1,800 stairs...
Bannack State Park's signature event, Bannack Days, is scheduled for the third weekend in July, with many traditional activities, displays and re-enactments celebrating Montana's first territorial capital. Bannack Days are scheduled to happen Saturday, July 16, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, July 17, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for individuals ages 6 and older, or $20 per family. Admission is free for children ages 5 and younger. Food and drinks can be purchased from vendors...
Elk hunters interested in signing up for an opportunity to hunt cow elk on private lands enrolled in Elk Hunting Access (EHA) agreements can do so today through Aug 1. The resulting EHA public hunter list will be randomized with hunters contacted sequentially starting at the top of the list. This email contact will include instructions for timely next steps the hunter needs to take to participate in the access opportunity. The participating private lands are located in hunting districts 416, 426, 445 and 590. The required hunting licenses are E...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on several proposals slated to go to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in August. Under the new commission process, FWP is taking public comment on these proposals now and will present the collected comments and proposals to the commission for their review and decisions on Aug. 25. Commissioners can offer amendments to the proposals as they see fit. The proposals and supporting documents, commissioner amendments and collected public comment will be available on the FWP website two weeks...
Hunters interested in signing up for licenses or permits left over from the special license and permit drawing can do so from June 20 through July 20. This new process for the sale of surplus licenses began in 2020 in response to issues in years past. The old process was vulnerable to long lag times, confusion and a perception of inequity for those unable to use the first-come, first-served online option starting at 5 AM. Hunters can sign up for leftover licenses and permits that were not distributed by the drawing through MyFWP on the FWP...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Licensing Bureau is soliciting proposals from conservation organizations that are interested in conducting a competitive auction or lottery for some 2023 licenses. Licenses available for auction include bighorn sheep, Shiras moose, and mountain goat. Licenses available for auction or lottery include mule deer and elk. The Montana Administrative Rules that apply to these licenses include eligibility requirements and can be found at https://bit.ly/3zTjCyg. All proposals must be submitted by July 15. Written p...
Following conversations with officials in Park County, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has closed the Yellowstone River in Park County to all recreational use due to public safety risks caused by extremely high water levels, endangered and failing infrastructure, flooded and impassible access roads, and limited availability of search and rescue resources. All fishing access sites on the Yellowstone River in Park County are also closed from the Yellowstone National Park boundary to Springdale Bridge Fishing Access Site. Most fishing access sites...
More events are coming up this month as part of Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park’s summer speaker series. A full list of this summer’s events at the Caverns can be found at fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/lewis-and-clark-caverns. June 17 through 20: On Friday, June 17, the park will welcome Bill and Marti Cook. The Cooks are bear awareness instructors, and their presentation will include everything recreationists need to know about being safe while exploring bear country. They will also be available for questions throughout the day. This presentation wil...
