Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hosts its annual Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Management Plan update on March 16 at 6 p.m. in Helena. Hear population trends and management updates for Canyon Ferry, Hauser, Holter, and nearby Missouri River sections—and learn what keeps these popular fisheries producing year after year.

Montana K9 Safety is hosting a free trap release workshop for Bozeman-area dog owners on March 26. Expect hands-on demos with multiple trap types, a look at current trapping regulations, and simple tools that can help you safely free a dog if an accident happens on the trail.

Online registration for the 1st Annual Fort Peck Montana Tournament of Kings opens in 6 days, and with a 150-boat limit, spots could go fast. Here’s what to do now to be ready when the link drops—plus how to stay in the loop.

A paddlefish tagged in South Dakota in 2023 turned up in Kentucky during a June 2025 bowfishing trip—after an estimated 922-mile river journey. The surprising recovery has fisheries officials impressed, and it’s a reminder of just how far these prehistoric fish can roam.

Montana auctions moved 5,837 head in the first week of March with seasonal, quality-driven mixed trends. Feeder cattle ran steady to weak, replacement females dominated offerings, and slaughter bulls were the week’s standout—up $5–$8 as packers look for lean trim. Here’s the price recap, supply breakdown, and what to watch as spring grass demand builds.

MinnDak Outdoors hits the Missouri River below a dam for early spring walleye—covering lure and bait approach, subtle bites, and the full catch-clean-cook experience from riverbank to plate.

The National Farmers Union has awarded Dr. Dale McCall its highest honor—the Meritorious Service Award—recognizing four decades of leadership supporting family farms and ranchers across the Mountain West. McCall and fellow 2026 recipient Joe Logan were praised for lifelong service through Farmers Union and beyond.

The University of Montana has launched a new Chair of Fisheries Science with $5 million from 56 donors. Yoichiro Kanno will lead research on how warming temperatures and shrinking snowpack are reshaping trout habitat—and what restoration, student training, and science can do to help Montana’s iconic rivers endure.

Ice fishing isn’t just drilling a hole and waiting. Catch more fish by moving, experimenting with depth and presentations, and paying attention to structure—plus learn seven common rookie mistakes to avoid, straight from @Girlof10000Lakes.

After a record-setting 2025, Montana cattle producers are looking at a 2026 market shaped by historic lows in the national beef cow herd and unusually high volatility. Industry outlooks suggest bigger price swings—creating major opportunity, but also real budget and risk-management challenges for ranching operations across Big Sky Country.

Montana State University’s Nick Hagerty analyzed the 2022 Census of Agriculture and found a striking imbalance: irrigated acres make up just 7% of Montana cropland, yet they produce more than a quarter of the state’s crop value—about $737 million. Here’s what the data shows about yields, crop mix, and why irrigation punches far above its weight in Big Sky agriculture.

In a new on-the-water video, Tom Boley breaks in a new Warrior Boat while targeting early-spring walleyes with a simple, effective plan: jig live bait on channel points, lean on sensitive gear for subtle bites, and use modern electronics (plus dependable battery power) to fish with more confidence.

A Coeur d’Alene man has been sentenced in a North Idaho poaching case involving the unlawful killing of three white-tailed deer and one elk. Idaho Fish and Game says the case included nighttime hunting activity involving artificial light and resulted in jail time, restitution, and a long hunting license suspension.

You don’t need to sacrifice oral hygiene to protect wild places. From brushing with water to baking soda and natural chewing sticks—plus Leave No Trace ways to handle toothpaste waste—here are practical options for responsible backcountry tooth care.

Montana’s Stillwater River is still running cold despite a warmer-than-average winter, keeping fishing from fully turning on yet. Low flows have trout holding in deeper slots, where patient nymphing has produced action. Here’s what Montana Angler reported on March 6, 2026—and what to expect as spring temperatures rise.

Local anglers say ice conditions on the north end of Seeley Lake are deteriorating as warmer weather moves in, with open water growing along the shoreline. If you’re considering going out, use caution—ice can change fast when it starts separating from shore.

A joyful kids ice fishing moment at Hebgen Lake captures laughter, excitement, and winter magic with Kids-N-Snow in West Yellowstone—shared by Garrett Ostler on Saturday, March 7. Watch the video and get inspired for your next family day on the ice.

Winter finally let go at Canyon Ferry Lake: the ice is officially gone, boats are already launching, and the ramps are open for spring anglers ready to get back on open water.

