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5 Kid-Safe Outdoor Toys That Spark Hunting, Fishing & Backyard Exploration (Gateway Gear Picks)
Looking for kid-safe toys that get kids off screens and into the backyard? These five “gateway gear” picks—from night vision…
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Whitefish & Kalispell Fishing Report (Feb. 27, 2026): Whitefish Lake Ice Holds Strong, Flathead River Bites on Sunny Days
Winter isn’t letting go yet—Whitefish Lake remains locked up with lake trout cruising deep structure, while the Flathead River rewards…
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Montana FWP’s New License Ambassador Program Replaces License Providers March 1 — What Hunters & Anglers Need to Know
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is rolling out big licensing and regulation changes on March 1, including a new License…
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Grilled Bison (or Elk) Tri-Tip With Bell Pepper Chimichurri: Kokanee Quinn’s Flavor-Packed Recipe
Fire up the grill for Kokanee Quinn’s bison (or elk) tri-tip topped with a bright red bell pepper chimichurri—parsley, garlic,…
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Bitterroot Lake Ice Update (Feb. 27, 2026): 4–5 Inches at North Access, Open Water at Reeds & South Ramp — No Machines
Bitterroot Lake ice has shrunk significantly with warm weather and wind. The north end county access is now 4–5 inches,…
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Montana FWP’s Block Management Squeeze: 700,000 Hunters, Fewer Acres—and a Plan to Bring Landowners Back
Montana’s Block Management Program is seeing far more demand even as enrolled private-land acres shrink. FWP is surveying landowners—and considering…
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Fort Peck Rock Creek Ice Update: Rapid Deterioration After Warm, Windy Days—Use Extreme Caution
Rock Creek ice briefly improved with last week’s colder weather, but recent warmth and wind have quickly degraded conditions. With…
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Montana FWP’s New License Ambassador Program: What It Is, Why It’s Replacing the Old System, and What Changes March 1
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is rolling out a new License Ambassador Program ahead of March 1, replacing the longtime…
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Lake Cascade Perch Debate: Would a 14-Inch Slot Limit Bring Back the 2-Pounders?
Anglers are split over Lake Cascade’s missing 2-pound perch: is it a natural age-class reset, or too much harvest and…
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Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA Shed Hunting Opening Day 2026: May 15 Noon Access, Vehicle Entry Registration, and New Nonresident Rules
Headed to Montana’s Blackfoot-Clearwater WMA for opening day shed hunting? Here’s the May 15, 2026 noon access plan, how vehicle…
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Bitterroot River Fishing Report (Feb 25, 2026): Late-Winter Flows, Best Nymphs, Midges & Streamer Tips
Grizzly Hackle’s boots-on-the-ground Bitterroot River report for Feb. 25, 2026: clear, stable flows; trout holding deep; nymphing still king with…
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Montana Big Cat Closures: Region 6 Bobcat Season Ends Feb. 28; LMU 280 Male Mountain Lion Closes Feb. 27, 2026
Montana FWP reports two quota-driven big cat closures: bobcat hunting and trapping in Region 6 ends at midnight Saturday, Feb.…
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2026 Fort Peck Tournament of Kings (Montana): Dates, Entry Fee, $10K Daily Payouts + Random Weight Salmon Pots
Montana’s 1st Annual Fort Peck Tournament of Kings hits July 31–Aug. 1, 2026 with a 150-boat cap, $400 team entry,…
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Beginner Paddlefishing on Montana’s Yellowstone River: Training, Gear Rhythm, and Must-Know Regs
A simple question about targeting paddlefish on the Yellowstone turned into a preseason reality check: paddlefishing isn’t casual. From training…
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Video: Coyote Chases 3-Year-Old Through Front Gate in Pasadena—Mom’s Scream Sends It Running
A coyote was captured on camera chasing a 3-year-old boy through the front gate of his Pasadena home—until his mom’s…
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Bitterroot Lake Ice Report (Feb. 25, 2026): 5–5.5 Inches Most Areas Ahead of Margo’s March Madness Derby
Bitterroot Lake is fishable heading into Margo’s March Madness Fishing Derby (Feb. 28–March 1). As of Feb. 25, 2026: no…
