Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet May 8-9 in Helena at the FWP headquarters, 1420 East Sixth Ave, beginning at 8 a.m. both days. May 8 will be a work session review of mountain lion research; the furbearer program; FWP youth programs and the FWP drought fishing closure policy.
(Inside FWP - April 29, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced two corrections to the 2002 Moose, Sheep and Goat Hunting Regulations today. On the Moose Hunting District Map on page 23 of the regulations, the boundary for Moose Hunting District 308 should extend to the area north of Moose Hunting District 306. Also in the Moose, Sheep and Goat Hunting Regulations the legal description for Sheep Hunting District 340 mistakenly indicates the district is closed.
(Hunting - April 25, 2002)

Spring horn hunters should remember that April and May is a critical time for wildlife still struggling to make the seasonal transition from winter to spring. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Warden Sergeant Mark Anderson of Bozeman reminds horn hunters that unnecessary activities on winter game ranges create hardship for deer and elk. "Horn hunting often moves animals off of game ranges and causes excessive use of their winter energy reserves," Anderson said.
(Hunting - April 25, 2002)

First place in the Montana State Parks Poster Contest went to Chris Peck, Lewis & Clark School in Great Falls. The theme for the contest, which is sponsored by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, was "Montana State Parks, A Symbol of Freedom, Hope and Inspiration." It was a challenging theme for the fifth grade artists, but the judges had a difficult time narrowing the entries down to four top winners.
(Headlines - April 19, 2002)

April is the month that grizzly and black bears wake from hibernation and move out of their dens. FWP Region 3 bear manager in Bozeman Kevin Frey said there are reports of black bears near Gardiner, West Yellowstone, Gallatin Canyon and in Yellowstone National Park and some grizzly bears are showing up in the lower elevations.
(Wild Things - April 19, 2002)

Elk hunters hoping to team up with a friend or relative to obtain one of Montana's elk-hunting permits are reminded that "party" applications for elk are limited to no more than two persons. An error on the Montana's 2002 resident deer, elk and antelope application suggests that five persons may apply as a party. Application deadline is June 1 for Montana’s special deer, elk, and antelope permits and licenses.
(Hunting - April 19, 2002)

Hunters seeking to enter this year's Bonus Point System for one of Montana's coveted moose, bighorn sheep or mountain goat licenses should check mark the "Yes" box on the license-drawing application to participate. Now in its second year, bonus points for Montana's moose, sheep and goat license application can be used to increase one's chance to receive a license this year.
(Hunting - April 19, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is a partner in a new Internet outreach program to schools and individuals called "Missouri River Adopt-A-Fish." The program is designed to help youngsters better understand native fish species and the waters where they live. State and federal fisheries biologists have surgically implanted small radio transmitters in native fish in the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam.
(Education - April 19, 2002)

Montana's wetlands are gaining new prominence through the Montana Wetlands Legacy Project. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Wetlands Legacy Coordinator, Tom Hinz, along with Marc Jones and Allan Cox of the Natural Resource Information System (NRIS) Montana Natural Heritage Program, will present an overview of the Montana Wetlands Legacy Project Friday, April 26 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the conference room of the Montana State Library at 1515 East Sixth Ave. in Helena.
(Habitat - April 19, 2002)

Montana State Parks open for camping on May 1. Campers may purchase a State Parks Passport for $24 for the first vehicle and $15 for the second vehicle. For visitors without a Montana State Parks Passport, the daily entrance fee is $4 per car or $1 per person walking into the park. Many parks have self-pay stations. Parks fees contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the parks.
(Headlines - April 19, 2002)

Big game hunters who plan to submit applications for special permits to hunt moose, sheep and goat need to submit those applications to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in Helena, by Wednesday, May 1. The deadline for applications for deer, elk and antelope is June 1. Big game regulations and applications for special permits are available at all FWP offices and license agents statewide, and on the Internet at fwp.state.mt.us under Hunting.
(Hunting - April 19, 2002)

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, southeast of Cardwell, will open May 1 for visitor tours. Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park consists of nearly 2,800 acres and is administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. In addition to the underground tour, the park provides camping and other above ground experiences. Two-hour tours of the caverns are conducted seven days a week from May through September. Tour fees are $8 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 11 years old.
(Headlines - April 19, 2002)

