MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS—JUNE 1, 2012



MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS—JUNE 1, 2012

Contact: Diane Tipton, 406-444-3079, or visit the FWP website at fwp.

MONTANA OFFERS FREE FISHING FOR ALL ON FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND

Montana's Father's Day free fishing extravaganza is on again this year, the second since the Montana Legislature signed this unique tribute to fathers into law.

Joe Maurier, director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, said the free Father's Day weekend of fishing is a great way to get families outdoors and fishing together.

"Montanans can celebrate Father's Day by going fishing without a license on June 16 and June 17," Maurier said.

FWP cautions anglers to be aware of high spring water and to follow all fishing regulations.

For more on fishing, including the 2012 fishing regulations, go to the FWP website at fwp. and select the Fishing page. For tips on water and boating safety, click the "Recreation" tab, then select "Stay Safe Outdoors."

"We want everyone to enjoy this "fish for free" gift, and hope many families get to spend time together fishing, though the offer is open to all anglers," Maurier said.

The free fishing promotion is set for Father’s Day weekend, June 16-17.

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2012 GENERAL FISHING SEASON OPEN

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials are urging boat and wade anglers to be extremely cautious on the water now that the state's general fishing season is open.

The general fishing season opens the third Saturday in May every year, or May 19 this year. Fishing on the state’s lakes and reservoirs and some designated rivers is generally open year round.

For boating safety tips and water restrictions and closures, go to the FWP website at fwp.. Click "Recreation." Then choose "Stay Safe Outdoors".

The 2012 fishing regulations are available at FWP offices and license providers, or visit FWP’s website at fwp. on the Fishing page to view the 2012 fishing regulations on line.

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APPLY JUNE 1 TO DEER HUNT MARIAS RIVER WMA

Deer hunters who want to hunt the Marias River Wildlife Management Area, southwest of Shelby in Hunting District 406 have from June 1 to June 30 to submit their application.

A random drawing will take place for deer hunting periods during the archery season, Sept. 1 – Oct. 14, or the general rifle season, Oct. 20 – Nov. 11. Access to the WMA will be allocated as follows:

Archery Season - Deer Hunting Periods

• 10 archers for the first 2 weeks (Sept. 1-Sept. 14)

• 10 archers for the 3rd and 4th weeks (Sept. 15-Sept. 28)

• 10 archery hunters for 5th and 6th weeks (Sept. 29-Oct. 14)

General Season - Deer Hunting Periods

• 10 rifle hunters for the 1st week (Oct. 20-Oct. 26)

• 10 rifle hunters for the 2nd week (Oct. 27-Nov. 2)

• 10 rifle hunters for the 3rd and final week (Nov. 3-Nov. 11)

Public hunting access for all other species is open on the Marias River WMA.

Hunters can submit applications from 8 a.m., June 1, until 5 p.m., June 30. All drawing applications must be submitted electronically either on the FWP web page at fwp., or at any FWP regional or area office.

Points to remember

• 10 archery hunters randomly chosen per 2 week period.

• Three archery hunt periods, each 2 weeks in length.

• 10 general hunting season (rifle) hunters randomly chosen per 7-9 day period.

• Three general season (rifle) hunt periods, each 7-9 days in length.

• Hunters may apply for either archery or rifle season but not both.

• No party applications accepted.

• Hunt periods will be allotted at the time of drawing and are not transferable.

• Hunters may apply only once.

• Drawing application may be submitted electronically beginning 8 a.m., June 1, on the FWP website at fwp., or at any FWP regional office.

• Drawing application must be received by FWP no later than 5 p.m., June 30, 2012.

• Incomplete, incorrect or duplicate drawing applications will be removed prior to the drawing.

• Hunters must include their full name, address, phone number, and correctly formatted ALS number and indicate desired hunt– archery or general rifle hunting season on the drawing application.

• Drawing will take place after June 30 and only successful applicants will be notified of drawing results.

• Successful drawing applicants will be contacted with hunt access information and authorized permission before the start of the archery season.

