Field Notes
By the Independent Record - 12/22/05
Notes from afield
Mountain lion hunting closes in some districts
The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 310, 311, 360, 361 and 362, which include portions of Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson and Broadwater counties, was closed Dec. 21.
The hunting of all female mountain lions in Montana hunting district 301, which includes portions of Gallatin and Park counties, was closed Dec 20.
The hunting of female mountain lions during the fall season in southwestern Montana hunting districts 319 and 341, in portions of Silver Bow and Deer Lodge counties, was closed Dec. 20.
The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 280, 281, 284 and 293, which includes portions of Powell and Lewis and Clark counties, was closed Dec. 18. The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 320 and 333, which include portions of Madison, Silver Bow, Gallatin and Jefferson counties, was closed Dec. 17.
The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215, which includes portions of Granite, Powell, Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties, was closed a Dec. 17.
The hunting of ALL mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215 was closed Dec. 18.
The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 322, 326 and 330, which include portions of Beaverhead and Madison counties, was closed Dec. 16.
The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 340, which includes portions of Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, was closed Dec. 16.
The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 390, 391 and 392, which include portions of Broadwater, Gallatin, Meagher and Lewis and Clark counties, was closed Dec. 16.
The closure notice for the hunts came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quotas for the districts had been met.
For more information, visit FWP's Web site at fwp.mt.gov, click on "Hunting" then under "Hot Topics" click on "Mountain Lion Status," or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.
FWP reminder:
Trappers should know where they are
Trappers in Montana will need an above average sense of direction this year to properly report their furbearer harvest.
For years trappers have been required to personally report the harvest of otter, bobcat, fisher and wolverine within 24-hours by calling 800-230-9865. This season, for the first time, trappers also are required to include an accurate legal description of the location where the furbearer was harvested. The harvest report can't be completed without this information. The purpose of the change is to improve the accuracy and value of information trappers report.
In the past, a legal description wasn't required until a pelt was brought into a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office for tagging prior to the sale, or within 10 days after the close of the season.
To complete the harvest report, trappers need to locate their trapping sites in advance on a map that depicts latitude and longitude; Universal Trans Mercator locations; or township, range and section. Trappers also must provide their name, phone number, ALS number, specific harvest date, county and the sex of the harvested animal.
Trappers should carefully read the 2005 furbearer regulations to be certain they understand the requirements for reporting a harvest and having the pelt tagged.
Most upland bird
seasons close soon
Most upland game bird hunting seasons will close soon. Sharp-tailed grouse, partridge, pheasant and fall turkey hunting all close Jan. 1. Mountain grouse season closed Dec. 15, and sage grouse season closed Nov. 1.
Be prepared for avalanche season
Snowmobile riders who relish playing in new snow have already had some great weekends this season, but experienced riders know deep early snows and mild weather provide the base for a potentially dangerous avalanche season.
Terrain, weather and the amount of snow-pack combine to create avalanche conditions. Once these conditions exist, human activity is the most frequent trigger of an avalanche.
To be safe, prepare now. Snowmobile riders need to inspect and practice using their avalanche survival gear, including a transceiver, probe pole and shovel.
In addition to the right gear, the best protection is knowledge of:
- Avalanche mechanics: Avalanche danger begins when major snowstorms and winds create successive layers of unstable snow pack. About 90 percent of all avalanches start on open slopes of 30-45 degrees. Over half of all avalanche fatalities occur on small slopes - slopes of less than 300 vertical feet.
- Avalanche warning signs: Avalanches are more likely to occur during or after a snowstorm if the snow has been blowing and drifting. This new snow hasn't bonded to the underlying snow pack and it is unstable.
- Avalanche-hazard areas: Most avalanche terrain is easy to spot. Look for an open slope, bowl or gully above timberline. Bent or damaged trees are a clue to where avalanches have occurred in past years.
Check Montana's avalanche centers for specific information on the locations of past avalanches, current conditions and to learn more about avalanches. Avalance advisories are available for the Montana avalanche information is also available on the Internet at www.avalanche.org .
