FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—MAY 6, 2011



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—MAY 6, 2011

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

MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS COMMISSION TO MEET MAY 12 IN HELENA

Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will meet May 12 at the FWP Helena Headquarters, 1420 East 6th Ave. beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The FWP Commission will make final decisions on proposed changes to the moose quotas for 2011 and on reclosing the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers near the Milltown Dam site.

The commission will also consider a number of proposed actions, including:

• amendments to the administrative rules on the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot rivers,

• nongame wildlife program projects for the coming year,

• 2011 hunting access agreements with landowners,

• 2011 fall upland game bird quotas and limit; and

• sheep trailing on the Robb Ledford WMA to get domestic sheep between winter and summer grazing areas.

The commission will also consider tentative fall wolf hunting season quotas and dates, following the May 5 delisting of wolves in Montana and Idaho.

FWP's tentative proposals will be similar to those adopted before a federal court halted the state's 2010 hunting season, with the exception of a statewide quota of 220 up from 186 proposed last year, and the addition of a wolf management unit in the Bitterroot area south of Missoula.

Assuming tentative adoption, the public will be asked to comment through June 20. The FWP Commission is expected to take final action at its July 14 meeting.

Information will also be presented on the federal Farm Bill and on bison management during a 1 p.m. work session.

FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with a disability. Individuals with special needs may request arrangements by contacting FWP at: 406-444-3186.

The full agenda and additional information on the scheduled topics may be found on the FWP website at fwp. , click on the FWP Commission icon.

-fwp-

FWP TO DELAY OPENINGS OF SOME MONTANA WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is delaying the openings of some wildlife management areas in southwestern Montana, and may delay the opening of one in northcentral Montana.

Heavy accumulations of snow and severe winter conditions have given elk little opportunity to move off of Montana's WMAs.

Opening dates for the Wall Creek and Bear Creek WMAs in the Madison Valley, Gallatin WMA in the Gallatin Canyon near Big Sky, and Dome Mountain WMA in the Paradise Valley will be May 15 at noon. These areas normally open to the public on May 1.

The Sun River WMA near Great Falls is expected to open for public use May 15 at noon as usual, but that opening could be delayed if elk don't continue to leave the WMA in sufficient numbers. Recently the FWP Commission set a standard noon opening time for WMAs statewide.

“We don’t want to displace the elk off these winter ranges at this critical time,” said Ron Aasheim, FWP spokesman. “This has been a particularly tough winter and we ask people out recreating on winter ranges to give wildlife a break.”

Aasheim said it’s against the law to enter a wildlife management area during the wintertime closures, including emergency closures or delayed openings, for any purpose.

Many of Montana’s other wildlife management areas across the state do not open until May 15. Please check with your local FWP office, or visit the FWP website at fwp. under Habitat for opening dates and other details on WMA's in the state.

-fwp-

MONTANA 2011 FISHING REGULATIONS REVISED

With the opening of Montana's general fishing season set for May 21, come a set of regulation changes for 2011.

WESTERN FISHING DISTRICT

Changes in the fishing regulations in the Western District generally were made to trout possession limits.

• Bull trout harvest on Lake Koocanusa is only allowed by those in possession of a bull trout catch card. The annual harvest of two bull trout has been reduced to one bull trout.

• Lake trout harvest on Flathead has been increased to 100 daily and in possession.

• On the nonwilderness portion of the Middle Fork Flathead River drainage and on the North Fork Flathead River, the combined trout limit is five daily and in possession. The restriction of only one trout over 14 inches was dropped on these waters.

• On Georgetown Lake the catch and release restriction on brook trout has been dropped, and now two brook trout may be kept within the daily combined trout limit of five daily and in possession.

• On Rogers Lake, the one per day harvest restriction on arctic grayling was removed, and grayling are now part of the district-wide combined trout limit.

CENTRAL FISHING DISTRICT

• On Canyon Ferry Reservoir and on the Missouri River between the reservoir and Toston Dam, fishing for brown trout is catch and release only now, except anglers 14 years of age and younger may keep one brown trout of any size daily and in possession. Also on both of these waters, the walleye limit has been dropped to 10 daily, with no more than four over 16 inches and only one over 28 inches. The possession limit is twice the daily limit.

