FWP

In recent years, water levels have dropped hugely each summer in several Montana rivers, threatening resident fish, but Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has refused to enforce its instream water rights.

The estimated number of wolves in Montana decreased slightly in 2024, but Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is proposing more wolf hunting and trapping to push the statewide population down to 450.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commission will have one new member representing northwest Montana. But some sportsmen question the timing of his appointment.

Citizens assert the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission violated public meeting requirements when it approved the elimination of black bear quotas without prior notice.

Governor Greg Gianforte announced the appointment of Christy Clark as FWP director. Clark is currently the director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.

Gianforte appointed Temple to be director in June 2023 following the retirement of longtime FWP Director Hank Worsech, who had been on medical leave for months prior to his departure.

Ryce sent a letter of resignation to FWP Chief of Staff Melissa Watson that took FWP leadership to task for putting her on administrative leave on May 17 for what she called “baseless allegations.”

A Montana court has reaffirmed that landowners can’t automatically kill wildlife just because their property is damaged

This year’s low snowpack and recent string of hot days have caused local rivers to dwindle and warm to the point that fish and other aquatic species need some protection.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has denied its biologists’ request for a pay raise, which would have put them on par with other biologists around the Northern Rocky Mountain region.