Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Thursday and Friday, August 2 and 3 in Helena at the FWP Headquarters building on 1420 East Sixth Ave. beginning at 8 a.m. each day. On Thursday, August 2, final decisions will be made on the Opsata Conservation Easement on 310 acres near Ovando.
(Headlines - July 24, 2001)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission may adjust the tentative elk quotas due to become final at its August meeting. The Commission acknowledged landowner concerns about drought and the impact it may have on game damage this year in making this announcement. Public comment on the tentative deer and elk quotas will be taken through July 20. Individuals who wish to comment may call 406-444-2612 or submit their comments by email to: fwpwld@state.mt.us.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

Funding to create, complete, renovate or maintain recreational trails in Montana is available from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Montana's portion of the Recreational Trails Program funding over the next two years totals $1.4 million. FWP's Parks Division administers these federal funds with advice from the citizen's State Trails Advisory Committee.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced that $150,000 in state grant funding is available to maintain existing off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails, including education, signage and noxious weed control. Federal and state agencies, organizations and clubs may apply for the grant money which is generated by gasoline taxes and registration fees for OHV's. Grant applications should be submitted to a professional state biologist by Sept. 28, 2001 for their evaluation.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission ruled recently that Anterless Whitetail Deer B Licenses in the 600 series of hunting districts will not be valid in Hunting Districts 641 and the portion of hunting district 640 lying east of Highway 16. Severe winter weather and late season game damage hunts in the eastern part of Montana around Sandhills and Medicine Lake near Dagmar substantially reduced white-tailed deer numbers below the long-term average population size.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

Some of Montana's 42 State Parks may be in the drought's potential line of fire this summer. "While the show must go on, there are a lot of common sense things people can do to help protect the natural, cultural and historical features of our parks," said Doug Monger, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks State Parks administrator. While many steps parks visitors can take are simple common sense, the precautions may be critical in areas where fire danger is extreme due to the drought.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife Council will meet Wednesday, Aug. 1 in Helena at Jorgenson's Inn from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 15-member council of landowners, hunters, and outfitters is appointed by the governor to offer recommendations for resolving issues regarding public hunting access, private land impacts, and outfitting industry issues.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

Variety is the watchword in southwest Montana when it comes to Montana State Parks-"lookouts and buffalo jumps, limestone caverns and ghost towns. We'll visit them all on a weekend motor tour of FWP Region Three parks soaked in Montana history. Our first stop on a state parks tour of southwestern Montana is Missouri Headwaters State Park near Three Forks where the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson rivers converge to form the upper Missouri.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on proposed rules that would regulate Montana's upland game bird release and habitat-enhancement programs. The proposed rules define how FWP will authorize participation in release projects for upland game birds, including turkeys and ring-necked pheasants. The rules define the requirements for new upland game bird releases, emergency supplemental feeding, and acres of habitat needed to support releases.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will limit the number of nonresident licenses to harvest mountain lions in northwestern Montana to 10 percent of the total harvest quota for lions in each hunting district throughout FWP Region One. "The goal is to reduce hunting pressure and to maintain lion harvest within the established quotas," said Glenn Erickson, FWP wildlife management bureau chief.
(Headlines - July 20, 2001)

Helena area kids can look forward to another afternoon of fun in the sun with free fishing and water safety instruction, food and demonstrations on the Capitol lawn at Montana and 6th Ave. Thursday, July 19, from 1-4 p.m. Adult instructors will be on hand to teach casting, knot tying, water safety, identification of fish and aquatic insects, and to do fly tying demonstrations.
(Headlines - July 05, 2001)

Now women of all ages can leave the kids at home, escape work place worries and head to summer camp.Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' annual "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" (BOW) summer workshop from July 27-29 is a great opportunity to learn outdoor skills while indulging in a great summer getaway.
(Headlines - July 05, 2001)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers a home-study course on boating to help families comply with state law requiring youngsters 13 and 14 years old to have a motorboat operator's certificate while piloting a motorboat without an adult on board.The law includes operation of all motorboats as well as personal watercraft, like a jet ski, with a motor greater than 10 horsepower. No one 12 or younger can operate a motorboat alone. An adult, 18 years or older, must be on board.
(Headlines - July 05, 2001)