• Northern pike limits in the upper Missouri River and reservoirs upstream from Holter Dam, and in the three tributaries to the Missouri—the Gallatin, Jefferson, and Madison river below Ennis Dam—have been liberalized. There is no limit on northern pike.

• From Canyon Ferry Dam to Hauser Dam, including Hauser Reservoir and Lake Helena, the walleye limit increased to 20 daily. Only one walleye may be over 28 inches. The yellow perch limit decreased to 25 daily.

• From Hauser Dam to Holter Dam, the walleye limit increased to 10 daily, and all fish between 20 and 28 inches must be released. The yellow perch limit on Holter Reservoir has been decreased to 25 daily.

• In the Missouri, from Holter Dam to Cascade Bridge, there is no limit on walleye. From Cascade Bridge to Black Eagle Dam, the walleye limit is 20 daily and 40 in possession.

• On the Yellowstone River, from the Yellowstone National Park boundary to I-90 bridge at Billings, a slot limit is now in place allowing for four brown and rainbow trout daily, including three under 18 inches and one over 26 inches. All fish between 18 and 26 inches must be released.

EASTERN FISHING DISTRICT

• On the Yellowstone River between the I-90 bridge in Billings and the Huntley Diversion Dam, the restriction on fishing with two hooks and two lines was eliminated.

The 2011 fishing regulations are available at FWP offices, license providers and on the FWP website at fwp. on the Fishing page.

-fwp-

 

THE 2011 GENERAL FISHING SEASON OPENS SOON

On the third Saturday in May, May 21, Montana’s 2011 general fishing season opens.

Fishing on the state’s lakes and reservoirs and some designated rivers is generally open year round.

To prepare for the 2011 fishing season, pick up the state fishing regulations at FWP offices, license providers, or visit FWP’s 2011 fishing regulations web page.  

-fwp-

ANGLERS URGED TO PROTECT MIGRATORY BIRDS FROM FISHING LINE, LURES AND LEAD

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials say migratory birds and other wildlife are at risk of becoming entangled in fishing line and lures, or ingesting lead fishing sinkers.

FWP calls on anglers to help prevent these tragic encounters between wildlife and lost fishing gear on the state's rivers, reservoirs and lakes.

Nationwide, birds representing more than 30 species, including loons, swans, pelicans, geese, ducks, cranes, herons and eagles are lost to these accidents every year.

Anglers should try to recover snagged tackle as often as possible. Hooks, lures and monofilament can be deadly to wildlife. Those that contain lead carry an added risk due to the toxic properties of lead.

FWP officials also urge anglers to move away from using lead tackle, including lead-weighted jigs and other weighted lures and to look instead to nontoxic alternatives. Alternatives include steel, bismuth, tin, tungsten and alloys of these metals, or combinations of plastic and metal, or ceramic and metal. Zinc fishing weights should be avoided as zinc can be toxic enough to threaten loons and other waterbirds when ingested.

Buying lead-free tackle will also help to encourage retailers to maintain a good supply of alternative tackle.

Fishing opens May 21 on the state's streams and rivers. The 2011 fishing regulations are now available at fwp. on the Fishing page, or at any FWP regional office or license provider.

-fwp-

NATIVE TROUT GROUP OFFERS PROJECT GRANTS

The Western Native Trout Initiative, a National Fish Habitat Partnership, is offering a new grant program for small, local conservation projects that benefit native trout.

The 2011 Small Project Funding Program offers $3,000 to qualifying trout fishing clubs, watershed councils and other community groups for community-based programs that provide habitat, educational or public recreational angling programs for conservation of western native trout.

The program is funded through a $15,000 start-up grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Grant applications must be received by June 10.

For more information about the program, types of projects that will be funded and the web-based application materials, visit the Western Native Trout Initiative website at .

-fwp-

FWP SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON REQUIRED AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES VESSEL INSPECTIONS

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on a new rule that would require owners of vessels launched on Montana waters to stop at designated inspection stations to have their boats inspected for aquatic invasive species.

