Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) continues to assess the status of pneumonia in the Lost Creek (Anaconda) bighorn sheep population in west central Montana, where the disease was first detected on Aug. 20.   Biologists now believe that the disease may be concentrated in and around the Olson Gulch area west of Anaconda.

Since initial detection, FWP crews have surveyed the sheep herd to assess the spread of the disease. On Friday, Aug. 27, a team of FWP wildlife biologists and wildlife veterinarian focused their efforts on the Olson Gulch area and killed ten sheep for examination and the collection of biological samples.

Samples of lung tissue and other samples from these and seven other sheep killed earlier in the week will be sent to a laboratory for culture to try to determine what pathogens are involved in the pneumonia. Read more…

Montana’s top wildlife official confirmed today that his agency will appeal the recent district court ruling that returned the region’s recovered wolves to the federal endangered species list.

Joe Maurier, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, told a coalition of wildlife conservation and livestock groups that Montana has “a recovered wolf population and we will appeal.”

FWP met today in Helena with the group that included stockgrowers, woolgrowers, farm associations and several conservation and hunting organizations. Maurier told the group that Montana would appeal the district court decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by Sept. 5 to meet the 30-day appeal deadline. Read more…

The dates are set for fall hunter education classes in Belgrade and Bozeman.   Registration is required and students under 18 years of age must have the consent of a parent or guardian.

Belgrade Hunter Education

Class will take place September 7-10 at the Belgrade Middle School (410 Triple Crown Road) from 7-9 p.m. Students must also complete a field exercise on Saturday, September 11 at the Logan Range.   Students will be assigned a morning or afternoon session for the field exercise beginning at either 8 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.   Students must register in person on September 7 from 6-7 p.m. at the Belgrade Middle School.   For more information call George or Bonnie Clement at (406) 388-0655.

Bozeman Hunter Education

Class will take place September 13-17 at Chief Joseph Middle School (4255 Kimberwicke Street) from 7-9 p.m.   Students must also complete a field exercise on Saturday, September 18 , from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Logan Range.   There are two options for registration:

Students may register online between August 16 and September 7 by going to FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov and clicking on Education , then Hunter Education . All students under the age of 18 must download and complete the parental consent form and bring to class.   Classroom materials must be picked up at FWP’s Bozeman office (1400 S. 19 th Ave.) by Sept 10th.

Students may also register in person Thursday, September 2nd, from 7-9 p.m., at Chief Joseph Middle School in the cafeteria.

For more information, contact Jim or Holly Johnson at (406) 582-1402.

Any person born after January 1, 1985, must present a Hunter Education Certificate in order to purchase a hunting license in Montana. A student must be 11 years old to receive certification.

The 2010 fall hunting seasons are about to begin or have already begun, such as the early antelope archery season which opened on August 15 th , followed by the September 1st opener for sharp tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, sage grouse, morning doves and fall turkey and general archery September 4 th .

According to John Ensign, Region 7 wildlife program manager, “Last winter was long and difficult for young and old antelope. Overwinter survival and recruitment has been poor. This year’s fawn production is the poorest in the previous ten years.   Our survey information shows the antelope population in Region 7 to be 37% below the long term average.” Read more…

A new, improved web page for Montana’s 2010 hunting news was launched Aug. 17 by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

The new page offers easy access to season outlooks, tips and new opportunities for the upcoming season.

“It’s a whole new look and design for FWP news and one we intend to expand in the future,” said FWP spokesman Ron Aasheim. “We hope this information and new format helps hunters find and use the information they need for a successful hunting season.”

Aasheim said several hunting-related videos will be available on the site beginning Aug. 20.

To explore Montana’s 2010 hunting information online, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov. Click ” 2010 Hunting News .”

Black Bear : Hunters may purchase a black bear hunting license at all FWP offices, FWP license providers, or online at fwp.mt.gov , under Online Services. After Aug. 31 the licenses are only available at FWP offices and there is a five-day wait on the use of bear hunting licenses.

