One Nation, Under God
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Havre hunter check station was active over the weekend of general deer and elk opener (Oct. 24-25), with the number of hunters checked a little below average. This was the third weekend that the check station has been open, as the station began collecting data Oct. 10-11, for the opening weekend of pheasant and general antelope. “Hunter numbers were down slightly this weekend, likely due to the cold and snowy weather, and because of the youth deer hunt being a week earlier,” said Havre-area biologist Scott Hemme...
The Milk River is the lifeblood of north-central Montana. Not only does it provide essential irrigation, it provides important fisheries and wildlife habitat. However, recent failure of the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) water delivery structures on the St. Mary Canal near the North Fork of the Milk River may mean reliable water flow is in jeopardy this summer. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is working with BOR to monitor this situation and its potential impacts to Fresno and Nelson reservoirs and the Milk River drainage. On Sunday, May 17, the...
There have been quite a few changes to FWP law enforcement staff here in the last few months, but the public will still see many familiar faces. The changes began when Ron Howell, who had a been the warden captain at the regional headquarters in Glasgow for four years, accepted a position in Helena as the assistant chief of enforcement. Shane Reno, who had been the FWP Region 6 warden sergeant for 13 years and a field warden for 15 years before that, then stepped into the role of captain and will be based in Havre. Reno is originally from...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists completed their surveys of the Missouri River Breaks elk hunting districts (HD) 621, 622, 631, and 632 in February. Overall, the surveys showed that elk numbers are over the current population objectives for each respective portion of the Breaks. These elk surveys are done on an every-other-year basis in conjunction with bighorn sheep surveys. The surveys for neighboring HDs were flown within similar time periods to minimize any issues with elk...
Rest assured, Region 6 Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices are open! However, due to the “social distancing” measures that are being taken, please expect to abide by the following: If you can, please use the internet to buy your licenses and apply for permits…this way there is no social interaction necessary. If you feel ill or have any symptoms, please respect our staff and others by not entering an FWP building. We would be happy to answer any questions over the phone: 406-228-3700 (Glasgow) or 406-265-6177 (Havre.) If you do come to the Glasg...
Region 6 Hunting Season Proposals for 2020-2021 to be Discussed at Four Meetings across Northeast Montana Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will hold four public meetings in northeast Montana in January to gather comments on proposed hunting seasons and rules for the next two years. Interested hunters are encouraged to attend these meetings to hear the proposals, ask questions, and make comments. Proposed hunting season changes were tentatively approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission at their December meeting, which are then are put out...
A mule deer buck harvested by a hunter in Hunting District (HD) 690 southwest of Chinook is suspected to be positive of chronic wasting disease (CWD). The hunter had submitted their sample for testing. A follow up test is being run to confirm the results. Including the positives found in 2018, this marks the 21st detection of CWD in Region 6, and the first in HD 690. HD 690 will now be considered part of the Northern Montana CWD Management Zone, and animal transport restrictions will apply to HD 690. In 2019, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hunter Education course dates have been set for Chinook, starting Oct. 14. The class will be located at the Blaine Co. Library Meeting Room. All hunter education classes are free of charge. All students must first register online at the FWP website: fwp.mt.gov; click on the education tab, then click “hunter education programs.” Next, “Find a class or field course” and search for the available class in your area. Detailed instructions on dates, times, and other information will be found on the registr...
With the detection of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state of Montana in 2017, the way hunters approach the hunting and processing of the big game animals of the deer family is changing; especially with hunting and processing an animal in a CWD management zone. At this free workshop, hunters will learn all about hunting in a CWD management zone, including information on CWD, how to extract lymph nodes for testing, and how to quarter a big game animal using the “gutless” method. FWP plans to use recently harvested deer for this dem...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 6 will host two open houses to seek public comment on the proposed changes to the fishing regulations that will go into effect in 2020 and be in place through 2024. Meeting location and dates are: ·Glasgow – Tues., August 20, at the Busted Knuckle Brewery (North Room) ·Havre – Thurs., August 22, at the Best Western Plus (1425 Highway 2 NW) Both open house meetings will run from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. In Region Six there are several proposed changes, including: ·Ice shelter removal timelines ·Clarifying the...
Good news for Chinook salmon anglers: Fort Peck Reservoir and hatchery crews recently stocked record numbers of Chinook salmon fingerlings into Fort Peck Reservoir, with over 534 thousand being stocked this spring. Initially, the outlook from the fall 2018 egg collection efforts did not look very promising. Due to fewer mature females being present in the system due to limited stockings during 2015 and 2016, FWP Fisheries and hatchery personnel were only able to collect just over 110 thousand eggs last fall. On a positive note, with the few...
A popular Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 6 program that allows kids and their friends or families to check out free fishing rods and tackle is in full swing again this year. In time for summer fishing, FWP staff has restocked and maintained over 350 fishing rods in most all the 43 different location sites across Montana’s Hi-Line. The “Kids to Fish” program lets anglers check out fishing rods and reels and use basic tackle, such as hooks, bobbers, and sinkers. Typically, eight rods are at each location, and usually a tackle box is avail...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists have completed their 2019 winter and spring aerial surveys of deer populations across Region 6 in northeastern Montana. The surveys indicate above average numbers for mule deer, and mostly stable populations of whitetail deer across the region. Mule deer For mule deer, 11 trend areas in Region 6 are typically surveyed each year from the air. The winter “post-season survey” was completed in January, and the “spring survey” was conducted in April. While total deer counts tend to be variable, FWP Region 6...
