The hunting of all mountain lions in southcentral Montana hunting district 511, which includes portions of Wheatland, Fergus and Golden Valley counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, February 28, 2002. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met. For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - February 27, 2002)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 290, 291 and 292, in portions of Powell, Granite and Missoula counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, February 27, 2002. 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 had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - February 26, 2002)

Wolf management issues will be discussed at a series of community work sessions Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host in March. The public sessions will be designed to help FWP “scope,” or identify issues to address as the state continues to prepare for the anticipated recovery and federal delisting of Montana’s gray wolf population, a process that could begin early next year.
(Wild Things - February 25, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking local hunters and landowners to help identify regional hunting access priorities as part of the planning process for allocating new hunting access program funds.  Approximately $1.5 million may be available in 2002 for expanding FWP hunter access programs statewide.
(Hunting - February 22, 2002)

Trapping, one of Montana’s oldest trades, will be featured during the third annual Youth Trapper Camp scheduled June 14, 15 and 16 in the Bears Paw Mountains, south of Havre.  The three-day camp for youth ages 8 to 18 is sponsored by the Montana Trappers Association, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana 4-H.
(Hunting - February 22, 2002)

A quick and easy way to make a difference for wildlife in Montana is to check YES next to the eagle on the Montana state income tax form.  "A single check mark helps raise funds for a variety of research, education and management programs for non-game wildlife," said Ron Aasheim, FWP conservation education administrator. Marking this box automatically sets aside a tax-deductible contribution to the Watchable Wildlife fund administered by FWP.
(Wild Things - February 22, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering youth agricultural groups, like 4-H and Future Farmer of America, the opportunity to get involved in the state’s revamped upland game bird release and habitat enhancement programs. The programs can reimburse landowners and youth groups who attempt to enhance lands for upland game birds or to establish new upland game bird populations. Project lands must remain open to reasonable public hunting.
(Habitat - February 22, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds recreationists that all 2001 hunting and fishing licenses and Montana State Parks Passports expire at midnight on Thursday, February 28.  To fish or pursue any game animals during scheduled seasons from March 1 of this year through Feb. 28, 2003, hunters and anglers will need to have new 2002 licenses.
(Fishing - February 22, 2002)

The Private Land/Public Wildlife (PL/PW) Council will meet in Lewistown at the Yogo Inn, March 13-14, to discuss issues related to elk management, hunting access, and landowner incentives.  The sixteen-member Council of hunters, landowners, and outfitters appointed by the Governor, will meet Wednesday, March 13 from 6 - 8:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 14 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.  The public is invited to observe the meeting and participate in public comment sessions scheduled at 8:00 p.m.
(Hunting - February 22, 2002)

Montana’s 2002 bighorn sheep auction license went on the block at the annual convention for the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep in Reno, Nevada, on January 26.  The license went for the highest bid, $90,000.  FWP received $81,000 to bolster research efforts on bighorn sheep, as well as to supplement trapping and transplanting budgets. FNAWS keeps ten percent of the funds for administration and the Foundation’s own bighorn sheep management efforts.
(Habitat - February 22, 2002)

The first five days after the new Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks mandatory bear identification training and test was available on January 15, over 1,100 certificates were issued to hunters who successfully completed the test.  Today, nearly 15,000 certificates have been issued.  Of these, about 90 percent were the result of tests taken on the Internet and the remaining certificates were issued to hunters who mailed in their tests.  In 2001, FWP sold about 23,000 black bear licenses.
(Hunting - February 22, 2002)

Forty-eight individuals have been sentenced to take Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Remedial Hunter Education program following the suspension of their hunting privileges due to a hunting violation.  As a result of a law passed in 2001, a person who loses their privilege to hunt as the result of being convicted of a hunting violation must complete the course in order to buy a hunting license after the suspension expires.
(Hunting - February 22, 2002)

