Outdoors

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks HELENA – Landowners have until May 15 to apply for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Elk Hunting Access Agreement Program. These agreements, which were established by the 2001 Legislature, provide landowners with an elk license or either-sex permit in exchange for allowing free public hunting access for elk management purposes. These permits and licenses are valid only on the landowner’s property. The program allows landowners to apply for an elk license, permit or a combination of both in exchange for allowing free public access to a minimum of three hunters. The landowner can designate an immediate family member or an aut...

News from the CSKT Natural Resources Department FLATHEAD LAKE— 2023 Spring Mack Days will begin on Thursday, March 16. The days are getting longer and the number of days before 2023 Spring Mack Days begins are getting shorter. It is time to bring out the reels, poles, and lures and start planning ...

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks MONTANA — A new planning tool was announced recently by the Montana Wildlife and Transportation Partnership (MWTP or Partnership), aimed to help local groups identify areas of greatest need for decreasing wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) and improving wild...

News from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks GREAT FALLS — The permit lottery results to float Smith River State Park in 2023 are now available online on FWP’s website. In addition to the online results, successful applicants will be notified via email. Links within the email will allow perm...

News from the MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks HELENA — Those interested in entering a lottery for a guided trophy moose hunt on the Blackfeet Reservation will have two opportunities to enter the drawing. Hunters can purchase opportunities for the first lottery beginning March 1 through midnight on M...

HELENA – Licenses The new license year opens March 1.On that day you can buy your 2023 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 l...

News from the MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks KALISPELL — Hunter education courses are scheduled across northwest Montana, including in Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Eureka, and Plains. Registration is free and available at: https://fwp.mt.gov/education/hunter-education. Dates, locations...

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks KALISPELL — The Flathead Reservation Fish and Wildlife Board will meet in February and March. All interested persons are invited to attend. A meeting on Feb. 8, 2023 will be live streamed via Microsoft Teams starting at 1 p.m. Login information is posted ...

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks KALISPELL — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on a draft development plan for Somers Beach State Park on Flathead Lake. The plan builds on public input gathered in 2022 and proposes a variety of new recreational amenities at the...

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks HELENA — Three juvenile grizzly bears tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus this fall. The three bears, one near Augusta, one near Dupuyer, and another near Kalispell, were observed to be in poor condition and exhibited disorient...