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Northeast Montana bison hunt halted following BLM ruling
BRETT FRENCH | bfrench@billingsgazette.com American Prairie has cancelled its annual public lottery that authorizes winning hunters to kill bison, citing the uncertainty created by a Bureau of Land Management directive to remove…
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FWP calculates landlocked acreage in Montana
Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks estimated 3.1 million acres of landlocked public land, slightly exceeding a private company’s figure. Of this, 2.2 million acres are locked by private land, and…
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Record 72 Grizzlies Killed in Yellowstone Area in 2025
A record-high 72 grizzly bears died in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2025 — and all 18 deaths outside the monitored zone were human-caused. Here’s what it means for delisting.
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Stillwater River bank armoring has reduced fish habitat
The 2022 Stillwater River floods prompted extensive bank projects, harming fish habitats. Fisheries biologist Bryan Giordano warns of a 90% decline in fish populations due to human interventions and climate…
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West Boulder River public access dispute resolved
In 2025, modifications were made to a fence blocking access to the West Boulder River after negotiations, allowing public access while controversies over landowner restrictions continue to rise in Montana.
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Interest in Montana’s ‘bulls for billionaires’ program wanes
BRETT FRENCH | bfrench@billingsgazette.com Interest in a once-controversial program that gives free elk tags to landowners to encourage them to allow public hunting on their property declined last year. Montana Fish, Wildlife…
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Butte hunter started unique outfitting biz in Beartooths
Jack Atcheson Jr., a pioneering outfitter in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, emphasizes low-impact hunting while advocating for bighorn sheep conservation, reflecting over 50 years of dedication and global experience.
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Bighorn Canyon NRA water levels rising for Memorial Day
Water levels in Bighorn, Boysen, and Buffalo Bill reservoirs are significantly low due to a dry winter, impacting boating and fishing. Predictions indicate reduced runoff and earlier peak snowpack, affecting…
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Bighorn River Trout Numbers Rise Amid Grim Water Forecast
Low water levels on Montana’s Bighorn River threaten trout spawning, despite healthy fish populations. Experts call for action to preserve habitats as drought risks increase and fishing restrictions may be…
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Montana FWP SCORP report highlights recreation challenges
Flathead County in Montana is projected to grow by nearly 30% by 2040, increasing pressure on outdoor recreation areas. Public lands drive this growth, highlighting the need for improved access…
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Montana FWP leases water in fight for trout, river survival
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is focusing on preserving streamflows to combat rising river temperatures, employing water leasing to support Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations amidst significant environmental challenges.
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Yellowstone River island in Paradise Valley offered to FWP
A proposal to donate an 82-acre island in the Yellowstone River to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks aims to preserve its wildlife habitat, named Pine Siskin fishing access site, for…
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Disease, development, warming climate threaten mule deer, according to Wyoming study
A Wyoming study indicates that mule deer populations are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, and other stressors, with current estimates dropping significantly since their peak in 1991.
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Idaho Avalanche Report: Father and Son Buried 15 Feet Apart in Deadly Carrot Canyon Slide
An avalanche investigation says a Feb. 22 slide in Idaho buried a Minnesota father and his 21-year-old son just 15 feet apart, creating overlapping transceiver signals that complicated the rescue.…
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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 new incentives and outreach—to ease crowding and rebuild access.
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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 faces headwinds from overscheduled kids, two-income parents, and volunteer instructors.…
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Dam bypass channel changes Lower Yellowstone River fishing
A new bypass channel allows fish to navigate around Intake Diversion Dam, significantly increasing walleye populations in the Lower Yellowstone River and enhancing local fishing experiences over the last four…
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Yellowstone cougars change diets, behavior to avoid wolves
In Yellowstone, wolves and cougars clash because wolves steal elk kills, sometimes killing cougars. A long-term GPS study shows they’re rivals without reward, unlike smaller predators that scavenge for food.
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Why did the Montana elk walk 200 miles to South Dakota?
BRETT FRENCH | bfrench@billingsgazette.com As any hunter can tell you, elk are frustratingly smart, but they also adhere to certain habits. Studies conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks scientists in…
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Montana FWP licensing technology badly in need of updates, audit reveals
Montana’s Hunting & Fishing Licenses Run on 1990s Tech—and Auditors Say It’s Risky….
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More grizzly encounters in Beartooth Mountains, according to FWP
Grizzly conflicts explode 133% in one Montana region….
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Tourism pressure prompts tension for conservation-minded business
As Montana’s visitor numbers soar, some outdoor businesses are asking an uncomfortable question: when is enough, enough?
