Winter conditions now shape the Madison River, with year-round park water remaining mild and holding late-season fish. The Upper and Lower sections are colder, offering strong wading and nymphing opportunities, especially in Bear Trap Canyon. Fish deep during late morning and afternoon using Rubberlegs, Zebra Midges, and Parachute Adams. Check gauges before fishing, as conditions can change quickly.

Montana FWP highlights three upcoming events: a Nov. 12 guided fish dissection for families at Montana WILD in Helena; Nov. 17 discussions in Columbia Falls about conservation easements and public access; and a Lone Pine State Park presentation on James J. Hill’s railroad and its influence on Kalispell, Whitefish, and Glacier National Park.

The Montana Ice Grand Slam returns for the 2026–2027 ice-fishing season, running December 1 through March 31. Anglers compete by totaling their longest catches across 27 Montana species. Registration is limited to 30 participants, costs $30, and last year’s top three split $500. Sign up through the Fish Donkey app.

Six grizzlies on a Choteau calving lot, 35 miles from the mountains. A new video explains why Montana’s bears keep moving onto the plains.

Found a dead goose or ducks while hunting? Learn how to spot bird flu risks, protect yourself and your dogs, and report sick or dead birds in Montana.

GYE grizzly deaths hit a modern record high for the third straight year. Here's what Montana elk hunters need to know right now in the field.

FWP reminds hunters that Nov. 30 is a key deadline. Residents must purchase bobcat hunting or trapping licenses by then, while one new mountain lion license covers fall and winter seasons. Hunters must verify LMU quotas, and nonresidents should review hound-license rules. Other dates include bison opening Nov. 15 and several seasons closing Nov. 29.

Montana’s ski season faces a warm, mostly dry start, particularly in the northwest, as El Niño influences unreliable long-range forecasts. Southeastern Montana remains severely drought-stricken, with historically low surface water raising concerns about a prolonged dry winter. Resorts may need snowmaking, with openings scheduled from late November through December, while nearby Wyoming and Idaho offer alternatives.

Blaine County’s Fur Fest returns to Chinook, Montana, December 4–6, 2026, combining coyote and small-game hunting with raffles, prizes, and community fundraising. Proceeds support fairgrounds improvements, 4-H, and FFA programs. With updated rules and online registration, organizers encourage teams to register early and support participating local sponsors.

A truck blows through a check station near Dillon and wardens spot deer blood in the bed. See how it plays out and what it means for Montana hunters.

Montana FWP reports 14 affected sites, mostly with maintenance, construction, or cleanup advisories rather than full closures. Brogan’s Landing remains completely closed. Others offer modified access, including walk-in, bank fishing, or open sections. Conditions are temporary and may change, so visitors should verify current restrictions with FWP before traveling.

Skip the July crowds. Winter and late fall fishing on Montana's rivers means empty banks, hungry trout, and a quiet stretch of water all to yourself.

Master late-fall streamer fishing in Montana. Get the best flies, rigs and tactics for post-spawn browns on the Yellowstone, Madison and Missouri.

Late-season browns are crushing streamers on the Yellowstone below Livingston. Here's what's working now and why this narrow fall window closes sooner than you think.

BILLINGS, Mont. — The Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas, Governor Greg Gianforte, and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and […]

(Washington, D.C., November 10, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum […]

(Kalispell, MT, November 10, 2026) — The Flathead National Forest announced today that the Tally Lake Ranger District has released the […]

The Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation (SBFC) isproud to share its 2026 season accomplishments in the Selway-Bitterrootand Frank Church-River of […]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge Review received strong support from the Boone and Crockett Club. Its recommendations emphasize active habitat management, field-based staffing, accountable implementation, and collaboration with neighboring landowners. The Club credited Theodore Roosevelt and hunters’ funding for the system’s foundation and urged prompt execution of the reforms.

Montana’s Griz-Bobcats rivalry will unite fans in blaze orange during the Nov. 21 Brawl of the Wild. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Town Pump, and both athletic departments will distribute 4,000 free hunting vests promoting respect for private property and landowners. Fans can also join stewardship activities and enter a hunt-and-gear raffle.