Black bear hunters must have successfully completed the Black Bear Identification Test and must present a certificate of completion when purchasing a black bear license.  The training and test are available on FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov under Online Services.  A paper version of the test may be obtained at FWP offices or license providers. Black Bear hunting regulations for 2010 are available on the FWP web site at fwp.mt.gov , from FWP license providers and at FWP offices.

Mountain Lion : For mountain lion licenses, hunters may purchase a mountain lion hunting license at all FWP offices, FWP license providers, or online at fwp.mt.gov , under Online Services. After Aug. 31 the licenses are only available at FWP offices and there is a five-day wait on the use of mountain lion hunting licenses. Some districts require special licenses that have to be applied for by August 31.  Successful applicants are required to purchase a license.  A mountain lion trophy permit must be purchased after a mountain lion kill.

The date is set for a fall hunter education class in Livingston.

Students should register online by going to FWP’s Web site at fwp.mt.gov and click on Education , then Hunter Education . Registration is required and all students under the age of 18 must download and complete the parental consent form.

The class will take place September 13-16 at the Elks Lodge (130 South 2 nd St.) from 6-9 p.m. A field exercise will be conducted on September 18 at the Livingston Rod and Gun Club from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The deadline to register online is Sept. 12. For more information, or for students who do not have access internet, call Carla Williams at 406-220-2484.

Any person born after January 1, 1985, must present a Hunter Education Certificate in order to purchase a hunting license in Montana. A student must be 11 years old to receive certification.

The deadline to purchase a mountain lion hunting license for the general season, or to apply for the special license drawing, is Aug. 31.

Mountain lion hunters may choose to apply for a special license available through the drawing valid only in certain hunting districts—or they may purchase a general mountain lion license. They cannot do both. Mountain lion hunting in most Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Region 1 and 2 hunting districts will be only by special mountain lion licenses.

A general mountain lion license purchased over the counter after Aug. 31 may be obtained only at an FWP office or on FWP’s Internet licensing site at fwp.mt.gov under Online Services and may not be used until five days after the license is issued.

Mountain lion hunters can apply for special permits at fwp.mt.gov under Online Service, or they may apply at regional FWP office. Those who prefer to apply by mail should go to the FWP website on the Hunting page and click Licenses and Permits for a mail-in paper form.

Beginning August 15, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will conduct an antlerless elk game damage hunt in Hunting District 380 in the Boulder Valley.    The season was initiated to address elk damage that has become a regular occurrence in the area over several years.

The game damage hunt will include four one-week hunt periods, and the season will conclude prior to the opening of the general rifle season.   The hunt is for antlerless elk only. Read more…

Hunters can buy over-the-counter elk and deer B licenses and surplus licenses for deer B, elk B and antelope B beginning at 7 a.m. Aug. 9.

Surplus licenses are those still remaining after the Montana’s recent special deer, elk and antelope license and permit drawings.  The remaining licenses are sold on a first-come first-served basis.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks offices will open at 7 a.m. on Aug. 9 to sell licenses. Online sales will also begin at 7 a.m. Surplus licenses can be purchased online at fwp.mt.gov and from any FWP license provider conducting business at 7 a.m.

Hunters may hold up to three antelope licenses only one of which can be an either sex license, and the fee for nonresident’s first antelope B (doe/fawn) license is $200.    Hunters may possess up to a total of seven deer B (antlerless) licenses in any combination via drawing, over-the-counter, or surplus purchase.

Region 7 antelope B license quota was reduced from 10,000 to 2,000 and no surplus is available.   Extreme conditions during the 2009-2010 winter contributed to a 30% decline in antelope numbers in the eastern Montana region.

If you know of a landowner that you believe would be eligible or a good candidate with appropriate lands, please contact them as a consideration of building good relationships.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is offering a new upland game bird habitat incentive program in 14 counties to encourage farmers and ranchers to enroll or renew federal Conservation Reserve Program contracts.

