Montana FWP is improving accessible trails at Flathead Lake State Park, widening paths and removing obstacles to make state parks more welcoming for people with disabilities.

The rut is over and snow is moving bulls to predictable lower ground. Here's where Montana elk are holding right now and how to punch your tag.

This Montana Outdoor Podcast explores Fort Peck Reservoir’s unusual king salmon season, featuring fewer catches but exceptionally large fish, including a 36.3-pound specimen. Fisheries biologist Heath Headley and hatchery manager Wade Geraets discuss the 2026 egg collection, hatchery operations, reasons behind the salmon’s growth, future fishing prospects, and the success of the inaugural Tournament of Kings derby.

This easy one-pan elk sandwich recipe serves four to six and takes about 30 minutes. Brown ground elk with onion and optional pepper, then simmer it in a savory ketchup-based sauce with Worcestershire, mustard, and spices. Cook to 160°F (71°C), serve on buns, and adapt with heat, alternate bases, or pack-light ingredients.

Wayfarers’ Harry Horn Trail received accessibility improvements, including brush removal, smoother surfaces, and cleared rocks and roots, while preserving its natural character. People with mobility and vision challenges helped guide the project, and visitors such as Holly and wheelchair-using corgi Bosco are benefiting. Montana hopes the trail will inspire broader accessibility efforts.

Adam Lewis describes how funnels, saddles, creek crossings, and other pinch points can place hunters in prime position during the rut, when bucks actively search for does. He recommends combining morning funnel or bedding-area sits with evening food-source hunts, using legal scouting tools and attractants, while staying comfortable, alert, and phone-free.

Fall fly fishing for wild cutthroat in western Montana’s small creeks is a locals’ secret. Here’s what to know before you go in October.

Montana FWP is accepting applications for a licensed angler to fill a two-year term on the Future Fisheries Citizen Review Panel, which oversees $1M in annual habitat grants.

Learn essential etiquette for navigating Montana's crowded public hunting lands. Tips to avoid conflicts and share space respectfully this season.

BRETT FRENCH | bfrench@billingsgazette.com A Big Sky man who survived a gruesome grizzly bear attack in 2023 has been charged […]

Lakers remain active around shallow spawning areas, with the best success in 35–55 feet using 3/4-ounce jigs and 4.8-inch paddletails. Smallmouth activity slowed with recent cold fronts but produced good fish from 10–40 feet on minnows, slip bobbers, and hair jigs. Pike continue cruising shallow weed edges, striking spoons and topwater lures.

CORVALLIS– Jason Rulon Davis of Corvallis was recently sentenced for 18 wildlife poaching crimes committed in Ravalli County. In May, Davis […]

The November 2, 2026 Gallatin River report records flows of 465 CFS near Gallatin Gateway. Fishing is strongest from late morning through afternoon, with wintering trout holding in deep runs and responding to midges, baetis, nymphs, streamers, and dry flies. Anglers should avoid redds and contact The Rivers Edge for updates or guided trips.

River Mossberg’s spring 2026 Wyoming bear hunt opened with his pickup sinking into the mud so thoroughly that even tire […]

Jana Waller arrows the biggest-bodied whitetail of her career on Montana public land — and it starts inside a flesh-eating beetle colony.

Over 2,200 hunters checked in at Region 3 stations reveal where southwest Montana's best hunting action was and what this season's opener data means for your next trip.

Record grizzly deaths in Greater Yellowstone reach historic highs in 2026. Montana hunters face new challenges as bear encounters increase across the region.

A potential world record archery elk taken in Montana's Belt Mountains — what it means for elk hunting legacy and how to hunt this overlooked range.

Montana’s hunting season reminder: baiting game animals and providing supplemental wildlife feed are prohibited by law. Store-bought “wildlife attractants” do not make these activities legal, so hunters should review regulations before purchasing or using them. Restrictions help prevent unnatural animal behavior, disease spread, and human-wildlife conflicts. Report suspected violations to 1-800-TIP-MONT or MT.

On November 5, 2026, the Upper Madison offers the best overall fishing, with clear water, productive nymphing, possible midday blue-winged olives, and dependable streamer action. The colder Lower Madison favors deep nymphs and crayfish briefly midday. Near West Yellowstone, swinging flies may find fall-run fish. Check closures, access, and regulations.

HAMILTON– Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens are seeking information on a mule deer buck that was shot southeast […]

This post shares five simple and flavorful recipes for cooking steelhead trout, each baked at 400°F for 10-14 minutes. Recipes include maple-mustard glaze, taco-seasoned fillets, pesto with Parmesan, a soy-ginger foil packet, and a hot-honey crunch. Baking with skin-side down is recommended for better results.

Montana’s backcountry looks vast and wild, but wildlife populations are still recovering from losses most hunters never learned about. Here’s what the data shows.

A Japanese angler's journal reveals the stark difference between wild Montana trout and stocked fish—and why it matters more than technique or gear.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reported a potential nonviable invasive mussel larva found in Whitefish Lake, prompting further monitoring. Follow-up tests showed no live mussels or mussel DNA. Continuous sampling is planned, while boaters are encouraged to clean and inspect their watercraft to prevent possible infestations.

Steelhead fishing on the Upper Salmon River improved last week, attracting more anglers as river clarity increased. Although overall effort remained low compared to previous years, catch rates rose, particularly mid-week. Conditions appear favorable for continued fishing activity, with good visibility and stable water temperatures expected to persist.

During the first week of Montana's general rifle season, hunter activity at the Augusta check station remains above average, with 630 hunters checked and a 26% success rate in big game harvests. Both deer and elk harvests are significantly higher than recent averages, while caution is advised due to grizzly bear sightings.

During Montana's general big game season, hunter participation in northwest Montana is down about 7% compared to last year, with 3,235 hunters recorded and a success rate of 7.1%. Harvest includes 183 white-tailed deer, 24 mule deer bucks, and 23 elk. Officials emphasize the need for CWD testing and adherence to hunting regulations.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks report shows that west-central Montana check stations logged 3,875 hunter stops in the early big game season, with minor decreases in elk and deer harvests compared to last year. Hunters are encouraged to participate in voluntary CWD sampling at various locations to aid disease management efforts.

The Missouri River, at 2,800 cfs, features low, wadeable flows and dropping water temperatures below 50.6°F. November insect activity includes BWOs and midges, with nymphing suggested in shallow depths. Dry-fly fishing improves in the afternoon, and streamer fishing benefits from low light. Headhunters Fly Shop offers winter services in Craig, MT.

A trail cam left 4 miles deep in Montana backcountry for 6 months captured bears, bull elk, and more. Here’s what showed up.

Matt Robertson triumphed at the Champions Tournament on Old Hickory Lake, securing a record-breaking $1.25 million prize with a total weight of 56 pounds, 1 ounce. The event, featuring the top anglers from two rival tours, raised questions about future earnings models and the potential for a unified championship in bass fishing.

Rain disrupted hunting plans for Cameron Hockett and his Fish On Charters crew, prompting a shift to salmon snagging. They reported mixed success, with one salmon caught and several escaping, along with an unexpected carp that provided a thrilling challenge. Overall, it turned out to be an enjoyable day on the water.

Discover why Montana guest ranches offer anglers better fishing access than luxury resorts, plus insider tips on booking your authentic Western fishing adventure.

Region 6's Havre check station reports antelope harvest up while deer, elk, and upland birds are down after the first weekend of general hunting season in 2026.

Discover why Montana's Bighorn River below Yellowtail Dam holds more trophy brown trout per mile than nearly any tailwater in the Lower 48 states.