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The North Dakota Game and Fish Department announced May 9 that the state's 2022 paddlefish snagging season is closed to any additional harvest to provide long-term protection of the paddlefish population. An additional seven-day snag-and-release season will begin Monday, May 9 and run through Sunday, May 15. Paddlefish snaggers with an unused paddlefish tag can continue snagging during the additional snag-and-release season but must release all fish immediately. If a snagger has already used...
The 2022 license year opened March 1, which means you can buy new hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses. The deadline to apply for deer and elk permits is April 1. Applications for most species – deer, elk, antelope, deer B, elk B, antelope B, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey – can now be done. This spring Fish, Wildlife & Parks will be launching the new MyFWP mobile app that will store and display licenses, permits, and digital carcass tags, known as E-Tags, which can be used in the field witho...
Helena – It’s time for landowners with land enrolled in the federal Conservation Reserve Program to send in applications for enrollment in the state-sponsored Open Fields for Game Bird Hunters, a voluntary incentive program designed to benefit landowners while also providing habitat for upland game birds and giving bird hunters more places to hunt. Open Fields is offered through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program and is available to private landowners with existing CRP with at least two years remaining on th...
Helena – At its Feb. 4 meeting, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission approved hunting regulations for the 2022 and 2023 hunting seasons with a significant focus on changes to elk hunting opportunities. All final regulations approved at the meeting will go into effect when the new license year begins on March 1. New regulation booklets for moose, sheep, mountain goat, bison, deer, elk and antelope will be available online this month and in print by mid-March. Hunters should make sure to read through the new regulations before applying for p...
Landowners have until March 15 to submit applications to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for enrollment in the Unlocking Public Lands (UPL) Program or the Public Access Land Agreement (PALA) Program. These programs are designed to provide recreational public access to state (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) or federal (Bureau of Land Management or United States Forest Service) land where no or limited legal public access currently exists. For enrollment in UPL, landowners will receive a tax credit in the amount of $750 p...
Helena - Several in-person hunter educations classes have been scheduled around the state over the next several months. While online classes are also available, there are several advantages to in-person classes, including: hands-on experience, mentoring and the opportunity for students to ask questions and hear advice from experienced hunters. “We value our hands-on classroom courses and field days, all done with the dedication of our excellent volunteer instructors,” said FWP outdoor skills and safety supervisor Wayde Cooperider, “We feel...
Helena - The deadline for public comment on the 2022/20223 hunting regulation proposals has been extended from Jan. 14 to Jan. 21. Those interested can view the proposals and provide comment online at fwp.mt.gov/regproposals. Comments also can be submitted by email to [email protected]. This is a second opportunity for the public to provide input on 2022/2023 draft hunting regulation proposals. Earlier this fall, Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists offered science-based regulations\proposals that combine some hunting districts, reduce some license an...
It’s that time of year when ice anglers and other recreationists head out to Montana’s “hard” waters for the winter season. Whether ice fishing, ice skating, hunting, snowmobiling or just taking a walk, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff reminds recreationists that safety should be the number one concern during a day out on (or near) the ice. And when on the ice, remember: • Anglers and other recreationists should be familiar with the water body they plan to fish or recreate on. Pay close attention to the changing conditions of the ice. • If...
Helena – Start 2022 off on the right foot with a First Day Hike at a state park near you. On Jan. 1, Montana State Parks will host First Day Hikes at Flathead Lake State Park (Wayfarers, West Shore, and Lone Pine units), Travelers’ Rest State Park, Spring Meadow Lake State Park, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park and Makoshika State Park. Being immersed in nature has never been more important for your mental health and physical wellbeing. These fun and informative hikes are open to all ages and are family friendly. Montana State Parks First...
The Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Advisory Committee (LYRC Committee) fulfilled its chartered commitment by presenting a final report of recommendations to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Hank Worsech and staff during a recent meeting in Miles City. The LYRC Committee is a citizen group sponsored by Gov. Greg Gianforte and convened by FWP. The Montana Legislature approved an initial $4 million investment by FWP into the lower Yellowstone River corridor. The group was tasked with providing recommendations to FWP on how to use the...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is conducting harvest and sighting surveys by phone. The survey asks randomly selected hunters a series of short questions about their hunting effort, harvest success, and sighting information. Wildlife managers say the research is vital to understanding the results of the 2021 season. FWP will call a sample of more than 100,000 hunters to gather harvest and sighting information from this past hunting season. The species being surveyed this session will include: • moose • bighorn sheep • mountain goat • antelop...
Miles City - The Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Advisory Committee (LYRC Committee) has made substantial progress since its first meeting in late August. The committee met Nov. 8 in Miles City and is preparing to submit its final recommendations for improving public access along the river. The LYRC Committee is a citizen group sponsored by Gov. Greg Gianforte and convened by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. The group was tasked with exploring new access, recreation and habitat conservation opportunities along the Lower Yellowstone,...
