State Parks and FWP briefs and updates
Comment sought for recreational trails
Montana State Parks is seeking public comment on proposed Recreational Trails Program grant awards for the current grant cycle, which closed Jan. 31. Public comment on the proposed RTP grant awards is open through Saturday, March 9, at 5 p.m.
RTP is a federally-funded program administered by Montana State Parks, which provides funding for trail and trail-related projects across the state.
Eligible projects include development and rehabilitation work on urban, rural and backcountry trails; planning and construction of community trails; snowmobile and cross-country ski trail maintenance and grooming operations; and a variety of trail stewardship and safety education programs.
RTP received 76 grant applications requesting over $3.56 million. Approximately $1.5 million is available to fund.
A complete list of trails grant applicants under consideration is available online. Go to stateparks.mt.gov/recreation and click on ‘Recreational Trails Program.’ Copies of individual RTP applications are available on request at 406-444-7642.
To comment online, go to stateparks.mt.gov and click on “Public Comment & Notices.” Or send comments by email to FWPRecreationalTrails@mt.gov.
Comments by regular mail: Michelle McNamee, Montana State Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701.
FWP Commission meeting Thursday
The Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission will meet Wednesday, Feb 13, at FWP Headquarters, located at 1420 E. 6th Avenue, Helena. The commission meeting starts at 8:30 a.m., and will be streamed live via video to all FWP regional offices. The audio meeting will also be streamed online at fwp.mt.gov.
For the full agenda, go to fwp.mt.gov; under “Quick Links” click “Commission.”
FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with special needs. To request arrangements, call FWP at 406-444-3186.
Public comment period extended for Fisheries Management Program
The Fisheries Division of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks extended the public comment period for the Statewide Fisheries Management Program and Guide to Feb. 15.
The draft Program and Guide was approved to release for public comment at the December Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. Federal partner agencies requested extension of the comment period because furloughed employees did not have the opportunity to review the document.
The Program and Guide describes how programs within the Fisheries Division function and broadly outlines how fisheries are managed across Montana. To view the Program and Guide and to comment, go to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov.
Bobcat season closed in TD 5
By order of the Montana Fish & Wildlife Commission, the season for taking bobcats in Trapping District 5 in south-central Montana Closed Feb. 9.
Female mountain lion hunting closed in HD 250
The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting district 250 closed Feb. 9.
Mountain lion hunting closures in Regions 1, 2 and 4
The hunting of male mountain lions in northwestern Montana hunting district 130 closed Feb. 8.
The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212, 215 and 217 closed Feb. 8.
The hunting of all mountain lions in central Montana hunting district’s 422, 423, 424, 425 and 442 closed Feb. 8.
Mountain lion hunting closures in HD’s 240, 283 and 285
The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 240 closed Feb. 8.
The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 283 and 285 closed Feb. 7.
Mountain lion hunting closures in HD’s 212, 215, 217 and 270
The hunting of male mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212, 215 and 217 closed Feb. 7.
The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting district 270 closed Feb. 7.
Female mountain lion hunting closed in HD 511
The hunting of female mountain lions in south-central Montana hunting district 511 closed Feb. 5.
Mountain Lion Hunting To Close In District 240 and 520
The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 240 closed Feb 4.
The hunting of all mountain lions in south-central Montana hunting district 520, which includes portions of Carbon, Stillwater and Sweet Grass counties, closed Feb. 3.
For more information about season quotas and closures, visit FWP’s website at fwp.mt.gov , click on “Hunting” then choose “Drawing & Quota Status”, or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.