Outdoors

We are Montana residents and professional wildlife biologists and managers with a total of 1,561 years of experience in wildlife management and wildlife habitat management. Among us are 16 retired employees of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks with 469 years with the agency, and 3 former Commissioners from the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. We stand in opposition to the bills listed below being considered by the Montana Legislature in 2021. We find these bills to be based on misinformation about wildlife, misinformation about the effects of predators on prey species, and a lack of understanding about the complexity of natural environments in Montana. Detailed wildlife policy shoul...

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks HELENA — Bears are emerging from dens with the onset of spring, and people are reminded to “Be Bear Aware.” Bears can be found throughout Montana. In recent years, grizzly bear populations have expanded and bears are sometimes found in historic r...

News from Glacier National Park Glacier National Park announced access to the east side of the park reopened on March 18 at Two Medicine, Cut Bank and St. Mary for foot traffic, skis and snowshoes. Regular winter closures remain in place. Chief Mountain Road will remain closed at the park boundary until...

News from FW&P KALISPELL — Lone Pine State Park near Kalispell is hosting spring outdoor field trip programs for school groups. The topics will include: birds (K-4), forests (K-6), insects (K-4), water (K-4), and wildlife (K-6).   Field trips can be scheduled Tuesday-Friday from April ...

News from MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking nominations for individuals interested in serving on a council that monitors activities and makes recommendations for the state’s Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program. Council membership is representative of a...

News from Glacier National Park  MONTANA — Glacier National Park will hold a virtual community discussion on March 18 from 7-8 p.m. regarding challenges the park and visitors will face in 2021. Sponsored by the Glacier National Park Conservancy, the virtual meeting will be held over Zoom. ...

News from the office of Senator Jon Tester  U.S. Senate —The Great American Outdoors Act included full and permanent funding for the Land Water Conservation Fund and $9.5 billion to address maintenance backlogs in America’s public lands. U.S. Senator Jon Tester recently secured $285 mil...

News from CSKT FLATHEAD RESERVATION — As spring approaches, the Tribal Wildlife Management Program would like to remind the public that bears, both black and grizzly, will soon be emerging from their dens.  Mild weather this fall and winter may mean bears could emerge from the den earlier ...

News from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks MONTANA — In anticipation of the new license year, which opened March 1, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks posted regulations for dear, elk, antelope as well as moose, sheep and goat online at fwp.mt.gov/hunt. The deadline to apply for deer and elk per...

News from Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks MONTANA — With the extreme cold and snow across much of Montana recently, it’s easy to take pity on wildlife and put out some food. “Feeding wildlife is often undertaken with good intentions,” said Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks...