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Support for grizzly bears’ presence in Montana strong amidst expanding population Courtesy MT FWP HELENA — A new survey of Montanans shows positive attitudes toward grizzly bears and support for the presence of grizzly bears within the state, however acceptance of bear presence in areas closer to residential and agricultural areas is lower than in remote public land areas. Researchers with the University of Montana worked with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists to better understand Montanans’ perspectives about grizzly bears and grizzly...
Bozeman, MT – It’s that time of year when thousands of families make the annual trek into the woods to cut their own Christmas tree. The Forest Service is helping to carry on this tradition and make it even easier by offering a new online option for Christmas tree permits available now at www.recreation.gov. Permits are free this season with only a small transaction fee. This fast and easy online option is strongly recommended, as it was created to provide convenience for the public in addition to reducing the risk of exposure to Covid-19 for...
Happy Thanksgiving! - A flock of wild local turkeys pose for a photo atop a dead cottonwood tree. (Turkey photo courtesy Ashley Emmons) . . . . . . . . . Meanwhile, in the photo below a mule deer buck takes a break from chasing does on Thanksgiving week to have his picture taken. (Examiner photo)...
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2020 – The USDA Forest Service today announced it will expand its Every Kid Outdoors program to offer fourth- and fifth-grade students and family members fee-free access to more than 2,000 sites on national forests and grasslands for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. A new voucher is available for download now through August 31, 2021. "The year's events have made it harder for many students to get out to their local National Forest and to use their Every Kid O...
Courtesy MT FWP HELENA – The Fish and Wildlife Commission will hold a public hearing via a telephonic Zoom platform on Dec. 1, at 10 a.m., to consider a new rule pertaining to banning the use of remote-controlled devices and drones while fishing. Fish, Wildlife & Parks has increasingly been asked the question of whether it is permissible to use a remote-controlled boat, drone, or other remote-controlled device to fish. Currently, Montana law does not specifically address remote-controlled devices or drones, and gives the commission dis...
Courtesy Marla Prell, MT FWP Severe winter weather shut down two out of three big game check stations in southeastern Montana on November 8th, the last day of antelope rifle season. Poor visibility and icy road conditions prompted FWP to cancel biological check stations at Hysham and Mosby. A check station was held at Ashland on the 8th, but the adverse weather greatly reduced hunter traffic. “The weather was very nice on Saturday, with temperatures reaching the 70s, but Sunday brought rain, freezing rain and snow in the morning with cold and w...
Courtesy MT FWP Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will offer two online wolf trapping certification classes in November. The free online classes are set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday Nov. 14 and 21. The classes are identical, and trappers must complete only one of them. To register for the classes, please browse to the FWP website at FWP.MT.GOV and follow the links to “Education” and “Wolf Trapper Education & Certification.” Because of current COVID-19 restrictions, FWP will offer no in-person classes this fall. The two classes will be online vi...
Courtesy Marla Prell, MT FWP Montana’s big game hunting season arrived with bitter cold over the weekend of October 24 and 25, likely prompting many hunters to stay home a bit longer. Traffic at big game check stations throughout southeastern Montana was down for the opener. Those who did get out enjoyed their time and some success in the field. Ashland Check Station “Hunting conditions were tough for opening weekend,” said Wildlife Biologist Ryan DeVore. “The weather felt more like the typical closing weekend of deer and elk season....
Courtesy MT FWP To prevent paper licenses and carcass tags from getting wet and unreadable, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recommends hunters keep these documents in a sealable plastic bag. Hunters are encouraged to keep their licenses and carcass tags in plastic bags both before and after validating and attaching to a harvested animal. Earlier this year, FWP switched to regular paper for licenses and permits. While handier for printing at home, this makes the licenses and permits more susceptible to water damage. Customers can also keep a d...
Courtesy MT FWP Big game hunter check stations began operation across Montana last weekend, and continue through the general rifle season with a few changes in protocol related to COVID-19 safety. General big game season runs from Oct. 24 through Nov. 29. At check stations, public safety as it relates to the spread of COVID-19 will be important. FWP staff will be working to reduce crowding at the stations this season, and for hunters the check station process will be streamlined as much as possible. However, each check station may handle t...
Courtesy MT FWP Destination: SOUTHEAST MONTANA Well-timed moisture, a mild winter and good residual cover have benefitted upland birds, but hunters should expect them to be a bit more spread out across the landscape. “Habitat conditions across the southeast were excellent going into the fall and winter due to good moisture received throughout the growing season,” said Justin Hughes, Region 7 Upland Game Bird Biologist. “The winter was very mild with minimal amounts of snow and ice to hinder birds. The region experienced mild tempera...
Montana’s evidence of sex requirement is as follows: Evidence of Sex (MCA 87-6-406): A person who kills a game animal in this state shall retain evidence of sex of the animal with the carcass until it is processed. The provisions of this section do not apply to a game animal harvested using a license with which either sex of the animal may be taken. Evidence of sex does not need to be naturally attached. A person who kills a game animal in a hunting district where the harvest is limited by the animal’s antler point or horn size shall ret...
