The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
The Blackfoot Valley's News Source Since 1980
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 462
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting applications from landowners who are interested in participating in the 2024 Block Management Program. Application deadline is June 1. Through the Block Management Program, landowners and FWP work together to help manage wildlife and public hunting activities on enrolled lands. Landowners and FWP enter into voluntary agreements that determine how hunting will be conducted on the landowner's property. Items such as per...
BOZEMAN – The Museum of the Rockies will host the third annual “Dinosaurs and MOR!” festival April 12-14, bringing together top paleontologists, dinosaur enthusiasts and a lineup of activities for all ages. Events include family-friendly programs, junior paleontologist passport stations and 18 presentations by scientists from around the globe. For more information and to purchase tickets to any of these events, visit museumoftherockies.org/dinos. “Dinosaurs and MOR!” f...
HELENA – As spring weather approaches, we're all anxious to head outdoors, and bears are leaving their winter dens. This time of year, bears are waking up from hibernation and are pretty hungry. So, it's best for you, and for the bears, not to leave out anything that will attract their appetite or their curiosity. If you're outside working or recreating, you need to be aware that bears are out there, too. Anytime bears are not in hibernation, which is typically between the b...
HELENA – Hunters have until April 1 to apply for deer and elk permits and nonresident combination licenses. Hunters can buy licenses and apply for permits on the FWP website; click on "Buy and Apply." Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offers several tools to help hunters navigate the application process. Click here to watch a video tutorial for Montana residents; click here to watch a video tutorial for nonresidents. To see a playlist of all FWP's hunting license video t...
HELENA – The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2024 hunting, fishing and conservation 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 licenses, elk B licenses, antelope B licenses, moose, sheep, goat, bison, bear, turkey – can be made beginning March 1. A new online feature this year is the option for applicants to reapply for the same offerings as last...
The Montana Weed Control Association is a member-supported 501(c)3 non-profit organization started in the 1960's by extension agents and weed managers. Over the years the MWCA has expanded to include professional weed managers, weed control businesses (grazing, commercial applicators, bio-control agent providers, re-vegetation and planning specialists), ranchers, farmers, educators, researchers, students, government officials at the city, county, state and federal levels,...
Department of Public Health and Human Services officials announced today that, effective immediately, the agency will process applications to change sex markers on Montana birth certificates pursuant to a 2022 administrative rule on the subject and consistent with a 2023 law. “DPHHS must follow the law, and our agency will consequently process requests to amend sex markers on birth certificates under our 2022 final rule,” DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said. “This notification serves to keep the public apprised of the law a...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is reopening the public comment period for the 2024 Grizzly Bear Management Plan and Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan to ensure Montana counties, Tribes, and state and federal agencies have a chance for input. The new deadline is March 9. The extension will ensure that Montana statute requiring FWP to notify county commissioners of opportunities to comment on management plans for grizzly bears, wolves and other large c...
The Montana Nonprofit Association received word over the weekend that a check cashing scam has hit a number of Montana nonprofits. So far they've heard of at least five organizations targeted by the same scheme. Please be on the lookout for this scam. It goes like this: Organization receives an unexpected donation of around $200,000 to honor someone's late mother. Multiple orgs have said the amount the received was $191,250, and that the email came from the name Alphonso...
MISSOULA – Montanans have varying attitudes and beliefs about wolves and wolf management, and over time some of those feelings have shifted, according to a new survey conducted cooperatively by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and the University of Montana. The survey was distributed three times – in 2012, 2017 and 2023 – tracking trends in how residents view wolves and wolf management. It provides insights to wildlife managers and officials tasked with making decisions on wo...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of its intent to pursue legal action over the recent listing of wolverines as a threatened species. "In Montana, wolverines continue to do well and inhabit much, if not all, of their available habitat," said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Chief of Conservation Policy Quentin Kujala. "We work closely with our neighboring states to ensure the continued conservation of these iconic speci...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has adopted the 2023 Elk Management Plan and accompanying environmental assessment. The elk plan lays out how FWP will manage elk; the EA is an evaluation and summary of potential impacts on the physical environment and human population. The new plan is flexible and reflects current elk management direction and challenges, as well as being forward looking in anticipating management changes. "Development of the new elk plan was a long a...
HELENA – Wolf trapping and snaring in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks administrative regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and in Hill, Blaine, and Phillips counties won't start until Jan. 1 and will run through Feb. 15, according to a federal court injunction issued Tuesday evening. In areas in eastern Montana outside FWP administrative regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and Hill, Blaine, and Phillips counties the order does not apply, and the wolf trapping and snaring season will start N...