City crews and the Billings Fire Department moved quickly Thursday after reports of an oily sheen in two Billings waterways. Absorbent booms were deployed to keep the slick from spreading as testing continues to pinpoint the source. Officials say the public is not in danger and the oil did not reach the Yellowstone River or the city’s water intake.

Winter is easing toward early spring across Montana, and anglers are splitting time between lingering lake ice and late-winter river trout fishing. Here’s what changed with longer days, what flies are producing on the Madison and Missouri, and where to listen to both hours of the March 7 Montana Outdoor Radio Show.

March is teasing spring across Montana, but ice conditions are turning more variable—especially near shorelines and pressure cracks. Meanwhile, open water remains consistent, with the Madison and Missouri producing steady trout action on midges, sowbugs, and small nymph rigs. Here’s what to watch and how to adjust your approach right now.

Karl Tyler wanted a cattle ranch since 8th grade—but didn’t have money for land or cattle. On the Montana Outdoor Podcast, he tells Downrigger Dale how hard work and long-term focus took him from washing cars at a dealership to owning multiple dealerships and, ultimately, building a top-tier cattle operation that’s turning heads across the industry.

Kokanee Quinn resurrects a hard-to-find Alaska community-cookbook classic: salmon loaf—made with thawed frozen salmon (not canned) plus a little smoked salmon, cream, butter, Parmesan, lemon zest, and hot sauce. The result eats like a rich salmon burger baked into a loaf with a buttery, crumbly topping—easy enough for weeknights, impressive enough for guests.

Onlookers captured a rare Yellowstone standoff: a bison herd forming a defensive ring around calves as 23 wolves circled for nearly an hour in the Lamar Valley before retreating. Here’s what happened, why it matters, and what to watch for as spring wildlife activity ramps up.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks installed an automated gate at Carter’s Bridge Fishing Access Site near Livingston to curb overnight use, vandalism, and after-hours issues. Daytime access remains the same: open daily 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; overnight camping is prohibited.

Gov. Greg Gianforte, Montana DNRC and U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz announced two priority forest management landscapes under Montana’s 20-year Shared Stewardship Agreement—one spanning parts of the Flathead and Kootenai National Forests and another within the Bitterroot—aimed at reducing wildfire risk, improving forest health and supporting wood products jobs.

The U.S. Forest Service will hold a public hearing in Helena on April 1, 2026, on a proposal affecting parts of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Custer Gallatin, and Helena-Lewis and Clark national forests. The Montana Tri-Forest Federal Sustained-Yield Unit aims to provide a predictable timber supply to support local mills, active forest management, and local economies. Oral testimony requires pre-registration by March 31; written comments are accepted through April 10.

A ranching dream that started back in 8th grade. A grind through college struggles and long days at a dealership wash rack. In this Montana Outdoor Podcast sneak peek, Downrigger Dale previews entrepreneur Karl Tyler’s winding path—and teases what might be some of the best cattle in the world. Full episode drops tomorrow morning.

Most Montana basins are now below normal snowpack as of March 1, with conditions commonly ranking in the bottom 5% to 30% of winters on record, according to NRCS. A sharp elevation split remains—higher sites closer to normal, lower sites at record lows—while drought expanded to 95% of the state and early water-supply forecasts point to near-to-below-normal runoff.

A short cold snap tightened the ice on Rock Creek just enough for Don Wilkins to get back out on Fort Peck and pick up several lake trout on jigs and plastics in 65–80 feet—while warning that a warm front could quickly end safe ice. Here’s the latest report, plus safety reminders before you go.

An avalanche investigation says a Feb. 22 slide in Idaho buried a Minnesota father and his 21-year-old son just 15 feet apart, creating overlapping transceiver signals that complicated the rescue. The incident unfolded in Carrot Canyon near West Yellowstone during “considerable” avalanche danger above 8,000 feet, with multiple slides triggered on the same slope.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists are back in the Cabinet Mountains near Libby, using hounds to locate mountain lions and collect biological samples. The work adds to more than 25 years of research, helping compare today’s lions with earlier data and informing population estimates, harvest tracking, and long-term management.

With the Gallatin running at 301 CFS at Gallatin Gateway, The River’s Edge reports fishing has been phenomenal—and even a colder stretch shouldn’t slow the bite much. Most consistent action is still subsurface: nymph rigs through deeper seams and buckets, or covering water with streamers. Here’s what’s working, plus section-by-section tips for fishing the Gallatin from Yellowstone to the Valley.