GREAT FALLS – Although the number of hunters passing through FWP’s Augusta check station in 2023 increased from levels seen in 2022, they still reflect a decline of about 25 percent from the long-term average. The number of big game animals checked at the station was also lower for the 2023 season, with a total of... View Article

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Tree stand hunting is a strategy used by many big game hunters. Before tree stands, hunters used blinds, drives, or stalked their prey. Scent, camo, and smarts were important.  The advantage of a tree stand is that hunters can get off the ground. This means that scent and movement are less of a concern. 12-20... View Article

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Wow.  Have you ever seen anything like this before? Some people think it is fake, but other people are 100% supporting this as a real video.  What do you think?

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In the early years of Yellowstone National Park, soldiers in the U.S. Army patrolled the backcountry for poachers. To shelter the soldiers in winter, cabins were built about a day’s ski distance apart – roughly 12 to 16 miles. A few of these structures still stand and others have been rebuilt or upgraded. In total,... View Article

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KALISPELL — Montana’s general deer and elk hunting season wrapped up last weekend and the harvest results at check stations in northwest Montana showed similar results to a year ago. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks tallied more than 10,000 hunters at its four regional check stations in northwest Montana. Hunters reported harvesting 761 white-tailed deer, including... View Article

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HAVRE- The results are in from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Havre check station for the 2023 hunting season. The check station was open for eight weekends from Oct. 7 (the opener of general antelope and pheasant) through Nov. 26 (the end of the deer/elk general season). Overall, hunter numbers and upland game bird harvest... View Article

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BILLINGS – Canada geese that were found dead at Laurel’s South Pond earlier this week have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff responded to reports of sick and dead Canada geese at the popular Laurel park on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Carcasses were transported to FWP’s Wildlife Health Lab... View Article

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Kalispell, MT, December 1, 2023 — Adam LaDell has joined the Flathead National Forest as the Spotted Bear District Ranger. Adam is coming to the Flathead from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico where he served as the Questa District Ranger since 2021. Adam has experience in recreation management and has a passion for wilderness and our national forest... View Article

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Glacier National Park is implementing fee rate changes to most frontcountry campgrounds in 2024 and Apgar Group Sites in 2025.   The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act is the legislation that allows the collection of expanded amenity fees, including camping fees. The law allows Glacier National Park to retain nearly 80 percent of fees collected in the park... View Article

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MORS follower Trent Hansen tagged a beauty of a mule deer buck he harvested in eastern Montana this season.  This whopper of a deer has approximately 26 points and is a stag or “cryptorchid”, which can result in what is referred to as a “cactus buck”. But, what is a cactus buck, and how does... View Article

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Eddy Knowles of Missoula shared a post on Facebook summarizing his 2023 hunting season. Let us know how your season went by posting on the Montana Outdoor Radio Show Facebook page. Here is the post:

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BOZEMAN – Hunter success in southwestern Montana continued to trend mostly at or below average during the latter half of the general deer and elk hunting season, according to data gathered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists. Mild weather conditions during much of the general season made it challenging for hunters to find game... View Article

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The Hunt Montana Facebook page shared a photo and caption of Adeline Richardson’s bull from the 2023 season. @halfass_houndswoman strikes again! Adeline Richardson is likely one of the hardest Montana girls you’ll ever meet. She runs hounds and is no stranger to filling tags… here’s her 2023 bull from a recent hunt. Can’t wait to... View Article

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CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is happy to congratulate Brayden Baker in joining the ranks of the Ultimate Anglers — sportspersons who caught 10 different species of trophy-sized fish in Wyoming. The achievement is recognized as part of the department’s Master Angler program. “Congratulations to Brayden,” said Dirk Miller, Game and Fish deputy... View Article

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West Glacier, MT – November 20, 2023 – Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) and partners have begun Phase II of improving American Disability Act (ADA) accessibility on the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River thanks to a $30,411 grant through the Flathead National Forest and the Flathead Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). The goal of this project is to provide those... View Article

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BOZEMAN – Casey Delphia found two bees that had never been seen in Montana before — right in her backyard. Delphia, an assistant research professor in the Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology in MSU’s College of Agriculture, has found that her own garden is often an excellent place to find pollinators. In 2021, she managed to... View Article

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MISSOULA – The Montana outdoor economy grew 14% from 2021 to 2022. According to the latest report by the  U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), outdoor recreation accounted for 4.3% of Montana’s gross domestic product, positioning the state third in the U.S. based on the proportion of its economy associated with outdoor recreation’s economic impact. “Montana’s contribution is impressive, with... View Article

