Hunters who will not be able to use their license this season have the opportunity to donate that license. Residents and nonresidents can donate their hunting license to a disabled military veteran or disabled active-duty service member who is working with an organization that uses hunting as part of the rehabilitation process. The license donor program began in 2013, and each year between 40 and 60 hunters donate their license. Reasons vary, but according to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks licensing staff, many hunters donate licenses because of medical or family emergencies, work commitments or issues with outfitters or reservations. The recipients are disabled veterans who were awarded a purple heart and have a 70 percent or higher disability rating. They must be sponsored by a nonprofit organization that provides hunting as a rehabilitation service to disabled veterans in Montana. To participate in the program, hunters, potential recipients and nonprofit organizations must complete a form. Forms are available on FWP’s Hunting Licenses & Permits webpage under “Donate License Programs” and can be returned to either an FWP regional office or by mail to FWP’s Licensing Bureau, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620. For more information, contact the FWP licensing office at 406-444-2950.

Monday June 26th, 2023 at 9:00 A.M. City Council Chambers Special Planning Board Meeting AGENDA A. Call Meeting to Order B. Discussion/Recommendation to City Council Beaver Pride Subdivision Phase 3 Project C. Public Comment on items of significant public interest not on the agenda and within the jurisdiction of the Planning Board. D. Adjournment Zoom link is available. Join the meeting with Zoom ID: 770-316-6528, allowing permission for mic and camera (if using a computer go to https://zoom.us/j/7703166528) and use Passcode 4245. Planning Board Members: Don Hand, Bill Shafer, Larry Volkening, Dan Nye

The Montana Department of Commerce announced today the launch of a new program to inventory for the presence of lead service lines in Montana communities. This statewide effort will support the work of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Lead Service Lines Inventory Program and help communities apply for more than $100 million in additional project funding to remove and replace lead service lines. “Whether in our schools, workplaces, or homes, Montanans must have access to safe, clean drinking water,” Gov. Gianforte said. “This $100 million investment will support communities in inventorying, removing, and replacing lead pipes, and promote the health and safety of all Montanans.” “People can be exposed to lead in drinking water through lead pipes,” said Scott Osterman, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. “That’s why we’re helping Montana’s water systems inventory all lead service lines across the state –– to make sure all of our residents have safe, clean water to drink.” Commerce’s Community Technical Assistance Program (CTAP) will provide technical assistance to all public water systems in the form of online and in-person trainings and community education toolkits. In addition, partner service providers, such as engineers, may be assigned to eligible water systems serving fewer than 10,000 users to complete lead service line inventories at no cost and plan for removing and replacing lead services lines. To access the funding, all drinking water systems will have to complete their inventory and submit a plan for the replacement or mitigation of lead service lines by October 16, 2024. The Montana Department of Commerce is working with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality to ensure all eligible water systems receive support to complete these activities. During the month of May, the Montana Department of Commerce CTAP team and DEQ participated in Lead Service Line Inventory trainings throughout the state. For details, visit the CTAP Lead Service Lines webpage .