HELENA, Mont. – Nov. 17, 2023 – Montana District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy ruled in favor of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest on a legal challenge brought forward by Helena Hunters and Angler's Association, Western Watersheds Project, the Sierra Club and WildEarth Guardians to the Forest's 2021 Land Management Plan. The case focused on wildlife claims under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act. "We are glad the court recognizes the For...
HELENA, Mont. – November 24, 2023 – It is the most wonderful time of the year on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest! Once again, our Forest Service offices and districts are providing Christmas/holiday tree permits for the season. "This permit provides communities a fun way to create adventures and family traditions on their local forest," said Forest Supervisor Emily Platt. Permits can be purchased online or in person at our Forest Service offices located in Hel...
HELENA – As Montanans prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping, Attorney General Austin Knudsen is issuing a reminder to be aware of common scams, which tend to increase during the holiday season. "Online shoppers make easy targets for scammers, so stay vigilant and cautious as you order gifts and make virtual donations this Christmas season," Attorney General Knudsen said. "Don't let a scammer ruin the holidays for you and your family." Attorney General Knuds...
RESPECT ACCESS WHILE UTILIZING BLOCK MANAGEMENT AREAS Oct 23, 2023 8:31 AM MILES CITY – Although most hunters respect the land, property and wildlife they are hunting, a minority do not. Yet these few bad actors lead to frustration from private landowners and hunters looking to do things right. This year remember: It's up to us. Respect access. Protect the hunt. Every hunting season, there are reports of vandalism to Block Management Area (BMA) boxes, hunters driving off r...
MISSOULA –The 2023 Montana big game general hunting season opened Saturday, Oct. 21, and hunters in the west-central part of the state found warm fall weather and a few less animals than in recent years. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wildlife check stations near Anaconda, Bonner, Fish Creek, and Darby saw 2,132 hunters collectively this weekend. Hunters checked 76 elk, 15 mule deer, 39 white-tailed deer, and one black bear. This compares to 2,016 hunter stops during the 2...
HELENA - Although most hunters respect the land, property and wildlife they are hunting, a minority do not. Yet these few bad actors lead to frustration from private landowners and hunters looking to do things right. This year remember: It's up to us. Respect access. Protect the hunt. Every hunting season, there are reports of vandalizing of Block Management Area (BMA) boxes, hunters driving off road, illegal trespassing, hunters being shot over, littering, and livestock being...
HELENA – Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was first detected in wild birds and domestic poultry in Montana in spring 2022. While HPAI cases in wild birds did decline over the summer, there are detections of new cases in parts of the U.S., including Montana again this fall. HPAI viruses are extremely infectious and fatal to poultry and some species of wild birds. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is continuing to monitor the situation by testing wild birds that display s...
BILLINGS – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering two free instructional workshops for hunters to learn how to collect chronic wasting disease samples from deer, elk and moose. The first workshop will be Wednesday, Oct. 25, at the Billings FWP office (2300 Lake Elmo Dr.) from 5-7 p.m. A second workshop will be held in Harlowton on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Montana Department of Transportation weigh station parking lot from 5-7 p.m. Registration is required. To register a...
HELENA – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks along with the Montana Department of Health and Human Services are advising hunters to have their deer, elk and moose tested for chronic wasting disease. FWP strongly recommends that hunters receive a negative CWD test result before bringing their deer, elk or moose to a meat processor or donating it to a foodbank. While it is not a requirement, FWP is asking hunters to have a negative CWD test result in hand before bringing their a...
HELENA, Mont. – Oct. 4, 2023- The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is seeking motivated candidates to help manage our forests, recreation facilities, trails, and more. Applications for permanent seasonal positions will be accepted from Oct. 19 through Nov. 22, and applications for temporary positions will be accepted from Oct. 26-Nov. 8. All applications must be submitted on www.usajobs.gov. "If you enjoy working outside and want to serve on an exceptional team, we'd l...
POTOMAC, Mont. - The Montana Department of Transportation would like to announce and invite the public to comment on a proposal to resurface about four miles of Montana Highway 200, near Potomac. The project begins approximately six miles east of Potomac, and extends east, ending near the east end of the Blackfoot River bridge at the Roundup River Access. Proposed work includes milling the existing surface, applying a new asphalt overlay, and finishing with a seal and cover...
POTOMAC and GREENOUGH, Mont.- The Montana Department of Transportation will complete mastic patching on Montana Highway 200, scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 12. Work is anticipated to last for approximately two days, weather and other factors permitting. Mastic is used to patch, seal or fill gaps on the roadway surface. The purpose of this maintenance project is to extend the service life of the roadway. The project area begins east of Potomac Road and continues for...
