The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana Hunting District 317, in a portion of Park County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 29, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district has been met.
(Headlines - January 29, 2001)

The hunting of female mountain lions in northcentral Montana hunting districts 400, 401, 403, 406, 415, and 441, which includes portions of Toole, Pondera, Liberty, Chouteau, Glacier and Teton counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 29, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - January 29, 2001)

The hunting of female mountain lions in hunting district 540 closed at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, January 28, 2001.
(Headlines - January 29, 2001)

Montanas Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet in the FWP Helena office, 1420 East Sixth Ave., Thursday, Feb. 8 and Friday, Feb. 9. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. on Feb. 8 and at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 9. Feb. 8 the Commission will take final action on the 2001 hunting regulations including spring turkey, black bear, lion, deer, elk, upland game bird and game damage permits.
(Headlines - January 26, 2001)

A proposed rule limiting the number of nonresident upland game bird licenses sold in Montana will be discussed in a series of public meetings in February and March, according to Don Childress, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wildlife Division administrator. In December, the FWP Commission agreed to initiate rulemaking that would limit the number of over-the-counter nonresident upland game bird licenses sold each year to 11,000 beginning in 2002.
(Headlines - January 26, 2001)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 301, which includes portions of Gallatin and Park counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 27, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for lions in the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - January 26, 2001)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana Hunting District 317, in a portion of Park County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, January 24, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the district has been met.
(Headlines - January 22, 2001)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission scheduled over 40 meetings across the state in January to address the tentative hunting regulations and quotas for 2001 deer, elk, black bear, lion, and upland game bird seasons. The deadline for public comment is Jan. 26. To comment or to obtain copies of the tentative regulations and proposed changes for the 2001 hunting seasons, write to: Wildlife Division, Montana FWP, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

Smith River permit applications for the 2001 float season must be postmarked on or before Feb. 15 to be entered into the random drawing. The application fee for Montana residents is $20, which may be paid by personal check, cashiers check or money order. For nonresidents, the cost is $40, which may be paid by cashiers check or money order. Nonresidents may not use personal checks, though cash may be sent at the senders risk. Only one application per person is allowed for residents or nonresidents.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

Looking for a unique way to say "I love you" this Valentines Day? The Early Bird State Parks Passport will help get your message across -- and may inspire your Valentine to plan a romantic getaway for two later this year to one of Montanas 41 state parks. The annual windshield decals -- with the FWP logo celebrating "A Century of Conservation" -- are on sale now at Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters in Helena and the region offices.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

Women interested in hunting upland game birds next fall are invited to attend a one-day clinic on Saturday, March 3 in Great Falls to help prepare for the hunt. Clinic participants will practice shotgun shooting, see how to use a hunting dog, learn how to care for birds in the field and take part in a hunting experience. Participants must provide their own shotgun and ammunition and have some hunting experience.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks internships for summer 2001 offer Montana college students a variety of opportunities to gain "hands-on" work experiences that link to future career goals. An internship is a great way to begin building an eye-catching resume, too. "For the past decade this unique program has been a win/win situation for students, FWP and the people of Montana," said Debbie Cheek, FWP field support supervisor who coordinates the program.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting district 240, in portions of Missoula and Ravalli counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 20, 2001. The order ending the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the district had been met.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

Judging ice conditions on many lakes and reservoirs can be a tricky call for even an experienced outdoor recreationist. "Anglers, snowmobilers, ice skaters and others should use extreme caution whenever venturing onto the ice," said Liz Lodman, coordinator of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' vehicle safety program. Sunny days and warm winds are not the only conditions affecting ice thickness and strength, Lodman said. Springs and rising or moving water erode ice on its underside.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