CRP, a voluntary program for farmers and ranchers, provides payments to establish resource conserving vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filterstrips, or streamside buffers on eligible agricultural lands. Acreage enrolled in CRP contributes to increased wildlife populations. This is the first time since 2006 that landowners have an opportunity to enroll in CRP. Read more…

Hunters interested in participating in game-damage hunting opportunities on private land this year need to register online with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) beginning June 15.

Game damage occurs when animals such as elk, deer, and antelope concentrate on private farms and ranches and eat crops. FWP’s game damage hunt rules are designed to respond to the needs of landowners who provide public hunting during the general hunting season, yet who could nevertheless suffer losses due to wildlife damage without this additional management tool. Read more…

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host seven public open house meetings to discuss 2010 wolf hunting season proposals on June 2 beginning at 7 p.m.

The FWP Commission recently approved quota alternatives of 153, 186 or 216 wolves in the proposed 14 different wolf management units. Sub-quota areas are also being considered to limit harvest during early season backcountry hunts and in an area directly north of Yellowstone National Park.

Also proposed this year is a wolf archery season for all WMUs that would open Sept. 4 and run through Oct. 17, the same time as Montana’s deer, elk, lion, and black bear archery seasons. Hunting would close when quotas are met, or by Dec. 31.

The meeting will be held at the following locations on June 2 from 7-9 p.m.:

• Billings—FWP Headquarters; 2300 Lake Elmo Dr.
• Bozeman—Holiday Inn; 5 E. Baxter Lane
• Glasgow—Valley County Court House; 501 Court Square
• Great Falls—FWP Headquarters; 4600 Giant Springs Rd.
• Kalispell—FWP Headquarters; 490 N. Meridian Rd.
• Miles City—FWP Headquarters; 352 I-94 Business Loop
• Missoula—Double Tree Hotel Missoula Edgewater; 100 Madison

Last year, Montana’s first ever wolf harvest quota was 75 wolves across three WMUs. Officials estimate that at least 524 wolves in 101 verified packs and 37 breeding pairs inhabited the state at the end of 2009. The Montana wolf population is predicted to decrease under each of the quota alternatives currently being considered by the FWP Commission.

Public comment on the 2010 wolf season proposals are due by 5 p.m. on June 14. Final quotas and seasons will be adopted by the FWP Commission on July 8. Send comments via FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov .   Click “ For Hunters .”   Or mail to FWP Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

License sales for the 2010 wolf season are scheduled to begin in early August. Hunting licenses will cost $19 for residents and $350 for nonresidents. Officials caution, however, that the wolf hunting season could be blocked by groups that recently sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prevent wolf delisting. Such legal challenges prevented wolf delisting and a hunting season in 2008 and could affect the wolf hunt this year. FWP has joined the USFWS’s defense of the delisting decision.   Court arguments are set for June 15 in Missoula.

To learn more about Montana’s wolf population, visit fwp.mt.gov .   C lick “ Montana Wolves .”

Learn how to use Montana native plants to create habitat for native wildlife and create a sustainable garden on May 26 at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks headquarters office, 1420 East Sixth Ave., at 7 p.m.

The Montana Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program is sponsoring this free workshop on native plant gardening. Featured speaker David Schmetterling,   an FWP biologist,   blogs about home gardening at http://montanawildlifegardener.blogspot.com .   He will share photos of his outstanding garden located on a small city lot in the middle of Missoula and discuss how native plants reduce water use and attract birds, butterflies and other insects.

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will be asked to consider a number of changes next week for the proposed 2010 wolf hunting season.

Based on lessons learned from the state’s first regulated wolf hunt last year, FWP wildlife managers are proposing to create 14 wolf hunting units and will ask the commission to consider overall harvest quotas of 186 and 216 wolves. Commissioners approved a harvest quota of 75 wolves across three wolf management units for the 2009 season.

“In a word, it’s all about balance,” said Ken McDonald, FWP’s chief of wildlife. Read more…