Avalanche survival tips
Snowmobilers have had some good snow and fine weather to enjoy their sport in December.
That was the free ride.
Now that there is snow-pack in the higher elevations, the state is moving into avalanche season.
Avalanches are more likely to occur during or after a snowstorm. A slope becomes unstable when new snow hasn't bonded to the underlying snow-pack.
Here are some tips to help keep your fun in the snow safe:
If you are caught in an avalanche:
- Make swimming motions and try to stay on top of the snow; work your way to the side of the avalanche.
- As you feel the avalanche slow, try to thrust your hand or another part of your body above the snow surface and move your arm in front of your face to clear an air space.
- Try not to panic; you need to preserve oxygen.
If you are an avalanche survivor or an observer:
- Keep your eyes fixed on the moving mass of snow in which the victim is trapped.
- Mark the place where you last saw the victim.
- Begin searching with your avalanche transceiver.
- If the victim does not have a beacon, search directly down slope from the last point where he or she was seen. Look for visual clues like a glove or boot sticking out of the snow, and actively probe around trees, partially buried snow machines, or other obvious areas.
- Dig victim out from the snow as rapidly as possible.
- When the victim is found, treat him or her for suffocation, shock and hypothermia.
- Stay with the victim, unless help is only a few minutes away. After 30 minutes submerged in snow, the victim has only a 50 percent chance of survival.
Play it safe, check for avalanche advisory information in advance of your trip. Avalanche centers are: the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center at 406-587-6981 or www.mtavalanche.com ; West Central Montana Avalanche Center at 800-281-1030 or www.missoulaavalanche.org ; or Glacier Country Avalanche Center at 800-526-5329 or www.glacieravalanche.org. Montana avalanche advisories are also available on the Internet at www.avalanche.org .
Nonresident
snowmobilers must purchase permit
Nonresidents riding their snowmobiles in Montana must purchase a $15 snowmobile use permit per machine to support the grooming of Montana snowmobile trails.
More than 80 percent of the revenue collected is used to groom snowmobile trails. The balance goes to enforcement of snowmobile laws, county search and rescue teams, and administrative costs.
Most snow-belt states, and nearly all Canadian provinces, charge similar nonresident fees.
The nonresident snowmobile permits are available from FWP, FWP license providers in areas of heavy snow trail use, select snowmobile equipment retail businesses, hotels and motels and other businesses serving snowmobile riders.
For more information call 406-444-4585.
Greycliff FAS to close to nighttime use Jan. 1
The popular Greycliff Fishing Access Site on the lower Madison River will be closed to all nighttime activities, including overnight camping, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. beginning Jan. 1. The closure will remain in effect from Jan. 1 of each year through the Thursday before Memorial Day.
This change in management at the Greycliff FAS is being made to counter significant and ongoing vandalism to structures and signs, natural resource damage, garbage dumping and off-road vehicle use at the site. Signs will be posted with the new use regulations.
On the Friday before Memorial Day each year, the site will again become an overnight camping area with public use permitted 24 hours a day through Dec. 31.
Anyone with information about vandalism at Greycliff or any other fishing access site is encouraged to call 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, upon conviction of the individual(s) responsible for these crimes.
Institute announces snow tracking seminar
The Yellowstone winter landscape provides a blank page for animals to write their story with prints in the snow. Learn to decipher these stories from an expert tracker in prime wildlife habitat: Yellowstone's northern range. You can gather the basic tools for identifying tracks and understanding the behavior of the animals that left them.
The seminar, taught by Dr. James Halfpenny, begins Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. and ends on Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. There will be a classroom component as well as short hikes of up to one mile per day through relatively flat terrain on maintained or snow-packed trails.
To enroll in this seminar, or to request a catalog with a full description of Institute courses, contact the Yellowstone Association Institute at P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 or call 307-344-2294. Complete course information is also available at www.yellowstoneassociation.org/institute.