Montanas Future Fisheries review panel will meet in Helena on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. in the Mitchell Building, 125 Roberts, room 160. The public is welcome. At the meeting, panel members will discuss 23 project applications requesting $390,000 in program funding. "Since 1995 Montanas fisheries have benefited from $4.
(Headlines - January 19, 2001)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 5 in southcentral Montana will close at midnight on Sunday, January 21, 2001. The district includes portions of Fergus, Golden Valley, Meagher, Musselshell, Petroleum, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, Park, Yellowstone, Big Horn, Carbon and Treasure counties.
(Headlines - January 18, 2001)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southcentral Montana hunting district 560, in portions of Park and Sweet Grass counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, January 18, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota in the district had been met.
(Headlines - January 17, 2001)

Jeff Hagener, a 20-year veteran of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, took the helm as the director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks last week after his recent appointment by Gov. Judy Martz. Hagener, 46, leaves his DNRC post as Trust Land Management Administrator which he's held since 1995. Upon legislative approval, Hagener will officially replace Pat Graham, who served eight years as FWP director under Gov. Marc Racicot.
(Headlines - January 16, 2001)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 3 in southwestern Montana will close at midnight on January 18, 2001. The district includes portions of Beaverhead, Broadwater. Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, Meagher, Park and Silver Bow counties.
(Headlines - January 16, 2001)

This wouldn’t happen in just any city in America.   FWP warden Brian Golie of Billings was called to the 1900 block of Natalie Lane on December 29, 2000 at 1:30 a.m. to investigate a report of a deer shot and left in the witness’s yard.   “I found a dead, four-point whitetail buck shot with a large caliber rifle,” Golie said.   Golie remained in the area and left his cell phone number with the resident in case the suspects reappeared.
(Headlines - January 10, 2001)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 280, 281, 284 and 293, which includes portions of Powell and Lewis and Clark counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, January 11, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - January 10, 2001)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Monday that promising new biological information on the swift fox led the agency to remove the small, cat-sized prairie animal from consideration for listing as an endangered species in need of federal protection. "We're gratified our work to document the range of the swift fox in Montana contributed to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision," said Don Childress, chief of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' wildlife division.
(Headlines - January 09, 2001)

By order of the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking fisher in Trapping District 2 of western Montana will close at midnight on Monday, January 8, 2001. Trapping District 2 includes portions of Deer Lodge, Granite, Lewis and Clark, Mineral, Missoula, Powell and Ravalli counties. The statewide trapping of all fisher shall be closed at midnight on Tuesday, January 9, 2001.
(Headlines - January 08, 2001)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 202 and 203, which includes portions of Mineral and Missoula counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 8, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for these districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - January 08, 2001)

Montana waterfowlers are hanging up their waders and packing their decoys away for another year as duck and goose hunting seasons close across the state. The duck hunting season in the Central Flyway closed Jan. 4 and the goose hunting season will close at sunset on Friday, Jan. 12. The Central Flyway generally covers the eastern half of Montana. In the Pacific Flyway, the goose hunting season closes at sunset on Sunday, Jan. 7, and duck hunting will end Friday, Jan. 12.
(Headlines - January 05, 2001)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and the Montana Wildlife Federation, a day-long conference on sage grouse conservation Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Elks Club in Bozeman from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The conference will provide information about the status, biology and management of sage grouse in the state and is a first step in preparing a long-range conservation plan for sage grouse and sagebrush-grassland habitats.
(Headlines - January 05, 2001)

Avalanches are powerful, unpredictable and can occur at any time. The best way to avoid an avalanche is to recognize the warning signs and to steer clear of avalanche-hazard areas. There are two types of snow avalanches: (1) Loose snow avalanches that begin in a small area, but grow larger, taking on more snow as they descend; and (2) Slab avalanches that start as a large slide. A slab avalanche usually has a well-defined fracture line where moving snow breaks away from stable snow.
(Headlines - January 05, 2001)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission has agreed on the content of a draft biennial rule to better distribute angling and floating pressure on the Big Hole and Beaverhead Rivers. The rule will designate specific reaches of the rivers where commercial floating is not permitted. The popular Saturday "Citizens Days" on both rivers will be restricted to residents on specific reaches of the rivers.
(Headlines - January 05, 2001)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 312 and 393, which include portions of Gallatin, Park and Meagher counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 6, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the districts combined has been met.
(Headlines - January 04, 2001)

