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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks eyes more fall turkey hunts
With turkey numbers booming in parts of Eastern Montana, FWP is eyeing a fall hunt comeback to help landowners—and thin the flocks. Read more from Brett French here…
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This Ant Doesn’t March—It Wanders, and It Stings
They’re small, sneaky, and armed with venom—meet the ants turning backyards down south into a surprise episode of Survivor: Anaphylaxis.
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Behind the Badge – Being Greedy Never Pays and Sometimes it Costs
Greedy anglers in North Dakota tried to outfish the law—and found themselves underwater in more ways than one….
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Milk River St. Mary Siphon Replacement Project Update 5.6.25
The St. Mary Siphon Replacement is flowing full speed ahead—one crew hands off to the next as this vital project races toward a July 2025 finish!
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Public Lands Expansion Means More Room to Roam
America’s public lands are opening wider than ever for hunters and anglers, with new spots and big opportunities…
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Fort Peck’s Rock Creek Marina Officially Opens Friday, May 2nd for the Season
Burgers, boats, and brand-new pizzas—Rock Creek Marina is back and ready to make you feel like family…
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Trout Unlimited work improves cutthroat trout habitat
A once-golden creek is being reshaped—not for fortune this time, but for the future. Read more from Brett French here…
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Oklahoma Draws the Line with New Rules for Nonresident Hunters
Oklahoma’s public lands just got a little less public for outsiders.
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Diversion Dam Project led by NW Construction | The Milk River Project 4.28.25
Tucked between the St. Mary Canal and River, the Diversion Dam Project is quietly making big strides…
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Milk River Project Update 4.25.25
Against all odds—and all kinds of weather—serious progress just landed on the bridge project.
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When a Hike Turns into a Helicopter Extraction
A hike in California turned into the ultimate cliffhanger — and not the metaphorical kind….
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April 14 Update to Shot Hound in the River
After two months of searching, the heartbreaking truth about missing hounds Boone and Bandit has come to light…
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Why Fake Dire Wolves Could Mean Real Trouble for Conservation
Some people are not happy, as they accuse scientists of pretending extinction has an undo button….
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400 Yellowstone bison removed through hunt, slaughter, quarantine this season
As Montana sues over Yellowstone’s bison plan, hundreds of buffalo are shipped to slaughter—while others dodge traps, lawyers, and horses in a bureaucratic stampede.
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Fur is Flying in New Mexico, Locals Demand Wolf Management
Wolves may be federally protected, but in Catron County, NM, folks are wondering who’s protecting them….
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82-Year-Old’s Fishing Trip Turns Into Survival Ordeal
They say patience is key when crawfishing, and that couldn’t be more true for one 82 year-old man….
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Lost Hound’s Body Turns up on Yellowstone River with Bullet Hole
When the river gives something back, it often brings more questions than answers…
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Selling landlocked state parcels to lessees proposed in Montana water bill
A controversial Montana bill could put 1.25 million acres of state land up for sale—along with its water rights—sparking debates over access, revenue, and the future of public lands.
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Orange You Glad BLM Caught Them?
Public lands supporters helped crack the case of the Strawberry Hill spray paint scandal—turns out, Facebook pressure makes for a great cleanup crew!
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The Milk River Project Update from Babb, MT
The first wall pour for the St. Mary Siphon Inlet is in the books—proof that when hard hats and heavy machinery team up, big things happen!
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Volunteer Hunter, Bowhunter and Trapper Education instructors from south-central Montana recognized
In Montana, where hunting traditions run deep, dedicated volunteers are shaping the next generation of outdoorsmen, ensuring the legacy lives on, one safe lesson at a time. Here’s a list of some who were recently recognized.
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New funding available for community-led bear conflict prevention
New funding is now available to help Montana communities implement bear-resistant infrastructure and education initiatives to reduce human-wildlife conflicts—apply by March 24!
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Crash Course!!!
Asteroid impact, apocalyptic chaos, and a city-killer—what’s the plan for survival when Earth faces its biggest threat since the dinosaurs? See what Montana Grant says here!
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Ticks carrying Lyme disease may have infiltrated Montana; found on bird dog
Tick Trouble…Could Lyme-Carrying Deer Ticks Be Creeping into Montana?
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Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park – Partial Closure
Access routes are shifting! Plan ahead for your trip to Thompson Chain of Lakes State Park.
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Bighorn River Bird Die-Off: HPAI Ruled Out, Further Testing Underway
Good news! The bird die-off on the Bighorn River isn’t due to avian flu—but the mystery isn’t solved yet!
