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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...
As Montana hunters and anglers, we know a lot about restoring wildlife and habitat through solid conservation efforts. We've been doing it for over a century and those decades of conservation work has led to the abundance of wildlife we enjoy today. At the turn of the 20th Century, we had reduced the massive big game herds to a boneyard. There were roughly 5,000 elk in Montana and nearly every other species was faring just as poorly. Montana hunters, working closely with landowners, the...
FWP is accepting comment on proposed fishing regulations for 2021. The department has 20 proposed changes for 2021, with most changes involving minor corrections and clarifications to avoid confusion and inadvertent violations. One larger-scale proposal is requiring mandatory catch, kill, and report of all walleye captured in the Western Fishing District. The intent of this regulation is to prevent additional illegal introductions of walleye in western Montana and to potentially help the department detect illegal introductions and take action...
The remaining Deer B and Elk B licenses left over from the new surplus list opportunities has become available Tuesday morning, Aug. 25 as over-the-counter sales (OTC). Purchases can be made at any license provider as well as online at: fwp.mt.gov and then clicking on “License: Buy/Apply.” The price of the Deer B license is $10 for residents and $75 for nonresidents. The price of the Elk B license is $20 for residents and $270 for nonresidents. These prices are in addition to the cost of conservation and base hunting licenses. For updates on...
Waterfowl hunters age 16 and older are reminded a federal duck stamp is required beginning Sept. 1. Waterfowl includes ducks, geese, swans, mergansers and coots. This year’s 2020-21 federal duck stamp is available for electronic purchase through the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s website, gf.nd.gov, instant licensing telephone number, 800-406-6409, or at license vendors registered with the department’s licensing system. Physical stamps are not available at North Dakota license vendors, but they can still be purchased at many U.S. Posta...
Lakayla Nentwig and Sawyer Thiel, Sidney, pose with Lakayla's 11 ½ lb Lake Trout she caught on July 4th at Fort Peck....
North Dakota’s fall turkey season is set with 3,785 licenses available to hunters, 125 more than last year. Unit 47 (Eddy, Foster, Kidder, Sheridan, Stutsman and Wells counties), which has been closed to fall turkey hunting because of low numbers, is open due to an increase in turkeys in the northern part of the unit. Unit 21 (Hettinger and Adams counties) will remain closed because of a low turkey population. Fall turkey hunters, including gratis applicants, who are interested in applying for a 2020 license can submit an online application t...
Several wildfires are active in Montana, and this can affect land access for hunters in some areas. Wildfire activity can change rapidly, and some fires may limit public access to roads and areas of public land. Wildfires can also cause closures on block management areas during hunting season. Hunters should check for closures due to wildfires before traveling. Recreationists can view an interactive map of active wildfires in Montana by visiting https://inciweb.nwcg.gov./ If a fire is active near where you plan to hunt, contact the local...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on ice fishing contests proposed for the 2020-2021 season. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Applications for fishing contests may be approved, approved with conditions, or denied by the FWP Fisheries Division in Helena. Conditions placed on contests may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts, and/or require additional access site maintenance when needed. Information on the proposed fishing...
