Montana is changing shed antler hunting rules for 2026, focusing on nonresidents on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The update creates a $50 nonresident shed hunting license for WMAs and adds a seven-day waiting period after WMAs open in spring. Most WMAs open at 12 p.m. on May 15, but some have different opening times.

When your boss says “work from anywhere,” most people think a kitchen table or coffee shop. Ice anglers think: the lake. Here’s how remote-work flexibility becomes an ice-fishing office—plus key takeaways and a safety reminder.

Glacier National Park will pilot a ticketed shuttle system to Logan Pass in summer 2026, including early-morning express routes. Starting July 1 (weather permitting), private vehicle parking at Logan Pass will be limited to three hours, and no vehicle reservations will be required anywhere in the park in 2026.

A snowmobile rider died in an avalanche Sunday in the Centennial Mountains near Island Park, Idaho. The slide was reported north of the Keg Springs trailhead. The victim has not been identified, and officials said more information will be gathered after a site visit Monday.

Montana is closing the season for male mountain lions in Lion Management Unit (LMU) 123 and LMU 340 one-half hour after sunset on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, by order of the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission. Hunters should check current quota status before heading out.

Final winter fishing update for Helena-area reservoirs. Ice conditions vary widely and can change fast—use extreme caution. Canyon Ferry: open water is expanding on the south end and undermining ice in many areas. Reports resume in April for the summer season.

Mark your calendar for February 28: the 2026 Kalispell Wolf Banquet is headed to the Flathead County Fairgrounds. Come hungry for a memorable meal, then stick around for games, raffles, and auction items worth bidding on.

A recent cold snap and heavy snow thickened ice across NW Montana, opening bigger lakes and new opportunities for larger fish. Here’s what Montana Fishing Guides are seeing, plus a quick look at the week ahead with warmer temps and potential rain.

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission has ordered LMU 680 closed to all hunting of female mountain lions one-half hour after sunset on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Check Montana FWP for current quota status details.

A calm-looking elk can still be unpredictable—especially around food. After a child’s fingers were nibbled while hand-feeding an elk, this reminder is worth repeating: admire wildlife from a safe distance and don’t offer food for photos or “cute moments.”

A mild, stable late winter has kept Montana rivers clear and consistent, with trout feeding more reliably than usual. Rising Trout Fly Fishing Outfitters reports solid clarity, steady flows, and the most consistent action coming on subsurface presentations.

Mark your calendar for February 28: the 2026 Kalispell Wolf Banquet is headed to the Flathead County Fairgrounds. Come hungry for a memorable meal, then stick around for games, raffles, and auction items worth bidding on.

A recent cold snap and heavy snow thickened ice across NW Montana, opening bigger lakes and new opportunities for larger fish. Here’s what Montana Fishing Guides are seeing, plus a quick look at the week ahead with warmer temps and potential rain.

The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission has ordered LMU 680 closed to all hunting of female mountain lions one-half hour after sunset on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Check Montana FWP for current quota status details.

A calm-looking elk can still be unpredictable—especially around food. After a child’s fingers were nibbled while hand-feeding an elk, this reminder is worth repeating: admire wildlife from a safe distance and don’t offer food for photos or “cute moments.”

A mild, stable late winter has kept Montana rivers clear and consistent, with trout feeding more reliably than usual. Rising Trout Fly Fishing Outfitters reports solid clarity, steady flows, and the most consistent action coming on subsurface presentations.

In this recap of the Montana Outdoor Radio Show, we cover late-winter fishing conditions across Montana: improving ice reports in some areas, inconsistent thickness and pressure cracks, river fishing success, and cold-water trout tips—plus a winter safety reminder and where to hear the full episode.

Late February brings mixed ice conditions across Montana. Smaller lakes are holding better ice, while Fort Peck and Canyon Ferry remain uneven in spots. Where safe ice exists, anglers are finding perch and occasional walleye. Open water continues to be steady, with the Madison and Missouri producing trout on midges, sowbugs, and small patterns.

On the Montana Outdoor Podcast, host Downrigger Dale talks with Racheal Vargas of Montana K9 Safety and Montana Health & Safety Training about practical classes that teach people how to help save friends, family, and even pets.

Kokanee Quinn’s latest find is a cold-morning win: easy venison breakfast sausage stuffed pancakes by Jenn Homa. Savory venison sausage tucked into fluffy pancakes, finished with maple syrup—sweet, salty, handheld, and built for everything from rut-chasing to couch lounging.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is investing more in hunter education as youth interest drops and families and volunteers face packed schedules. The agency hired seven regional education technicians to support courses and firearm safety requirements for those born after Jan. 1, 1985.