Personnel at FWP operated inspection stations would search the exterior of the vessel, livewells, bait buckets, bilge areas and trailers. If invasive species are found, state officials would decontaminate the vessel.

Comments on the proposed rule must be received by May 27 by email to: fwpexotics@, or in writing to: FWP Exotics, Fisheries, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

To learn more about aquatic invasive species go to the FWP website at fwp. and click on the Montana Fishing Guide.

-fwp-

ANTELOPE AND DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES REDUCED BY A BRUTAL WINTER

With more than 1,000 antelope already known to have succumbed to northern Montana's brutal winter, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is cautioning hunters early to expect significant reductions in antelope permits and quotas this fall.

"We know for sure—just from casual observation—that more than 1,000 antelope have died along Montana Hi-Line from Malta to Glasgow," said Quentin Kujala, FWP's wildlife management supervisor in Helena. "We're also sure the region lost hundreds of deer to winterkill."

The temperature dipped below minus-35 degrees for days at time along the Hi-Line last winter and the area set a record for snowfall, charting more than 105 inches of snow, which made it often impossible for wildlife to find forage. Additionally, hundreds of antelope that tried to find refuge along snow-cleared railroad tracks were killed by trains.

While FWP doesn't estimate the number of deer and antelope that die over winter, it does estimate the number of animals that remain on the prairie each spring and summer.

FWP biologists are now flying over deer trend areas for those counts and the annual antelope surveys are set for early July. With that trend information in the books, biologists will then propose license quotas for the upcoming season.

"We're a few months away from having our antelope and deer population estimates complete,” Kujala said, “but we want hunters who annually plan trips to northern and eastern Montana to understand why we're expecting population declines and thus fewer permits in 2011."

-fwp-

JUNE 1 LICENSE APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHES

The deadline to apply for FWP’s special license drawings for elk, deer and antelope licenses is June 1.

Hunters can apply in minutes for special big game hunting permits and licenses by going to the FWP website at fwp. and using FWP’s Online Services. 

For those who don’t own a computer, Internet access is available at Montana’s 80 public libraries and 30 branch public libraries.

Information about FWP’s SuperTag lottery, deadlines, and how you can purchase $5 chances is also available online on FWP’s SuperTag web page under Hunting and then Licenses and Permits.

-fwp-

SPRING BLACK BEAR HUNTING SEASON CLOSES SOON

Montana's spring black bear hunting season closes May 15 in some 100 and 200 series bear management areas in western Montana. Hunting in other bear management units closes on various dates, from May 31 to as late as June 15 in some units.

Black bear hunting closes earlier when quotas are met in management units with quotas. Hunters are responsible for contacting the regional FWP office before hunting to learn if bear managements quotas have been met.

Spring black bear hunters had to purchase their licenses on or before April 14. Licenses purchased after April 14 may not be used for five days and are only available at FWP offices and online.

Black bear hunters are limited to one black bear license a year.The 2011 black bear regulations are available online on the FWP website at fwp. and at most FWP offices.

-fwp-

FWP SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT BY JUNE 6 ON DRAFT UPLAND GAME BIRD PLAN

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on a draft Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program strategic plan developed in the past 18 months with the help of a citizens' advisory council.

The FWP Commission recently endorsed the plan now available for public review on the FWP website.

A legislative performance audit of the UGBEP in 2008-2009 led FWP to form a citizens' council to help develop the UGPEP plan with clearly defined management controls.

FWP will present the plan's highlights and accept comments at meetings set for May 18, beginning at 7 p.m., in these locations:

Kalispell 490 North Meridian Road

Missoula 3201 Spurgin Road

Bozeman 1400 South 19th

Great Falls 4600 Giant Springs Road

Glasgow Cottonwood Inn, U.S. Highway 2 East in Glasgow

Miles City 352 I-94 Business Loop

Helena 1420 East Sixth Ave.

To view information on the plan and submit comments electronically, go to the FWP website at fwp. on the Hunting page and click “Opportunity for Public Comment.” Address written comments to: FWP – Wildlife Bureau, Attn: Public Comment, POB 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.

