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HELENA – Fire restrictions continue to spread to other Montana counties as the summer heat continues. Stage I fire restrictions went into effect Friday for Madison and Silver Bow counties. Stage I fire restrictions went into effect in Dawson County at Saturday, July 27. Stage I fire restrictions went into effect in Powell and Powder River counties on Monday, July 29. FWP-managed properties in Dawson County include: Johnson FAS, Intake Dam FAS, Makoshika State Park (fires still allowed in r...
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks is proposing to renew a Management Agreement with the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation at Intake Fishing Access Site (FAS) in Dawson County, Montana. The agreement is for the management and operations of Intake Fishing Access Site (FAS). The Intake FAS operated on a 50-year agreement and historically included two parcels: (1) The ‘Intake Area’ north of the river and (2) ‘Joe’s Island’, south of the river. The proposed new Management Agreement would be for 50 years and include the Intake Ar...
OMAHA, Neb. -- The 2024 flow test from Fort Peck Dam was the first in a series of test flows intended to comply with the 2018 Biological Opinion. The 2024 flow test was comprised of the following: An attraction flow, which began April 26 and continued through early May, and was intended to encourage Pallid Sturgeon to enter that reach of the Missouri River. A retention flow of release rates lower than the attraction flow and designed to keep the fish in the designated river reach. Then, a second spawning peak release took place in late June...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is looking for public feedback on work from a citizen advisory council tasked with developing guiding principles for developing a new Mule Deer Management Plan. “We know how concerned people are with mule deer numbers across the state,” said FWP Director Dustin Temple. “Our focus is developing a new plan that will guide our efforts to manage herds well into the future. The council’s work is a critical first step for our planning process.” In early 2024, FWP solicited applications from Montana citizens to...
Live white suckers are not legal baitfish in North Dakota, except in the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers. Anglers can use live white suckers on the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers, and tributaries up to the first vehicular bridge; however, they are illegal elsewhere. Fathead minnows, sticklebacks and creek chubs are the only legal live baitfish outside of the Bois de Sioux and Red rivers. The transportation of live white suckers, other than in Richland, Cass, Traill, Grand Forks, Walsh and Pembina counties, is illegal. In addition, it is illegal for...
North Dakota state law requires youth ages 12-15 who want to operate a boat or personal watercraft by themselves with at least a 10-horsepower motor must pass the state’s boating basics course. The course is available for home-study by contacting the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at 701-328-6300, or [email protected]. Two commercial providers also offer the course online, and links to those sites are on the boat and water safety education page on the Game and Fish website at gf.nd.gov. While the home-study course is free, there is a fee to t...
The 16th Annual Monster Catfish Roundup was held July 20 at the Sidney Bridge along the Yellowstone River....
MILES CITY – The 2024 paddlefish season for the yellow tag area of the Yellowstone and lower Missouri rivers ended June 30, short of the harvest cap of 1,000 fish. The overall harvest estimate was 782 paddlefish, and female paddlefish represented 43% of the total harvest. Harvest estimates for the past two seasons were 776 in 2023 and 769 fish in 2022, continuing the trend toward a more dispersed fishery since open river passage began with the new Intake Bypass Channel near Glendive. It was also an average year for tag sales, with a total of 2,...
Photographers interested in sending photos for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s Watchable Wildlife Photo Contest must follow guidelines for submitting their work. Photographers should go to the Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov/wildlife/watchable-photo-contest. Then it is a matter of providing some pertinent information about the photo and uploading it. Doing so helps both with ease of submitting photos for the photographer and managing those images for department staff. The contest is open and the deadline for sub...
Watford City, ND - This July, join Watford City Parks & Recreation for Park & Recreation Month, as we celebrate how Watford City is a stronger, more vibrant community because of parks and recreation. Watford City Parks & Recreation is celebrating Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), by inviting our community to share their experiences and tell us how Parks and Recreation has positively impacted their life. Krystal Picklesimer, Watford City Parks & Recreation recreation manager, stated...
HELENA – Anglers planning to fish the Eastern Fishing District need to be aware of endangered pallid sturgeon. Anglers are encountering these fish more and more each year due, in part, to successful conservation and recovery efforts. "It is vital that anglers understand how to identify pallid sturgeon from shovelnose sturgeon," said Zach Shattuck, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks native species coordinator. "We like to remind anglers: 'if you don't know, let it go.'" Pallid sturgeon are a f...
There will be an in-person Montana Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education course held in Sidney in July. This is a combination class for both courses. Registration is currently open online at FWP.mt.gov. Orientation is on July 8 from 6-9 p.m. at the Richland County Extension Office, 1500 N. Central Ave., Sidney. Classes will be held on July 16-19 from 6-9 p.m., and field day will be on Saturday, July 20 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Attendance is required on all days. The field day is also open to a limited number of online students. Please register...