Courtesy MT FWP Consistent with adjustments made during spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will continue with the adjusted harvest reporting requirements for the fall black bear hunting season. The archery-only season starts Sept. 5 in most areas. The general fall season starts Sept. 15. All successful black bear hunters are required to report their harvest through the FWP Harvest Reporting Line 1-877-FWP-WILD (1-877-397-9453) within 48 hours of harvest. Unlike in years past, FWP will not require a mandatory carcass inspection, hide seal or...
By PR Extension Office MSU Extension Entomologist Laurie Kerzicnik identified the tiny biting insects as “winged thrips” instead of biting midges aka “no-see-ums”, which explains why they are present in hot, dry conditions, stated Powder River Extension Agent Mary Rumph. The bad news is that, according the Kerzicnik, both adult (winged) and immature thrips can bite people. They use their stylets (part of their mouthparts) to pierce skin and extract fluids. They are likely going after moisture in human skin. She explained the attacks usually o...
By PR Extension Office Yes – something is biting you! Reports of biting midges, also known as “no-see-ums” are coming into the Powder River Extension Office, according to Extension Agent Mary Rumph. These tiny insects can be a nuisance to ranchers, campers, fishermen, hunters, hikers, gardeners, and others who spend time outdoors during early morning and evenings, and even during the daytime on cloudy days when winds are calm. They will readily bite humans; the bites are irritating, painful, and can cause long-lasting painful lesions for som...
Courtesy MT FWP To give residents and nonresidents a more equitable opportunity for surplus licenses, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has developed a new system for issuing surplus licenses. Resident and nonresident hunters will be able to sign up for the new Surplus License List, with some sign-ups starting already taking place. Surplus licenses are leftover licenses from the special license and permit drawings FWP conducts each year. To sign up for the Surplus License List, resident and nonresident hunters can sign up through the MyFWP p...
Courtesy MT FWP Bats play a very important role in our ecosystem, pollinating many important plants, devouring thousands of bugs including mosquitoes, and saving farmers in the U.S. $23 billion annually in crop damage and pesticide use. Unfortunately, bats face many threats including habitat loss, persecution from fear or misunderstanding, wind turbines in areas used by bats, and the latest threat to the scene – white-nose syndrome (WNS). WNS is caused by a fungus, Pseudogymnoascus des...
Courtesy MT FWP Samples taken from bridges in three eastern Montana counties have tested positive for the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats. The presence of the fungus – Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd)– was confirmed in Daniels, Richland and Fallon counties but does not necessarily confirm the presence of the disease. The samples were tested by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, WI. National Health Center and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff are clo...
Courtesy MT FWP The tragic drowning of a Great Falls man who was swimming in Belt Creek near the Sluice Boxes area last Wednesday is a good reminder for swimmers, boaters, floaters and anglers to use caution in and near the water. Water levels are higher and swifter in rivers throughout Montana due to spring runoff, and recreationists should be aware of extra risks that come with high flows. These conditions can change rapidly, creating new and hidden hazards for boaters. Water temperatures are also especially cold this time of year, which i...
Bozeman, MT – June 1, 2020 Personal use firewood cutting across the Custer Gallatin National Forest and National Forests and Grasslands throughout Montana, Idaho, North Dakota and portions of South Dakota will continue for free for the remainder of 2020, but starting June 1 the agency is asking that the public first call to obtain a hard-copy permit in order to track harvesting and communicate important wildfire safety and collection information. “As the impacts from COVID-19 continue to be felt across the country, we remain committed to pro...
All Watercraft Legally Must Stop Courtesy Liz Riter, NRCS Broadus The Watercraft Inspection Station opened last Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at the Powder River Taxidermy. If you are launching a boat, raft, or paddleboard here or somewhere else, you can get it inspected at the Taxidermy from 6 am to 6 pm Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. If this doesn't work into your plans, please call them and set up an appointment at a time which is convenient for both of you. It is mandatory to stop at the station...
Courtesy MT FWP By order of the Montana Fish &Wildlife Commission, the hunting of all black bears in Bear Management Unit 700 will close one-half hour after sunset on Monday, May 11, 2020. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established spring harvest sub-quota for the district has been met. For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp .mt.gov., click on "Hunting" then click on “Drawing & Quota Status,” or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826....
Courtesy Marla Prell, MT FWP Hunters can now check the results of the 2020 moose, bighorn sheep, bison and mountain goat license drawings to see if they were successful. To view drawing results online go to MyFWP and click on “Lookup Draw Results, Register for Lists” tab, or login to your MyFWP account. To sign up for an account go to fwp.mt.gov/myfwp. Applicants can also call the FWP licensing office at 406-444-2950....
Courtesy Marla Prell, MT FWP The COVID-19 pandemic is changing so many parts of life in Montana this year – hunter and bowhunter education is no different. In response to social distancing requirements and restrictions on group gatherings, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is turning to online courses for all students this year only. The online courses and mandatory field days have been available to adults for a tuition fee of $25 for hunter education and $30 for bowhunter education. The in-person courses have always been, and will remain, fre...
