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Spending time outdoors around water and in swimming pools is a great way to stay active and healthy during the summer season in Montana. The Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), along with local health authorities, want to remind Montanans to stay safe while having fun in the water this summer, and to be aware of the health and safety risks that come into play around water. Over the past ten years, there have been an average of 20 unintentional drowning deaths per year in Montana. Almost 50% of the drowning’s occurred in natu...
Boat owners transporting watercraft with ballast tanks or bladders will undergo additional cleaning at watercraft inspection stations to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. The Montana Legislature passed a law requiring watercraft with ballast tanks or bladders to be decontaminated before launching on Montana waters. Decontamination is required when coming into Montana from out-of-state or when traveling west across the Continental Divide into the Columbia River Basin. Because some aquatic invasive species are microscopic, standing...
Opening day of the Montana paddle fishing season was a great one for Bloomfield resident Anna Hill. She caught her first ever paddlefish, estimated at about 40 pounds, within 20 minutes of fishing at the Sidney Bridge. Last year, she fished all season and came up empty handed, even though her companions all managed to snag one. It was also her 8th anniversary on May 15 and she was excited to spend it with her husband, fishing. "It's a great anniversary present!" she said of the...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks invites anglers and other interested parties to participate in a survey regarding changes to the 2020 fishing regulations. The survey is available at http://fwp.mt.gov/fish/publicComments/regsScoping.html. The survey is part of a public scoping process to review fishing regulations and identify potential issues with fisheries. This review happens every four years. Public input is vital to crafting fishing regulations, said Eric Roberts, FWP fisheries management bureau chief. We evaluate how a regulation may impact...
Each spring, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks receives several calls from people who have picked up deer fawns or other wildlife. FWP advises against this practice for several reasons. The agency does not accept, hold or rehabilitate deer and elk because the animals rarely survive the stress of captivity, and because of concerns with the spread of disease. So FWP’s likely response would be to tell people to leave the animals alone or return them to where they were found. While people mean well, they may not understand that their intervention c...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks invites anglers and other interested parties to participate in a survey regarding changes to the 2020 fishing regulations. The survey is available at http://fwp.mt.gov/fish/publicComments/regsScoping.html. The survey is part of a public scoping process to review fishing regulations and identify potential issues with fisheries. This review happens every four years. Public input is vital to crafting fishing regulations, said Eric Roberts, FWP fisheries management bureau chief. We evaluate how a regulation may impact...
Spring is here in our region. Daytime temps are regularly in the 60's but overnight lows are still a bit scary for most annual plants. Plants that are safe to install right now would be trees, shrubs, and perennials. Many people plant perennials because of the attraction of year after year growth. This means they will not have to plant their entire space with annuals each season. We try and keep a selection of perennial plants in stock all season long. Firstly, when considering perennial plants...
If you would like your children who are ages 10 to 12 years old to learn more about gardening, the Junior Master Gardener Program (JMG) is for them! This free course will be held in Watford City starting Wednesday, May 22 from 5 p.m. CT to 6:30 p.m. CT and continuing weekly on Wednesdays during the summer. Pre-registration is requested by Monday, May 13 at NDSU Extension/McKenzie County. Please call 701-444-3451 to register or email [email protected]. This program is modeled after the highly successful Master Gardener Program and...
Montanans know how precious water is. It's essential for fish and wildlife, boating and angling, irrigating, drinking and creating much of our electricity. When something threatens our water - such as aquatic invasive species - we are on high alert. Preventing the introduction and spread of AIS is work that Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks takes very seriously as we understand the devastation it can cause to habitat, recreation and our economy. After the discovery of invasive mussel larvae on...
North Dakota's 2019 paddlefish snagging season opens May 1 and is scheduled to continue through May 21. However, depending on the overall harvest, an early in-season closure may occur with a 24-hour notice issued by the state Game and Fish Department. Legal snagging hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. One tag per snagger will be issued. Snagging is legal in all areas of the Yellowstone River in North Dakota, and in the area of the Missouri River lying west of the U.S. Highway 85 bridge to the...
The MonDak Chapter of Walleye's Unlimited held their annual banquet on April 6 at the Richland County Event Center. Pictured is the Heads or Tales game winner Kyle Carter with the Hummingbird Helix7 G2N GPS he won. The proceeds from the banquet are used towards the Kids Fishing Day for Sidney 6th graders and improvements to local fishing access sites....
High-water conditions continue to impact fishing access sites and other recreational areas in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 7. FWP urges people to use caution and check accessibility if they plan to recreate near rivers or streams. Breaking ice jams, spring rains and continuing snowmelt mean that some areas may see flooding and elevated water levels. Road access is partially restricted at some sites, and even foot traffic could be hazardous. FWP Fisheries/Maintenance crews will assess conditions as they visit sites and offer periodic...
North Dakota State University is offering a series of forums to help you care for your yard and garden. Live presentations from NDSU will be delivered to Extension offices across the state, including McKenzie County. NDSU Extension in McKenzie County is located at 205 6th Street NW in Watford City. Sessions will be held on consecutive Monday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Free samples of bulbs and seeds will be provided. The sessions are free. Everyone is welcome! Gardeners have the option of...