• Successful drawing applicants may use any deer license valid in Hunting District 406.

All hunting will conform to the existing FWP Commission-established season structure in HD 406.

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GAME DAMAGE HUNT ROSTER REGISTRATION BEGINS JUNE 15

Hunters interested in participating in game-damage hunts on private land or possible management seasons this year may register online with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks beginning June 15. 

Prospective hunters must register for the hunt rosters online at fwp. . On the Hunting page, click Game Damage Roster beginning June 15. Internet-based registration can be completed on personal computers, at most public libraries, and at any FWP office. To register, hunters will need their ALS number.

Game damage occurs when animals such as elk, deer, and antelope concentrate on private farms and ranches and consume crops. FWP’s game damage hunt rules are designed to respond to the needs of landowners who provide free public hunting during the general hunting season, yet who could nevertheless suffer losses due to wildlife damage without this additional management tool. Management seasons typically occur on a larger scale than game damage hunts.

A final game damage roster, randomly generated from all the online registrations, will be posted by Aug. 1 on the FWP website at fwp.. 

The hunts, if they occur, could take place anytime from Aug. 15 through Feb. 15, 2013.

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SUPERTAG DEADLINE REMINDER

Hunters—don't miss out on a chance to win a super hunt by purchasing one or more Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' $5 SuperTag chances for the fall 2012 hunting season.

The deadline to purchase SuperTag chances for the single moose, sheep, goat, deer, elk, antelope, bison and mountain lion hunt offered is July 5.

Each year, drawings for eight SuperTag licenses occur. SuperTag chances are available at all FWP offices and license providers. Information about FWP’s SuperTag lottery, deadlines, and how to purchase the $5 chances is available online at fwp.. Click "SuperTag".

  -fwp-

NEW BORN WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS REMINDER

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reminds Montanans to leave newborn fawns and other infant wildlife where they see them. This time of year fawns and other infant wildlife are plentiful.

"What appears to be an orphaned newborn usually is not," said Lisa Rhodin, FWP wildlife center coordinator. "Deer and elk naturally leave their young alone for extended periods of time to protect them from predators while the adults feed."

“If you care, leave them there, whether it is a fawn under a tree in a neighbor’s yard or a bunny under a bush in the mountains,” Rhodin said.

To protect Montana’s deer and elk from the impending threat of Chronic Wasting Disease, FWP no longer accepts, holds, or rehabilitates deer, moose, or elk.  A deer, moose or elk delivered to FWP must be returned to the site where it was found. If it can’t be returned to the wild, it will be euthanized.

Rhodin said this precaution is necessary because CWD, a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and elk, is spreading in the United States and Canada. It has yet to be documented in wild populations in Montana, but CWD is found in nearby states and provinces. Wildlife officials are concerned an animal with an unidentified case of CWD could be released from a holding center and spread the disease back into the wild.

FWP also urges dog owners to keep their pets leashed or close to their side this spring and summer to prevent them from chasing, injuring or stressing young wildlife.

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LAKE MONITORING: IT IS ALL ABOUT THE TREND

By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

Many core tasks of a fisheries biologist are repetitive, but essential to good science and the effective management of water bodies and fisheries.

Monitoring water bodies and collecting annual "trend data" is one of those tasks. In northwestern Montana, regular citizens are helping Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists to accomplish this annual monitoring on area lakes.

"Long-term data, uniformly collected, allows us to make meaningful management decisions for the benefit of the fisheries," said John Wachsmuth, a FWP fisheries biologist in northwestern Montana.

"We are fortunate in northwestern Montana to have a strong citizen-based volunteer lake monitoring network that significantly increases our reach," Wachsmuth said.

The Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network is a volunteer monitoring program coordinated by the Whitefish Lake Institute with support from FWP; the Flathead Basin Commission, which is charged by state statute with protecting the quality of water flowing into and out of Flathead Lake; Bonneville Power Administration; and the University of Montana Flathead Lake Biological Station.