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Large section of Flathead Lake north shore temporarily closing for bird nesting, migration
From March 1 to July 15, the north shore of Flathead Lake hits “Do Not Disturb” mode as migrating and nesting birds take over…
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Trump Jr. Faces International Duck Poaching Probe
Donald Trump Jr.’s hunting trip in Italy just went from a wild adventure to a legal quagmire after he allegedly poached a rare duck—now, the hunt is on for answers.
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A Wild Week on the Milk River
From a 100-degree temperature swing to a race against ice jams, the Milk River Valley is seeing an early surge of water—thanks to the hardworking crew at Malta Irrigation, Nelson Reservoir is already filling up!
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Big Cat, Bigger News: Meet Florida’s Record-Breaking Panther
Florida’s biggest panther just got collared, and this heavyweight is helping scientists track the future of his species!
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Bill would protect ‘furry friends’ by requiring signs when trapping FWP lands
House Bill 436 aims to protect Montana’s ‘furry friends’ by requiring signs at FWP access points where trapping is conducted—helping recreationists make safer choices for their pets. Read more from Brett French here..
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Lawmaker sponsors resolution supporting federal land transfer to states
Montana’s public lands are back in the political crosshairs, with a new push to transfer federal lands to state control—reviving an old battle that could reshape access, management, and the future of our wild places…
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Conservation or Carnage? Wyoming’s Mountain Lion Hunting Bill Stirs Controversy
Open season or overkill? Wyoming’s proposed mountain lion hunting bill has hunters and conservationists clawing at each other…
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Is the Flathead River Reeling in Too Many Restrictions?
Will Flathead River stay ‘wild and scenic’ or become another busy park? The new regulations are up for debate…
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Is forever too long? Landowners tell Montana lawmakers to butt out of property decisions
BRETT FRENCH bfrench@billingsgazette.com To make something perpetual is everlasting and permanent — so a long, long time. When it comes to […]
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Bill would raise nonresident base license to boost hunter access funding
Will a proposed fee hike for nonresident hunters boost public access—or drive them away? Read more from Brett French…
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Bill would increase private fish pond license fees to $600
Montana’s private fish ponds may seem like small fry compared to our famous rivers, but they’ve sparked a big debate. Read more from Brett French.
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A Debate Over Hound Hunting in Arizona
Anti-hunters claim hound hunting is causing more harm than good to wildlife and ecosystems–The debate is heating up in Arizona.
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FWP conservation easement in Fergus County stalls amid confusion, miscommunication
After months of miscommunication and delays, the Fergus County Commission gave the green light to the Stafford Ferry Conservation Easement, ending a saga of confusion and setting the stage for better access to Montana’s wildlands—proving that collaboration can still win the day.
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High land prices stall Montana sage grouse easements
With Montana’s land prices soaring, conservation efforts to protect sage grouse habitat are hitting financial hurdles, putting the future of this vital program—and the iconic birds it protects—at risk.
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Nebraska Sets Limits for Mountain Lion Conservation as they Gear Up for Their Biggest Season To Date
Montana might be our main focus, but sometimes we want to know what is happening elsewhere–check out what is happening in Nebraska!
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Snowbowl Ski Lift Chair Falls
A Montana Snowbowl’s LaVelle double chair had a bit of drama on its third day of operations when a chair […]
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Monarchs in Decline, USFWS Proposes Protection
Monarch butterflies are fluttering towards trouble, with populations dropping by up to 80%! But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is stepping in…
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Boundary Battle: South Dakota Ranchers Charged in High-Stakes Land Dispute
According to an article via Cowboy State Daily, a South Dakota ranching couple is in the middle of a heated […]
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Ocean View Feud: Tree Poisoning Sparks Legal Battle in Maine
A dispute between two wealthy neighbors in a small Maine town has caused controversy as one is accused of poisoning […]
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Tongue River Reservoir State Park Update 6.28.24
Tongue River Reservoir State Park would like to thank Big Horn County Road Crew for repairing the Tongue River Road […]
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Bear Meat Mishap: Trichinellosis Outbreak Strikes Family Reunion
According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the CDC, in July 2022, a family gathering turned into a […]
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Proposed Legislation Seeks to Ban Wildlife Hunting Competitions on Federal Lands
Last week, a Tennessee congressman proposed a bill to ban wildlife “killing contests” on federal lands. The “Prohibit Wildlife Killing […]
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Proving Your Point…
People will do a lot of things to prove their point. Check out what this man did when the city […]
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Hiker Discovers Dog Treats Embedded with Fish Hooks
In out-of-state news… According to a recent article by Natalie Krebs via Outdoor Life, the Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking […]