The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
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HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, along with partners at the Heart of the Rockies Initiative, will be working over the next five years to help landowners proactively reduce conflicts with grizzly bears using nearly $12 million in federal funds. FWP has been awarded nearly $5 million in Department of Interior funding from a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation grant. This new funding complements more than $6 million provided by a Regional Conservation Partnership P...
HAVRE – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens want to remind hunters and homeowners that baiting deer and other game animals for hunting purposes and/or purposely feeding game animals in Montana is illegal. Many sporting goods stores in Montana offer feed, supplements, and other baiting attractants that are targeted to these various game animals. Although it is legal for venders to sell these attractants, it is not legal for Montanans to use them for hunting purposes. B...
DESTINATION: WESTERN MONTANA (REGION 2) After a colder and snowier 2022-2023 winter, we returned to a milder and much less snowy winter during 2023-2024 (although there were a few cold snaps). Given the milder winter conditions and the decent fall leading up to it, animals fared well and were observed to be in good late-winter/early-spring body condition during our annual spring surveys. Spring green-up arrived early this year, benefiting wildlife. We suspect that the mild...
Sep 9, 2024 3:22 PM Montana's millions of acres of private land offer some excellent hunting opportunities-the only catch is gaining the landowner's permission to hunt. It is Montana law that hunters obtain landowner permission to hunt on all private land. Here are a few things to keep in mind that will greatly improve results when attempting to secure hunting access to private land. *Show courtesy to the landowner and make hunting arrangements by calling or visiting at times...
This year FWP will continue chronic wasting disease surveillance and monitoring in specific areas known as Priority Sampling Areas across southwestern, central, and central-eastern Montana. *Carcass disposal requirements: Carcass parts, such as brain, eyes, spleen, lymph glands, and spinal cord material, should be left at the kill site when possible. If the animal is transported for taxidermy or meat processing, the brain and spinal tissue must be bagged and disposed of in...
The subadult female grizzly bear wasn't hanging around to wait for the trap door to open all the way. She was done with confinement. With the buzz of a drone above her and the Wyoming high country in front of her, she bounded out the culvert-shaped trap when the door was only halfway up. Before her was the wild heart of Wyoming, an entire state away from where she had lived just one day prior. This female grizzly bear, all 204 pounds of her, represents a coordinated and...
HELENA – The wolf population in Montana remains healthy, according to the 2023 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wolf Report. Increased harvest during the 2023 wolf season has not yet resulted in an estimated decline to the statewide total. However, FWP biologists expect to see a moderate decline in wolf numbers next year resulting from the increased harvest in early 2024. "We are committed to following the law to reduce wolf numbers to a sustainable level, which means ensuring M...
HELENA, Mont., July 2, 2024 - With nearly 2.9 million acres to explore and over 30 developed campgrounds to choose from, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is a great place to celebrate Fourth of July. Many people and animal companions are sensitive to the sounds of fireworks, so national forests can be an excellent escape to find peace and connection. The Forests are also part of the heritage of this country that we celebrate this Fourth. Before you head out, here...
HELENA – They look so cute and helpless. But your efforts to help could end up harming the animal and reducing its chances to survive. It's important to understand that wildlife care for their young much differently than humans. One strategy that some species, particularly those species typically preyed upon by other animals (deer, rabbits, birds), use is to distance themselves from their young for many hours at a time. This helps to keep predators away from their young. F...
HELENA-When recreating on Montana's waterbodies, be on the lookout for harmful algal blooms (HABs) that can occur on Montana's lakes and reservoirs. HABs can release toxins that can impact human and animal health. Report suspected HABs at HAB.mt.gov to help alert others and prevent illness. How to identify a HAB: *A coloration or scum in the water that can look like spilled paint, pea soup, or grass clippings. *Often blue, green or red in color. HABs can occur when certain wat...
HAVRE – With the onset of spring weather, both species of Montana bears are active. Much of Montana has both black and grizzly bears, with grizzlies showing up further and further east each year. Recently, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks confirmed a grizzly bear sighting in the Bear Paw Mountains east of Big Sandy. "Though not common, grizzly bear sightings around central Montana have increased over the years," said FWP Region 6 Supervisor Drew Henry. "This emphasizes the n...