The course will be held at the Buffalo Ranch in the Lamar Valley in the northwest part of the Park. Heated cabins can be rented for $25 per person per night.
The institute is a nonprofit field school operated by the National Park's official educational partner, the Yellowstone Association. The Institute offers a variety of courses in ecology, wilderness skills and natural history year-round in Yellowstone National Park.
Scavenger hunt
in Yellowstone
Join a real, in-the-field scavenger hunt to explore the relationships between wolves and scavengers. The hunt begins at dawn each day, when you look for wolves and other animals interacting at carcasses. How many animals might you find? Maybe wolves, ravens, magpies, coyotes, eagles and grizzlies. You'll also learn about their feeding strategies, and how they interact.
The seminar, taught by Dan Stahler, begins Feb 16 at 6 p.m. and ends on Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. Stahler is the project biologist for the Yellowstone Wolf Project where he helps coordinate and direct research on wolves, their prey and scavenger communities. He has studied wolves since 1996 and earned his degree studying the relationship between Yellowstone's ravens and wolves.
The program entails brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing with some steep, rugged, off-trail hiking or snowshoeing including breaking trail in variable snow conditions. Snowshoes or skis, which can be rented locally, are required.
The fee for the course is $170 (Yellowstone Association members get a $10 discount). Heated cabins can be rented at the Buffalo Ranch for $25 per person per night.
To enroll in this seminar, contact the Yellowstone Association Institute at P.O Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 or call 307-344-2294. Complete course information is also available at http://www.yellowstoneassociation.org/institute.
Bobcat season to close in Trapping District 1
By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission the season for all hunting of bobcats in Trapping District 1 in northwestern Montana will close at midnight on Friday, Dec. 23.
The district includes portions of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Powell and Sanders counties.
For more information visit FWP's Web site at fwp.mt.gov or call the toll free number at 1-800-711-8727.
Mountain lion hunting closes in some districts
The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 310, 311, 360, 361 and 362, which include portions of Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson and Broadwater counties, was closed Dec. 21.
The hunting of all female mountain lions in Montana hunting district 301, which includes portions of Gallatin and Park counties, was closed Dec 20.
The hunting of female mountain lions during the fall season in southwestern Montana hunting districts 319 and 341, in portions of Silver Bow and Deer Lodge counties, was closed Dec. 20.
The hunting of all mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 280, 281, 284 and 293, which includes portions of Powell and Lewis and Clark counties, was closed Dec. 18. The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 320 and 333, which include portions of Madison, Silver Bow, Gallatin and Jefferson counties, was closed Dec. 17.
The hunting of female mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215, which includes portions of Granite, Powell, Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties, was closed a Dec. 17.
The hunting of ALL mountain lions in western Montana hunting districts 212 and 215 was closed Dec. 18.
The hunting of all mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 322, 326 and 330, which include portions of Beaverhead and Madison counties, was closed Dec. 16.
The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting district 340, which includes portions of Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson and Silver Bow counties, was closed Dec. 16.
The hunting of female mountain lions in southwestern Montana hunting districts 390, 391 and 392, which include portions of Broadwater, Gallatin, Meagher and Lewis and Clark counties, was closed Dec. 16.
The closure notice for the hunts came shortly after Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials received word that the pre-established harvest sub-quotas for the districts had been met.
For more information, visit FWP's Web site at fwp.mt.gov, click on "Hunting" then under "Hot Topics" click on "Mountain Lion Status," or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.
FWP reminder:
Trappers should know where they are
Trappers in Montana will need an above average sense of direction this year to properly report their furbearer harvest.
For years trappers have been required to personally report the harvest of otter, bobcat, fisher and wolverine within 24-hours by calling 800-230-9865. This season, for the first time, trappers also are required to include an accurate legal description of the location where the furbearer was harvested. The harvest report can't be completed without this information. The purpose of the change is to improve the accuracy and value of information trappers report.
