The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 165
MISSOULA –Big game hunting season hits its midway mark this week, and hunter check stations in west-central Montana are reporting elk and deer harvests up from last year and the five-year average. The number of hunter trips through the check stations near Darby, Bonner and Anaconda totaled 4,772 for the first half of the season. During the season's first three weekends, those hunters checked 179 elk, 53 mule deer and 185 white-tailed deer, compared to 119 elk, 52 mule deer a...
MISSOULA – For a researcher who studies wildfire, University of Montana graduate student Kyra Clark-Wolf couldn't have had better timing. Clark-Wolf arrived in Missoula to start her graduate studies on the impacts of wildfires on forests at the W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation on July 4, 2017. Eleven days later, a lightning strike sparked the Lolo Peak Fire just south of the city, burning nearly 54,000 acres and leaving lasting and indelible images among M...
It's up to us. Respect access. Protect the hunt HELENA – In Montana, good relationships between hunters and landowners are integral to our opportunities, lead to proper wildlife management and ensure that our hunting traditions continue. Landowners play an important role in sustaining healthy wildlife populations, contributing to our economy and communities by creating jobs, and providing valuable habitat and treasured open spaces. But the relationship between hunters and l...
HELENA - The National Visitor Use Monitoring survey is underway on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest to help gather data for forest managers on where visitors go, what activities they engage in, and what experiences they have. "Although the survey is entirely voluntary, participation is important so we can assess visitor experiences on the Forest and strive to make it a better place to visit," said Forest Recreation Program Manager Rory Glueckert. "We would...
MISSOULA – Coming in at a weighty 143 pages, Montana's 2022 book of deer, elk and antelope hunting regulations is an impressive tome listing license costs, permit drawing stats, season start dates, tag requirements and the ominous penalties for breaking any of its stated rules. It's a valuable resource in the management of the state's beloved big game animals and a must read for hunters heading out into the field, but it also can be an intimidating opus for even the most e...
GREAT FALLS – A 51-year-old hunter from Washington state sustained non-life threatening injuries when he was attacked by a grizzly bear on Tuesday afternoon in Teton County. The hunter and his wife encountered the bear around 1 p.m. while hunting for upland birds in a creek bottom east of Choteau. The bear charged out of thick brush at close range. The hunter fired at the bear with a shotgun and handgun, wounding the bear and stopping the attack. The hunters and their dogs l...
The Lincoln Community River Park along the south shore of the Blackfoot River just east of the Stemple Pass Road bridge got a bit of a facelift following a fall open house hosted by Five Valley's Land Trust Saturday Sept. 24. The open house involved about an hours worth of volunteer work to put up a couple new signs and to give visitors a chance to enjoy sandwiches and refreshments. The event was part of National Public Lands Day. The sign identifying the park, and another...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will be hosting a meeting in Lincoln Oct. 11 to gather public input on revisions to the statewide Elk Management Plan adopted in 2005. The meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Community Hall will seek input on the existing elk population objectives and local elk management challenges that should be considered in the revision, which has been in the works since 2020. The scoping period began this summer and will continue through Oct. 15....
The Helmville-Gould Trail (#467) and Forest Service roads 1829 and 4128 on the Lincoln Ranger District remain closed south of Lincoln to accommodate the Dalton Timber Sale. Forest Service Road 1829-C is closed through the end of the year, but according to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, they are working with the contractors to reopen many of the roads and trails each weekend for visitors....
HELENA, Mont. (Oct. 5, 2022) - Fire personnel across the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest (HLCNF) are preparing for fall and winter prescribed burning operations to reduce hazardous fuels, protect communities from future unwanted wildfires and improve wildlife habitat. Prescribed burning could begin as soon as this week on the Helena and Lincoln ranger districts, pending favorable conditions. "The prescribed fires planned for this fall and winter are essential to change...
