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Bears are emerging from dens with the onset of spring, and people are reminded to “Be Bear Aware.” Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded and bears are sometimes found in historic ranges beyond western Montana As bears begin foraging for food, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking residents to remove or secure food attractants such as garbage, bird feeders and pet food. The most common human-bear conflicts involve unsecured food attractants. People venturing into the outdoors sho...
Invasive zebra mussels found another avenue for potential infestation of Montana waters. Montana, Fish, Wildlife & Parks was notified Wednesday that zebra mussels were detected in aquarium moss balls sold at a pet store in Washington state. FWP immediately checked pet stores around Montana and found invasive mussels in moss balls at multiple locations. It appears these moss balls were imported from the Ukraine to a distributor in California and were shipped to pet stores nationwide. The facility that imports the moss balls has been quarantined...
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 bear management in Montana. A survey questionnaire was...
MISSOULA – The State of Montana Fish Guidance Board, which includes Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Departments of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), has updated the fish consumption guidance for all species of fish on a 148-mile stretch of the Clark Fork River and tributaries in western Montana in response to new research results. Guidance now recommends avoiding consumption of all species of fish from the Clark Fork River’s confluence with the Bitterroot River, just west of Missoula, to...
It’s that time of year when ice anglers and other recreationists head out to Montana’s “hard” waters for the winter season. Whether ice fishing, ice skating, hunting, snowmobiling or just taking a walk, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff remind recreationists that safety should be the number one concern during a day out on (or near) the ice. When on the ice, remember: • Anglers and other recreationists should be familiar with the water body. Pay close attention to the changing conditions of the ice. • If you doubt the safety of the ice - s...
Hunter numbers and harvest rebounded in the fourth weekend of the general big game hunting season in west-central Montana, bringing harvest totals in line with average for this point in the season. The biggest bump came from deer harvest. The rut picked up over the past week and accordingly the cumulative deer harvest reported at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) check stations near Bonner, Darby and Anaconda doubled from where it was in just one weekend. The whitetail harvest reported at the three check stations now sits at 242,...
MISSOULA – Hunter numbers through the west-central Montana wildlife check stations were down through the first two weekends of the big game hunting season. Hunter success held above average at the Anaconda and Darby stations and fell below average through Bonner. Overall, Motana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) biologists checked 3,131 hunters with 118 elk, 24 mule deer, 87 white-tailed deer, two black bear, one sheep, one goat and one wolf in the first two weekends at the three longest running check stations in the region. Last season, 4,029 h...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will begin accepting grant applications for four recreation grant programs on Monday, Nov. 2, at 12 p.m. via the online system at funding.mt.gov. Applications for the Recreational Trails Program, the Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Program, the new Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program, and the new Summer Motorized Trail Pass Grant Program are due by Feb. 1, at 3 p.m. In total, these four grant programs provide over $3 million for recreation projects across Montana. Montana Trail Stewardship Grant Program: Th...
SEELEY LAKE - Wildlife officials captured and relocated a male grizzly bear in Seeley Lake late last week after repeated incidents of pursuing garbage and other attractants at campgrounds and home sites in the area. The bear did not have a prior history of conflicts and was collared and relocated to a remote area in the Whitefish Mountain Range in northwest Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks confirms there are still other bears in the Seeley Lake area, currently seeking out garbage and other food sources around homes and recreation areas....
The Montana Governor’s Grizzly Bear Advisory Council has updated its consolidated draft recommendations report and it is posted online: fwp.mt.gov/gbac. The council will review all public comments on the July 17 and July 24 versions of the document at the same time. For those who commented on the July 17 version and have a similar comment to share regarding the July 24 version, there is no need to resubmit the comment. The public is invited to provide comments on the two documents through the close of business Aug. 4. The council will m...
A follow-up test has confirmed a positive case of chronic wasting disease in a white-tailed deer buck that was euthanized in Gallatin County this month after displaying several classic symptoms of the disease. The deer, which was found in the Springhill area north of Bozeman, represents the first confirmed case of CWD in the county. CWD was first detected in Montana in 2017. Since then, FWP has closely monitored the prevalence and distribution of CWD through targeted surveillance and sampling efforts. The disease is now known to exist across...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking 10 to 12 individuals to serve as a statewide citizens group to collaboratively provide guidance for the new Montana Elk Management Plan. The group will be tasked with developing an issue statement about elk management and define meaningful and enduring principles that may guide future elk management decisions. The citizens group will represent a variety of stakeholders. Meetings will be facilitated to maintain objectivity, productivity and provide guidance. The Elk Management Plan Initial Guidance Citiz...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks euthanized a young male grizzly bear on Monday, April 13 after it killed three calves over a period of several days on a ranch east of Ovando in the Blackfoot Valley. The grizzly killed three calves from April 10 - 12. The bear was also suspected to have been responsible for another livestock injury in the same area the week before. Because the bear remained in the area, continuing to pursue livestock, wildlife officials set traps for the bear. FWP bear management specialist Jamie Jonkel said that unfortunately...
