The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting district 110, which includes portions of Flathead and Lincoln counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 31, 2005.
(Hunting - December 30, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana Hunting District 120, which includes portions of Flathead and Lake counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, January 1, 2006.
(Hunting - December 30, 2005)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 3 in southwestern Montana will close at midnight on Wednesday, January 4, 2006.
(Hunting - December 30, 2005)

A deer game damage hunt will take place near Choteau in Teton County. From Jan. 8 through Feb. 15, hunters will be able to take antlerless mule deer and white-tailed deer in a portion of hunting districts 404 and 450
(Headlines - December 29, 2005)

Tentative hunting regulations, approved by the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission earlier this month, will be the subject of eleven public meetings around west-central Montana’s Region 2 in January. Public comments will be weighed as the Commission finalizes Montana’s 2006 hunting regulations in February.
(Headlines - December 29, 2005)

After a long analysis and public comment period, Motana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region One, has decided to stock tiger muskies in Horseshoe Lake west of Kalispell.  The major purpose of the project is to create a trophy fishery in the lake for tiger muskies. FWP Region One Supervisor Jim Satterfield noted that the proposal received a lot of scrutiny and review, as well as many comments from the public.
(Fishing - December 28, 2005)

Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking comment on a proposal to consolidate most elk hunting opportunities within Montana's traditional five-week general hunting season to bring the state's growing elk populations in line with management targets.
(Hunting - December 28, 2005)

Montana's   Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on several important tentative proposals for the 2006 big game hunting seasons.
(Headlines - December 28, 2005)

Montana's Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission is seeking public comment on the tentative 2006 big game hunting season and quota changes for elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, antelope, black bear and turkey. Generally, the proposed changes simplify the regulations and help implement a general five-week hunting season for elk and deer.
(Headlines - December 28, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on proposed rules to guide a new hunting license lottery that would enable hunters to buy chances to draw a license for one species—deer, elk, moose, mountain sheep or mountain goat license.
(Headlines - December 28, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks today reminded cities, towns and counties, school districts, Indian tribes and others applying for public facility improvement grants from the Land & Water Conservation Fund and the Motor Boat Facility Fund that environmental reviews should be completed and public comment on the projects gathered in the coming weeks.
(Parks - December 28, 2005)

Fans of the popular Smith River float can pick up their applications beginning Jan. 3. The Smith River float annually attracts about 3,500 applicants for approximately 700 float permits.
(Parks - December 28, 2005)

The Montana Discovery Foundation and the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Becoming an Outdoors Woman program are sponsoring a snowshoe class on Jan. 28 at the historic Forest Service Moose Creek ranger cabin near Rimini.
(Headlines - December 28, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will hold a series of public meetings in January and February as the first step in developing rules that would govern the commercial use of lands and waters managed by FWP. "We need to be consistent in responding to a wide variety of proposals and then we have to be prepared to manage commercial use when it is approved," said Charlie Sperry, FWP recreation management specialist.
(Headlines - December 28, 2005)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks has set meeting dates in north central Montana to discuss the tentative 2006 big game hunting regulations.
(Headlines - December 27, 2005)

Big-game hunters are invited to attend one of four public meetings held in January around northeast and north-central Montana to discuss 2006 tentative regulations.
(Headlines - December 24, 2005)

Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comments on a proposal to hold a benefit ice-fishing contest Feb. 4 on Fort Peck Lake.
(Headlines - December 22, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 3 will hold a series of public meetings on the 2006 big game season tentatives beginning January 5, 2006.
(Headlines - December 22, 2005)

By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission the season for all hunting of bobcats in Trapping District 1 in northwestern Montana will close at midnight on Friday, December 23, 2005. The district includes portions of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Lewis & Clark, Missoula, Powell and Sanders counties. For more information visit FWP's web site at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 21, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks invites the public to comment on a draft environmental assessment for implementation of a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for fluvial Arctic grayling in the upper Big Hole River.
(Headlines - December 21, 2005)

The hunting of all 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 Wednesday, December 21, 2005. The closure notice for 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.mt.
(Hunting - December 20, 2005)

Several different occurances of illegal hunting activities have taken place in the Broadus area this hunting season. The following incidents are described in some detail in an effort to gain cooperation from the public toward the apprehension of those responsible for the unethical and illegal activity.
(Hunting - December 19, 2005)

The hunting of female mountain lions during the fall season in southwestern Montana hunting districts 319 and 341, in portions of Silver Bow and Deer Lodge counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 20, 2005. The closure notice for 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.mt.
(Hunting - December 19, 2005)