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Montana State Parks Reservations Now Open for Camping, Lodging & Tours (Plus Blackfoot Float-In Sites Start March 2)
Montana State Parks is now accepting reservations for camping, lodging, and tours. Most sites can be booked up to three…
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Montana Elk Don’t Follow a Script—How FWP Uses GPS Tracklogs to Survey Smarter
Montana wildlife surveys have evolved from paper maps and pencils to handheld GPS units and digital mapping tools. As elk…
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Reminder-2026 Spring Mack Days on Flathead Lake begins in 16 days on March 12
The 2026 Spring Mack Days, sponsored by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, runs from March 12 to May 9,…
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Elk Hoof Disease Explained: How TAHD Spreads, What Researchers Know, and Why Hunters Are Worried
Elk hoof disease (TAHD) is a painful, polymicrobial infection that leaves elk lame and struggling to walk. First detected in…
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Yellowstone River Fishing Report (Feb. 23, 2026): Cold Water, Sluggish Fish, Best Nymph & Streamer Tips + Fly List
Ice and slush have mostly melted, but the Yellowstone River is still very cold and fish are sluggish. Nymphing is…
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Ice Thickness Report for Margo’s March Madness Derby (Feb. 22, 2026): 8 Inches at County Ramp, Thinner Near the Dam
Ice conditions for Margo’s March Madness Derby are improving but vary widely across the lake: the north end at the…
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Watch a Cow Elk Defend Her Calf From a Mountain Lion in Montana (Wild Video)
A cow elk in Montana wastes no time going full defense mode when a mountain lion is near her calf.…
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From Leather & Wood to Plano Plastics: The Evolution of the Tackle Box
Tackle boxes started as leather and wood in the late 1800s, shifted to mass-produced metal, and then boomed into post–World…
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Missouri River Below Holter Dam Fishing Report (Feb. 23, 2026): Winter Bite, Flows & What’s Working
It’s a deep-freeze on the Missouri River below Holter Dam, but the fishing has stayed surprisingly solid for anglers willing…
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Hunting or Fishing Alone? Solo Safety Tips to Trust Your Gut and Get Home Safely
Solo time outdoors can be the whole point—but it also means no quick backup if something goes wrong. Use these…
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Tongue River Marina Ice Report (Feb. 20): Open Water Near Campers Point & Possible Hidden Weak Ice
Feb. 20 update: Open water is visible near Campers Point South (from the road) and reported off Campers Point North…
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Hell Creek Marina Ice Report (Feb. 22, 2026): SxS OK to Lucky Point, 4-Wheelers to Johnson; Main Lake Open
Hell Creek Marina’s Feb. 22, 2026 ice update says a cold snap improved conditions: SxS are reported good to Lucky…
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Montana Shed Antler Hunting Rules for 2026: $50 Nonresident WMA License + 7-Day Waiting Period
Montana’s 2026 shed antler rule updates mainly affect nonresidents on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs): a new $50 WMA shed hunting…
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Remote Work From Anywhere? Ice Anglers Are Turning Frozen Lakes Into the Ultimate Office
“Work from anywhere” doesn’t always mean a kitchen table. For some ice anglers, remote flexibility looks like a laptop inside…
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Montana Closes Male Mountain Lion Season in LMU 123 and LMU 340 After Sunset (Feb. 24, 2026)
Montana’s Fish & Wildlife Commission ordered the male mountain lion season in LMU 123 and LMU 340 to close one-half…
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Helena Area Reservoirs Fishing Report (Feb. 23, 2026): Final Winter Update + Urgent Ice Safety Warning as Canyon Ferry Opens Up
Final winter fishing report for Helena-area reservoirs before updates resume in April. Ice is highly variable and can change fast,…
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Montana Hunting Licenses Go on Sale March 1: What Opens, What Changed This Year, and What to Check Before You Buy
March 1 is Montana’s “opening day for paperwork”: licenses go on sale and special draw applications open. With multiple rule…
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2026 Kalispell Wolf Banquet (Feb. 28): Flathead County Fairgrounds Details, Dinner, Raffles, Games & Auction
