The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission has ordered LMU 422 closed to all hunting of male mountain lions one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Check the official quota status page for the latest details.
Montana’s river bottoms and ranch country can grow gnarly whitetails—but Boone and Crockett’s latest record book shows exactly which states consistently turn out the biggest bucks. Here’s what the 17,000-entry data says about America’s top trophy whitetail destinations, from Wisconsin to the Midwest powerhouses and a few surprise standouts.
Freezout Lake is famous for fall waterfowl hunting—but March is when it turns into a “snowstorm of wings.” With hundreds of thousands of snow geese and tundra swans staging between Great Falls and Choteau, this is also a rare chance to scout roosts, feed fields, and flight lines you can use next season.
On a crisp Pennsylvania morning, BoneHeads Outdoors heads into the woods for “A Nice Set and Shed #80,” a shed-hunting adventure that blends treasure-hunt thrills with real lessons on timing, terrain, and reading wildlife sign.
The Jefferson River is fishing tough but doable in early spring. Slow down, get deep in softer inside water, and plan around late morning through mid-afternoon. Here’s the latest Jefferson River report from Fins and Feathers (2/5 on March 9, 2026), including the nymph and streamer patterns producing now.
Mid-March is Montana’s most dangerous stretch for ice fishing. Here’s what local guides, marina operators, and FWP officials are seeing on Canyon Ferry, Holter, Fort Peck, and Flathead—plus late-season safety gear, best practices, and when to switch to open water.
Bass anglers will try almost anything to trigger a strike—and sometimes the strangest-looking baits are the ones that get crushed. Here are five of the “weirdest” bass fishing lures anglers swear by, according to Get Ur Fish On. Watch the video to see them all.
Montana’s prime shed-hunting window is here. As bulls and bucks start dropping, March 10–25 can be the sweet spot for finding fresh elk and deer antlers on public ground. Here are seven proven public-land areas—from the Missouri River Breaks to the Milk River country—plus practical tips on timing, gear, and reading the landscape so you can cover ground efficiently and boost your odds.
Mid-March is Montana’s ice-out hinge point: dangerous, variable ice on many reservoirs, but growing open-water options and the season’s first meaningful midge windows. Here’s a historically grounded look at where to go this week, what to throw, and how to stay safe as waters transition to spring.
There’s a short spring window when pre-spawn walleye stack on breaks and points and the jig bite turns from slow to ridiculous. Here’s what Fish Head Assassin says to watch—water temps, weight, wind, and timing—so you stay in the strike zone while the fish are still willing.
Colorado’s proposed fur ban is set to spark renewed debate in Grand Junction this May, pitting animal-welfare arguments against concerns about rural livelihoods and the state’s long fur-trade history. Here’s what’s at stake, why it matters beyond Colorado, and what to watch as the issue unfolds.
Early spring trout fishing near Bozeman is improving week by week as rivers transition out of winter mode. Here’s what’s working right now—best time of day, where trout are holding, and the nymph and streamer setups producing on the Gallatin, Madison (upper/lower), and Yellowstone as of March 9, 2026 (5/5).
A Lake Fork, Texas fishing tournament turned surreal when staff used a metal-detecting wand on a largemouth bass—and later, game wardens reportedly found fishing weights inside the fish. Now the angler involved is facing serious legal consequences.
Yellowstone biologists reported the park’s first grizzly bear sighting of 2026 on March 9, after observing a bear scavenging a bull bison carcass in the northern backcountry. Here’s how this year compares to recent first-sighting dates—and what visitors should know about bear safety as bears emerge from hibernation.
After more than a decade of building Wyoming elk preference points, Andrew McKean and friends cashed in on a hard-to-access unit by flying a helicopter into landlocked public ground surrounded by private ranches. The hunt was lights-out—until a nearby rancher allegedly hauled off an elk head, triggering a tense confrontation, a viral video, and a theft charge.
Along Highway 287 near Three Forks, a hilltop herd of 39 life-sized blue steel horses appears to graze and move with the light. Created by Montana artist Jim Dolan and installed in 2013, the Bleu Horses blend art and landscape into an unforgettable roadside landmark.
Yellowstone National Park reported a notable drop in wolves in 2025—from about 123 in 2024 to around 90—raising new conservation concerns. Here’s what park managers say is contributing to the decline, why wolves matter to the broader ecosystem, and what researchers are watching next.
As winter loosens its grip, Yellowstone is surging with wildlife activity—from bison calves and meadow-grazing elk to increasingly visible grizzlies and wolves. Here’s why it matters for the park’s ecosystem and the region’s economy, plus how to watch responsibly.
Viral posts claim wildlife is fleeing Yellowstone ahead of an eruption—but park officials and scientists say there’s no evidence of unusual animal behavior or elevated volcanic signals. Here’s what experts watch for, why the myth spreads, and where to find reliable updates.