Wachsmuth said the resulting historical records on important lakes in the northwest are especially valuable when new threats, such the spread of aquatic invasive species, emerge.

"Good trend data on lakes helps us to identify those with a water chemistry high in calcium that could readily host invasive species such as zebra or quagga mussels," he said. "Knowing which lakes need the most monitoring for possible invasive species infestations, helps us make better use of our time."

Wachsmuth said of the 53 monitoring sites covered by the Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network, 26 ranked as potentially high risk for zebra and quagga mussel infestation, 20 as potentially moderate risk and seven as low risk based on calcium concentrations alone.

Regular citizens with a commitment to healthy lakes are the backbone of this monitoring effort. Volunteers train to perform water quality monitoring tasks, including how to collect water quality data and identify and report aquatic invasive species.

Gubits said volunteers measure the waters' transparency and temperature and collect qualitative data including atmospheric conditions and the weather. They also assist in collecting water chemistry samples, including phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll and total calcium.

"The program volunteers test for nitrogen and phosphorus to see if there are trends occurring. Excessive nutrient loading can have negative impacts on water quality," said Josh Gubits, environmental scientists for the Whitefish Lake Institute who coordinates the network of volunteers.

In 2011, 46 volunteers participated in collecting data at 56 monitoring locations on 42 lakes in Northwest Montana. Volunteers contributed 1,003 hours--about $21,424 of in-kind value, and submitted about 275 reports.

"With the help of these trained, committed volunteers we are able to provide FWP with meaningful data that can be used long-term," Gubits said.

To learn more about the Northwest Montana Lakes Volunteer Monitoring Network, go to:

Volunteering for science, sometimes dubbed "citizen science" or serving as a "citizen scientist" has its benefits.

"People who care about the natural world get an opportunity to learn new skills and make a meaningful contribution to the lakes that matter to them," said Wachsmuth.

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LIVING WITH LAKES

By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

Water is essential to Montanans and now, with the Montana Lake Book, it is possible to learn about building a healthy relationship with local lakes.

Don't think you have a "local lake?" Think again! Even living on the plains of Montana you are associated with an important watershed that feeds a large body of water of some kind.

Chapter One of the Lake Book addresses the question, "What is a watershed?" The answer: "A watershed consists of all the land that contributes water to a larger body of water."

The total water cycle is much bigger than a lake though. In its natural setting, water is cleansed and filtered by plants and soil. Some water penetrates deep into the ground to become groundwater, eventually discharging into lakes, rivers and oceans. Evaporation starts the cycle all over again. Lakes contain, filter and evaporate water and recharge underground aquifers—a critical role in the water cycle.

Learning to live healthfully with lakes is really about learning to live healthfully with the continuous cycling of water that makes life possible.

It is a beautiful and simple science that average citizens can understand and take a conscious and meaningful part in.

Anyone who is interested in water or in natural cycles will appreciate the Montana Lake Book. The contents are as clear and simple to read as the book's title and cover every conceivable topic, for example, how to:

• create or join a "lake association,

• design a homesite,

• understand a septic system and how it works,

• farm and fertilize with water quality in mind, and

• how to protect fisheries and identify and stop the spread of unwanted aquatic species.

Learning to live with lakes is easy and interesting, thanks to the Montana Lake Book, available free on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website at fwp.. Click the Doing Business tab, select Reference Information, then Reports. Or, request a copy by calling: 406-444-7815.

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FWP NEWS FOR JUNE 1

• MONTANA OFFERS FREE FISHING FOR ALL ON FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND

• 2012 GENERAL FISHING SEASON OPEN

• APPLY JUNE 1 TO DEER HUNT MARIAS RIVER WMA

• GAME DAMAGE HUNT ROSTER REGISTRATION BEGIN JUNE 15

• SUPERTAG DEADLINE REMINDER

• NEW BORN WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS REMINDER

FWP OUTDOORS EXTRA

LAKE MONITORING: IT IS ALL ABOUT THE TREND

By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

LIVING WITH LAKES

By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

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