Elk handle the landscape a lot like we do: they go where the gates are, and they leave when the […]

Midseason checks in southwestern Montana found mixed hunter participation and success amid unusually mild weather. Biologists contacted 759 hunters, who harvested 39 elk, 29 mule deer and two white-tailed deer. Participation and success varied by station, with Divide notably busier. Black and grizzly bears remain active, requiring continued bear awareness.

Warm weather marked the third weekend of Montana’s big-game season, drawing 704 hunters to south-central check stations. Harvests generally exceeded averages, with mule deer leading at 228, followed by white-tailed deer at 163, elk at 147, and antelope at 82. CWD testing found 10 positives among 373 submitted samples.

Big game harvest along Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front remains above average after three weekends, despite slightly fewer hunters using the Augusta check station. Hunters have reported 289 deer and elk, including strong whitetail and elk numbers, with success near 25 percent. The station also recorded other wildlife and continues operating through Nov. 29.

Montana’s 2026–27 wolf season has produced 46 of 300 permitted harvests so far, led by Regions 1 and 2. Region 3 has reached one-third of its cap, while WMU 313 is closed after meeting its limit. Four regions report no kills. All harvests were by hunters; trapping begins November 30, with no reported non-target captures.

Zack Boughton and Colby Adamek spend a week chasing a mature mountain buck with heavy packs. Here’s what Montana hunters can take from it.

David Draper’s pronghorn field-judging advice emphasizes caution: appearance can mislead. Estimate horn length from multiple angles, accounting for curl and using the animal’s features as references. Measure prongs from tip to horn center, remembering hidden width adds roughly two inches. Most importantly, evaluate horn mass and base shape, ideally broadside, since mass heavily influences score.

Yellowstone-region grizzly deaths have set a modern record for the third straight year, and 2026 has already topped prior marks with weeks left before denning.

A 120-pound ewe with a red ear tag vanished from a Montana ranch two months ago. Officials fear she could spread disease to wild herds. Here's the full story.

Western Montana’s late-fall fishing is productive amid mild weather, settled flows, and reduced crowds. Trout are holding in deep, slow winter water, with BWOs and midges dominating surface activity. The best window is 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Bitterroot waters offer the strongest overall fishing, while the Blackfoot favors streamers and Rock Creek wading.

The 2026 Fall Mack Days event broke records with 21,985 lake trout entries over nine weeks, supporting efforts to restore native trout in Flathead Lake. Terry Krogstad led overall with 1,626 entries, while Shaunda Albert won Top Lady Angler. Winners also included youth, Golden Angler, tagged-fish, and Spirit of the Event recipients.

Pronghorn season ended in southeast Montana with pleasant weather, slightly below-average hunter attendance, and strong pronghorn harvests. Hunters generally reported good pronghorn and mule deer numbers and satisfactory experiences. Mule deer and white-tailed deer harvests remained below average, partly because of conservative license allocations. Officials reminded all hunters to stop at biological check stations, which support wildlife management.

After three weekends, west-central Montana’s big game harvest is near last year’s levels and slightly above the five-year average. Stations recorded 78 mule deer, 224 white-tailed deer and 184 elk from 5,324 hunter stops. Hunters must stop at every check station and can voluntarily submit free CWD samples at designated locations.

Northwest Montana check stations recorded 269 white-tailed deer, 48 mule deer bucks and 32 elk among 4,832 hunters through the third weekend. Harvest success was 7.2%, down from 8.3% in 2025, likely because of warm weather. Cooler conditions and the rut may improve results. Hunters should review regulations, access rules, bear safety guidance and CWD testing requirements.

Les Hicks drew a tag most hunters only dream about…then actually made it count!! He shared his picture and brief […]

Montana feeder prices slid Nov. 1-7 as CME futures sold off and mud thinned the buyer pool. See what it means for your calves and next sale.