The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday adopted a long-awaited rule that aims to put conservation initiatives "on equal footing" with oil and gas leasing, grazing and other commercial uses of federal land. The rule "combines our ongoing work with a vision for conservation to help us manage lands into the 21st century," BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said in a video announcing the rule. "It ensures that the BLM can carry out its multiple-use and sustained-yield mission now...
HELENA – 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 per...
HELENA – As spring weather approaches, we're all anxious to head outdoors, and bears are leaving their winter dens. This time of year, bears are waking up from hibernation and are pretty hungry. So, it's best for you, and for the bears, not to leave out anything that will attract their appetite or their curiosity. If you're outside working or recreating, you need to be aware that bears are out there, too. Anytime bears are not in hibernation, which is typically between the b...
When four hunters used a specially constructed ladder to step from one corner of public land in southern Wyoming to another, the ripples from that decision were initially small but have since ignited an impassioned debate that could open - or unequivocally restrict - access to more than eight million acres of public land across the West. Here, in the final installment of our three-part series, we explore how judges, lawmakers and public land managers could clear up some of...
HELENA – 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 t...
More than one-fifth of the continental U.S. is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Winter storms brought heavy (in some areas, record-setting) rainfall and flooding to California, offering the state an expected two-year reprieve from widespread droughts, that covered nearly 100% of the state from 2020-22. But in other parts of the country, especially dry conditions continue. New Mexico currently is the state with the...
When four hunters used a specially constructed ladder to step from one corner of public land in southern Wyoming to another, the ripples from that decision were initially small but have since ignited an impassioned debate that could open - or unequivocally restrict - access to more than eight million acres of public land across the West. In a three-part series, Montana Free Press will explore "corner-crossing" and what it might mean for public access in Montana. This is the...
When four hunters used a specially constructed ladder to step from one corner of public land in southern Wyoming to another, the ripples from that decision were initially small but have since ignited an impassioned debate that could open - or unequivocally restrict - access to more than eight million acres of public land across the West. Here, in the second of our three-part series, we explore why Montana lacks a clear "test case" on the legality of corner-crossing. Nearly a...
HELENA, Mont. – March 4, 2024 - From March 4 through March 15, the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest will be accepting applications for twelve entry-level permanent wildland firefighter and dispatcher positions. These positions allow for paid training and travel, overtime, hazard pay, and federal employee benefits, such as medical and retirement. Additionally, these positions enable employees to gain experience and knowledge to be promoted within a fire management c...
HELENA, Mont. – March 5, 2024 - The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest has partnered with the Montana Conservation Corps to offer five AmeriCorps positions that would serve together as part of the newly formed Helena Youth Corps. "We are excited about this new partnership and hope to better engage young adults in meaningful work experiences across the forest," said Recreation Program Manager Rory Glueckert. "One of the projects interested applicants may work on is p...
HELENA - The Helena–Lewis and Clark National Forest invites interested parties to submit project proposals for funding consideration by the Helena-Lewis and Clark Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The RAC will consider proposals for projects that are on or provide substantial benefits to National Forest System lands within Broadwater, Teton, Lewis and Clark, Fergus, Judith Basin, Pondera, Meagher and Wheatland counties. The deadline to submit project proposals is April 15, 20...
HELENA – 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...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is reopening the public comment period for the 2024 Grizzly Bear Management Plan and Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan to ensure Montana counties, Tribes, and state and federal agencies have a chance for input. The new deadline is March 9. The extension will ensure that Montana statute requiring FWP to notify county commissioners of opportunities to comment on management plans for grizzly bears, wolves and other large c...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of its intent to pursue legal action over the recent listing of wolverines as a threatened species. "In Montana, wolverines continue to do well and inhabit much, if not all, of their available habitat," said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Chief of Conservation Policy Quentin Kujala. "We work closely with our neighboring states to ensure the continued conservation of these iconic speci...
