Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet Feb. 12, in Helena at the FWP Headquarters building on 1420 East Sixth Ave.    The meeting will begin at 8 a.m.
(Headlines - January 30, 2004)

Winter in Montana means blizzards, ice fishing and visions of a summer float on the Smith River. To make that dream come true, complete a 2004 float permit application.   Applications may be printed from the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks web site at www.fwp.state.mt.us under Parks & Recreation, or processed while you wait at an FWP office thanks to FWP’s new automated licensing system.
(Headlines - January 30, 2004)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 310, 311, 360, 361 and 362, which include portions of Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson and Broadwater counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, January 30, 2004. 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.
(Hunting - January 28, 2004)

The hunting of female mountain lions during the fall season in western Montana hunting districts 213 and 214, in portions of Granite, Powell and Deer Lodge counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 26, 2004. 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.
(Hunting - January 26, 2004)

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 Monday, January 26, 2004.    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.   For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 26, 2004)

With the number of fatal snowmobile accidents last winter down significantly, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Trails Program Specialist Ray Paige urges snowmobile riders to continue taking a cautious approach to the sport. "Two years ago, the tragic deaths of 13 snowmobile riders motivated many riders to make safety a priority," Paige said. "We’re seeing the benefit of this increased caution and that is good.
(Parks - January 23, 2004)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ annual survey of Montana’s big and small game hunters will begin the end of January. Wildlife managers will use information collected during the survey to estimate the 2003 harvest and to recommend quotas for upcoming hunting seasons. According to FWP research specialist Candy Hinz, about 80,000 Montana households will be contacted over a four-to-six week period.
(Hunting - January 23, 2004)

Cities, towns and counties can now apply to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for grants of up to $35,000 for improvements at motorboat recreation facilities. A total of $150,000 in grant money is available. The funds can be used to help construct boat ramps, launching facilities, on-site latrines, boat trailer parking areas, boating facility access roads, boat docks, and facility improvements for disabled motor boat users.
(Parks - January 23, 2004)

It’s easy to be skeptical about checking a box on your income tax form to “automatically” make a contribution to Montana’s nongame wildlife. Does the money get where it needs to go, does anyone appreciate your generosity? When it comes to Montana’s nongame wildlife program income tax check off, the answer is a resounding yes.   Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc.
(Headlines - January 23, 2004)

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 Friday, January 23, 2004. 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 www.fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 21, 2004)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for trapping otters in Trapping District 3 in western Montana will close one-half hour after sunset on Friday, January 23, 2004. The district includes portions of Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, Madison, Meagher, Park and Silver Bow counties. For more information visit FWP's web site at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 21, 2004)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 210, which include portions of Missoula and Granite counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 17, 2004.   The order halting the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met.   For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 16, 2004)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana Hunting District 240, in portions of Missoula and Ravalli County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Monday, January 12, 2004. The order halting the hunts came after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for the district had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 12, 2004)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for trapping and hunting bobcats in Trapping District 4 in north central Montana will close one-half hour after sunset Wednesday, January 14, 2004. The district includes portions of Hill, Glacier, Chouteau, Toole, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, Cascade, Lewis and Clark, Meagher, Park, Judith Basin, Fergus, and Petroleum counties. For more information visit FWP's web site at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 12, 2004)

Montanans have a new reason to celebrate the New Year—free entry into all 42 State Parks. "Now your Montana license plate is your pass to all 42 State Parks," said Doug Monger, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Parks Division administrator.  The 2003 Montana State Legislature combined free parks entry with a $4 annual vehicle registration fee to enhance funding for Montana State Parks, beginning with 2004 vehicle registrations.
(Parks - January 09, 2004)

Montana’s Future Fisheries review panel will meet in Helena, on Friday, Jan. 23, at 8:30 a.m., at the Jorgenson’s Restaurant banquet room, 1720 11 th Ave. At the meeting, panel members will discuss 34 project applications requesting more than $900,000 in program funding. The Future Fisheries review panel evaluates lake and stream restoration proposals and recommends projects to the FWP Commission for funding.  Since 1995, the Future Fisheries Improvement Program has committed $6.
(Fishing - January 09, 2004)

Waterfowl hunters are reminded that hunting season for ducks and geese in the Pacific flyway closes Jan. 16. The season in the Central flyway for ducks and tundra swan closes Jan. 8, and hunting for geese in the Central flyway closes Jan. 16.
(Hunting - January 09, 2004)

Trapper education classes are scheduled Jan. 24 in Billings and Feb. 14 in Missoula. The classes, conducted by the Montana Trappers Association and sponsored by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, cover trapping regulations, ethics, safety, furbearer identification, equipment and trap setting. The Billings class will be held at FWP, 2300 Lake Elmo Dr. and the Missoula class will be held at FWP, 3201 Spurgin Rd.   FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with a disability.
(Headlines - January 09, 2004)

Look for our national symbol among the lines and boxes on your 2003 Montana income tax return form.  The soaring bald eagle marks where you can make a tax-deductible contribution to Montana’s nongame wildlife programs and help support wildlife viewing. Montana's nongame wildlife species are highly "watchable,” including hawks, owls, loons, frogs, raccoons, and birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, and finches—among many other species.
(Headlines - January 09, 2004)

With winter comes the ice on many Montana lakes and reservoirs, tempting winter anglers to ice fish.  Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks cautions ice anglers that the build up of ice is not a predictable or dependable process.  Even as ice firms up, it tends to melt as temperatures fluctuate. That means ice that was safe yesterday can become a death trap by tomorrow.   Whatever the weather, it's best to test ice before venturing onto it.
(Fishing - January 09, 2004)

Snowmobile riders and others who use winter trails regularly tend to be optimistic that their winter trail use doesn’t have a significant impact on wildlife. But hoping and knowing are two different things.   “A couple of years ago a group of wildlife biologists and others made the commitment to compile all the information available on the impacts of recreation on wildlife,” said Heidi Youmans, a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist.
(Headlines - January 09, 2004)

Avalanche danger begins with major snowstorms and wind, creating successive layers of snow pack. But the experts say most avalanches are actually triggered by humans rather than by natural causes. “Now is the time for snowmobile riders and other high-country trail users to start preparing for the avalanche season,” said Ray Paige, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks trails program specialist.
(Headlines - January 09, 2004)

The hunting of male mountain lions in northcentral Montana hunting districts 411 and 412, in portions of Golden Valley, Fergus, and Judith Basin counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, January 6, 2004.   The order halting the hunt came shortly after 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 - January 05, 2004)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 300, 302, 328 and 329, in portions of Beaverhead County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, January 2, 2004. 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. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 02, 2004)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 5 in southcentral Montana will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, January 4, 2003. The district includes portions of Fergus, Golden Valley, Meagher, Musselshell, Petroleum, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Wheatland, Park, Yellowstone, Big Horn, Carbon and Treasure counties. For more information visit FWP's web site at www.fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 02, 2004)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 340, which includes portions of Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 3, 2004.    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 had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.
(Hunting - January 02, 2004)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 283 and 285, which include portions of Missoula and Powell counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, January 3, 2004.   The order halting the hunt came shortly after 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 - January 02, 2004)

The hunting of female mountain lions in north-central Montana hunting districts 422, 423, 424, 425 and 442, in portions of Lewis and Clark and Teton counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, January 4, 2004.   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.
(Hunting - January 02, 2004)