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Glasgow ̶ Paddlefish anglers planning to harvest a fish in the Upper Missouri River (between Fort Peck Dam and Fort Benton) need to apply for an Upper Missouri River paddlefish tag by 5 p.m. on Friday, March 22. For 2024, a total of 1,000 tags are available for the drawing. A 2024 fishing license is necessary before applying, and applications can be submitted online at fwp.mt.gov or at an FWP office. Anglers have the option to apply individually or as a party (up to five people) and have the option to purchase a bonus point at the time of...
Helena – If you’re interested in providing input on how Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is crafting fishing regulations for the next two years, now is your chance. FWP is taking public comment and asking for ideas on initial proposals for the 2025-2026 Fishing Regulations. The initial 64 proposals are online now and available for review and comment. Just go to fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/fishing-regulations. FWP is also looking for ideas for regulation changes that aren’t captured in these initial proposals. To answer quest...
HELENA – Landowners have until March 15 to apply for Unlocking Public Lands (UPL) Program or the Public Access Land Agreement (PALA) Program. These programs are designed to provide public access to state or federal land where access is either limited or doesn’t exist. For enrollment in UPL, landowners will receive an income tax credit in the amount of $750 per agreement and up to a maximum of $3,000 in tax credits in exchange for allowing access across the private lands via roads or trails to reach inaccessible public land. Landowners must ho...
FWP regional staff will hold virtual meetings across the state to discuss potential hunting regulation changes for 2022 and 2023. These meetings will be held via Zoom and allow the public to hear directly from FWP staff and ask questions about the proposed changes. The potential hunting regulation changes are available online for the public to review. The potential changes are coming now during the normal biennial season setting year to help make Montana’s hunting regulations simpler and easier to understand. Over the last several weeks, FWP b...
As the summer heats up, boaters, floaters and swimmers are hitting the water to cool down. Montana’s many rivers, lakes and reservoirs offer fun recreational opportunities like swimming, boating and floating, but it’s important to remember to be safe while enjoying the water. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury/death for people of all ages, and that potentially, half of all boating deaths could be prevented with the use of life jackets. The CDC also states tha...
With the ongoing drought and fire danger, 19 Block Management Program cooperators in Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 7 have restricted or closed access to their land until fire conditions improve. The most updated list is available below, or people may visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov to check for any possible additional closures or changes to existing restrictions. Click on Hunting, then Block Management, then under the various regions to track closures. "You may experience additional...
Apprentice hunters, 10-17 years of age, will have the opportunity to obtain a certification to participate in several Montana hunting seasons later this summer. Apprentice hunters will be required to be accompanied by an adult mentor. The Fish & Wildlife Commission is only seeking comment on the proposed rule that defines the completion of hunter education; establishes the process for designating and identifying a mentor; and defines certain mentor responsibilities. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will conduct a public hearing on the proposed...
BILLINGS — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has lifted its consumption advisory for fish caught on the Yellowstone River near where an oil pipeline broke west of Glendive. On Jan. 17, 2015, the Bridger pipeline broke where it crossed the Yellowstone River upstream from Glendive, dumping 30,000 gallons of crude oil into the water. FWP advised anglers to use caution when deciding whether to eat fish caught downstream from the spill until biologists could test for petroleum in the edible muscle tissues. Sampling for contaminated fish – as well as...
Mule deer numbers have experienced recent declines in many areas of Montana but should be improving with favorable weather and habitat conditions in 2014. Recent seasonal insect-related disease outbreaks have reduced white-tailed deer populations in parts of eastern, central and west-central Montana. Other areas have stable populations with favorable weather and habitat conditions in 2014 enhancing recruitment levels across the state. Bottom line, deer hunters in Montana will find improving populations but a mix of hunting opportunities when...
Block Management is a cooperative effort between Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), private landowners and public land management agencies to help landowners manage hunting activities and provide free public hunting access to private and isolated public lands. Region 7 alone has over 320 Block Management Area (BMA) cooperators providing over 2.4 million acres of access. Each BMA has its own rules agreed upon by the landowner(s) and FWP regional personnel. Hunters, be sure to read, understand and follow the rules for the BMA you plan to hunt....
Block Management is a cooperative effort between Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), private landowners and public land management agencies to help landowners manage hunting activities and provide free public hunting access to private and isolated public lands. In Region 7 alone, there are over 320 cooperators forming 266 Block Management Areas (BMAs) providing over 2.4 million acres of access. Block Management Areas are unique and range in size from 200 to more than 100,000 acres. Some BMAs have diverse habitat types and offer a wide variety of...
Proposed administrative rules to establish a voluntary management stamp to enable anyone to make a donation to Montana’s wolf program won’t be adopted this year, state wildlife officials said today. Instead, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will convene a diverse group of representative interests to discuss how to balance the challenges and benefits of creating a new or additional way for those who don’t hunt or fish to contribute to wildlife management. The proposed rules would have directed FWP to make available for sale a $20 wolf stamp...
Things are looking up for Montana antelope with populations continuing to recover from previous years’ winter mortality and reduced recruitment in central and eastern Montana. This year, there are even a few more special licenses available reflecting that reduced but improving status. Successful antelope license applicants may recognize increased fawn production in many areas as populations respond to generally favorable weather and habitat conditions in 2014. Montana’s antelope archery season will close Oct. 10 and the general rifle sea...
The Private Land/Public Wildlife Council is seeking comment through Sept.12 on draft recommendations regarding access to public and private land and on improving relationships among those who enjoy, participate and make hunting possible in Montana. Council members worked over the past eight months to develop draft recommendations to help achieve a number of goals, including: (1) maximizing access to public lands; (2) improving communications and relationships among outfitters, landowners, hunters, and Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks; (3)...
Among a full agenda to consider at its May 22 meeting in Fort Peck, a late addition now includes potential commission direction for a voluntary wolf conservation stamp or decal for anyone to make a contribution to Montana wolf management. If approved, FWP would initiate rulemaking to define a voluntary wolf conservation stamp and how donated funds would be allocated to specific wolf conservation efforts. That process would include opportunity for public comment. The commission meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. on May 22 at the Fort Peck Hatchery...
All Fishing Access Sites on the lower Yellowstone River between Glendive and the North Dakota border are again open to the public. “Recreationists and anglers should remain aware that sites are open but visible damage from ice flows exists and repairs and reconstruction are expected to be completed sometime late summer,” said Cordell Perkins, R7 Fishing Access Site Manager. Perkins also stated, “Black Bridge Fishing Access Site is open to foot traffic only. That site suffered some of the heaviest damage.” For site specific information please...
Sign up time is here for the popular Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters program. Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters is a voluntary program that pays landowners an add-on payment for lands enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program. Open Fields is aimed at conserving Montana's productive game bird habitats enrolled in CRP—and at providing additional public hunting access for upland game bird hunting. Counties eligible for program participation are: Cascade, Chouteau, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Glacier, McCone, Pondera, Prairie, R...
