The Private Land/Public Wildlife Council, a committee of landowners, hunters, and outfitters appointed by Governor Judy Martz to address hunting access issues, is seeking public comment on a proposal to create new nonresident elk licenses.
(Hunting - September 25, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on the proposed annual rule that will set the prices for outfitter-sponsored nonresident elk and deer hunting licenses in 2003. Commissioners tentatively adopted the rule in September. Oct. 28 is the deadline for public comment. The proposed license fees for both the outfitter sponsored big game and the elk combination licenses would go down by $50.
(Hunting - September 25, 2002)

An error at the beginning of page 55 in the 2002 Big Game Hunting Regulations contains the wrong opening date for the General Deer "A" license in Hunting District 330 in the Bozeman area, FWP Region 3. The correct opening date is October 27.
(Hunting - September 13, 2002)

Chronic wasting disease is a rare neurological disease that is fatal to deer and elk. It belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases. The disease attacks the brains of infected deer and elk, causing the animals to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lose bodily functions and die. CWD hasn't been found in any of Montana's wild deer or elk. Visit FWP's CWD web pages at http://www.fwp.state.mt.us/hunting/cwd.
(Hunting - September 12, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission ordered a bag limit reduction to begin Sept. 16 on Clark Canyon Reservoir due to low water. The Clark Canyon trout daily and possession limit will be reduced from five fish to two fish, and the burbot (ling) daily and possession limit will be reduced from ten fish to two fish. The bag limit reduction order will remain in effect until the general fishing season opener on the third Saturday of May, 2003.
(Fishing - September 11, 2002)

The Swift Fox Conservation Team's annual meeting is set for Sept. 23-24, at the Bismarck Radisson Hotel, 800 South 3 rd Street, in Bismarck, North Dakota. The team will discuss a project to determine swift fox habitat preferences and to identify new areas for expanding the animal's range. The public may attend the meeting. "Work by the conservation team to investigate the status of the species was rewarded in 2001 when the U.S.
(Headlines - September 06, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Hunter Education Program and its volunteer instructors remind all hunters of the three basic rules of gun safety: 1) Always point any shooting device in a safe direction 2) Be sure of your target and what is beyond and 3) Treat every gun as if it were loaded Hunting is a very safe activity. It is up to each hunter to make responsible decisions to keep it that way.
(Hunting - September 06, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently adopted the 2002-2003 regulations for waterfowl. Changes in the upcoming seasons include an additional week of dark goose (Canada geese) hunting in the Pacific Flyway, the closure of the canvasback season in both the Pacific and the Central flyways, and a shortened season for pintails in the Pacific and Central flyways. Under the federal framework approved by the U.S.
(Hunting - September 06, 2002)

There is nothing like a good hunting dog. That is why FWP is hosting a hunting dog photo contest, simply as an excuse to share the pleasure of a good dog. Here's how to enter—pick your favorite photo of your hunting dog, or take a new photo this fall. Photos must be received by FWP no later than Oct. 31. Write your name, full address and phone number on a yellow sticky note, the dog's name, breed if known, dog's age, what it hunts and the location and year the photo was taken.
(Hunting - September 06, 2002)

Bear identification is not for black bear hunters alone these days. With grizzly bear numbers growing and populations expanding, more upland bird, deer and elk hunters are interested in being able to distinguish a grizzly from a black bear. That's where Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Black Bear Identification training program on the Internet comes in handy. The bear identification program at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Wild Things - September 06, 2002)

The draft report of the Montana State Parks Futures II Committee, appointed by Governor Judy Martz, is available for public review and comment through Sept. 20. The public will also have an opportunity to comment during a simulcast public meeting linking eight sites around the state via satellite on Sept. 11 from 7-9 p.m.
(Headlines - September 06, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment from individuals concerned with the potential effects of importing exotic wildlife or who may be commercially or personally affected if the regulations on the import of exotic animals are strengthened.
(Wild Things - September 06, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will co-sponsor the 2002 Waterfowl Days for youth at the Sun River Skeet Club in Great Falls, Sept. 14-15, 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. each day. The two, day-long workshops are for youth 12-15 years of age who have successfully completed a Montana Hunter Education course and who have all the proper waterfowl hunting licenses and written permission from a parent or guardian. Youth from around the state are welcome.
(Hunting - September 06, 2002)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks extended the deadline to purchase mountain lion and fall black bear hunting licenses. The new deadline is Saturday, Sept. 7. The extension comes as a customer-service response to some computer problems experienced on Aug. 31, the day of the original deadlines.
(Hunting - September 04, 2002)

Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Sept. 11 in Helena at the FWP Headquarters building on 1420 East Sixth Ave. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m.
(Headlines - September 03, 2002)

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission revised a rule last week to allow antelope hunters who were awarded a doe/fawn permit through the recent special license drawing to apply for a surplus doe/fawn license. "The rule was revised to allow any antelope hunter the opportunity to apply for one of these surplus doe/fawn licenses," said Don Childress, FWP's Wildlife Division administrator.
(Hunting - September 03, 2002)