Nov 28, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Fish and Wildlife Commission restricts catch limit
Going against the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ staff recommendations, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission recently restricted raising […]
Nov 22, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Judith River land donated for state park
A history-rich parcel of land along the Judith and Missouri rivers in north-central Montana has been donated to the Montana […]
Nov 15, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Study adds new understanding of chronic wasting diseasets:
A recently published study conducted at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton mapped […]
Nov 8, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: 10-year Montana moose study wraps up
There was a lot of concern 11 years ago when Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks started a 10-year study of […]
Oct 31, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French presents: River advisory council drafting ideas
An advisory council created by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to provide guidance on river recreation has come up with […]
Oct 25, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Big medicine’ for combat veterans
Post-9/11 combat veterans can now learn the sport of archery hunting through Bozeman-based Warriors & Quiet Waters. The nonprofit began […]
Oct 17, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French Reports: Forest Service: Budget restrictions won’t affect Montana avalanche centers
As Congress has delayed finalizing the federal budget for fiscal year 2025, the Forest Service has constricted its employment of […]
Oct 10, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Wildlife overpass engineer work funded
Funding has been awarded to conduct an engineering study aimed at building two wildlife overpasses between Livingston and Gardiner along […]
Oct 4, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: 3 lakes in 3 days
Montana’s Tobacco Root Mountains have been discovered, for good reason. They are centrally located, full of public campgrounds, trails and […]
Sep 26, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: A national wolf discussion
People who disagree seem to get angrier easier these days. When it comes to talking about large predators, like wolves, […]
Sep 12, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French Reports: Bears in the crosshairs
A noted grizzly bear biologist said Yellowstone-area bears can handle a “well-managed, conservate” hunt. Frank van Manen, leader of the […]
Sep 5, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Hawg hunting–Lunker Fort Peck chinook salmon lure anglers
There are so many intricacies to fishing for chinook salmon at Fort Peck Reservoir it can be a bit intimidating. […]
Aug 29, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Stories in ancient rock art
Central Montana is home to some unique and ancient rock art sites, places where Native Americans painted or etched figures […]
Aug 22, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Elk damage hunts begin as judge shoots more holes in property owners’ lawsuit
Despite the fact it’s August and still hitting 90 degrees, elk damage hunts have begun across Montana. The hunts are […]
Aug 9, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Pronghorn obstacles identified in 4-year study
A four-year study conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks of eight pronghorn populations across the state helped identify numerous […]
Aug 2, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: A 360-degree view of the Lewis & Clark trail
The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail travels 4,900 miles across 16 states, including Montana. A Virginia company, Terrain360, is […]
Jul 25, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Grizzly close encounter
Chester Evitt was sitting in his recliner watching a Jennifer Lopez action movie on July 16 when a 500-pound grizzly […]
Jul 18, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Big Sky opens Lone Peak Tram for summer trips
On a blue sky weekend it’s hard to top the view from 11,166-foot Lone Peak in the Madison Range. On […]
Jul 12, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Managing mountain lions
Increased mountain lion quotas in the west-central ecogregion were approved last month by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. That […]
Jul 4, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Yellowstone’s wolf queen
An 11-year-old, one-eyed female wolf that lives in Yellowstone National Park has led an amazing life. The wolf, named 907F […]
Jun 21, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Unique conservation exchange
Imagine touching snow for the first time. Or seeing your first bear or wolf. That was Tanzanian scientist and conservationist […]
Jun 7, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Rainy May boosts upper Missouri River runoff
Parts of Montana received more than 200% of their normal precipitation for the month of May, according to the U.S. […]
May 30, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Exhibit honors early Yellowstone women
By 1926, Yellowstone National Park boasted five women rangers. That was pretty progressive considering the United States had only granted […]
May 23, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Trout vs. walleye on Missouri River above Canyon Ferry
Walleye numbers have climbed on the Missouri River in the 23-mile stretch from Canyon Ferry to Toston Dam. Earlier this […]
May 16, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: He ain’t heavy, he’s my friend
While hunters are used to packing out their wild game when stalking away from roads, most aren’t carrying large loads […]