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is hosting upcoming public meetings to kick off the biennial hunting season-setting process. FWP is conducting scoping meetings around the state from June 15 to July 15. FWP staff will look to hunters to provide broad input on regulation changes they’d like to see. Staff will also look for feedback on a few specific proposals. In northwest Montana, the meeting schedule is: Thompson Falls, June 27, 6 p.m., Thompson Falls High School (601 Golf St.) Eureka, June 28, 6 p.m., Timbers Lodge (101 Julian Dr.) Kalispell, June 29, 6 p.m., FWP Region 1 Office, with a virtual option (490 N. Meridian Rd.) Libby, July 6, 6 p.m., KW Maki Theater (724 Louisiana Ave.) These scoping meetings are more formal than in past years and will replace the public meetings FWP used to hold to present and discuss tentative regulations. However, these scoping meetings are not the same as public comment meetings. FWP staff will listen at the scoping meetings and capture the general themes and then use the information to develop draft regulations, which will be released for public comment in October. FWP will hold additional public meetings in early November to answer questions about the draft regulation proposals. Comment on the draft regulation proposals will be collected through the FWP website during the fall public commenting period. The final decision on regulations will come at the December Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting. Hunting regulation changes are done every other year. For more information and to provide general input, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/public-comment-opportunities/biennial-season-setting . Scoping meeting schedule: Region 1 Thompson Falls, June 27, 6 p.m., Thompson Falls High School (601 Golf St.) Eureka, June 28, 6 p.m., Timbers Lodge (101 Julian Dr.) Kalispell, June 29, 6 p.m., FWP Region 1 Office, with a virtual option (490 N. Meridian Rd.) Libby, July 6, 6 p.m., KW Maki Theater (724 Louisiana Ave.) Region 2 Philipsburg, June 15, 6 p.m., Granite County Museum (135 S. Sansome St.) Deer Lodge, June 19, 6 p.m., Powell County Community Center (416 Cottonwood Ave) Anaconda, June 20, 6 p.m., Metcalf Senior Center (115 Pennsylvania) Drummond, June 21, 6 p.m., Drummond Community Center (52 East Broad St.) Superior, June 26, 6 p.m., Superior High School Multi-purpose room (410 Arizona Ave.) Missoula, June 27, 6 p.m., FWP Region 2 Conference Room, with a virtual option (3201 Spurgin Rd.) Ovando, June 28, 6 p.m., Ovando School Gym (108 Birch St.) Lincoln, July 11, 6 p.m., Lincoln Community Hall (404 Main St.) Hamilton, July 12, 6 p.m., Bitterroot River Inn (139 Bitterroot Plaza Dr) Seeley Lake, July 13, 6 p.m., Seeley Lake Community Foundation (3150 MT-83) Region 3 Whitehall, June 19, 6 p.m., Community Center (11 N Division St.) Bozeman, June 20, 6 p.m., FWP large conference room, with a virtual option (1400 S. 19th Ave.) Helena, June 21, 6 p.m., Montana WILD (2668 Broadwater Ave.) Butte, June 21, 6 p.m., FWP’s Butte Area Resource Office (1820 Meadowlark Lane) Dillon, June 22, 6 p.m., SAR building (1000 Hwy. 41) Livingston, June 27, 6 p.m., Livingston Civic Center (229 River Dr.) Region 4 Augusta, June 15, 7 p.m., Youth Center (132 Main St.) Great Falls, June 20, 7 p.m., FWP Region 4 Headquarters, with a virtual option (4600 Giant Springs Rd.) Conrad, June 22, 7 p.m., Pondera Shooting Sports Complex (972 Granite Rd.) Lewistown, June 26, 7 p.m., Yogo Inn (211 E Main St.) Stanford, June 28, 7 p.m., Stanford City Hall (102 Central Ave) Region 5 Billings, June 21, 6 p.m., FWP Region 5 Public Meeting Room, with virtual option (2300 Lake Elmo Dr.) Roundup, June 22, 6 p.m., Musselshell County Senior Center (610 2nd St. W) Big Timber, June 29, 5:30 p.m., Big Timber Carnegie Library (314 McLeod St.) Region 6 Malta, June 20, 6 p.m., Malta High School Cafeteria (1 South 9th St. W) Havre, June 22, 6 p.m., Best Western Great Northern Inn (1345 1st St.) Plentywood, June 27, 6 p.m., Sheridan County Library Jubilee Room (100 W Laurel Ave.) Glasgow, June 29, 6 p.m., Cottonwood Inn, with a virtual option (54250 U.S. Hwy 2) Region 7 Miles City, July 6, 6 p.m., FWP Region 7 Office, with a virtual option (352 I-94 Business Loop) Glendive, July 11, 6 p.m., Dawson Community College (room to be determined)

