One Nation, Under God
One Nation, Under God
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 102
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks encourages folks to be bear aware, even in the "Hi-Line" area of central and eastern Montana. Many folks are heading into the field for fall hunting, and bears are often very active this time of year as they are looking for high-calorie food sources before hibernation. Bear populations are expanding, and although bear encounters are rare in most of central and eastern Montana, there are known black and grizzly bears in all kinds of habitats along the Hi-Line. This...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recently euthanized a female black bear and two cubs after they were found in a garbage dumpster in Zortman. “It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but once bears learn to get food from unnatural sources, the safety risk for people escalates greatly,” said Drew Henry, FWP supervisor in Glasgow. “Even though bears aren’t as common out here in eastern Montana, they are around and can get into trouble if they find unsecured attractants.” Many times, bears are attracted to dumpsters, campground areas, and homes due to the...
Late winter and early spring is often a difficult time for wildlife. After using fat reserves through most of the winter, along with trying to find what food is available, many animals are at their most vulnerable at this time of year. And as we’ve all experienced, the winter of 2022-23 has been a tough, long winter with heavy snow and cold temperatures late into the year. That’s why Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, along with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), are asking shed hunters and other recreationists to give wildlife their spa...
The climate in northeast Montana the last few years hasn't been the best for our area fishing ponds. Back-to-back summer droughts and now a tough, long winter this year, have left fish populations in many ponds and small reservoirs across northeastern Montana with little room to breathe. As a result, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking anglers to help identify ponds this spring that may have winterkilled. What causes fish to winterkill? There are many factors that influence a pond to...
March 1 marks the beginning of the license year for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Below are a few reminders and tips about the upcoming license year. Fishing licenses: 2022 fishing licenses expire on Feb. 28, 2023. Anglers cannot buy a new fishing license until March 1. Licenses purchased on or after March 1, 2023, will be valid through Feb. 29, 2024. General licenses and permits: General licenses, such as fishing, conservation, upland bird, general deer, general elk, etc. can be purchased starting March 1 at any license providers but permit...
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 & Parks reminds folks that safety should be the number one concern during a day out on (or near) the ice. For more information, please go to https://fwp.mt.gov/fish/ice-fishing/safety When on the ice, remember: - Plan...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at the Best Western Plus Havre Inn and Suites, located at 1425 US-2 in Havre (on the hill), for a special legislative open house. The meeting is open to the public, and state senators and representatives and county commissioners in the region have been invited as well. The main purpose of this meeting is for FWP Helena staff to share with legislators, CAC members, and the public the legislative proposals that i...
The results are in from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Havre check station for the 2022 hunting season. The check station was open for eight weekends from Oct. 8 (the open of general antelope) through Nov. 27 (the end of the deer/elk general season). Overall, hunter numbers and mule deer harvest were still above average. Biologists gather a lot of valuable information and biological data on game animals brought through check stations. FWP appreciates all hunters’ cooperation in this effort. Note that the harvest data described below inclu...
Anyone wanting to salvage a road-killed deer, elk, moose or antelope must obtain a Vehicle-Killed Wildlife Salvage Permit. These are available at no cost and must be obtained within 24 hours of the time a person takes an animal into their possession. Permits are available either through law enforcement officers on the scene of collisions or online on the FWP website. As a reminder, any salvaged animal must be removed in its entirety from the roadway by the permittee. The animal may be field dressed before it leaves the area but entrails or any...
Although the pronghorn (commonly known as antelope) hunting season is over, they are still on the move. The recent winter weather in Montana has triggered antelope into migration mode, with them often moving south. Frequently, this leads to large groups attempting to cross highways and other major roadways, and motorists should be aware. As most folks know, antelope aren't the best at crossing fences or other barriers. Many times, this results in groups or individuals running next to a barrier...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff are continuing to sample for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) across Montana during the general big game season. CWD sample submission is voluntary and free. If hunters want their harvested deer, elk, or moose sampled, they can submit samples themselves by following steps listed at fwp.mt.gov/CWD or by visiting a CWD sampling station. CWD sampling stations in northeast Montana locations, days* in operation, and times: Havre- Havre game check station: pull-out 5...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) will meet from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, beginning at the Culbertson Town Hall. The morning focus will include fishing regulations proposed changes and process. Weather permitting, this will be followed by a visit to Ike’s Pond, a roundtable discussion with CAC members, discussion on recreating in Region 6, and a visit to Culbertson Fishing Access Site. The public is encouraged to attend the morning session to review the new fishing regulation process and com...
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 i...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks annual walleye spawn egg-take on Fort Peck Reservoir was completed at the end of April. In addition, stocking efforts were completed in June across Montana. With the help of FWP personnel and 58 volunteers, the egg collection goals were exceeded. A total of 2,796 walleye were captured in trap nets, with approximately 96 million eggs collected. "Inclement weather during the first part of April made collection efforts challenging with gusty winds and cold-water...