The long awaited bridge dedication is finally just ahead. The US Forest Service and Montana Mountain Mushers have joined together to dedicate the new bridge across Beaver Creek Road, near Lincoln. The sign commemorates Race to the Sky and its beginnings through today, Jack Beckstrom's part in seeing the race happen and history of the race. There will be representatives from the organizations to speak briefly about the bridge/sign. Everyone is invited. The US Forest Service,...
Road closures remain in effect near Dalton Mountain The Helmville-Gould Trail (#467) and Forest Service roads 1829 and 4128 on the Lincoln Ranger District remain closed south of Lincoln to accommodate the Dalton Timber Sale. Forest Service Road 1829-C is closed through the end of the year, but according to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, they are working with the contractors to reopen many of the roads and trails each weekend for visitors....
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the launch of the inaugural Governor's Youth Hunting Story Contest, open to Montana youth and apprentice hunters ages 10 to 17. "Hunting is a proud tradition in Montana that will be carried on by the next generation," Gov. Gianforte said. "To celebrate our hunting heritage, I invite Montana's youth and apprentice hunters who harvest an animal this year to be a part of the first-ever Youth Hunting Story Contest." "We'll r...
This year FWP will continue chronic wasting disease surveillance in specific areas known as Priority Surveillance Areas in north-central, central, southwestern, and south-central 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 a C...
OVANDO – Wildlife officials euthanized two grizzly bears this week that were responsible for at least 10 conflicts in the upper Blackfoot Valley over the past two months. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife specialists reported that the conflicts began in mid-July in the Ovando and Woodworth areas where the bears broke into three grain sheds. FWP worked with the property owners to install an electric fence at all sites to prevent more issues. The bears moved on from that i...
An estimated 600 people visited Lincoln Friday Sept. 16 and Friday Sept. 17 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the designation of the Scapegoat Wilderness....
MISSOULA - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is providing notice to people living or recreating in the vicinity of Rogers Pass that a grizzly bear has been relocated in the area. The Service assumed grizzly bear relocation responsibilities from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, in certain circumstances, following a recent change to Montana law. The Service has coordinated with relevant land management agencies during this process. This bear has been relocated from...
Ask first to hunt on private land Don't wait until it is too late. Hunters who haven't already asked permission from private landowners to hunt need to do so as soon as possible. Montana law requires hunters to obtain permission for all hunting on private land. Whether pursuing upland game birds, coyotes, gophers or any other wildlife, hunters must have permission from the landowner before hunting on private property. This also includes entering private land to retrieve...
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 p...
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....
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public input on revisions to the statewide Elk Management Plan last adopted in 2005. FWP began work on the revised plan in 2020, when a citizen's group was convened to develop guiding principles for the new plan. FWP is seeking input on the existing elk population objectives and local elk management challenges that should be considered in the revision. The scoping period started several weeks ago, but meetings have been s...
seems to be passing very quickly with so many things to still get accomplished. The Board of directors and some of our members have been working all summer to accomplish several tasks needed done by our club. The last big job was getting Big Mountain Trail open over the top. Working with the Forest Service, the area was open to the public to get many loads of firewood, which was cut and laid on the side of the road. We were able to get enough wood moved to open the trail over...
A trip up Stonewall Mountain provided a chance to meet the goats that keep the lookout company....
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications for its new Habitat Conservation Lease Program. A habitat conservation lease is a voluntary, incentive-based agreement between FWP and private landowners in which the landowner commits to specific land management practices that protect priority wildlife habitat. In turn, FWP pays landowners a one-time per-acre fee for the lease. These agreements would have a term length of 30 and 40 years. As it has for d...
HELENA, Mont. August 19, 2022 – Molly Ryan and Helen Smith have both been selected to join the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest's leadership team; Ryan will serve as deputy forest supervi-sor and Smith as the Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs district ranger. "Both Ryan and Smith have dedicated their careers to navigating challenging natural resource man-agement issues while prioritizing local communities," said Forest Supervisor Emily Platt. "I am ex-cited to welcome the...