Twenty-five outrageously wild women, ages 26 to 80 something, gathered in the woods of Montana recently for Outdoors 101, with classes in cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and ice fishing as well as wildlife in the winter, care and cooking of wild game and furs from field to the fedora. Nine instructors helped us leap outside the boxes of our everyday lives into Montana's breathtaking winter woods.
(Education - April 19, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks announced today that FWP will extend the deadline to purchase a spring Black Bear Hunting License to April 21. Black Bear Hunting Licenses purchased after April 21 will be valid for the fall black bear season. The extension comes after two days of technical problems with the new automated licensing system.
(Hunting - April 12, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks bear managers report bears in Montana are emerging from hibernation. Kevin Frey, FWP Region 3 bear manager in the Bozeman area, has seen grizzly tracks in the upper elevations and reports a number of grizzly bear sightings near Yellowstone National Park in high valley locations.
(Wild Things - April 11, 2002)

Buy your fishing and hunting licenses early and come with a bit of patience this spring, say Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials. Come early, be patient, and allow a little extra time. That is the best way to weather any bugs that crop up in our transition from an all paper licensing system to an automated system (ALS)," said Ron Aasheim, FWP Conservation Education administrator.
(Headlines - April 10, 2002)

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet in Glasgow April 17-18 at the Cottonwood Inn on U.S. Highway 2E. The Commission will tour various sites within FWP Region 6 on April 17 and will hold a public open house at 7 p.m. at the Cottonwood Inn. The tour will include the walleye spawn at Ft. Peck Reservoir and some Block Management Areas. On April 18 the Commission meeting will begin at 8 a.m.
(Inside FWP - April 09, 2002)

The Montana Bowhunters Association, in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, will conduct its fourth annual Discover The Outdoors Camp for single-parent families June 28, 29 & 30. The camp is provided free of charge to parent-child pairs that will be selected to attend. The camp is designed for youth 11-15 years of age and their single parent or guardian to provide them with the opportunity to try different outdoor skills.
(Education - April 05, 2002)

As the landowner walks with the FWP biologist across the pasture, he tells the state man about the rainbow trout he remembers as a kid, swimming up the stream to spawn in a gravel bed. "That was before my uncle straightened the stream," he says. "After that, maybe the water was just too fast for 'em." The biologist sees stream problems often and tells the landowner about a possible solution. The Future Fisheries Improvement Program.
(Fishing - April 05, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds black bear hunters that applications for a spring black bear license must be postmarked on April 13. Or, spring black bear licenses may be purchased at license providers through Sunday, April 14. Black bear hunting licenses purchased after April 14 cannot be used until the fall black bear hunting season. Hunters may hold only one black bear license per license year.
(Hunting - April 05, 2002)

Charlie Sperry, the past Director of Operations for the Henry’s Fork Foundation in Idaho, is the new Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Recreation Management Specialist. Sperry will direct the public participation and issues analysis needed to manage the recreational use of state waters. Sperry will be a member of the FWP Director’s staff in Helena, and will work closely with the FWP Fisheries and State Parks Divisions.
(Inside FWP - April 05, 2002)

Montana State Parks open for camping on May 1. Campers may purchase a State Parks Passport for $24 for the first vehicle and $15 for the second vehicle. The Passport permits entry of the vehicle and all the occupants into a park area and provides a $4 discount on any camping fees. Visitors without a State Parks Passport pay a daily entrance fee of $4 per car or $1-$2 dollars per person walking into the park. Many parks have self-pay stations.
(Headlines - April 05, 2002)

Over $316,000 in funding was approved by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park Commission in September for 22 Montana Future Fisheries Improvement Program projects. This funding will be matched by over $520,000 from outside sources. The Commission makes final decisions on funding requests after a 13-member citizen panel reviews proposals and submits funding recommendations for their consideration.
(Fishing - April 05, 2002)

New fishing contest rules adopted by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will go into effect April 12. Under the new rules, fishing contests with fewer than 30 people and cash prizes or merchandise worth $500 or less do not require a permit from FWP. These contests must meet all other fishing contest rules. Applications for open water fishing contests must be in to FWP between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. Applications will be processed and a decision made no later than Feb. 1.
(Fishing - April 05, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will administer the Local Government Boating Improvement Program, a new grant program that will enable qualifying local Montana communities to improve public boating sites. Grant applications are due June 14 for the $150,000 in initial funding. Grant funds will help to make improvements at local government owned or operated public boating sites.
(Headlines - April 05, 2002)

Women interested in archery hunting this fall or in learning more about bow hunting are invited to attend a weekend Bowhunter Education class for adult women June 21 – 23. The class will cover handling archery equipment safely, wildlife conservation, tree-stand safety, laws, ethics and sportsmanship.
(Education - April 05, 2002)

Learn backpacking in the beautiful Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains. The Montana Becoming an Outdoors Woman program has teamed up with Voyageur Outward Bound School (VOBS) to offer a 5-day backpacking adventure designed for women. The class begins in Red Lodge and runs June 26-30. The journey begins in lowland foothills, at about 6,000 feet, and then ascends mountain canyons to the high alpine plateaus above tree line.
(Education - April 05, 2002)