The 2026 Kalispell Wolf Banquet is set for February 28 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in Kalispell. Expect a hearty…
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NW Montana Fishing Report (Feb. 21, 2026): Cold Snap Builds Safe Ice, Bigger Lakes Finally Open
Last week’s extreme cold and heavy snow dramatically thickened ice across NW Montana, opening up access to some larger lakes.…
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Montana LMU 680 Closing to Female Mountain Lion Hunting After Sunset (Feb. 23, 2026) — What to Know
By order of the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission, LMU 680 will close to all hunting of female mountain lions…
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Don’t Feed Wildlife: A “Calm” Elk Can Bite in Seconds When Hand-Fed
A calm-looking elk can still react fast—especially around food. In a clip shared as a reminder, a child’s fingers were…
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Montana Late-Winter Fly Fishing Report & Forecast 2026: Stable Flows, Clear Water, Active Trout on the Madison, Gallatin, Yellowstone & Missouri
Montana’s late-winter fly fishing has been unusually steady in 2026, with mild temperatures keeping conditions stable. Rising Trout Fly Fishing…
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Life-Saving Skills You Can Learn: Downrigger Dale Interviews Instructor Racheal Vargas
On the Montana Outdoor Podcast, host Downrigger Dale talks with instructor Racheal Vargas (Montana K9 Safety and Montana Health &…
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Venison Sausage Stuffed Pancakes (Easy Breakfast Recipe from Kokanee Quinn)
These venison breakfast sausage stuffed pancakes—credited to Jenn Homa and shared by Kokanee Quinn—deliver a sweet-and-salty, handheld breakfast that’s perfect…
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Montana Drought 2025: Golden Triangle Now in Extreme Drought
Dry February is strangling Montana’s winter moisture recharge. The Golden Triangle has slipped into extreme drought — here’s what it…
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Montana Expands Hunter Education: FWP Adds 7 Regional Technicians as Youth Participation Declines
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is expanding hunter education support by hiring seven regional education technicians, even as youth participation…
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NW Montana Ice & Fishing Report (Feb. 20, 2026): Where Ice Is Still Holding, Where It’s Sketchy, and What’s Biting
From Chancy’s Fish Camp in Evergreen, MT: ice conditions are a mixed bag across NW Montana—some lakes still have decent…
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Montana Closes Female Mountain Lion Harvest in LMU 320 & LMU 121 After Sunset Feb. 21, 2026 (Quota Update)
Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission announces female mountain lion harvest closes in LMU 320 and LMU 121 one-half hour after…
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Fort Peck Lake Ice Report (Feb. 20, 2026): Parts Capped Over Again, But Ice Still Thin & Unpredictable (Lakeridge Update)
Lakeridge Lodging & Bait Shop reports parts of Fort Peck Lake have capped over again, but conditions remain thin, snow-covered,…
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Fort Peck Lake Ice Update: Main Lake Re-Capped Overnight—Marina Says It’s “Absolutely Not” Safe to Fish
After last night’s refreeze, Fort Peck Lake’s main lake has capped over again—but Fort Peck Marina says it’s “ABSOLUTELY not”…
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How to Catch Jumbo Yellow Perch: Bigger Lures, Seasonal Patterns, and a Simple Perch Recipe
Yellow perch may not fight like bass, but they’re outstanding table fare—and you can stack the odds for bigger “jumbos”…
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Fort Peck Ice Conditions Near the Dam (Feb. 19, 2026): Don Wilkins Checks the Main Channel and Surrounding Areas
With questions swirling from anglers, Don Wilkins went out to verify current ice conditions near the Fort Peck Dam. He…
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Mountain Lion Backstrap Pizza on the Grill: Wild Game Recipe to Mark the Feb. 28 Season Close
A grill-fired wild game pizza featuring mountain lion backstrap—originally shared on montana-wild.com by Travis Boughton and reposted as a nod…
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Fort Peck Lake Ice Report (Feb. 19, 2026): Significant Open Water, Shorelines Opening Up, Real Feel -16°
Not much has changed in the ice’s favor at Fort Peck Lake this week. Lakeridge Lodging and Bait Shop reports…