Like the rerun of a favorite Western movie, Bannack Days, July 21-22 at Bannack State Park, offer an irresistible step back in time. "Once a year, this 1860 abandoned mining town comes to life," said Angela Hurley, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks park manager. Craftsmen and women line the streets dressed in period clothing to demonstrate long-forgotten skills such as spinning, black smithing, candle making and black powder shooting.
(Headlines - July 05, 2001)

The Future Fisheries review panel will meet Thursday, July 26, at 8:30 a.m. in Room 160 of the Mitchell Building, 125 North Roberts, in Helena. The public is welcome. At the meeting, panel members will discuss 19 project applications requesting approximately $450,000 in program funding. The Future Fisheries review panel evaluates lake and stream restoration project proposals and selects projects eligible for funding under the Future Fisheries Improvement Program, created by the 1995 Legislature.
(Headlines - July 05, 2001)

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(Headlines - July 01, 2001)

When you think of what makes a community a great place to live, what do you think of? If you have young children, you may consider the school system. If you are retired, you might think of the climate. If you are a businessperson, you might look into the economic health of a place. Often people consider parks and recreational opportunities an important asset. Our state parks are part of the economic and social fabric of many communities across Montana.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

Many Parks are perfect natural outdoor classrooms for learning about our fragile environment, abundant wildlife, prehistoric animals, ghost towns, geology, history, and of earlier cultures. Cynde Swartz, fifth grade teacher at Lewis and Clark Elementary School in Great Falls, knows the importance of "hands on" teaching. She says the best way to teach students these subjects is to take them to places where it can be viewed and experienced.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

Travelers Rest, near Lolo, became Montana's 42 nd State Park in March. After a year of patient negotiation, The Conservation Fund purchased the property from Pat and Ernie Deschamps and simultaneously donated it to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The park is now operated through a unique partnership between FWP and the Travelers' Rest Preservation Project (TRPP). FWP owns the site while TRPP is responsible for operating and maintaining the 15-acre park.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

Managers at Missouri Headwaters State Park have secured $90,000 in two challenge cost-share grants from the National Park Service to address needs at the park. Near the community of Three Forks, the park is a major destination for Lewis and Clark enthusiasts. While it is an important Lewis and Clark site, the park has many other rich stories to tell, making it one of the premiere interpretive sites in the state park system.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

Montana State Parks Passports, the car windshield decals that allow annual entrance to Montana's State Parks and provide discounts on camping fees, can now be purchased on the Internet from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Anyone with an Internet connection and a credit card can purchase the State Park Passport from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is the first of many state services soon to become accessible on the Internet.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

Parks Division would like to announce that the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) and Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Grant applications for fiscal year 2002 will be available in late June of this year. Applications can be downloaded from the FWP website or you can contact the Helena office. It's anticipated that approximately $714,000 (RTP) and $164,000 (OHV) will be available. Questions on presenting an application should be directed to Bob Walker (444-4585).
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

Since 1965, communities across Montana have received over $31 million for outdoor recreation projects in Land and Water Conservation fund grants. Last year the communities of Three Forks, Twin Bridges, Bozeman, Polson, Livingston and Choteau received LWCF grant funds. We are pleased to announce that once again Cities, Towns, School Districts and Tribal governments are eligible to compete for $403,556 in Land & Water Conservation Fund grant money for outdoor recreation projects this year.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

With the passage of House Bill 132 by the 2001 Legislature, more options are now available for FWP to provide funding for motorboat improvement projects statewide. All Montana boatowners who register their motorboats pay a fee in-lieu of tax of which 20% goes for boating improvements, such as boat ramp rehabilitation, latrines, buoys, and related items. The remaining 80% remains in the county where the fee was paid.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

In an ongoing effort to provide angler access to Montana's streams, rivers, and lakes these new sites have been added to the Fishing Access Site program. A portion of each fishing license sold is deposited into a fund for acquisition.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)

Major construction efforts are underway this spring at a number of State Parks. Frenchtown Pond State Park is a popular day-use area west of Missoula. The site will be getting a major facelift and upgrade, including a new comfort station, entrance, infrastructure upgrades, and landscaping. Construction work will continue through June. Hell Creek State Park is an important destination north of Jordan in eastern Montana. Located on Ft.
(Parks - July 01, 2001)