In the past, a legal description wasn't required until a pelt was brought into a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks office for tagging prior to the sale, or within 10 days after the close of the season.
To complete the harvest report, trappers need to locate their trapping sites in advance on a map that depicts latitude and longitude; Universal Trans Mercator locations; or township, range and section. Trappers also must provide their name, phone number, ALS number, specific harvest date, county and the sex of the harvested animal.
Trappers should carefully read the 2005 furbearer regulations to be certain they understand the requirements for reporting a harvest and having the pelt tagged.
Most upland bird
seasons close soon
Most upland game bird hunting seasons will close soon. Sharp-tailed grouse, partridge, pheasant and fall turkey hunting all close Jan. 1. Mountain grouse season closed Dec. 15, and sage grouse season closed Nov. 1.
Be prepared for avalanche season
Snowmobile riders who relish playing in new snow have already had some great weekends this season, but experienced riders know deep early snows and mild weather provide the base for a potentially dangerous avalanche season.
Terrain, weather and the amount of snow-pack combine to create avalanche conditions. Once these conditions exist, human activity is the most frequent trigger of an avalanche.
To be safe, prepare now. Snowmobile riders need to inspect and practice using their avalanche survival gear, including a transceiver, probe pole and shovel.
In addition to the right gear, the best protection is knowledge of:
- Avalanche mechanics: Avalanche danger begins when major snowstorms and winds create successive layers of unstable snow pack. About 90 percent of all avalanches start on open slopes of 30-45 degrees. Over half of all avalanche fatalities occur on small slopes - slopes of less than 300 vertical feet.
- Avalanche warning signs: Avalanches are more likely to occur during or after a snowstorm if the snow has been blowing and drifting. This new snow hasn't bonded to the underlying snow pack and it is unstable.
- Avalanche-hazard areas: Most avalanche terrain is easy to spot. Look for an open slope, bowl or gully above timberline. Bent or damaged trees are a clue to where avalanches have occurred in past years.
Check Montana's avalanche centers for specific information on the locations of past avalanches, current conditions and to learn more about avalanches. Avalance advisories are available for the Montana avalanche information is also available on the Internet at www.avalanche.org .
Avalanche survival tips
Snowmobilers have had some good snow and fine weather to enjoy their sport in December.
That was the free ride.
Now that there is snow-pack in the higher elevations, the state is moving into avalanche season.
Avalanches are more likely to occur during or after a snowstorm. A slope becomes unstable when new snow hasn't bonded to the underlying snow-pack.
Here are some tips to help keep your fun in the snow safe:
If you are caught in an avalanche:
- Make swimming motions and try to stay on top of the snow; work your way to the side of the avalanche.
- As you feel the avalanche slow, try to thrust your hand or another part of your body above the snow surface and move your arm in front of your face to clear an air space.
- Try not to panic; you need to preserve oxygen.
If you are an avalanche survivor or an observer:
- Keep your eyes fixed on the moving mass of snow in which the victim is trapped.
- Mark the place where you last saw the victim.
- Begin searching with your avalanche transceiver.
- If the victim does not have a beacon, search directly down slope from the last point where he or she was seen. Look for visual clues like a glove or boot sticking out of the snow, and actively probe around trees, partially buried snow machines, or other obvious areas.
- Dig victim out from the snow as rapidly as possible.
- When the victim is found, treat him or her for suffocation, shock and hypothermia.
- Stay with the victim, unless help is only a few minutes away. After 30 minutes submerged in snow, the victim has only a 50 percent chance of survival.
Play it safe, check for avalanche advisory information in advance of your trip. Avalanche centers are: the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center at 406-587-6981 or www.mtavalanche.com ; West Central Montana Avalanche Center at 800-281-1030 or www.missoulaavalanche.org ; or Glacier Country Avalanche Center at 800-526-5329 or www.glacieravalanche.org. Montana avalanche advisories are also available on the Internet at www.avalanche.org .