The ND Game and Fish Department is allowing hunters with whitetail or "any" deer gun licenses in several units in western North Dakota the option of turning those licenses in for refunds. Casey Anderson, wildlife chief, said the decision is based on continuing reports of white-tailed deer mortality caused by epizootic hemorrhagic disease, and evidence of moderate to significant deer losses in some areas that might affect hunting success in those locations. The first confirmed EHD report...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department will continue its Hunter-Harvested Surveillance program during the 2021 hunting season by sampling deer for chronic wasting disease from select units in the central and western portion of the state. Samples will be tested from deer taken from units 2H, 2I, 2J1, 2J2, 2K1, 2K2, 3A1, 3A2, 3A3, 3A4, 3B1, 3B3, 3C, 3E1, 3E2, 3F1, 3F2, 4A, 4B and 4C. CWD is a slow-moving brain disease of deer, moose and elk that can cause population-level impacts under high infection rates. “Many folks are aware of the fairly...
Deer hunters who can’t find their deer license should contact the North Dakota Game and Fish Department soon to make sure they have their tag before the season opens. The Game and Fish Department must be contacted by phone at 701-328-6300, or email [email protected], to authorize the online purchase of a replacement tag. Printable applications are not available. The deer gun season opens Friday, Nov. 5 at 12 noon Central Time....
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages hunters, anglers and landowners who witness a fish or wildlife violation to file a report with the Report All Poachers program. Witnesses should report a violation by calling the RAP telephone number at 701-328-9921. Witnesses should note the vehicle description, including make, color, license plate number and state issued. Description of the violator should also be considered. The RAP line offers rewards – from $100 to $1,000 depending on the nature and seriousness of the crime – for inf...
Glasgow - Over the last several weeks, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has received reports of dead or dying white-tailed deer in the major river drainages in eastern Montana. Early indications showed patterns and symptoms similar to epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), and several dead deer had samples submitted for testing. Early results indicate that at least some of the sampled deer tested positive for EHD. In northeast Montana, the furthest western extent of the disease appears to be along...
Derek and Waylon Schieffer, Sidney, have shared a passion for hunting for several years. Derek began hunting at a young age with his father; he recalls his father, Robert, taking him hunting before he was even old enough to hunt. "When I turned 12, he took me hunting and I shot an antelope and missed my deer and then he passed away, so I had to wait until I got my driver's license to hunt again," added Derek. He has been hunting every year since then and now shares his passion for hunting with...
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...
Potential hunting regulation changes for 2022 and 2023 are available online for the public to review. The proposed changes are coming now during the normal biennial season setting year to help make Montana’s hunting regulations simpler and easier to understand. To see the potential changes and make comment visit https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/hunting-reg-changes. Over the last several weeks, FWP biologists have worked on these potential changes with a sharp focus on the science behind the regulations. The potential cha...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff answers thousands of questions every year from both new and experienced hunters. A new online resource is now available to answer many of those questions and connect hunters with helpful information as they plan their hunt. FWP has created a frequently asked questions guidebook to help make many aspects of hunting in Montana easier to understand, especially for people who are new to hunting in the state. This guidebook is one of several other online resources, such as FWP’s new website and Hunt Planner, t...
Helena - Watercraft inspectors at the Wibaux inspection station intercepted a motorboat entering Montana with mussels attached. The Wibaux inspection station, located on the Montana-North Dakota border on Interstate 94, has intercepted 12 of the 54 mussels boats intercepted so far this year. This boat was unique in how the mussels were attached to the boat. Invasive mussels have byssal threads they use to attach to underwater surfaces. The threads or “hairs” are an adaptation found on invasive zebra and quagga mussels but are not found on North...
Bozeman — Montana State University Extension has a new, free, color booklet available about identifying and managing pests and problems in ornamental trees and shrubs in Montana. The 240-page guide is intended to help MSU Extension agents, arborists and those in nursery and landscape trades identify and diagnose tree and shrub issues and to help with decisions for treatment based on integrated pest management concepts. “The first step in an (integrated pest management) approach is to correctly identify pests to determine how best to manage them...
Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) has been introducing women from all backgrounds to the outdoors by exposing them to fishing, hunting, shooting, archery, and much more. BOW is a non-profit, educational program offering hands-on workshops to adult women. "The program is all about like-minded women coming together to try something new. It can be scary to try something like shotgun shooting or fly fishing for the first time, but everyone is always so supportive of their fellow participants," said S...
The Lower Yellowstone River Corridor Advisory Committee (LYRC Committee), a group tasked with exploring additional access and recreation opportunities along the lower stretches of the river, will meet for the first time on Thursday, Aug. 26 in Miles City. The committee will meet at the Sleep Inn, 1006 S. Haynes Ave., from 8-11:30 a.m. In addition to the 13 committee members, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Hank Worsech and FWP staff will attend. While the public is welcome to attend, there will not be any opportunity to participate or...