In anticipation of another drought year, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is providing a special funding opportunity for stream-flow enhancement projects through the Future Fisheries Improvement Project program. "As was the case last year, our mountain snow pack is presently below average throughout most of Montana, making it likely that we will be faced with a continuing drought and low stream flows during the upcoming summer," said Glenn Phillips, FWP habitat protection bureau chief.
(Fishing - February 22, 2002)

Many young Montanans, curious about becoming a wildlife biologist, gather their impressions from magazines, television, school counselors, or contacts with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks personnel.  As varied as these sources are, they only tell part of the story of what the profession of wildlife biology is really about. A career in wildlife biology is more than just a job.
(Wild Things - February 22, 2002)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southcentral Montana hunting district 510, which includes portions of Carbon County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, February 22, 2002. The order halting the hunt came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for the district had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - February 20, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on proposed rules regulating the use of snowmobiles on open, public water.  The proposed rules would close all public waters within the state to snowmobiles, while still allowing snowmobiles to cross or enter public water if the water is frozen or it is necessary to cross a small stream while traveling on snow.
(Headlines - February 13, 2002)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Feb. 20-21 in Helena at the FWP Headquarters building on 1420 East Sixth Ave.  The meetings will begin at 8 a.m.  On Wednesday, Feb.
(Headlines - February 11, 2002)

Wildlife photographers will tell you how difficult it is to photograph wolverine, mountain lion, or grizzly bear in the wild.  But with the "Manley System," researchers routinely take dramatic photos of these reclusive species. FWP Grizzly Bear Management Specialist Tim Manley developed the remote cam system for fun, at first, then modified it for use in wildlife studies.  Manley's original system consisted of a standard 35mm camera and a motion sensor that tripped the shutter.
(Wild Things - February 11, 2002)

A $425,000 plan to revitalize Chief Plenty Coups State Park will help bring the story of the Chief and the Crow culture alive for Montanans and visitors. "Public input will be an important part of planning these improvements," said Rich Furber, Plenty Coups State Parks manager.  Three public meetings: in Billings on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Billings FWP Regional Office, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive; at Crow Agency on Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. at Little Bighorn College; and Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
(Parks - February 08, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking landowners interested in releasing ring-necked pheasants in suitable habitats as part of Montana's revamped Upland Game Bird Release Program.  The program reimburses landowners who attempt to establish new pheasant populations on lands they open to reasonable public hunting.
(Habitat - February 08, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will share the results of fish population monitoring on Canyon Ferry, Hauser and Holter reservoirs and review the effectiveness of fisheries management decisions on these waters, Tuesday Feb. 12 from 7-9 p.m. at  FWP Headquarters, 1420 East Sixth Ave., in Helena. Data from 2001 fish population monitoring indicates a decline in rainbow trout and yellow perch and an increase in the number of walleye in Canyon Ferry.
(Headlines - February 08, 2002)

            The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on a proposal that specifically defines "landowner" for recreational floating of the Smith River. The definition will be used to allow specific landowners to float the Smith River for recreation.
(Headlines - February 08, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Foundation has raised $600,000 in the past two years. "Our mission to preserve the magic of Montana continues to draw the interest and commitment of individuals and foundations," said Spence Hegstad, the Foundation’s FWP liaison.  The MFWP Foundation seeks to support important work benefiting Montana's fish, wildlife, parks and natural habitats not funded in traditional ways such as by sportsmen and women’s license fees.
(Headlines - February 08, 2002)

In anticipation of another drought year, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is providing a special funding opportunity for stream-flow enhancement projects through the Future Fisheries Improvement Project program.
(Headlines - February 08, 2002)

The hunting of male mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 370 and 380, which include portions of Broadwater, Jefferson and Lewis and Clark counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, February 6, 2002. 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. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - February 05, 2002)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for trapping and shooting of bobcats in Trapping District 2 in western Montana will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, February 6, 2002. The district includes portions of Deer Lodge, Granite, Lewis and Clark, Mineral, Missoula, Powell and Ravalli counties. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Headlines - February 04, 2002)