Starting today, hunters can sign up for leftover licenses and permits that were not distributed by the drawing through MyFWP on the FWP website . The resulting Surplus License List will be randomized with hunters at the top of the list contacted via email with instructions to finalize their purchase within a specified time. To be placed on the Surplus License List, resident and nonresident hunters can sign up through the MyFWP portal. This process requires hunters to keep their email address current in their ALS record. Payment of the license fee is not required to sign up on the Surplus License List. Obtaining a license from this list has no effect on your existing preference points. Hunters must finalize the purchase of the license/permit within the timeframe specified in the email, otherwise, your opportunity will be offered to the next hunter on the randomized list. FWP may offer opportunities that have not sold out through the Surplus License List to over-the-counter customers at our internal and external license sale providers. The timeframes to sign up for the various are as follows: Deer & Elk Permits, Deer B & Elk B License: June 20 – July 20 Antelope, Antelope B, Crane, Special Mountain Lion: August 9– Aug. 23 Nonresidents who hold a NR Native License, Youth Combo License, or NR College Student Combination License may purchase Deer B and Elk B licenses at half price. For more information, contact the FWP licensing office at 406-444-2950 or fwplic@mt.gov .

UMW Press Release: Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named 154 student civic leaders who will make up the organization’s 2023-2024 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Rachel Marchant, a student at the University of Montana Western, will join students from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico for the fellowship kickoff this fall. The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their commitment to creating positive change in communities locally and around the world. The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, fellows are nominated by Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors, who are invited to select one outstanding student from their campus each year. “Making an impact on my community has always been a major part of my life. When I was in high school, I immersed myself in school activities such as Speech and Debate, Drama, and Band. I also helped establish the first Gay-Straight Alliance club at my high school which supported LGBTQ students and their peers. During my college career, I continue to support my community through my work on campus as a mentor for TRIO Student Support Services, a program that facilitates student success on campus. I also work for Safe Ride, a university-funded service that helps students get home safely. I am passionate about strengthening my leadership skills and improving my community,” said Marchant. Through the fellowship, Campus Compact will provide these students with a year of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth. Each year, fellows participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities to help provide them with the skills and connections they need to create large-scale positive change. The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Fellows, which offers intensive in-person skill-building and networking over the course of two days. The fellowship also provides pathways for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities. “Rachel, a third-year student at the University of Montana Western majoring in Psychology with minors in Business and Biology, is a leader in campus safety and student success. For the last two years, Rachel has worked as a peer-to-peer mentor in our TRIO program. In that time, Rachel has led mental health and study skills workshops, organized cultural events, and facilitated our orientation and first-year programs. In her capacity as a mentor, Rachel also serves as a first point of contact for our students in distress by checking in with students in crisis, directing them to campus resources, and encouraging healthful practices. Rachel also serves as a driver for our campus SafeRide program, a late night and weekend service that provides students with safe rides from our downtown area back to campus,” said Montana Western Chancellor, Michael Reid. “We are honored to recognize such an outstanding group of community-committed students,” said Campus Compact President Bobbie Laur. “One of the best parts of the Newman Civic Fellowships is the richness of students’ perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds—and how these varied stories all led to their passionate engagement with the social, political, and environmental issues impacting our world. These students will be the catalysts for change on many levels, and we are privileged to help empower them to create that change.” To learn more about each of the student leaders selected for this year’s cohort, visit compact.org/current-programs/newman-civic-fellowship/newman-civic-fellows .

