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The Latest in This Category
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A perfect storm of problems for popular Boulder River road
Two counties, one busted road, and a whole lot of finger-pointing… Read more from Brett French here.
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Coming to water near you: A tiger in the creel
Montana’s fish scene is about to get a bold new stripe. Read more from Brett French here….
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Legislation puts limits on helicopter, plane, drone use
A new Montana law aims to protect fair chase hunting by cracking down on helicopters and drones that disrupt wildlife and give hunters an unfair advantage.
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Legislature passes bills for upland hunters, habitat, access
Montana hunters may soon get a 10-day head start on their feathered foes—before the out-of-staters flock in. Read more from Brett French here…
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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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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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The Yellowstone is a river in transition
When a sleepy stream surges 30-fold overnight and jet boats can’t float in spring, Montana’s rivers are telling a story—and it’s one we can’t ignore…
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Dude ranch’s history, 1930 film unearthed after family research
When city slickers traded skylines for sawtooths, one dude ranch adventure in 1930 captured all the grit, grace, and goofy glory of Montana’s wild side on film. Here’s more from…
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Numerous studies examine wild sheep for answers to die-off events
The bighorns of the Missouri Breaks once thrived—now, scientists are scrambling to find out why they’re gone…
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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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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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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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Montana hunters request study in hopes of easing crowding
Montana hunters aim to ‘track’ solutions to overcrowding with new study request.
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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…
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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…
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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 paying landowners not to develop their property using perpetual conservation…
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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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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…
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Ancient trees reveal possible futures for Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Frozen in time: Ancient trees preserved in a Beartooth ice patch for 5,000 years are revealing secrets about past climates—and what they mean for our warming future. Read more from…
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DEQ water quality studies lay groundwork for Smith River restoration
BRETT FRENCH bfrench@billingsgazette.com If the Smith River were a medical patient, its doctors now have in hand a series of studies showing its health problems — higher June water temperatures, reduced…
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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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Brett French reports: Collars reveal wild treks by migratory mule deer
Don’t let their backyard snacking fool you—Cody, Wyoming’s mule deer are world-class migrators. Read more from Brett French here.
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Brett French reports: Property owner group appeals elk lawsuit
Montana’s elk management debate heats up as ranches, lawsuits, and wily elk take center stage! Is it about population control or just keeping elk in check?
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BLM unveils travel plan for southern Carbon County
The Bureau of Land Management has released a draft travel plan for a 76,000-acre region in southern Carbon County.
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Brett French reports: Fish and Wildlife Commission restricts catch limit
Going against the Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ staff recommendations, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission recently restricted raising the catch limit on some rivers and streams across the…
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Brett French reports: Judith River land donated for state park
A history-rich parcel of land along the Judith and Missouri rivers in north-central Montana has been donated to the Montana State Parks Foundation. The foundation is hoping the state of…
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Brett French reports: Study adds new understanding of chronic wasting diseasets:
A recently published study conducted at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton mapped the pathogen that causes chronic wasting disease (CWD). This analysis…
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Brett French reports: 10-year Montana moose study wraps up
There was a lot of concern 11 years ago when Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks started a 10-year study of moose in three regions of the state. More of the…
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Brett French presents: River advisory council drafting ideas
An advisory council created by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks to provide guidance on river recreation has come up with a rough outline for the agency. The group met over…
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Brett French reports: Big medicine’ for combat veterans
Post-9/11 combat veterans can now learn the sport of archery hunting through Bozeman-based Warriors & Quiet Waters. The nonprofit began in 2007 as a way to help veterans “cope with…
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Brett French Reports: Forest Service: Budget restrictions won’t affect Montana avalanche centers
As Congress has delayed finalizing the federal budget for fiscal year 2025, the Forest Service has constricted its employment of seasonal workers. Concerns were expressed by 42 groups, including regional…
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Brett French reports: Wildlife overpass engineer work funded
Funding has been awarded to conduct an engineering study aimed at building two wildlife overpasses between Livingston and Gardiner along Highway 89. The area the study will focus on is…
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Brett French reports: 3 lakes in 3 days
Montana’s Tobacco Root Mountains have been discovered, for good reason. They are centrally located, full of public campgrounds, trails and four-wheel drive roads, and some fish-filled lakes. Over the Labor…
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Brett French reports: A national wolf discussion
People who disagree seem to get angrier easier these days. When it comes to talking about large predators, like wolves, such disagreements can make it very difficult for federal and…
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Brett French Reports: Bears in the crosshairs
A noted grizzly bear biologist said Yellowstone-area bears can handle a “well-managed, conservate” hunt. Frank van Manen, leader of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study team, made the comment during a…
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Brett French reports: Hawg hunting–Lunker Fort Peck chinook salmon lure anglers
There are so many intricacies to fishing for chinook salmon at Fort Peck Reservoir it can be a bit intimidating. That’s why it was nice to go with a veteran,…
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Brett French reports: Stories in ancient rock art
Central Montana is home to some unique and ancient rock art sites, places where Native Americans painted or etched figures into stone. Newer technology is providing more insight into many…
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Brett French reports: Elk damage hunts begin as judge shoots more holes in property owners’ lawsuit
Despite the fact it’s August and still hitting 90 degrees, elk damage hunts have begun across Montana. The hunts are a way for agricultural producers to push elk off irrigated…
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Brett French reports: Pronghorn obstacles identified in 4-year study
A four-year study conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks of eight pronghorn populations across the state helped identify numerous migration obstacles. Female pronghorns across the state were captured and…
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Brett French reports: A 360-degree view of the Lewis & Clark trail
The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail travels 4,900 miles across 16 states, including Montana. A Virginia company, Terrain360, is working to cover the entire route with a 360-degree camera,…
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Brett French reports: Grizzly close encounter
Chester Evitt was sitting in his recliner watching a Jennifer Lopez action movie on July 16 when a 500-pound grizzly bear knocked open his front door. Evitt owns a gun…
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Brett French reports: Big Sky opens Lone Peak Tram for summer trips
On a blue sky weekend it’s hard to top the view from 11,166-foot Lone Peak in the Madison Range. On clear days you can see the Tetons in Wyoming, not…
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Brett French reports: Managing mountain lions
Increased mountain lion quotas in the west-central ecogregion were approved last month by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission. That region includes the greater Bitterroot area and extends to the…
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Brett French reports: Yellowstone’s wolf queen
An 11-year-old, one-eyed female wolf that lives in Yellowstone National Park has led an amazing life. The wolf, named 907F based on her collar number, is a member of the…
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Brett French reports: Unique conservation exchange
Imagine touching snow for the first time. Or seeing your first bear or wolf. That was Tanzanian scientist and conservationist Yamat Lengai’s experience this month when she had the opportunity…
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Brett French reports: Rainy May boosts upper Missouri River runoff
Parts of Montana received more than 200% of their normal precipitation for the month of May, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That helped boost runoff into Fort…
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Brett French reports: Exhibit honors early Yellowstone women
By 1926, Yellowstone National Park boasted five women rangers. That was pretty progressive considering the United States had only granted women the right to vote six years earlier. These women…
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Brett French reports: Trout vs. walleye on Missouri River above Canyon Ferry
Walleye numbers have climbed on the Missouri River in the 23-mile stretch from Canyon Ferry to Toston Dam. Earlier this month, the Fish and Wildlife Commission held a work session…
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Brett French reports: He ain’t heavy, he’s my friend
While hunters are used to packing out their wild game when stalking away from roads, most aren’t carrying large loads on the way to hunt, or while hunting. That wasn’t…
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