A couple of tiger muskies were reported caught recently in Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 7, one at Gartside Dam near Sidney and one at Tongue River Reservoir. These are the only waters in the region that have tiger muskies, so it's a rare and exciting opportunity. It's also a chance to remind anglers that they need to abide by the statewide regulation for tiger muskie, which is one fish daily and in possession, and the fish must be over 40 inches in length. Fish not meeting these dimensions must...
Anglers have until midnight, March 15 to remove permanent fish houses from North Dakota waters, and from any state wildlife management area or federal refuge land. Anglers are advised to remove their house soon because access on many lakes could be restricted due to snow. The deadline of March 15 will not be extended. Fish houses may be used after March 15 if they are removed daily....
Winter anglers are reminded that any fish house left unoccupied on North Dakota waters must be made out of materials that will allow it to float. A popular question this time of year is if campers qualify as legal fish houses. The answer is the same for any structure taken on the ice – if it’s left unattended, it must be able to float; if it’s not able to float, it must be removed when the angler leaves the ice. Other fish house regulations include: - Fish houses do not require a license. - Occupied structures do not require ident...
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department is urging winter anglers and late-season hunters to use extreme caution when venturing out on ice. Ice thickness is never consistent, especially early in winter, and can vary significantly on the same body of water. Edges become firm before the center. A few reminders include: - Snow insulates ice, which in turn inhibits solid ice formation, and hides cracks, weak and open water areas. - Avoid cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signal thinner ice. The same goes for ice that forms aroun...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds waterfowl hunters that they can help prevent aquatic invasive species from infesting Montanas wetlands, rivers and lakes. The three steps of*Clean, Drain, Dry*greatly minimize the risk of spreading invasive species. Waterfowl hunters use gear that should be inspected before hunting in a new area. Waterfowl hunters should: • Clean aquatic plants, animals, and mud from boat, trailer, waders, boots, decoys, decoy lines, and push poles. • Drain water from decoys, boats, motors, and other hunting equ...
Friday, Sept. 14 at noon signals the start of a nine-and-a-half-day deer hunting season for youth, and hunters are reminded that a 2018 general game and habitat license must be purchased before the state Game and Fish Department mails the youth deer license. Hunters are encouraged to purchase the required license early, since it takes a couple days to receive the deer license in the mail. Licensed residents ages 11, 12 and 13, and 10-year-olds who turn age 11 in 2018, are allowed to hunt statewide, but only for antlerless white-tailed deer. Res...
Fall weather and hunting season are in the air, if we are not careful smoke can be as well. Firefighters want to remind you that vegetation is dry and wildfires can occur. Do your part to ensure that you do not start a wildfire. Before constructing a fire, check local fire restrictions and weather conditions. Be responsible and incorporate these tips to have a safe and enjoyable fire: Constructing your warming fire: • Clear away all leaves and other combustibles from your fire circle. • Do not build a fire underneath overhanging branches, again...
North Dakota’s roadside surveys conducted in late July and August indicate total pheasant and Hungarian partridge numbers this fall are similar to last year, while sharp-tailed grouse numbers are down. R.J. Gross, upland game management biologist for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the survey shows total pheasants observed per 100 miles are down 2 percent from last year. In addition, broods per 100 miles were unchanged, while the average brood size was up 27 percent. The final summary is based on 278 survey runs made along 1...
For Sidney couple Cole Houchen and Melissa Ward, bow hunting is more than just a sport. After three years hunting together, the couple shares a passion for the tranquility of nature experienced through bow hunting. Three years ago, Melissa went bow hunting for the first time with Cole, who has more than a decade of hunting seasons under his belt. Melissa grew up going rifle hunting with her dad, but had never been bow hunting. She quickly found out both how different it is and how much she...
More than 1,000 antlerless whitetail deer gun licenses are still available in three units after the North Dakota Game and Fish Department recently completed its second lottery drawing. Individual results are available online at the Game and Fish website, gf.nd.gov. Antlerless whitetail licenses remaining in units 3F1 (321 licenses), 3F2 (498 licenses) and 4F (218 licenses) will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 8 a.m. Central Time on Sept. 6. These licenses are only available online, and to individuals who have not...
Hayley Darnielle with the pheasants she shot on the last day of fall turkey season of last year on her walk back to the pickup after not being able to get close enough to some turkey. They were taken in Squaw Gap (south east of Sidney). Photo submitted....
The 2018 Hunting Access Guide is now available, directing hunters to almost 6,000,000 acres of private, state and federal lands enrolled in Montana’s Block Management Program. Southeastern Montana alone offers almost 2,200,000 acres of hunting access. Get your access guide today at FWP Region 7 headquarters in Miles City or download it at fwp.mt.gov. FWP Region 7 Block Management staff are set up in the front conference room to assist hunters in finding access and obtaining maps and landowner contact information. August 22 will be the first d...