Submitted by: Mel Rice Public Relations Officer The Beaverhead Search and Rescue was paged out early Monday morning June 12, 2023. An emergency call was received by the Sheriff’s department around 12:25 AM that three 30 year old men had not returned home from a dirt bike trip in the Lacy Creek area off of the Scenic Byway. After several attempts to reach the men by phone with no luck, a deputy was dispatched to their starting point and SAR search managers were paged at 01:16 AM. After evaluating the situation, search managers Lawrence Morrisroe and Shane Puyear, authorized a full membership page at 02:04 AM. The first hasty team was deployed at 03:09 AM toward the Lacy Creek trailhead. The lost individuals’ vehicles were located and the first hasty team, Sam Peterson and Toby Shepherd, was able to follow their tracks up over the ridge into Pattengail Creek. Hasty team #2, Cody Schnee and Cole Cottom, headed up around Bob Cat Lakes to try to intercept the overdue party on trails over the top of the ridge. Hasty Team 3; Nathan Freeman and Steve Mock, and Hasty Team 4; Adam Norlander, Parke Scott, Trevor Hyland and Donald Smith waited at the staging area where the vehicles were located for further instruction and act as communication relay to building command. Hasty Team 1 determined the individuals headed up the Lost Horse trail out of Pattengail Creek. After riding for some distance the lost individuals tried to proceed along the trail but ran into much downfall and burned trees from the Pattengail fire a few years ago. They became totally exhausted and their dirt bikes had run out of gas. Therefore, they decided to spend the night. The next morning, around 9:45, the three individuals were located by Hasty Team 1. All of the individuals then proceeded to walk down Reservoir Creek to the Pattengail trail where they could be picked up by vehicle. It was about a 3 to 3½ mile walk out to the Pattengail trail. Member Donald Smith drove his side by side up Pattengail to their location and proceeded to return the overdue men back up Lacy Creek to their vehicles. Hasty Team 2 made it up past Bobcat Lakes, over the ridge past Grassy Lake and Schwinegar Lake then out Lacy Creek to their vehicle. The incident concluded around 3:00 PM with all parties accounted for and back in town. Other Beaverhead S&R members who worked the search from the building or checked in and gave notice of availability were: Trent Cottom, Chuck Maddox, Clint Rouse, and Mel Rice. “In the Business of Saving Lives”, your Beaverhead Search and Rescue.

New emergency fishing regulations are in place for the Big Hole, Beaverhead and Ruby rivers. The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the new regulations during its June 8 meeting . These restrictions limit angling during the brown trout spawning season and harvest in some stretches of the rivers. Trout abundances in several areas of the three rivers have steadily declined since 2011 and are at or near historical lows . Meanwhile, fishing pressure in these areas has increased. The emergency fishing regulations aim to be responsive to fish populations in accordance with Montana’s draft statewide fisheries management plan. The current fishing regulations for the three rivers are as follows: Big Hole River Entire river Catch-and-release for Arctic grayling Headwaters to Dickie Bridge Combined trout: five daily and in possession Dickie Bridge to the mouth Open April 1 through Sept. 30 Catch-and-release only Artificial lures and single-pointed hooks only. No treble or double hooks. Anglers may remove treble or double hooks from the lure and replace them with a single hook, or the shanks may be cut off the other hook points to leave a single hook. Lures with multiple hook attachments may still be used but any treble hook must be replaced by a single hook. Beaverhead River Entire river Catch-and-release for rainbow trout Artificial lures and single-pointed hooks only. No treble or double hooks. Anglers may remove treble or double hooks from the lure and replace them with a single hook, or the shanks may be cut off the other hook points to leave a single hook. Lures with multiple hook attachments may still be used but any treble hook must be replaced by a single hook. Clark Canyon Dam to Pipe Organ Bridge Open third Saturday in May through Sept. 30 Clark Canyon Dam to High Bridge Catch-and-release only High Bridge to Barretts Diversion Five brown trout daily and in possession; all fish must be less than 18 inches Pipe Organ Bridge to Barrett’s Diversion Open all year under standard Central District regulations Barrett’s Diversion to mouth Open April 1 through Sept. 30 Catch-and-release only High Bridge FAS to Henneberry FAS Closed to float fishing by nonresidents and float outfitting on each Saturday from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day Henneberry FAS to Pipe Organ Bridge Closed to float fishing by nonresidents and float outfitting on each Sunday from the third Sunday in May through Labor Day Highway 91 South Bridge (Tash Bridge) to Selway Bridge Closed to float outfitting from the third Saturday in May through Labor Day Ruby River Upstream from Ruby Reservoir Combined trout: all may be cutthroat trout Downstream from Ruby Dam Catch-and-release for rainbow trout. Angling is closed the entire year just below Ruby Dam, from its confluence with Ruby Dam outlet channel upstream to the dam, including the outlet channel. From Ruby Dam to Alder Bridge (Ruby Island FAS) Catch-and-release for brown trout Open April 1 through Sept. 30 From Alder Bridge (Ruby Island FAS) to the mouth Brown trout: one daily and in possession, must be less than 18 inches For more information, visit fwp.mt.gov/fish .