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FWP seeks water to keep Rock Creek flowing
One of Montana’s most popular trout streams is running out of water—sometimes completely—and wildlife officials say it’s happening almost every year. Now the state is stepping in with a controversial…
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As mule deer numbers decline, commission cuts tags
Everyone agrees something’s wrong—no one agrees how far to go. Read more from Brett French.
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Black bear changes create special Beartooth tag
Declining bear populations and more tags for hunters–Montana’s bear debate is heating up!
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Southest Montana pronghorn populations decline, permits cut
A Sudden Crash in Antelope Numbers Has Biologists Worried. Here’s What They Found….
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FWP rows forward on Montana river crowding
You won’t believe how many people are packing into Montana’s rivers — and what the state wants to do about it…
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FWP to change how it sells licenses in stores
Montana’s 25-year-old license machines are finally getting put out to pasture—here’s what replaces them…
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Half of successful Montana elk hunters fill their tags on public land
Five bull elk stood just out of reach on public land, a reminder that in hunting, luck and licensing often decide success…
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Yellowstone seeks bison reduction to stay within goals
Yellowstone aims to cut its bison herd to keep the population within park management goals… read more from Brett French here…
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How social media negatively impacts Glacier National Park
Social media is reshaping Glacier National Park—and sometimes putting rescuers in danger as visitors chase the perfect post…
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FWP’s Justin Gude, RMEF conservation chief answer elk habitat, predation questions
Despite more elk roaming Montana than ever before, one hunter’s three-day search in the Crazies turns up nothing but tracks, questions…and a lingering elk curse…
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Montana FWP access programs face budget, staffing challenges
Montana’s wildly successful hunter access program is straining under its own weight, as soaring demand collides with stagnant staffing and outdated funding rules. Read more from Brett French here…
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Lavina-area sage grouse habitat easement OK’d
Montana officials approved a $1.2 million easement to protect 4,417 acres of prime sage grouse habitat north of Lavina, balancing the cost against dwindling conservation funds and rising development pressures.
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Want to be a Yellowstone backcountry ranger? Read this first
Yellowstone backcountry ranger Kimberly Lewis shares the gritty realities and soul-stirring rewards of protecting America’s first national park. More from Brett French here..
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Paddler’s paradise: Yellowstone National Park’s Shoshone Lake
Paddle into Yellowstone’s hidden gem—Shoshone Lake—where dragonflies dance over warm geyser-fed creeks and the wilderness drowns out the modern world. More from Brett French here:
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Endangered pallid sturgeon successfully spawn in Missouri River
Two female pallid sturgeon spawned below Fort Peck Dam this summer—now researchers are racing to see if their tiny offspring survived…More from Brett French here…
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Anchor Ranch has been at center of access disputes
At the crossroads of wilderness and ownership, Anchor Ranch has become ground zero in a battle over who gets in—and who gets kept out.
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It was a short season for some backcountry bighorn hunters
Montana’s backcountry bighorn sheep hunt in the Gallatin-Yellowstone district lasted just two days before the quota was filled, leaving more than 100 hopeful hunters sidelined…
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Fish and Wildlife Commission Oks more than 122,300 acres of easements
Montana’s newest conservation easements show how ranchers, hunters, and wildlife can all share the same ground — and win.
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OnX map identifies BLM acres for potential disposal
One map, 6.08 million acres flagged, and a federal agency tapping the brakes…
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Montana native new leader of Red Lodge Mountain ski area
Montana native Jean Mikulas returns home to lead the ski area into its next chapter.”
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How should mule deer be managed? Public weighs in with ideas
Facing a steep decline in mule deer numbers, Montana wildlife officials are drafting a new plan that weighs disease, predators, habitat loss, and hunting limits — with passionate public input…
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Weird tales from Wyoming wardens
From meth-fueled fishing fugitives to overloaded freezers of trout, Wyoming Game and Fish wardens had no shortage of strange cases in 2024… More from Brett French here.
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Madison River island being restored to help fish
State biologists are rebuilding a vanishing island on the lower Madison in hopes of bringing back the trout. Read more from Brett French here…
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State lands near Gallatin County dump closed to shooting
Recreational shooting will be banned on three state land tracts near Logan starting July 15 after leaseholders raised safety concerns.. read more from Brett French here.
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Yellowstone River users locked out as negotiations on access drag on
Montana’s fishing season is in full swing—but one popular Yellowstone River spot is still off-limits… Read more from Brett French here.
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Fish and Wildlife Commission OKs Elk Hunting Access deals
Some hunters and commissioners are raising red flags over Montana’s Elk Hunting Access program, saying it promises exclusive access but often delivers crowded conditions — all while landowners stack benefits…
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Gated road blocks route to BLM’s Seven Blackfoot WSA
A controversial gate on a rugged Montana road has cut off public access to thousands of acres of wildlands… Read more from Brett French here.
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