Many folks have transitioned from “fishing season” to “hunting season,” but Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks would like to remind watercraft users that “inspection season” is not over.
In addition to late-season anglers, hunters are currently utilizing watercraft for bowhunting and sheep hunting, and in the next few weeks, perhaps waterfowl hunting. Watercraft users need to remain Clean.Drain.Dry. and continue to follow all laws and regulations related to Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspections.
Montana law requires everyone transporting motorized or nonmotorized watercraft to stop at all AIS inspections stations. This includes rafts, drift boats, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, personal pontoons, and sail boats. In addition, ALL watercraft that are coming into Montana from out-of-state are REQUIRED to be inspected before launch.
Currently, inspection stations are still in operation in many areas of the state. Locations can be found at cleandraindry.mt.gov/Watercraft-Inspections. In Region 6, inspection stations are currently operating at Nashua and Fresno Reservoir. In addition, out-of-state watercraft that did not encounter an open inspection station can be inspected at any regional FWP office, including the FWP Region 6 Headquarters in Glasgow and the Havre Field Office.
Remember, your watercraft must be inspected if:
- You encounter an open inspection station.
- You are coming into Montana from out-of-state (you need to be inspected before launching).
- You are traveling west over the Continental Divide into western Montana (the Columbia River Basin).
- You are coming off Tiber or Canyon Ferry Reservoirs.
- You are launching anywhere within the Flathead Basin and your watercraft last launched on waters outside of the Flathead Basin.
If there are any questions concerning watercraft inspections, please contact the FWP Region 6 Headquarters in Glasgow at 228-3700 or AIS coordinator Sean Flynn at 230-1746.
(via MT FWP)