The hunting of all female mountain lions in Montana hunting district 301, which includes portions of Gallatin and Park counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 20, 2005. The closure notice for 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.mt.
(Hunting - December 19, 2005)

The popular Greycliff Fishing Access Site on the lower Madison River will be closed to all nighttime activities, including overnight camping, between the hours of 9 p.m. and. 6 a.m. beginning January 1, 2006. The closure will remain in effect from January 1 of each year through the Thursday before Memorial Day.
(Headlines - December 19, 2005)

Fifty young hunters harvested their 2005 big game animal with a single shot, to be counted among Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' first "One Shot Hunters." "We created the One-Shot Hunter program to emphasize good hunting skills," said Thomas Baumeister, chief of FWP's education bureau in Helena.
(Headlines - December 16, 2005)

Trappers in Montana will need an above average sense of direction this year to properly report their furbearer harvest. For years trappers have been required to personally report the harvest of otter, bobcat, fisher and wolverine within 24-hours by calling 800-230-9865. This season, for the first time, trappers also are required to include an accurate legal description of the location where the furbearer was harvested. The harvest report can't be completed without this information.
(Hunting - December 16, 2005)

Most upland game bird hunting seasons will close soon.
(Hunting - December 16, 2005)

Snowmobile riders who relish playing in new snow have already had some great weekends this season, but experienced riders know deep early snows and mild weather provide the base for a potentially dangerous avalanche season. Terrain, weather and the amount of snow-pack combine to create avalanche conditions. Once these conditions exist, human activity is the most frequent trigger of an avalanche.
(Headlines - December 16, 2005)

Snowmobilers have had some good snow and fine weather to enjoy their sport in December. That was the free ride. Now that there is snow-pack in the higher elevations, the state is moving into avalanche season. Avalanches are more likely to occur during or after a snowstorm.
(Headlines - December 16, 2005)

Nonresidents riding their snowmobiles in Montana must purchase a  $15 snowmobile use permit per machine to support the grooming of Montana snowmobile trails. More than 80 percent of the revenue collected is used to groom snowmobile trails.
(Parks - December 16, 2005)

The nationally known Northern Yellowstone elk herd, numbering about 9,500 animals, is notably smaller, about half the size it was in the mid-1990's. Wildlife managers recently learned that its members are notably older, too. Elk incisor teeth, collected from past harvests and analyzed for age, indicate that for the first time, 50 percent of the population is nine or more years old. That makes it an exceptionally old elk population compared to others in the state.
(Headlines - December 16, 2005)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215, which includes portions of Granite, Powell, Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 17, 2005. The hunting of ALL mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215 will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, December 18, 2005.
(Hunting - December 16, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 320 & 333, which include portions of Madison, Silver Bow, Gallatin and Jefferson counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 17, 2005. The closure notice for 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 website at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 16, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 280, 281, 284 and 293, which includes portions of Powell and Lewis & Clark counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, December 18, 2005. The closure notice for 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 website at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 16, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 322, 326 & 330, which include portions of Beaverhead and Madison counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Friday, December 16, 2005.   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 Friday, December 16, 2005.
(Hunting - December 15, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking for the public’s help with the investigation of a moose cow and calf killed on private land south of Whitehall near the Kountz Bridge on the Jefferson River.
(Headlines - December 13, 2005)

By order of the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking fisher in Trapping District 2 of western Montana will close at midnight on Thursday, December 15, 2005.
(Hunting - December 13, 2005)

By order of the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission, the season for taking fisher in Trapping District 1 of northwestern Montana will close at midnight Friday, December 16, 2005.
(Hunting - December 13, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana Hunting District 121, which includes a portion of Sanders County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, December 11, 2005. The closure notice for 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.mt.
(Hunting - December 12, 2005)

The hunting of male 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 Tuesday, December 13, 2005.   The closure notice for 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.mt.
(Hunting - December 12, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services invite the public to submit comments on a draft environmental assessment for Phases II and III of a Bison Quarantine Feasibility Study.
(Headlines - December 12, 2005)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 317, which includes portions of Park County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 8, 2005. The closure notice for 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 website at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 07, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 202 and 203, which includes portions of Mineral and Missoula counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 8, 2005. The closure notice for the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for these districts combined had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 07, 2005)