All comments must be received by June 6. The FWP Commission will make a final ruling on the UGBEP strategic plan at its July 14 meeting.

Contact the FWP Wildlife Bureau at 406-444-2612 for more information.

-fwp-

HUNTING DOG HANDLING AND SHOTGUN SEMINAR JUNE 4

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Becoming and Outdoors Woman program will sponsor a free seminar on hunting dogs in Helena on June 4 beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the "Montana Wild" Education Center at Spring Meadow State Park in Helena.

"Your hunting dog is not only your partner in the field, he's a member of the family," said Liz Lodman, FWP BOW coordinator. "Giving your dog the best training possible benefits you both and makes your hunting trips a positive, fun experience."

Participants will learn about different breeds of hunting dogs, learn about training techniques and the tools and equipment used to train hunting dogs. Shotgun handling and safety will also be reviewed.

Lodman said this free seminar is for you if:

• you are a dog owner who wants to learn training techniques,

• you plan to get a hunting dog and want to be prepared to train a puppy,

• you are interested in upland bird or waterfowl hunting, and

• you want to know how hunt tests work.

Class size is limited. Please complete a registration form available on the FWP website at fwp. on the Education page to reserve a spot. For more information, call Liz Lodman at 406-444-9940, or by email: llodman@ .

-fwp-

BECOMING AN OUTDOORS WOMAN MILES CITY WORKSHOP

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Miles City will sponsor a Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop Saturday, June 18, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Spotted Eagle Recreation Area.

Participants will learn about casting with a rod and reel, live fish identification, field CPR/first aid, kayak use, archery, shotgun shooting, landowner relations and Dutch oven cooking. Breakfast will be served and supplies, food and drink provided.

Pre-registration is April 1-June 10 and the fee is $15. The workshop is limited to 30 participants. A registration form is available on line at , or call Dwayne Andrews at 406-234-0919, or the main office at 406-234-0900.

Mail the completed pre-registration form to: FWP Region 7; Attention Dwayne Andrews: P.O. Box 1630, Miles City, MT 59301.

-fwp-

BECOMING AN OUTDOORS WOMAN HORSE PACKING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program and the Back County Horsemen of the Flathead are sponsoring a horse packing workshop May 21 in Kalispell.

Packing into the back county by horse can be fun and rewarding. Participants will learn about the variety of packing equipment available; defensive horse handling; how to pack a decker, sawbuck and riding saddles; and leave-no-trace camping.

This class is for beginners who want to learn the basics skills needed to pack with their own stock. The workshop will be held at an indoor arena and lunch will be provided. The $35 fee includes the use of all equipment and packing stock; participants don’t need to bring their horse or mule.

To register, or for more information, contact FWP's BOW coordinator at: FWP-BOW, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT, 59620; call 406-444-9940; or email Liz Lodman at: llodman@.

Call instructor Andy Breland at 406-261-1109 for details. Registration forms are available at the Region 1 FWP office, or on the FWP website at fwp. under Education, click on Women Outdoors and select workshops.

-fwp-

BECOMING AND OUTDOORS WOMAN WILDFLOWER WORKSHOP

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Becoming An Outdoors Woman program will co-host a wildflower workshop June 25 beginning at 9 a.m. west of Helena in the national forest.

Montana is home to more than 1,000 different wildflower species. This workshop is for those with no formal plant identification experience who are interested in identifying flowers and learning about plant terminology and plant families. The class will also learn about preserving flower images on cloth and paper.

This workshop is co-hosted by the Montana Native Plant Society and the Montana Discovery Foundation.

To reserve a space and for details in this class, contact Liz Lodman at 406-444-9940, or by email: llodman@ .

-fwp-

[pic]

KEEP THE WILD IN WILDLIFE FOR SUCCESSFUL COEXISTENCE

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

Montana's wildlife is one of the big benefits of being a Montanan—for newcomers and old-timers alike. But enthusiasm quickly turns to frustration when bears, deer, elk, beavers, coyotes, ravens—you name it—come into conflict with our expectations.