Following the extension of Montana Governor Steve Bullock’s directive that out-of-state travelers must quarantine for 14 days, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks director Martha Williams has suspended nonresident hunting seasons for spring turkey and black bear until at least April 24. On Tuesday, April 7 Bullock extended the mandatory quarantine directive related to COVID-19 through April 24 for travelers arriving in Montana from another state or country. The quarantine directive for out-of-state travelers applies to public outdoor recreation, gro...
Montanans are lucky to have so many opportunities to get outdoors and recreate, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. And while Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks encourages recreation outside, we also encourage careful planning and prudence. The safety of the public and FWP staff is of utmost concern. As a reminder, social distancing guidelines should be followed at all FWP sites. Keep your distance from fellow recreators. If a parking lot at a fishing access site or state park is full, consider another place to recreate. Also, in keeping with...
As the current license year is winding down, hunters and anglers can look for a few immediate changes for the coming year. The new license year starts on March 1, which means that is the day you can begin to buy your 2020 hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Hunters should keep a couple of things in mind as they look to the application process for this year. First, this will be the first year that hunters will be able to apply for all their...
Montana's hunting legacy depends on active, skilled and ethical hunters who pass on their traditions to new generations. This happens in hundreds of classrooms across Montana each year through the state's Hunter and Bowhunter Education program. Instructors in the program volunteer their time and talents to give new hunters baseline instruction on safety, ethics, procedure and other components of successful hunting. Hunter Education, which is administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, is...
Beginning March 1, hunters and anglers can expect a few changes this year when they buy their 2020 licenses. The most visible change Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks customers will see is a change to license paper. Starting this year, both licenses and carcass tags will be printed on normal-sized paper so that license buyers will be able to print them at home. For years, FWP licenses and tags have been produced on weather-resistant paper. However, this is not only expensive, but requires printing technology so outdated that it’s almost i...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is seeking public input on hunting season proposals for the 2020-21 seasons through Jan. 22, 2020. Proposals are available for review and comment online. FWP will also hold public meetings throughout the state to provide information and take public input. In west-central Montana’s Region 2, FWP will host nine public meetings: Jan. 7 – Missoula, Doubletree Hotel (100 Madison St.), 7 p.m. Jan. 8 – Lincoln, Lambkins Café (460 Main St.), 6 p.m. Jan. 9 – Hamilton, Bitterroot River Inn (139 Bitterroot Plaza Dr...
The general big game hunting season that opened Oct. 26 concluded Sunday, Dec. 1 across Montana. Despite fewer hunters than in years past in northwest Montana, the overall number of harvested deer was up over last year. In west-central Montana, the season started off with unusually early winter conditions, contributing to stronger than normal deer and elk harvests in the first few weeks but wrapped up with average to below-average totals in some spots. Check stations only sample a small portion...
During opening weekend of the general big game hunting season, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) reported checking 2,325 hunters and 179 harvested animals at its three permanent check stations in west-central Montana, on par with average first weekend totals. Region-wide, hunter harvest and participation was comparable to last year's opening weekend, with a few hot spots. At the hunter check station near Darby, FWP saw 1,012 hunters, the highest total since 2015, and 73 elk--the highest...
This weekend marks the beginning of the general big game hunting season in Montana. The general deer and elk season is Oct. 26-Dec. 1. If you have information about a possible wildlife or state lands crime, please call our toll-free TIP-MONT Hotline at 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668). Here are a few reminders for hunters in northwest Montana (Region 1) during the 2019 season: • There is a change in the antlerless hunts in hunting districts 122 and 130 this year. General hunters can no longer harvest antlerless white-tailed deer the first w...
On July 15, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks received a report of an injured black bear dragging its lower body in the foothills of Kila. The following morning, the bear was euthanized because of its injuries. Veterinarians at Central Valley Animal Hospital X-rayed the animal and discovered it was shot with birdshot and likely a pistol. The trash contents in the bear's stomach indicated that it had visited a residential garbage can. The birdshot pellets broke several vertebrae in front of the...
SWAN VALLEY - An adult female grizzly bear was euthanized Sept. 10 after the bear and three cubs became food conditioned and broke into structures to obtain grain. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks captured the bears in the Seeley-Swan Valley. In accordance with Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee guidelines, the adult female was euthanized due to food conditioning, which occurs when wildlife lose natural foraging habits. Two of the cubs are being sent to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. FWP was unable to capture the...
SWAN VALLEY - In an effort to boost native westslope cutthroat and bull trout populations, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will remove non-native trout species in Cooney Creek, a tributary of the upper Swan River in northwest Montana. Following a public comment period, FWP is moving forward with the project to capture and remove all brook and rainbow trout in Cooney Creek’s core westslope cutthroat trout habitat. The project will be in collaboration with the University of Montana and MPG Ranch, a privately-owned conservation ranch. Funding f...