Nonresident
snowmobilers must purchase permit
Nonresidents riding their snowmobiles in Montana must purchase a $15 snowmobile use permit per machine to support the grooming of Montana snowmobile trails.
More than 80 percent of the revenue collected is used to groom snowmobile trails. The balance goes to enforcement of snowmobile laws, county search and rescue teams, and administrative costs.
Most snow-belt states, and nearly all Canadian provinces, charge similar nonresident fees.
The nonresident snowmobile permits are available from FWP, FWP license providers in areas of heavy snow trail use, select snowmobile equipment retail businesses, hotels and motels and other businesses serving snowmobile riders.
For more information call 406-444-4585.
Greycliff FAS to close to nighttime use Jan. 1
The popular Greycliff Fishing Access Site on the lower Madison River will be closed to all nighttime activities, including overnight camping, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. beginning Jan. 1. The closure will remain in effect from Jan. 1 of each year through the Thursday before Memorial Day.
This change in management at the Greycliff FAS is being made to counter significant and ongoing vandalism to structures and signs, natural resource damage, garbage dumping and off-road vehicle use at the site. Signs will be posted with the new use regulations.
On the Friday before Memorial Day each year, the site will again become an overnight camping area with public use permitted 24 hours a day through Dec. 31.
Anyone with information about vandalism at Greycliff or any other fishing access site is encouraged to call 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, upon conviction of the individual(s) responsible for these crimes.
Institute announces snow tracking seminar
The Yellowstone winter landscape provides a blank page for animals to write their story with prints in the snow. Learn to decipher these stories from an expert tracker in prime wildlife habitat: Yellowstone's northern range. You can gather the basic tools for identifying tracks and understanding the behavior of the animals that left them.
The seminar, taught by Dr. James Halfpenny, begins Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. and ends on Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. There will be a classroom component as well as short hikes of up to one mile per day through relatively flat terrain on maintained or snow-packed trails.
To enroll in this seminar, or to request a catalog with a full description of Institute courses, contact the Yellowstone Association Institute at P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 or call 307-344-2294. Complete course information is also available at www.yellowstoneassociation.org/institute.
The course will be held at the Buffalo Ranch in the Lamar Valley in the northwest part of the Park. Heated cabins can be rented for $25 per person per night.
The institute is a nonprofit field school operated by the National Park's official educational partner, the Yellowstone Association. The Institute offers a variety of courses in ecology, wilderness skills and natural history year-round in Yellowstone National Park.
Scavenger hunt
in Yellowstone
Join a real, in-the-field scavenger hunt to explore the relationships between wolves and scavengers. The hunt begins at dawn each day, when you look for wolves and other animals interacting at carcasses. How many animals might you find? Maybe wolves, ravens, magpies, coyotes, eagles and grizzlies. You'll also learn about their feeding strategies, and how they interact.
The seminar, taught by Dan Stahler, begins Feb 16 at 6 p.m. and ends on Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. Stahler is the project biologist for the Yellowstone Wolf Project where he helps coordinate and direct research on wolves, their prey and scavenger communities. He has studied wolves since 1996 and earned his degree studying the relationship between Yellowstone's ravens and wolves.
The program entails brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing with some steep, rugged, off-trail hiking or snowshoeing including breaking trail in variable snow conditions. Snowshoes or skis, which can be rented locally, are required.
The fee for the course is $170 (Yellowstone Association members get a $10 discount). Heated cabins can be rented at the Buffalo Ranch for $25 per person per night.
To enroll in this seminar, contact the Yellowstone Association Institute at P.O Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 or call 307-344-2294. Complete course information is also available at http://www.yellowstoneassociation.org/institute.
Bobcat season to close in Trapping District 1
By order of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission the season for all hunting of bobcats in Trapping District 1 in northwestern Montana will close at midnight on Friday, Dec. 23.
The district includes portions of Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Powell and Sanders counties.
For more information visit FWP's Web site at fwp.mt.gov or call the toll free number at 1-800-711-8727.
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