Public scoping meetings are being held across northeast Montana to seek the public's assistance in helping to revise the statewide Elk Management Plan last adopted in 2005. Malta: Malta High School, August 9, from 6-8 p.m. Glasgow: Cottonwood Inn, August 11, from 6-8 p.m. Havre: Best Western Great Northern Inn, August 16, from 6-8 p.m. More information and dates and locations for these and other meetings across the state can be found at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/el...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists completed 2022 post-season winter and spring aerial surveys of deer populations across Region 6 in northeastern Montana. The surveys indicate variable numbers for mule deer across the region and below average populations of white-tailed deer. Mule Deer “A significant drought in 2021 had impacts on the mule deer numbers across the region, most notably in the central and western portion of the region,” said Ryan Williamson, Outlook-area biologist. “The 2021 drought likely led to lower fawn survival and re...
Jody K. Hansen (52), from Rudyard, plead guilty to two counts of outfitting without a license in Hill County. In 2019, wardens began investigating Dogwood Hunting, the private lands outfitting business run by Hansen south of Rudyard, under the suspicion that Hansen was illegally taking some of his hunting and fishing clients on related activities outside his private land. During the investigation, wardens found that Hansen and his associate, Robert Spicher (56) of Hingham, outfitted fishing trips along the Marias and Missouri Rivers and hunts...
GLASGOW – Volunteer instructors are hosting Bowhunter Education in-person courses in Wolf Point, Malta, Glasgow, and Sidney. Wolf Point: May 21-22 Malta: June 1-3, 6 Glasgow: June 6-8 Sidney: June 10, 16, 17, 18 Students can sign up for Hunter and Bowhunter Education courses by visiting fwp.mt.gov/hunt/education and look for an in-person course. Students MUST be registered before the class begins. Please print, sign, and bring the documents listed on the registration page. All hunter and b...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks honored the service of its Region 6 Hunter and Bowhunter Education volunteer instructors at the annual workshop, which was held on Saturday, April 2 in Havre and Sunday, April 3 in Wolf Point. This was the first in-person instructor workshop since 2019, as they last two were cancelled due to the pandemic. The workshop has been an annual event that invites all the volunteer instructors across the region for a day filled with visiting, updates to the program, demonst...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Hunter Education in-person course dates have been set for many areas across northeast Montana. All hunter education classes are free of charge. Many classes are being held prior to the June 1 application deadline for deer B, elk B and antelope. In the next few months, classroom courses are being held in the following communities, with the start date listed: Havre: April 21, Saco: May 2, Glasgow: May 2, Wolf Point: May 4, and Havre: May 12. In-person, instructor-led hunter education classroom courses are available...
Volunteer instructors will host a Bowhunter Education course at the Hill County Electric Hospitality Room in Havre this month. The class is scheduled over four days: Monday, April 25, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, 6:30 to 9 p.m., Friday, April 29, 6:30 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, April 30, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Students need to pick up a course manual from the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office in Havre at 2165 US Hwy 2 East and read and complete the manual quizzes prior to the first day of class. Students can sign up for Hunter and...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is offering an optional in-person Hunter Education Field Day in Glasgow on Saturday, March 26. This field day is for any person (age 12 by Jan. 16, 2023) or older that passed the online course and would like to participate in an in-person field day. The self-paced online course provides a convenience for those who are comfortable with eLearning, already have a solid firearms and hunting background, or for those that cannot attend a full in-person course. The...
During the public season-setting process this fall and winter, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved several changes that affect hunting in Region 6 in northeast Montana. With the new “license year” beginning March 1, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks would like to give folks a heads up on some of the major changes that folks may see when they come to the counter. Hunting District (HD) boundary change: There will no longer be a HD 631 or 632. Hunting district 622 expanded east to include the western portion on the old HD 631. The rem...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 6 game wardens are seeking any information regarding a bull elk that was shot and left to waste near Warrick, approximately 50 miles south of Chinook. On January 1, game warden Haden Hussey received a call concerning a dead elk on the Biebinger Ranch located four miles west of the Lloyd Rd and Warrick Rd intersection. Upon further investigation, Warden Hussey found a trophy five-point bull elk that had been shot and killed with a high-powered rifle. The...
The deadline for public comment on the 2022/20223 hunting regulation proposals has been extended from Jan. 14 to Jan. 21. Those interested can view the proposals and provide comment online at fwp.mt.gov/regproposals. Comments also can be submitted by email to [email protected]. This is a second opportunity for the public to provide input on 2022/2023 draft hunting regulation proposals. Earlier this fall, Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists offered science-based regulations proposals that combine some hunting districts, reduce some license and permit...