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HELENA – The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission hearing originally scheduled for Dec. 14 on the proposed regulations governing upland game bird hunting seasons has been postponed until a later commission meeting.   During the public comment period earlier this fall, the public shared insights about hunter experiences in the field, and the department wanted to extend... View Article

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Venturing into the great outdoors is thrilling, but being prepared is the key to unlocking a safe and unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a hunter, trapper, angler, hiker, or any other recreationalist, arming yourself with survival know-how is paramount. We found a few survival tips to guide you as your compass to navigating the wilderness responsibly... View Article

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ANACONDA– Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on four bull elk that were killed near Anaconda sometime between Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19. The incident occurred on the Ueland Ranch & ARCO Block Management Area near Anaconda. The elk were killed in close proximity of each other and only the... View Article

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Fresno is 25% full and Nelson is 80% full. Both reservoirs have a thin layer of ice. I have received no reports of fishing.  Be careful if you venture out on the ice!

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Some fishermen almost never keep or kill a fish. They appreciate the resource and get used to not eating their tasty catches.  Most of the fish that I eat are during Ice Fishing time. I catch and release most of the fish I catch during the rest of the year, except if I go camping... View Article

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If you were looking for something positive, involving teamwork, to see on the internet on this last day of November, we have the perfect video for you right here…

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When you lose a fish on your line, we have all probably felt like this at one time… (click image below)  

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Email us your weekly fishing report to include it in this Montana fishing report compilation before the end of the day on Tuesday of each week here along with your name and website/email address you would like to see listed with your report. Please check the fishing regulations before fishing. ———————— Hell Creek General Recreation Information (November 28, 2023) Click here: www.HellCreekRecreation.com  CLICK... View Article

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Rick Hoistad from North Dakota, and his buddy Ben Galt from White Sulphur Springs, are pictured above showing off a 38” length with 18” girth steelhead on the Clearwater River in Idaho. Nice work, guys!

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Redds are where trout spawn. This egg nest is made but the male and female trout, using their tails as shovels. They remove any surface algae or debris, so they can get to the cleaner gravels. Once the nest/redd is made, the male will nuzzle the side of the female until she releases her eggs.... View Article

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We are all looking for a new place to fish. Exploring is half the fun. Our first-time discoveries are often the best ones! My partner “Meat Stick” was up for an adventure so off we went. Winter is coming fast so a couple nice weather fishing days can’t get wasted.  As a member of a... View Article

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Fishermen flock to Montana for our wonderful fishing. Trout are the most popular but not always the biggest. Trout fishermen stretch many fish to 20 inches, which seems to be the benchmark for Big Sky’s Best size. 5 pounders often earn Big Sky bragging rights.  Ironically, some of the most popular Montana fish are not... View Article

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Fresno is 25% full, inflow 12 cfs & outflow 40 cfs. Fishing is slow. At the time of this report, Fresno may be iced. View the webcam or call the Fresno Tavern for conditions before you trailer a boat. Nelson is 81% full with no in or out flows. Fishing for walleye, northern, and perch... View Article

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Chris Mischke of Big Sky Fishing Charters is still doing great on Flathead Lake. Here is a picture of Chris with a real big Lake Whitefish that weighed in at 7.5 pounds! As you can see his client (pictured above middle and right) also picked up some real nice Smallmouth Bass! Chris said he is... View Article

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Hi everyone, this is the Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report for November 21st, 2023. The data for this report was collected between Monday, November 13th and Sunday, November 19th. Steelhead angler effort along the Upper Salmon River started to decline during the past week, but catch rates continued to improve. The majority of angler... View Article

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Nearly 10,000 hatchery-reared white crappie stocked at TRR MILES CITY – If all goes well, anglers could reap the benefit of experimental crappie production at the Miles City Hatchery, after stocking of 9,800 hatchery-reared white crappie at Tongue River Reservoir on Oct. 10. The crappie population at the reservoir – particularly white crappie – dropped significantly... View Article

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Fresno is 25% full inflow 85 cfs and outflow 40 cfs. Walleye fishing this week has been poor. Check conditions for ice over before pulling a boat to Fresno for fishing. Nelson is 82% full with 0 inflow and outflow. Surface temp early this week was 39 degrees. All species fishing has been good. I... View Article

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Fishermen: Mack Days are over as of Nov 12. Hunting season slows down the fishing of course. Whitefish are biting in the river above the lake and at the Polson bridge. Rance Hertz caught 2 there days ago . Dan Smith was trolling around Melita Island and caught Lake Trout. Crappie are in the sloughs.... View Article

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Here is a photo that was forwarded to us by a follower.  A lot of the internet believes it is photoshopped while a lot of people believe it could happen.. We want to know what you think. Real or fake?  