The next guide and outfitter written examination is Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. at the North Dakota Game and Fish Department office in Bismarck. Preregistration is required no later than Aug. 9 by calling the Department’s enforcement office at 701-328-6604. In addition to passing a written exam, qualifications for becoming a guide include a background check for criminal and game and fish violations, certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and standard first aid, and employment by or contact with a licensed hunting outfitter. Hunting outfitter, e...
Launching, Loading Boats The North Dakota Game and Fish Department encourages boaters to plan accordingly when launching and loading a boat. Here are a few simple reminders to ensure a fluent transition at the ramp. Launching Don’t pull onto the ramp until your boat is ready to launch. Prepare for launching in the parking area. Remove covers, load equipment, remove tie downs, attach lines and put in drain plug before backing onto the ramp When ready pull in line to launch. Wait your turn. Be courteous. Loading Don’t block the loading area wit...
OMAHA, Neb. - Second peak of Fort Peck flow test resuming; Weekly flow test call scheduled for June 19 Releases from Fort Peck will begin stepping up as part of the second peak of the Fort Peck flow test starting today. Releases from Fort Peck will be gradually increased, starting today, June 17, to reach a peak flow of 20,000 cubic feet per second at Wolf Point, on Sunday, June 23. These releases will include flows from the Fort Peck spillway, beginning today around 9 a.m. (Mountain Time). The second peak flow was scheduled to begin on June...
HELENA – Hunters have until June 30 to purchase a chance for a SuperTag for the 2024 hunting season. Eight hunters will win a SuperTag license for one of the following species: moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, antelope, elk, deer, bison and mountain lion. One SuperTag will be drawn for each species. The SuperTag can be used in any hunting district in Montana – including Montana’s trophy districts. To see the number of SuperTag chances sold, hunters can check the FWP website each Monday between now and June 30. Revenue from SuperTag sales...
The Savage Volunteer Fire Department held their annual catfish tournament June 8....
The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) announced a new website to assist Montanans navigating the complex issue of water right ownership. State trust land lessees and water users with questions regarding ownership of water rights used on state trust lands in Montana should visit WaterComplaint.mt.gov. Since Gov. Gianforte took office, the DNRC has worked to respect the rights of private property owners and meet our constitutional responsibility to generate revenue to support public education,” DNRC director Amanda Kaster sa...
GLASGOW - As you are hiking and exploring Montana this spring and summer, be sure to take a break from scanning the horizon and look down at the ground once in a while. Not only will this help you avoid stepping on a cactus or a rattlesnake, but you might also see one of eastern Montana's rarely seen critters...the greater short-horned lizard, commonly known as a "horny toad". If you do, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks would like to know about it. The greater short-horned lizard, Phrynosoma...
Encompassing 525 acres on the north shore of the upper reaches of Lake Sakakawea, Lewis and Clark State Park is an outdoor haven for recreation, education and family fun. Just 18 miles east of Williston, ND, the park offers fishing, camping, picnicking, swimming area, day use beach and modern boating facilities. Enhance your experience by renting a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddle board, fat tire bicycle or snow shoes. The park is celebrating its 50th anniversary this summer and, with the help of W...
About 140 Richland County sixth-graders took part in the annual Walleyes Unlimited MonDak Chapter's kids fishing day at the Gartside Reservoir on May 21. Kevin Mayer and Justin Jones of the MonDak Chapter believe it was the 28th year of the activity to encourage youngsters to fish. The local event was created through the early leadership of Mayer, Russ Wells and Doug Hill. "A lot of chapters do this," Mayer said. "It introduces the kids to fishing." For the past several years, the Montana...
North Dakota residents who want to give fishing a try can fish for free June 1-2. That is the state’s free fishing weekend, when all residents 16 and older can fish any North Dakota water without a license. Residents 15 and younger do not need a fishing license at any time of year. The weekend provides a great opportunity to try fishing for the first time or take someone new. Information on regulations, where to fish and what equipment is needed is available on the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website at gf.nd.gov...
Bowfishing enthusiasts can test their skills and win big dollars in the Big 30 Octane Outdoors Bowfishing Tournament Saturday, June 1. Fish Trenton Lake, Lake Sakakawea, the Little Muddy River, the Yellowstone River, or the Missouri River and its tributaries. The event starts with registration from 7-7:50 a.m. followed by a rules meeting at 7:50 and blast off at 8 a.m. CDT. Weigh-ins are at 5 p.m., all at Octane Outdoors, 1008 E. Broadway, Williston. There is a 100 pound deduction for every minute past the 5 p.m. weigh-in time. Cost to enter...