May 9, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Yellowstone fisheries chief highlights top spots
Anglers interested in chasing native trout have some options in Yellowstone National Park. For example, when Yellowstone Lake opens on […]
May 3, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: BLM authorizes access route into Missouri Breaks
Following the completion of an environmental assessment, Bureau of Land Management officials have decided to open a half-mile route into […]
Apr 25, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: E-bikes pedaling into park
Yellowstone National Park’s short spring cycling season, when bikes are allowed before vehicles, is over but use of e-bikes is […]
Apr 18, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Yellowstone River stays closed to waterfowl hunting
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to keep an 87-mile stretch of the Yellowstone River closed […]
Apr 11, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: As private fish ponds multiply, so do FWP’s problems
Private fish ponds have become a popular amenity on Montana properties, with Fish, Wildlife & Parks processing, on average, 200 […]
Apr 4, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Yellowstone bison hunts quiet compared to last year
State and tribal bison hunters took 25 bison that migrated out of Yellowstone National Park this winter, according to the […]
Mar 28, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: New computer tool allows users to travel back in time
Ever wonder what your favorite hunting spot looked like in the 1950s? Or maybe you are curious about how development […]
Mar 22, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: BLM’s draft sage grouse plan out for comment
The Bureau of Land Management has updated its greater sage grouse management plan for western states and is taking public […]
Mar 14, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: FWP proposal would lift Yellowstone River waterfowl closure
A proposal before the Fish and Wildlife Commission would lift a 66-year-old waterfowl hunting closure along an 87-mile stretch of […]
Mar 8, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Moose migrating to southeastern Montana
Hunters’ ears may have perked up when they heard Region 7 in southeastern Montana will be offering one moose tag […]
Feb 29, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Technology aids search and rescue
Search and rescue calls in busy recreational areas like the Gallatin Valley have become more and more common. To assist […]
Feb 23, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Yellowstone River concerns rise in wake of spill
Conservation groups and fishing outfitters have voiced their concerns in recent correspondence with the groups overseeing the cleanup of the […]
Feb 15, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Upland bird proposals draw many comments
Amendments that would delay nonresident upland game bird hunting and dog training in Montana drew pages of comments from hunters. […]
Feb 8, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Fort Peck Dam water releases possible
This spring, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers may conduct its test releases of water from Fort Peck Dam. The […]
Feb 1, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Elk population surges south of Red Lodge following 2021 Robertson Draw fire
In 2021 a 30,000-acre wildland fire spread across the Beartooth Mountains south of Red Lodge. Two years later, new growth […]
Jan 25, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Upland bird meetings reveal hunting details
Two meetings last week in eastern Montana highlighted upland bird hunting pressure, bird population trends and was where amendments were […]
Jan 18, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Hunting boundary moved near Gardiner
The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission agreed at its meeting in December to realign the boundary of two hunting districts […]
Jan 12, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Commission cuts mule deer doe hunting in Eastern Montana
Mule deer numbers in many areas of Montana have seen significant declines in recent years. That prompted Fish and Wildlife […]
Jan 8, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: No fooling: Fort Peck angler Brian Olson’s tactics, techniques catch big fish
Brett French, Outdoors Editor for the Billings Gazette, highlighted Brian Olson of Fort Peck in a recent article–and you don’t […]
Jan 4, 2024 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: BLM proposes road to access Breaks
The Bureau of Land Management on Wednesday announced a public comment period for a proposal to open a half-mile section […]
Dec 28, 2023 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Wasteful considerations
Visitors to Yellowstone National Park, which now annually tops about 4 million people, are treated to fantastic sights like Old […]
Dec 21, 2023 · Angela Montana
Brett French Reports: Changes to backcountry bighorn hunts considered
Portions of the Beartooth and Absaroka mountains in south-central Montana are unique because they allow unlimited backcountry bighorn sheep hunts. […]
Dec 15, 2023 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: New elk management plan praised, panned
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks unveiled its new elk management plan on Dec. 1 after three years […]
Dec 7, 2023 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Insight from proposed hunting regulation changes
Montana hunters have a lot of information from Fish, Wildlife & Parks to wade through if they want to keep […]
Nov 16, 2023 · Angela Montana
Brett French reports: Grizzly bear photographed in Missouri Breaks
A grizzly bear, possibly an adult male, was photographed by a game camera in the Missouri Breaks in mid-October. The […]