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking comment on proposed fishing regulation changes for 2020-24. This is the first stage in the comprehensive review of the Fishing Regulations which occurs every four years. In Northeastern Montana (Region 6), several changes have been proposed: • Combining Cisco and Whitefish into the same limit of 20 daily and 40 in possession • Establishing ice fishing shelter removal dates • Clarifying trout limits in the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam. • Allow bow and arrow harvest of Chinook Salmon in Fort Pe...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is organizing a Northeast Montana Fishing Tour for the public in the eastern half of Region 6. Participants both young and old are welcome to come out and enjoy a few hours of fishing and learning. The tour will be held from June 25-28, and a full list of the dates, times, locations and directions can be found below. The fishing events are free of charge, and all equipment will be provided by FWP including fishing rods, bait, and tackle, but participants can bring their own equipment as well. Anglers will...
ome join us for “A Swift Night” – chimney swifts, that is – on Thursday, June 6 at the FWP Region 6 headquarters in Glasgow. During this event, hosted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Montana Audubon, participants will learn about chimney swifts and how they can help to monitor local populations. Chimney swifts are fascinating birds that can be found in your backyard or, more accurately, a nearby chimney! However, little is known about their distribution in the state. We are looking for eager volunteers that want to learn about chimney...
A Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Bowhunter Education course date has been set for the Havre area. There will be a regular youth classroom course starting on April 22, and an adult online “field day” course on April 27. Archery hunters must have purchased a Montana bow and arrow license prior to hunting during the archery-only season. To purchase a bow and arrow license an individual must meet one of the following requirements: • show completion of a bowhunter education course • show proof of purchase of a previous year’s bow and arrow lic...
The St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group (SMRWG) met on January 16 in Havre to discuss the repairing of the 100-year-old facility. The SMRWG discussed the upcoming legislative session. Right now, the state is short of funding. In the past, the Coal Trust fund had yielded large volumes of revenue to address infrastructure need in the state. Now coal revenue is greatly reduced, and the state is looking for other streams of revenue. The SMRWG will continue to look at all revenue to be used for construction for the contract holders. For now, we...
According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, a wolf was legally harvested Jan. 7, 2019, by a local hunter near Glasgow in Valley Co. FWP officials have inspected and tagged the animal. This is the first wolf to be harvested in Region 6, which is part of wolf management unit 400, since wolves were removed from the endangered species list in Montana in 2011. FWP manages wolves across Montana under a statewide management plan, including eastern Montana. FWP is committed to responsibly managing...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program is sponsoring an ice fishing class near Fort Peck, over Jan. 4-5. The event will begin with an evening “classroom” portion on Fri., Jan. 4 from 6-8 p.m., at the Fort Peck Interpretive Center. Anglers will learn about ice fishing gear, tactics, dressing to stay warm, how to be safe on the ice, and more. On Sat. morning from 8 a.m.-12 p.m., anglers will be on the ice where they can try out ice augers, fishing shelters, tip-ups, electronics, and hopefully catch some fis...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Region 6 Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) will meet from 12:45 p.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the Best Western Plus (on the hill) conference room in Havre, for a special legislative meeting. The meeting is open to the public, and state senators and representatives in the region have been invited as well. There will be both Helena and Region 6 FWP staff there to present material and answer questions. The main purpose of this meeting is for the Department to share with legislators and CAC members the l...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, in a written agreement approved by the Fish and Wildlife Commission, worked with the Blue Ridge Ranch owner, Will Carlson, to allow limited public elk hunting on approximately 9,665 private land acres in hunting district (HD) 622 in southern Phillips Co. for the 2018 general elk season. This agreement was made possible under the 2016 House Bill 454 Hunting Access Agreement. Under the provisions of HB 454, FWP received the authority to issue either-sex or antlerless elk permits to approved landowners in...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will have check stations in place across Region 6 to sample for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, elk and moose during the upcoming general hunting season. This is part of a planned surveillance effort, and FWP encourages hunters to help by submitting their harvested animals for testing. Last year, FWP discovered CWD in deer south of Billings and north of Chester. This contagious neurological disease can infect deer, elk and moose. It is always fatal and there is no known cure. Because of the new...
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hunter Education course dates have been set for many areas across Region 6. All hunter education classes are free of charge. In the next month, classroom courses (for youth) are being held in: ○Box Elder: starting Mon., Sept. 17 ○Plentywood: starting Tues., Sept. 18 ○Bainville: starting Sun., Sept. 30 (currently full) ○Malta: starting Mon., Oct. 1 ○Glasgow: starting Thurs., Oct. 4 All students must register online at the FWP website: fwp.mt.gov; click on the education tab, then click “hunter education p...
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will present a waterfowl identification workshop on Tues., Sept. 25, in Glasgow. This class is free, open to all ages, and will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Valley Event Center upstairs mezzanine. Oftentimes, there can be barriers that keep interested folks from becoming waterfowl hunters. Duck identification can be one of those barriers, but it may not be as big an obstacle as one might think. Jim Hansen, FWP’s Central Flyway Migratory Bird Coordinator from Billings and other FWP staff will present a video, i...
