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.
This week’s Montana Outdoor Radio Show recap covers improving—but still inconsistent—ice conditions statewide, strong perch bites on smaller lakes, unpredictable larger waters, and late-winter river trout tactics (including flies that are producing) as longer days begin to shift fish behavior. Plus, a few classic slush-depth lessons learned. Catch the full episode for statewide fishing updates and Montana outdoor talk.
Closing out February with classic late-winter conditions: some lakes are finally offering decent ice, but thickness varies—especially on larger reservoirs. Here’s the latest on Fort Peck, Canyon Ferry, and why smaller lakes remain the safer bet.
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.