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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District has begun the public scoping period and is seeking public comment regarding the development of the Fort Peck Lake Shoreline Management Plan through Sept. 30, 2021. An SMP establishes policies and guidelines for the protection and preservation of the environmental characteristics of the shoreline while maintaining a balance between public and private shoreline uses. Fort Peck Lake is located in northeastern Montana on the Missouri River near Glasgow. A scoping period is the process of determining...
Miles City - Due to current dry conditions and high fire danger throughout much of Montana, hunters may encounter some Block Management Area closures or restrictions. In southeastern Montana’s Region 7, as of Aug. 13 there were 19 BMAs in eight counties that were either closed or limiting access. The list of BMAs is attached. Statewide, there are just over 70 closed or restricted BMAs. Hunters are advised to check back closer to their hunt to ensure access, as conditions may change daily. To check the status of BMAs in various FWP regions, v...
Steve Harris, Jr., a Montana fisherman, has set a new world record for the largest paddlefish caught with a bow and arrow. The paddlefish, tipping the scale at 92 lbs., was caught on the bank of Yellowstone River, Sidney, on June 8. For the past 10 years he has been bowfishing; his friend, Justin Fisketjon, introduced him to the sport of bowfishing. Harris said, "Justin is a really great bowfisherman; he brought me to a night tournament shooting carp, and we got 2nd place and I kinda got hooked...
The Montana Catfish Association held the 17th Annual Monster Catfish Roundup at the Sidney Bridge on July 17....
Don’t Drink and Drive. It’s a message you hear all the time. But what about Don’t Drink and Boat? Boating under the influence, or BUI, is dangerous and illegal. In Montana it is unlawful to operate or be in actual physical control of a motorboat, personal watercarft, sailboat, water skis, surfboard or similar watercraft while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the United States Coast Guard, the use of alcohol is involved in about a third of all recreational boating fatalities. Boating, fishing and other water sports are f...
Unseasonably warm weather is occurring early in Montana, and many boaters and anglers have been going to the local reservoirs and other waterways to get some relief from the heat. However, along with having fun, folks need to follow all the laws while out and about. Wardens have been checking a slew of boaters and anglers recently, and some common issues are recurring as summer is getting underway: • License possession while fishing: Many anglers contacted this spring and summer have not had the...
On Sunday, June 27, watercraft inspection stations in eastern Montana intercepted two boats entering the state carrying invasive mussels, making it the 35th and 36th mussel-fouled boats intercepted this year. This surpasses the total number of 35 mussel-fouled boats intercepted in 2020. Shortly after noon on Sunday, the Wibaux station found mussels on a used inboard ballast boat that had been recently purchased in Michigan and was destined for Billings. Inspectors decontaminated the hull and locked the boat. AIS staff in Billings will flush...
Helena - To prevent the spread of disease, such as salmonella, bird enthusiasts should consider either removing their bird feeders for the summer or cleaning the feeder regularly. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has received several phone calls recently about dead birds around feeders and birds with crusty eyes. Birds don’t need supplementary food in the summer. They typically eat naturally occurring food, such as insects, during this time of year when they are nesting and rearing their young. If you suspect that you are seeing sick birds, or f...
Helena - Public access along the lower Yellowstone River is a rare commodity. However, a new committee convened by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and sponsored by Gov. Greg Gianforte is looking to improve access here and as a result protect fish and wildlife habitat and provide for more outdoor recreation opportunities. “The lower Yellowstone is a unique Montana treasure with some of our most important agriculture lands, thriving rural communities and amazing hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Gov. Gianforte. “We’re looking to engage...
Boaters with watercraft registered outside of the state who do not have a 2021 aquatic nuisance species sticker are reminded to purchase a current sticker before operating watercraft on North Dakota waters. The state law requires a $15 ANS fee for motorized watercraft not licensed in North Dakota to be paid for each calendar year, and the ANS sticker must be displayed on the watercraft. In addition, Minnesota anglers launching boats on the North Dakota side of the Red River must have a current ANS sticker displayed on the watercraft. The ANS...
Glendive - May 10 - The 2021 Paddlefish season will begin 6 a.m., May 15 at Intake Fishing access point, Glendive. Fisherman prepare for the absence of our boat shuttle to opposite shore and the fish shuttle from the Sidney location. Cutting and other services will remain in place as previous years. Beware of marked construction areas around the fishing access area. Maps will be posted at multiple locations at Intake to demonstrate the areas open and closed to paddlefish anglers during the...
Helena - This year’s Montana paddlefish seasons kicked off on May 1 with the opening of the Upper Missouri River section from Fort Benton downstream to Fort Peck Dam. Paddlefish anglers must have a white harvest tag, which is issued through a lottery system, to participate in catching and keeping a paddlefish from this section of the river. FWP mails these tags to successful applicants. Unsuccessful paddlefish lottery applicants will be issued a snag-and-release only license for the Upper Missouri River. Others may also purchase s...
Helena - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on Elk Management Guiding Principles developed by the Elk Management Plan Initial Guidance Citizens Group. This process was the first step in the revision of Montana’s Elk Management Plan. FWP is interested in comments regarding whether the guiding principles are adequate in describing what the department should be striving to achieve in an updated Elk Management Plan. The citizens group used a structured, facilitated process to develop the Guiding Principles. The structured p...
The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2021 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 be made beginning March 1. Hunters and anglers can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website beginning at 5 a.m.; click on “Buy and Apply.” Most FWP offices will be open from 8 a.m.-...
Omaha, NE - A draft integrated letter report and programmatic environmental assessment has been developed to determine the economic and environmental impacts of federal participation in state-managed watercraft inspection programs along the Upper Missouri River Basin in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska. Public comments on the draft EA will be accepted until March 2, 2021. The existing watercraft inspection programs are managed collaboratively by the states of Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska, wh...
Helena - Jan. 12 - Samples taken in six eastern Montana counties this past summer have tested positive for the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) disease in bats. The presence of the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) does not necessarily confirm the presence of the disease, but biologists are closely monitoring the situation and further sampling and testing will be conducted. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff is asking the public to report any dead or dying bats they observe this winter and spring to their local FWP office....
A two-point mule deer buck was shot and left to waste near Bloomfield, about 20 miles northeast of Glendive, during the last week in November Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking the public for information about the poached animal, which was discovered next to the road leading north from the church in that area. The buck may have been shot from the county road next to an oil pump station. Anyone with information concerning this incident is urged to contact FWP Warden Sgt. Casey Prell, at 406-853-7200. They can also call the FWP violation...
Glasgow – 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...
Hunters, recreators, and anglers who purchase licenses online will notice a new look to the sales system during December. This change is targeted at improving customer experience with the current licensing website by making it more intuitive. The coming changes include a new look for online customers and several options for printing carcass tags: a one-time link to print at home, an option to have FWP licensing staff print and mail the carcass tag, and carcass tags will be mailed out automatically if the one-time link is not redeemed within fiv...
Montana law allows residents and nonresidents to donate their hunting license and or special permit to a disabled military veteran or disabled active duty service member. This year, there is a higher interest among veterans to take advantage of this program, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is asking for more hunters to donate licenses. The disabled veteran or active armed forces member must be working with an organization that uses hunting as part of the rehabilitation process. While one cannot choose the organization to receive a donated...