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The 2023 Fall Mack Days Fishing Event on Flathead Lake sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes is in the books. A total of 17,502 lake trout entries were received. It was the second largest event total since the 2019 Fall Event which had 18,214 entries.  In 2020, the event total was 14,821, in... View Article

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Email us your weekly fishing report to include it in this Montana fishing report compilation before the end of the day on Tuesday of each week here along with your name and website/email address you would like to see listed with your report. Please check the fishing regulations before fishing. ———————— Hell Creek General Recreation Information (November 13, 2023) Click here: www.HellCreekRecreation.com  CLICK... View Article

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Fresno is 25% full, inflow 75 cfs and outflow 40 cfs. Nelson is 82% full with no inflow or outflow. I fished Nelson this week and caught multiple perch, northern, 1 bass, and 1 walleye. Water temp was 40 degrees. I got blown off shortly after noon. The northern and small perch were plentiful in... View Article

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Tune into Hunters’ Breakfast with the Captain for the latest in fishing and hunting reports for Western and Central Montana this Friday morning from 8-9am on KGVO 1290am/93.3fm in Missoula. You may also listen to the recorded version every week on Saturday from the Audio Reports on montanaoutdoor.com. The show is broadcast live from Paradise Falls on the” Banks of Brooks”... View Article

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Recreational vehicles or “R.V.s” are a great way to comfortably and safely venture into the outdoors. Lewis and Clark would have been able to save a lot of time navigating the Missouri River with a jet boat and a pack of wheelers. Instead, they relied upon brains, brawn, and beasts to challenge the wilderness. On... View Article

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Outdoorsmen, women, and kids need snacks and treats to keep them fat, happy, and satisfied. Without a goodie box, hunger can overwhelm a good time. Back in the day, I kept a blue Snackle Box in my truck. It was just an old, sturdy blue Tupperware tub that I kept stocked with assorted goodies. Malty... View Article

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Hunting or fish camp meals are fast, tasty, and plenty. The hunters and anglers are tired and hungry after a long day on the water or in the field. The camp cook has an important job when trying to meet their needs. Bread is an often-overlooked part of a camp meal. Bread is hard to... View Article

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Winters in Montana are LONG!!!! We all tend to gain more than a few pounds. As the winter grows, so do our waistlines! If you plan to chase bulls, in the high-country, run-down antelopes and deer, fly fish the back country, or just want to look and feel better, now is the time to de-flab... View Article

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Big Sky Country has its own special vistas, places, and flavors. Food without spices can be less appealing. There are also more to spices than just salt and pepper. Some spices were used to cure and flavor meats. Salt can be found naturally and is considered an important natural resource. The salt would help to... View Article

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When hunters return from the hills, they will be hungry. Carbs, meat, pasta, and potatoes will fit their bill and bellies. As a camp cook, I enjoy making meals in cast iron Dutch Ovens. This recipe is one of my favorites. It is simple, quick, and there are never any leftovers. I like it also... View Article

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Camping is supposed to be fun, so don’t let little details of things going wrong or creating more work bring you down and spoil the fun! Here are 15 camping hacks that you may or may not already know of that can streamline your next camping trip:

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Humans have been cooking over fire since fire was discovered. Fire cooked foods are healthier and more flavorful. The charcoal from fire burns hot and slow. Outdoor cooking also adds spice to the meal. Even a simple Hot Dog tastes better when on a stick over the campfire. Throw some buns into foil and toast... View Article

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Sportsmen love new stuff. It seems that we never have enough hats, fishing rods, guns, gadgets, garments, and outdoor stuff. More is better, I guess. The more stuff we have the better we feel about our sport. Anglers are especially addicted to collecting more NEW stuff. When I was a kid, I had a cane... View Article

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Montana sunbathing smells like frying bacon. Getting a sunburn is easier at higher altitudes. Big Fry Country means that being outdoors in the sun has its risks. Sunburn is a form of radiation burn. Intense solar radiation impacts living tissue. Overexposure caused by UV rays will cause skin damage. The worst times to get burned... View Article