The northern interchange (Exit 63) is now open. All ramps for Interstate 15 are back to normal traffic patterns and the detour to Exit 62 is removed. Be prepared for delays before you leave, download MDT’s mobile app “MDT 511” or visit 511mt.net and check your route. If you're driving and want to check in, pull safely off the road and dial 511.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is accepting ice fishing contests applications for the 2023-2024 season. Participants must comply with state fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits. Applications for fishing contests may be approved, approved with conditions, or denied by the FWP Fisheries Division in Helena. Conditions placed on contests may help to minimize fish mortality, regulate harvest, reduce user conflicts and/or require additional access site maintenance when needed. Information on the proposed fishing contests can be found on the FWP Fishing Contest webpage,  fwp.mt.gov/fish/regulations/contests , or by calling 406-444-2449. Applications may be mailed to FWP Fisheries Division, Attn: Fishing Contests, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701, or emailed to  fwpfsh@mt.gov . All applications must be received on or before July 15.

Escape the summer heat and enjoy a cool adventure over Father’s Day weekend, when everyone in Montana can fish for free. While anyone can fish without a license on June 17-18, all other fishing rules and regulations are in effect and must be followed. All would-be anglers are encouraged to be aware of boating and water safety on Montana’s rivers and streams. With recent heavy rains and snow runoff, many of Montana’s rivers and streams are swollen and dangerous. To view current waterbody restrictions, visit https://fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures . Additionally, those with watercraft of any kind must remember to stop at all AIS inspection stations. For water and boating safety tips, click on the Recreation tab at fwp.mt.gov and choose your activity. For more information on AIS, including how to locate your nearest inspection station, visit to www.cleandraindrymt.com

Going fishing soon? Don’t forget your camera. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to feature your fun on the next fishing regulations booklet. Winners will see their work on the front and back cover of the 2024 fishing regulation booklet. Think beyond the brag board. We’re looking for unique or unusual photos, perhaps a state record fish or a fish never previously seen on the cover. Help FWP show what diverse fish can be found in Montana. Photo contest: Photo must be vertical (portrait) mode, or suitable for tight vertical cropping to fit the available space on the regs cover. Photo must be a minimum resolution and size of 6 inches tall at 300 pixels-per-inch. FWP will feature your name on the front cover as credit. Please specify how you would like to be credited. Please include a short description of the photo, so we can provide some caption information. Ownership of the photo is retained by the photographer, who may use his/her image for other purposes. Please do not send photos of fish that have been mounted. Photo must be taken in Montana. Art contest Kids 12 and younger are invited to submit a colored drawing of a fish that lives in Montana. Please send in your best photo and drawing today! Email to fwpphotocontest@mt.gov . Deadline is Oct. 15. Winners will receive their photo on the cover, a subscription to Montana Outdoors Magazine and a Montana Outdoors t-shirt.​ Go fish!

