Good afternoon, Montanans (and visitors!) and welcome to mud season! Roads and trails on the B-D are a sloppy, soupy, mess and they will be until nighttime temps rise.
Far beneath the surface the soil is still frozen. Moisture from melting snow can’t be fully absorbed as it is later in the season. This pattern contributes to spring flooding and the associated hazards as well as erosion, falling rock, and thick mud.
Forest visitors should be prepared for slick, and varied conditions on FS roads. Remember, forest roads are not maintained for heavy traffic, however our roads crew of 9 works hard to keep them in operable condition. Please don’t hesitate to contact a District Office if you come across any safety or road hazards due to the spring melt.
It is wise to carry a shovel in your vehicle just in case you need to dig out of a sticky situation; strategic rock placement can also help when the tires are spinning. As always, avoid any off-road motor vehicle use. Moist soil conditions can lead to compaction and rutting which in turn hamper nutrient uptake. A little dirt never hurt but might require additional planning. So, head on out there and enjoy springtime forest activities just don’t forget to leave your boots at the door.
Guest Writer: Mandalyn Child, Resource Assistant, BDNF
May be an image of road

Fishing with Battleships

Jun-15-25 by Angela Montana

When Montana’s legendary Salmon Fly hatch erupts, the fish go wild—and so do the mishaps, so watch yer back cast! More from Montana Grant here..

FINAL RESULTS:143.15 pounds takes first place at Tiber Walleye Tournament

Jun-14-25 by Moosetrack Megan

38 teams competed with three teams each bringing in a jaw-dropping 110+pounds in the Tiber Walleye Tournament! Unofficially a U.S. walleye tournament 2-day record was reached! We’ll update you when we hear it’s official!

Montana Fishing Reports

Don Wilkins’ Weekly Fort Peck Fishing Report 6.11.25

Jun-12-25 by Angela Montana

From walleye in the shallows to salmon in the deep, fishing action is heating up across the board….

Fresno Walleye Tourney Canceled

Jun-10-25 by Angela Montana

Low water canceled the Fresno Walleye tourney, but silver lining: a long-awaited boat ramp upgrade is finally launching next week.

FWP Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report 6.9.25

Jun-09-25 by Angela Montana

Walleye are biting, rainbows are running, and the carp spawn’s in full swing…

Montana Tourney Trail

FINAL RESULTS:143.15 pounds takes first place at Tiber Walleye Tournament

Jun-14-25 by Moosetrack Megan

38 teams competed with three teams each bringing in a jaw-dropping 110+pounds in the Tiber Walleye Tournament! Unofficially a U.S. walleye tournament 2-day record was reached! We’ll update you when we hear it’s official!

68.6 pounds leads Day 1 of Tiber Walleye Tournament

Jun-13-25 by Moosetrack Megan

38 teams competed with three teams catching incredible, amazing, unbelievable weights!

FINAL RESULTS 2025 ROCK CREEK WALLEYE TOURNAMENT

Jun-07-25 by Moosetrack Megan

High winds brought the 2025 Rock Creek Walleye Tournament to an early close on Saturday, with forecasts for Sunday predicting worsening conditions. Here are the teams that battled it out and came out on top!

Final results Crooked Creek Tourney on Fort Peck

May-17-25 by Moosetrack Megan

48 teams battled it out on Fort Peck Reservoir in the Crooked Creek Walleye Tournament Friday and Saturday! See the winning team’s total weight, which approached triple digits!

Last Week’s Show: Father’s Day Fish Tales & Montana Mayhem

Jun-14-25 by Kamp Cook

Last weekend’s episode of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show had it all — trophy walleye updates, bear drama in the […]

Montana Fishing Report: What’s Biting Statewide This Week

Jun-14-25 by Kamp Cook

From the Flathead to the Bighorn, the bite is heating up across Montana. We’ve got fresh reports from local anglers, […]

Montana Outdoor Podcast

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Becoming an Outdoors Woman Meets The Montana Outdoor Podcast

May-31-25 by Angela Montana

You definitely won’t want to miss today’s episode of The Montana Outdoor Podcast!

Outdoor How-To

How to Clean a Trout

May-11-25 by Angela Montana

Here’s a quick way to clean a trout…

How To Snag and Release Paddlefish with FWP

May-01-25 by Angela Montana

Snagging a river dinosaur might sound crazy to some, but in Montana, it’s just another paddlefish season….

How To De-Skunk Your Dog

Apr-01-25 by Angela Montana

That “special” new scent your dog is rocking? Yeah, here’s one way to get rid of that…

MT Wildlife

What Happens Near a Wolf Den… Might Involve a Helicopter

Jun-09-25 by Angela Montana

Think bears are the only thing that’ll chase you up a tree? Try stumbling near a wolf den during pup season…

A Duck’s Reign of Terror

May-28-25 by Angela Montana

A Florida neighborhood is under siege by a surprisingly aggressive duck—and residents are learning the hard way that waddles can quickly turn to warfare.

When a Smoke Break Turns Savage–with a Coyote

May-21-25 by Angela Montana

A quiet smoke break turned full-on wilderness brawl for one guy…..

Montana Hunting

FINAL RESULTS:143.15 pounds takes first place at Tiber Walleye Tournament

Jun-14-25 by Moosetrack Megan

38 teams competed with three teams each bringing in a jaw-dropping 110+pounds in the Tiber Walleye Tournament! Unofficially a U.S. walleye tournament 2-day record was reached! We’ll update you when we hear it’s official!

Areas Open Temporarily For Firewood Cutting

Jun-14-25 by Moosetrack Megan

The Bitterroot National Forest will temporarily open several roads this summer for the public to access personal use firewood. To learn more about each area and view maps of the locations, visit our website, call, or stop by any Forest Service office. 

Montana Fishing Report: What’s Biting Statewide This Week

Jun-14-25 by Kamp Cook

From the Flathead to the Bighorn, the bite is heating up across Montana. We’ve got fresh reports from local anglers, […]

Wintertime Cloud Seeding Feasibility Study Complete

Jun-13-25 by Moosetrack Megan

The study analyzed conditions in the north Beaverhead, Anaconda/Pintler and Pioneer Mountain Ranges to estimate outcomes associated with both ground-based and airborne cloud seeding operations in the Big Hole Watershed.

Viral Stories

Fishing for Trout and Catching Elk Fever

May-15-25 by Angela Montana

One minute you’re casting for trout, the next you’re front row at an elk concert….

Cannibal Male Grizzly Kills and Consumes Two of Grizzly 1063’s Cubs

May-15-25 by montanaoutdoor

In a tragic turn of events at Grand Teton National Park, two of Grizzly 1063’s three yearling cubs were found […]