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Humans seem to have a need to touch and feel wildlife. The problem is that inappropriate touching and feeling are harmful. Recently, there have been several human wildlife encounters in Yellowstone National Park. One man felt that he needed to save a baby bison from swimming the river, another tourist saved a baby elk and... View Article

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Rhubarb is in full leafy growth, just in time for Strawberry season. Each Summer, I harvest several crops of this unique, healthy, and tasty plant. Rhubarb can sometimes be found in ditches or along the edges of old farmers’ fields and roads. Pioneers loved this healthy and versatile plant. You can also use the sap... View Article

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We just celebrated Memorial Day. This holiday honors the memory of great soldiers that helped to keep America free and safe. Their ultimate sacrifice is a high price to pay for freedom. When you remember the heroes, many names come to mind. Often, family members were on that list. As Sportsmen, we also need to... View Article

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Camping is simple and fun. It is supposed to be about enjoying nature without modern conveniences. Yes, you may need to use an outhouse, there may not be a cell signal, the TV will not fit in the tent, and all of that is ok! Years ago, I became the Scoutmaster of troop 676 in... View Article

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Most outdoorsmen have a preferred way to build a fire. Different fires have different uses. Some may be for cooking while others are just for heat or looking at. Whatever type of fire you prefer means you need to keep these tips and tricks in mind. Here are some tips to make your Firepower ignite!... View Article

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  Montana is full of outdoorsmen and women. Many folks migrated here to enjoy the diversity of hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation. Each season has its highs and low points for us all. During the Winter, skiers thrive. If you don’t ski, maybe learn to ice fish. Every outdoor fanatic finds something to do. It’s... View Article

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All sportsmen love FREE stuff. Fishermen can always use more hooks, sinkers, lures, or flies. Hunters always need some extra ammo, shotshells, or gear. Every dollar saved helps. We all know that nothing is FREE. There is always a catch. Maybe you need to do something to get something. Maybe the something is also a... View Article

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Hopefully, some of snowpack will melt and great fishing will begin. So far, ice covered lakes, snow drift lined rivers, and cold weather make fishing tougher. Catch and Release fishermen can struggle along but sometimes an angler must eat. Cooking fish is a wonderful way to enjoy your catch. Fresh fish are best and stream,... View Article

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When we travel around Big Sky Country, it’s nice to listen to some Montana Music. The trip to and from a fishing hole, hunting spot, ski slope, or fun Montana destination becomes better with some good beats. When you search for music about Montana, the pickings are thin. There is a lot of classical music,... View Article

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Plan on doing something new this hunting and fishing season. Life is to too short to pick just one item from the outdoor menu. Any excuse to challenge yourself and get outdoors is worth doing. Like the guy said, you will never regret the time spent outdoors with family and friends. Try gobbling up some... View Article

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General season is behind us. Now we turn our attention to the holidays and hopes of fishing hard water. Hear all of our latest reports from all of our correspondents around the state of Montana. Montana Outdoor Radio Show · December 2nd

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It is the final push to fill tags. With deer rut in full swing and fishing nearing the hardwater stage, it is a great week to be outside. Hear al of our latest reports from our correspondents around the state. Montana Outdoor Radio Show · November 25th

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It is the 7th inning stretch for general rifle season in Montana. As people focus on filling freezers, others are taking advantage of phenomenal fishing. Hear all of our latest reports from our correspondents around the state. Montana Outdoor Radio Show · November 18th

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Happy Veterans Day to all that sered. It is a prime week to get out and try and punch a tag, or take advatage of some amazing fall fishing. Hear all of our latest reports from our corespondents around the state. Montana Outdoor Radio Show · November 11th

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Sportsmen love to play tricks on each other. There is no limit to the creativity that Tricksters will take. The only things that change are the environment and the seasons. Fishing and hunting pranks are different. Pranks we play on kids have some limits but never turn out the way we plan.  Some of the... View Article

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GREAT FALLS – Although the number of hunters passing through FWP’s Augusta check station in 2023 increased from levels seen in 2022, they still reflect a decline of about 25 percent from the long-term average. The number of big game animals checked at the station was also lower for the 2023 season, with a total of... View Article

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GREAT FALLS – Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on five deer that were shot and abandoned near Great Falls. A caller contacted FWP’s TIP-MONT hotline after discovering the deer on Nov. 28, and wardens believe they were killed a day or two earlier. The deer included two white-tailed bucks, two mule... View Article

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It’s snowmobile season in parts of Montana, and for those die hard riders, we have some great campfire meals for you to check out.

