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
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Hunt in Montana
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Venison Chili Dogs

Sep-14-25 by Angela Montana

Are you hungry, and looking for something that will actually fill you up?

Bighorn River Fishing Report 9.11.25

Sep-14-25 by Angela Montana

The fish are still biting—dry flies are tricky, but nymphs, terrestrials, and streamers are putting anglers on the water…

LIVE Saturday Mornings
from 6:06am to 8:00am

Montana Outdoor Podcast

New Episodes Every Saturday!

Rookies, Rods & Rewards: The Mack Days Money Question Answered

Sep-13-25 by Angela Montana

This week. Downrigger Dale put Mack Days to the test: can a newcomer with basic fishing skills walk away with real winnings?

Esclusive Sneak Peek #2: The Truth About First-Timers at Mack Days

Sep-12-25 by Angela Montana

Exclusive Teaser #2: Can a Mack Days rookie really reel in cash on their first try? Catch this sneak peek today before the full episode drops tomorrow!

MT Outdoor Podcast: Audie Stein Shares His Incredible Story

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From excitement to terror: Audie Stein’s night that almost didn’t make it.

Flathead’s Best-Kept Fishing Secret Revealed on MT Outdoor Podcast

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast, Downrigger Dale gets the legendary ‘Whitefish Whisperer’ to spill his secrets for hooking Flathead Lake’s hardest-fighting — and best-tasting — fish.

Exclusive MT Outdoor Podcast Sneak Peek: Whitefish Wisdom with Ross Tate

Aug-29-25 by Angela Montana

The ‘Whitefish Whisperer’ spills his Flathead Lake secrets on this week’s Montana Outdoor Podcast, and we have an exclusive sneak peek right here, right now!


Montana Tourney Trail

Montana Fishing Reports

Outdoor How-To

How To: Pike Handling Protocol

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Every angler has a style when holding pike…here’s one angler’s “how to” video…

How To Master the King Salmon Fillet

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Clean your king salmon catch before it even knows what happened…

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That sparkling mountain stream might be beautiful—but could also completely ruin your weekend…

MT Wildlife

Reminder: Do Not Paint Wildlife…smh

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This strange Connecticut story about painted squirrels comes with an important message…

Deer Dining

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Deer don’t diet in the fall—here’s what’s on their seasonal menu and why it matters for hunters. More from Montana Grant here!

Cruelty Is Not Comedy

Sep-12-25 by Angela Montana

This disturbing viral video isn’t just shocking—it’s a lesson in accountability and respect…

Viral Stories

Bear’s Journey from Montana to the Savanna

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From Montana’s peaks to Africa’s plains, this pup’s next job is guarding the herd to spare the fastest cat alive…

A Drone’s Fiery Encounter in Sidney, MT

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A routine storm chase detoured into a fireball-filled explosion in Sidney, Montana…

A Bison’s Final Steps at YNP’s Grand Prismatic Spring

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Onlookers horrified at a bison took one wrong step into Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring…

Cow moose, 2 calves dead after encounter with angler

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On the morning of June 14, 2025, Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel received a report that a cow moose had been shot in a confrontation with an angler on the North Tongue River in the Bighorn National Forest near Bear Lodge Resort. When game wardens responded, they found the moose deceased from her injuries.

Montana FWP

Fishing restrictions lifted today on sections of several rivers

Sep-09-25 by Angela Montana

Cooler water temps mean fishing restrictions are lifted on the Upper Bitterroot, Upper Madison, and Shields rivers—but low flows have forced a full closure on the North Fork Blackfoot to protect bull trout…

Wild Game Recipes

Venison Chili Dogs

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Are you hungry, and looking for something that will actually fill you up?

Cooking with Kokanee Quinn: Thai Stir Fry

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Kokanee Quinn went on a flavor quest across the internet and found a stir fry treasure!