That is when Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks gets a call.

At one time, relocating a wild animal was a quick band-aid. These days, experts recognize the better long-term solution is to identify what the troublesome critter is attracted to and deal with it.

'Dealing with it' differs depending on the situation—for example, it might mean erecting electric fence around a beehive, feeding pets indoors rather than outdoors, purchasing a bear resistant garbage receptacle, or removing landscaping in favor of deer resistant shrubs and flowers.

Here is how to begin.

Find the Root Cause

Sleuth work will reveal the root cause of a conflict. "If I were a deer/skunk/bear, why would I come here?" The answer may be found in your own yard, or the yards of one or more of your neighbors.

Think Food/Water/Shelter

The vast majority of wildlife visits and conflicts are directly linked to food, water and shelter. We cultivate irresistible wildlife habitat around our homes. It is like extending a nonverbal welcome mat.

Landscape plantings, flowers, vegetable gardens, fruit trees and accumulations of spilled birdseed are a smorgasbord to deer. Backyard goldfish ponds are watering holes. A duck or an unwary deer attracted to a secluded back yard is, in turn, an easy meal for a mountain lion.

Suet, birdseed, compost heaps and garbage containers are irresistible to hungry bears. The shelter provided under decks, porches and outbuildings attracts a variety of creatures, including skunks, raccoons and snakes. When wildlife makes use of such "hangouts" it is likely pet foods, compost heaps, spilled bird seed, unsecured garbage, and other sources of food are nearby.

Fixes for Common Problems

Once the attractants are identified, a homeowner can remove them or make them more secure. It is always better to head off potential problems before a conflict with wildlife occurs. Unsecured garbage and other sources of human or pet food are a particular problem.

It is Montana Law

Montana law makes it illegal to provide supplemental food attractants to "game animals," including deer, elk and other ungulates, bears, or mountain lions, or to fail to properly store feed so ungulates, bears or mountain lions have access to it.

Artificial concentrations of game animals may lead to automobile collisions, physical dangers to people and pets, and transmission of wildlife diseases. It also may lead to the removal or euthanasia of the animal itself—definitely a lose/lose situation.

Wild animals don't grasp concepts like private property or living up to our expectations. But it is fairly easy to communicate that there is no benefit in hanging around your home or business to raid a bee hive, eat the tulips, or rip into the garbage. Just make sure there isn't! They'll get the message in no time.

For more on living with wildlife, visit the FWP website at fwp. on the WildThings page, click Living With Wildlife.

-fwp-

-----------------------

FWP NEWS FOR MAY 6

GENERAL NEWS

• MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS COMMISSION TO MEET MAY 12 IN HELENA

• FWP TO DELAY OPENINGS OF SOME MONTANA WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

FISHING NEWS

• MONTANA 2011 FISHING REGULATIONS REVISED

• THE 2011 FISHING SEASON OPENS SOON

• ANGLERS URGED TO PROTECT MIGRATORY BIRDS FROM FISHING LINE, LURES AND LEAD

• NATIVE TROUT GROUP OFFERS PROJECT GRANTS

• FWP SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON REQUIRED AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES VESSEL INSPECTIONS

HUNTING NEWS

• ANTELOPE AND DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES REDUCED BY A BRUTAL WINTER

• JUNE 1 LICENSE DEADLINE APPROACHES

• SPRING BLACK BEAR HUNTING SEASON CLOSES SOON

• FWP SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT BY JUNE 6 ON DRAFT UPLAND GAME BIRD PLAN

WORKSHOPS

• HUNTING DOG HANDLING AND SHOT GUN SEMINAR JUNE 4

• BECOMING AN OUTDOORS WOMAN MILES CITY WORKSHOP

• BECOMING AN OUTDOORS WOMAN HORSE PACKING WORKSHOP FOR WOMEN

• BECOMING AND OUTDOORS WOMAN WILDFLOWER WORKSHOP

FWP OUTDOORS EXTRA

KEEP THE WILD IN WILDLIFE FOR SUCCESSFUL COEXISTENCE

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

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download