Demo Page – Montana Outdoor Demo Page – Montana Outdoor

FWP News: Application deadline for Smith River permits is February 15

Feb-04-25 by Angela Montana
views: 47

HELENA – Applications for a permit to float the Smith River will be accepted through Feb. 15. The permit drawing will be held soon after the deadline. 

Permits are required to float the 59-mile section of river between Camp Baker and Eden Bridge and are issued each year through a lottery drawing. Parties of up to 15 people can float with one permit. A person applying for a Smith River permit must be a minimum of 12 years of age at the time they submit their permit application. There is no age restriction to participate on a Smith River float trip. 

Applicants can apply for a Smith River float permit online through the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Online Licenses Service, and pay a $15 nonrefundable permit application fee. Successful Smith River applicants will be notified via email shortly after the deadline.  

Links within the notification email to successful applicants will allow them to download and print their float permit, as well as access important and detailed information regarding their Smith River float.  

Results will also be available online at MyFWP. Those who receive a permit will be contacted by phone two days prior to their scheduled launch date to complete the registration process, which includes declaring boat camps and paying the appropriate float fees.  

In addition to the permit drawing, the public may purchase as many $5 Super Permit chances as they wish. Montana State Parks issues one Super Permit each year through a separate lottery. The recipient of the Super Permit will be allowed to launch on any date of their choosing for that float season.  

The opportunity to purchase chances for the Smith River Super Permit will be available until April 1. The Super Permit drawing will take place soon after that. Super permit chances may be purchased online through FWP’s Online Licenses Service .  

As a reminder, all float parties, private and commercial, will be required to pack out their human waste from the Smith River corridor, and floaters will need to pack portable toilet systems. To see a list of FWP-approved, portable, hard-sided toilets that will be allowed click here. Alternative waste disposal systems, including bag systems, such as Clean Waste and RESTOP2, will not be allowed. Floaters can clean and sanitize their portable toilet system with a SCAT (Sanitizing Containers with Alternative Technology) machine, which has been installed at the Eden Bridge take-out. 

For more information about Smith River State Park visit: stateparks.mt.gov/smith-river/ 

-fwp-

views: 132
Flathead Lake

Skeletal remains found near Flathead River

Feb-04-25 by Moosetrack Megan

On February 4, 2025, at about 1015 am, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a Tribal Game Warden had located skeletonized human remains in the Buffalo Bridge area on the Flathead River.

views: 66
Deer Idaho wildlife

Wildlife Overpasses Work—And This Video is the Proof

Feb-04-25 by Angela Montana

This footage from Idaho Fish and Game shows over 1,000 deer safely crossing the Cervidae Peak Wildlife Overpass in just two months—proving that these crossings are saving lives, one hoof at a time.