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Tree stand hunting is a strategy used by many big game hunters. Before tree stands, hunters used blinds, drives, or stalked their prey. Scent, camo, and smarts were important.  The advantage of a tree stand is that hunters can get off the ground. This means that scent and movement are less of a concern. 12-20... View Article

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Wow.  Have you ever seen anything like this before? Some people think it is fake, but other people are 100% supporting this as a real video.  What do you think?

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In the early years of Yellowstone National Park, soldiers in the U.S. Army patrolled the backcountry for poachers. To shelter the soldiers in winter, cabins were built about a day’s ski distance apart – roughly 12 to 16 miles. A few of these structures still stand and others have been rebuilt or upgraded. In total,... View Article

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It was the kind of season that had everyone saying “meh.” It wasnt the best, nor the worst. Just “meh.” We tallied all of the check station data from around the state of Montana and share it with you in the latest episode of MORS. Hear both hours of the season recap edition of the... View Article

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General season is behind us. Now we turn our attention to the holidays and hopes of fishing hard water. Hear all of our latest reports from all of our correspondents around the state of Montana. Montana Outdoor Radio Show · December 2nd

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President Jimmy Carter loved to fly fish! He had an addiction and really enjoyed the simplicity of catching some trout. Recently, his wife Rosalyn died. She loved to watch Jimmy fish, but they would often have fishing competitions.   Years ago, I was a college kid working for the Maryland DNR at the Beaver Creek Trout... View Article

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Depending on Who You Talk to, the Recent Court Ruling on Shortening the Wolf Trapping Season Seems to be a Bit Misguided or is it? Listen Here and See What You Think!  This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale talks with Ed Hebbe, Communications Director of the Montana Trappers Association about... View Article

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KALISPELL — Montana’s general deer and elk hunting season wrapped up last weekend and the harvest results at check stations in northwest Montana showed similar results to a year ago. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks tallied more than 10,000 hunters at its four regional check stations in northwest Montana. Hunters reported harvesting 761 white-tailed deer, including... View Article

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HAVRE- The results are in from the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Havre check station for the 2023 hunting season. The check station was open for eight weekends from Oct. 7 (the opener of general antelope and pheasant) through Nov. 26 (the end of the deer/elk general season). Overall, hunter numbers and upland game bird harvest... View Article

Read Article

BILLINGS – Canada geese that were found dead at Laurel’s South Pond earlier this week have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff responded to reports of sick and dead Canada geese at the popular Laurel park on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Carcasses were transported to FWP’s Wildlife Health Lab... View Article

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Kalispell, MT, December 1, 2023 — Adam LaDell has joined the Flathead National Forest as the Spotted Bear District Ranger. Adam is coming to the Flathead from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico where he served as the Questa District Ranger since 2021. Adam has experience in recreation management and has a passion for wilderness and our national forest... View Article

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Glacier National Park is implementing fee rate changes to most frontcountry campgrounds in 2024 and Apgar Group Sites in 2025.   The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act is the legislation that allows the collection of expanded amenity fees, including camping fees. The law allows Glacier National Park to retain nearly 80 percent of fees collected in the park... View Article

Read Article

Fresno is 25% full and Nelson is 80% full. Both reservoirs have a thin layer of ice. I have received no reports of fishing.  Be careful if you venture out on the ice!

Read Article

MORS follower Trent Hansen tagged a beauty of a mule deer buck he harvested in eastern Montana this season.  This whopper of a deer has approximately 26 points and is a stag or “cryptorchid”, which can result in what is referred to as a “cactus buck”. But, what is a cactus buck, and how does... View Article

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FWP solicits public comment on a draft plan and environmental impact statement to guide the long-term management and conservation of wolves across Montana The draft 2023 Montana Gray Wolf Conservation and Management Plan (2023 Wolf Plan) incorporates updates in wolf-related research, more than 20 years of management experience, evolution in conflict management, new laws, social... View Article

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Some fishermen almost never keep or kill a fish. They appreciate the resource and get used to not eating their tasty catches.  Most of the fish that I eat are during Ice Fishing time. I catch and release most of the fish I catch during the rest of the year, except if I go camping... View Article

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