Hunters can set their sights on next fall's seasons by commenting on the proposed 2001 hunting regulations now available for review. The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission adopted tentative 2001 hunting regulations for deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, and upland game birds at its December meeting in Helena. To provide additional time for public review, the comment deadline has been extended to Jan. 26.
(Headlines - January 03, 2001)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will hold several public hearings on the 2001 tentative big game and upland gamebird hunting regulations with more than 40 meetings scheduled across the state.      The hearings will address tentative regulations and quotas for the 2001 deer, elk, black bear, lion, and upland game bird seasons. The hearings are set for: REGION ONENorthwestern Montana      Kalispell     Jan.
(Headlines - January 03, 2001)

The hunting of male mountain lions in northcentral Montana hunting districts 410, 417, 419 and 426, in portions of Fergus, Petroleum, and Judith Basin counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, January 3, 2001. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the districts combined had been met.
(Headlines - January 02, 2001)

January 2000, the head of a male big horn sheep was discovered in an abandoned building outside of Radersburg.   The animal was identified as one of several recently released in the Crow Creek drainage of the Elkhorn Mountains.   FWP Game Wardens Chris Anderson and Chad Murphy investigated leads provided by the FWP TIP-MONT violation hotline and local sources.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)

October 2000, Red Lodge Warden Kevin Nichols received a call from a Roberts area rancher that he had found a mule deer buck on his property that had been shot and abandoned near Cottonwood Road the night before.   When Nichols investigated, he found where the deer had been shot from the road, and located tire tracks and two spent .270 Winchester cartridge cases.   He photographed the carcass and collected the bullet casings for evidence.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)

November 1999, warden Jeff Scott investigated a set of suspicious circumstances at an old cow camp cabin on upper Work Creek.   A convicted felon was using the cabin. A search of nearby buildings turned up several deer carcasses, one of which was wasted.   The cabin dweller was charged with possession of a wasted game animal.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)

FWP warden Tom Watkins was south of Bridger, Montana Saturday, January 2000 on Bureau of Land Management property.   “I came across a small red pickup truck parked on a dirt trail. The registered owner was the brother of a known trapper from Laurel,” Watkins said. The warden waited by the pickup and soon he saw a trapper from Laurel that he knew come back to the truck. Watkins talked with the trapper and learned he and his brother were checking snares.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)

A typical Sunday summer afternoon at Cooney Reservoir State Park, about 50 miles south of Billings, is hot and crowded, with park visitors skiing, inner tubing, fishing and jet skiing. On August 30, 1998, while FWP wardens Jeff Scott and Kevin Holland were patrolling the reservoir, they noticed a group of 10 people in their 20’s and 30’s with two jet skis near the north shore boat launch and picnic areas.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)

Shortly after the 1999 hunting season, FWP warden Karl Brooks received an anonymous tip about a big horn ram shot illegally in Hunting District 121.   The informant said an individual had successfully drawn an either sex big horn sheep tag.   During the hunt, this individual allegedly shot two big horn rams, leaving the first ram to waste.   Possible witnesses were provided, as was an approximate location of the dead ram.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)

“Sometimes a warden doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” said Big Timber FWP game warden George Anderson.   During the summer of 2000, Anderson received a call from the Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s dispatch about people illegally fishing the Boulder River.   Parked on the shoulder of a gravel road as he took down the vehicle description, the warden glanced over and saw the identical vehicle passing him.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)

On August 2, 2000, FWP warden Brandon Carpenter received a tip that a fresh buck deer head and hide were in a community dumpster in Billings. “I checked the dumpster and found a whitetail deer head, hide, bones and variety of garbage sacks from various households,” Carpenter said.   “I knew my next best tip was probably in one of the garbage bags, so I pulled them all out and began the search for evidence.
(Enforcement - January 01, 2001)