Montana’s boating registration law has changed again. Before launching next year, Montana boaters will need to have two new decals on their motorboats, sailboats or personal watercraft. That’s because the permanent water vessel registration law that went into effect in 2003 did not comply with a federal statute that limits the length of registration period to three years.
(Headlines - December 06, 2005)

Trappers are required to personally report the harvest of otter, bobcat, fisher and wolverine within 24-hours by calling 800-230-9865. Beginning this season they will also be required to include in that report an accurate legal description of the location where the furbearer was harvested. The harvest report can't be completed without this information.
(Headlines - December 06, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 331, which includes portions of Beaverhead, Silver Bow and Madison counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, December 7, 2005.
(Hunting - December 06, 2005)

The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 202 and 203, which includes portions of Mineral and Missoula counties, will close one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, December 8, 2005. The closure notice for the hunt came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quota for these districts combined had been met. For more information, visit FWP's web site at www.fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 06, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in several northwestern Montana hunting districts will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. HD 100, 102, 103, 104, 123, 130
(Hunting - December 05, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana Hunting District 122, which includes portions of Flathead, Sanders and Lincoln counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, December 4, 2005.
(Hunting - December 05, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in several western Montana hunting districts will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. The hunting districts are: 200, 201, 204, 260, 261, 240, 250, 290, 291, 292.
(Hunting - December 05, 2005)

The hunting of female mountain lions in several southwestern Montana hunting districts will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 6, 2005. The hunting districts are: 331, 320 & 333, 323, 324, 325 & 327, 370 & 380.
(Hunting - December 05, 2005)

The hunting of female mountain lions in central Montana Hunting District 422, which includes portions of Lewis & Clark County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, December 6, 2005.
(Hunting - December 05, 2005)

    Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds Montana anglers that the state's general fishing season on most streams and smaller rivers closed on Nov. 30.
(Fishing - December 02, 2005)

Award-winning outdoor news, documentaries, and educational videos are among the latest online offerings from Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks' website. With the latest video streaming technology, FWP can offer links to it's popular "Outdoor Reports," and recent documentaries like "Owning Eden" and "No Need for a Saturday Night." Teachers, hunters, landowners, and others can visit FWP's Video Library web page at fwp.mt.gov/education/video .
(Headlines - December 02, 2005)

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on fishing contests proposed for the open water season of 2006. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Most contests require catch-and-release fishing and participants in these contests may not keep any fish. Applications for contests may be approved, denied or approved with conditions.
(Fishing - December 02, 2005)

Every winter as Montanans store hiking boots and pack away rifles and shotguns for the season, about 80 telephone interviewers take to the phones to interview hunters about their luck in the hunt. Moose, sheep and goat hunters will be getting calls in December.
(Hunting - December 02, 2005)

A trapper education class will be offered in Miles City, Saturday, Dec. 10 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Miles City Community College.  The class, sponsored by the Montana Trappers Association, will include furbearer identification, regulations, safety, ethics, trapping techniques, equipment, demonstrations and fur handling.
(Hunting - December 02, 2005)

If you are a family member, friend or spouse of a Montana hunter you may have noticed them exhibiting signs of the post-hunting season blues. One sure way to reverse this common mood slide is a holiday gift that will help the hunter prepare for future hunts.
(Headlines - December 02, 2005)

The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana Hunting Districts 320 & 333,   which include portions of Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson and Silverbow counties, remains open. The notice to close the hunt was rescinded after Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials determined that the female quota had not been met, as previously reported.   For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 02, 2005)

The hunting of all mountain lions in northwestern Montana hunting district 101, which includes portions of Lincoln and Flathead counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 3, 2005. The closure notice came shortly after Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest quota for lions in this district had been met.   For more information, visit FWP's web site at fwp.mt.
(Hunting - December 02, 2005)

The hunting of male mountain lions in western Montana Hunting District 270, which includes a portion of Ravalli County, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Saturday, December 3, 2005. The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana Hunting Districts 283 and 285, which include a portion of Missoula and Powell counties, will close at one-half hour after sunset on Sunday, December 4, 2005.
(Hunting - December 02, 2005)

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 Sunday, December 4, 2005. The closure notice for 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.
(Hunting - December 02, 2005)

Results at the six northwest Montana check stations indicated that the 2005 big game season ended on a strong note. Hunter numbers were 24,843, the highest on record.
(Headlines - December 01, 2005)

State, Federal and Tribal authorities are seeking information on three wolf mortalities. State wardens are seekin information on elk poaching cases.
(Headlines - December 01, 2005)