A viral March 10, 2026 video claims Norris Geyser Basin blasted water 200 meters into the air. The footage may show real geothermal action—but the hype overshoots what Steamboat Geyser is documented to do. Here’s what’s true about Steamboat, Norris Basin’s unusual chemistry, and why Yellowstone doesn’t need doomsday framing to be fascinating.
March on Montana’s Missouri River is rarely predictable—and 2026 could be even more of a wildcard with low snowpack and warming water. Here’s what to expect for midges, nymphing, streamer fishing, swinging flies, and the fickle spring weather that can make (or break) your day on the Mo.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hosts its annual Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Management Plan update on March 16 at 6 p.m. in Helena. Hear population trends and management updates for Canyon Ferry, Hauser, Holter, and nearby Missouri River sections—and learn what keeps these popular fisheries producing year after year.
Montana K9 Safety is hosting a free trap release workshop for Bozeman-area dog owners on March 26. Expect hands-on demos with multiple trap types, a look at current trapping regulations, and simple tools that can help you safely free a dog if an accident happens on the trail.
The Jefferson River is fishing tough but doable in early spring. Slow down, get deep in softer inside water, and plan around late morning through mid-afternoon. Here’s the latest Jefferson River report from Fins and Feathers (2/5 on March 9, 2026), including the nymph and streamer patterns producing now.
Mid-March is Montana’s most dangerous stretch for ice fishing. Here’s what local guides, marina operators, and FWP officials are seeing on Canyon Ferry, Holter, Fort Peck, and Flathead—plus late-season safety gear, best practices, and when to switch to open water.
Bass anglers will try almost anything to trigger a strike—and sometimes the strangest-looking baits are the ones that get crushed. Here are five of the “weirdest” bass fishing lures anglers swear by, according to Get Ur Fish On. Watch the video to see them all.
Mid-March is Montana’s ice-out hinge point: dangerous, variable ice on many reservoirs, but growing open-water options and the season’s first meaningful midge windows. Here’s a historically grounded look at where to go this week, what to throw, and how to stay safe as waters transition to spring.
There’s a short spring window when pre-spawn walleye stack on breaks and points and the jig bite turns from slow to ridiculous. Here’s what Fish Head Assassin says to watch—water temps, weight, wind, and timing—so you stay in the strike zone while the fish are still willing.
Karl Tyler wanted a cattle ranch since 8th grade—but didn’t have money for land or cattle. On the Montana Outdoor Podcast, he tells Downrigger Dale how hard work and long-term focus took him from washing cars at a dealership to owning multiple dealerships and, ultimately, building a top-tier cattle operation that’s turning heads across the industry.
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Winter is easing toward early spring across Montana, and anglers are splitting time between lingering lake ice and late-winter river trout fishing. Here’s what changed with longer days, what flies are producing on the Madison and Missouri, and where to listen to both hours of the March 7 Montana Outdoor Radio Show.
March is teasing spring across Montana, but ice conditions are turning more variable—especially near shorelines and pressure cracks. Meanwhile, open water remains consistent, with the Madison and Missouri producing steady trout action on midges, sowbugs, and small nymph rigs. Here’s what to watch and how to adjust your approach right now.
Online registration for the 1st Annual Fort Peck Montana Tournament of Kings opens in 6 days, and with a 150-boat limit, spots could go fast. Here’s what to do now to be ready when the link drops—plus how to stay in the loop.
The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission has ordered LMU 422 closed to all hunting of male mountain lions one-half hour after sunset on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Check the official quota status page for the latest details.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks hosts its annual Upper Missouri River Reservoir Fisheries Management Plan update on March 16 at 6 p.m. in Helena. Hear population trends and management updates for Canyon Ferry, Hauser, Holter, and nearby Missouri River sections—and learn what keeps these popular fisheries producing year after year.
Montana K9 Safety is hosting a free trap release workshop for Bozeman-area dog owners on March 26. Expect hands-on demos with multiple trap types, a look at current trapping regulations, and simple tools that can help you safely free a dog if an accident happens on the trail.
Kokanee Quinn resurrects a hard-to-find Alaska community-cookbook classic: salmon loaf—made with thawed frozen salmon (not canned) plus a little smoked salmon, cream, butter, Parmesan, lemon zest, and hot sauce. The result eats like a rich salmon burger baked into a loaf with a buttery, crumbly topping—easy enough for weeknights, impressive enough for guests.
Bored of basic beef jerky? These five wildly unique jerky recipes—from Dr Pepper Jalapeño to chocolate-covered, coffee-marinated, maple syrup, and Bloody Mary—bring sweet heat, smoky depth, and serious snack-time swagger.
Fire up the grill for Kokanee Quinn’s bison (or elk) tri-tip topped with a bright red bell pepper chimichurri—parsley, garlic, olive oil, lemon, and a touch of heat. Simple prep, big wild-game payoff.