Beaverhead Search and Rescue News Submitted by Mel Rice-Public Relations Officer This past weekend the Beaverhead Search and Rescue held its annual training camp out. The event took place at the Dinner Station camp ground up Birch Creek. There were 18 members who attended. The training started Saturday morning, June 10, after everyone enjoyed a hardy breakfast. The first presentation was a talk by Bear Specialist Jamie Trivette, an S&R member. She spoke on the proper use of bear spray and how to be bear aware when out on searches especially at night. Jamie also spoke about ways to discourage bears from attacking. This has become paramount for the safety of S&R personnel considering the number of bears in Beaverhead County. Following the bear presentation the group moved right into a presentation by commander Lawrence Morrisroe, communications officer Brad Wagner, and secretary Kolby Malesich. They demonstrated the proper technique for setting up Starlink and its capabilities in remote areas of Beaverhead County. Having internet capabilities out in the sticks provides for endless means of tracking each of our members while they are in the field searching and/or rescuing individuals. It also provides a way to stay in touch with the rest of world when nothing else works. Each S&R member attending had the opportunity to download CAL TOPO which is the way base command can track each member in the field. Other things discussed during this session were the use of mobile command, running search checklist, radio operations and radio protocal. Next was a session on the use of very specialized equipment. Wade Bush, Alex Dunn, Steve Mock, and Evan Helle demonstrated the use of vacu splints, backboards for transporting patients, placing splints and neck braces on patients, and how to handle patients according to injury protocal and etiquette. Once injuries are determined and proper equipment used to stabilize the patient, it must be determined the best means of moving the individual off the mountain to better care. Equipment that might be used for this purpose may include: litters, buggies (4 wheelers, side x sides), E-Mule and/or helicopter. It would be nice to use helicopter every time but it is not feasible. Terrain, weather conditions, and patient location all play a major role in determining the safest, timely, and most appropriate method of moving a patient. Even if weather is good, the closest LZ (landing zone) may be yards or miles away and then other alternatives must be use. After lunch, there were two scenarios set up for actual hands on experience of what was taught in the morning sessions. One was a UTV role over down a short steep embankment and the other was a motor cycle rider that had wrecked on a single track trail up on the side of the mountain. Two different teams were deployed, one to each incident. Command was set up at the camp. Each team had to determine the possible equipment that may be needed, methods of extricating patients to safety and better care, and the best means of reaching the patient. Upon arrival on the scene an evaluation of area should be made to determine not only patient safety but also the rescue team safety. Then injury assessment is completed and all injuries are addressed by the best possible means. The patient is then loaded on the most appropriate means for transport to better medical care. After each of the incidents were completed, members gathered together to evaluate how things were handled: what went right, what went wrong and how to improve each team’s handling of each scenario. Day 1 came to a conclusion with a wonderful steak dinner with all the trimmings and great conversation around a rather large camp fire. Day 2 started off with a great breakfast before moving into rope rescue. SAR member Steve Mock was the presenter/instructor for this session. Various pieces of equipment necessary for rope rescues were present and demonstrated. After a very good explanation of the use of said equipment, Steve set up a scenario on a steep bank that sloped to the creek. With a victim at the bottom of the embankment, participating rescue members had to suit up with proper equipment, prepare for the descent down to the patient with a litter, package the patient, and then ascend the slope with the patient in the litter. The team doesn’t only include those going down and up the slope but also includes very technical individuals that are manning the rope pulley system which is actually letting the care team down or bringing them back up the bank. The weekend was a great success even with the rain that came late Saturday afternoon and into the evening. Thank you to all of the instructors for having outstanding presentations and working scenarios. Thanks to all the members who participated in the great event. The instructors included Beaverhead SAR members: Brad Wagner, Lawrence Morrisroe, Steve Mock, Kolby Malesich, Evan Helle, Alex Dunn, Jamie Trivette, Joe Reyes, and Wade Bush. Other members participating were Clint Rouse, Park Scott, Mel Rice, Tara Remely, Cody Schnee, Ray Gross, Lance Hopman, Adam Norlander, and Tommy Goins. Besides the members that participated, the Beaverhead Search and Rescue would like to thank the following individuals for helping out with cooking, cleanup, and playing victims; Julie Goins, Sandy Rice, Jan Mock, and Jhett Schnee. Thanks to all for a great couple of days… “In the Business of Saving Lives” your Beaverhead SAR…. Photos provided by Beaverhead Search & Rescue

On 06/11/2023 at 0902 hours, Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call about a car that rolled several times on I-15 at Mile Marker 36. Caller stated that there were three individuals in the vehicle and one adult female was unresponsive and one adult male was semi coherent. Beaverhead County Sheriff's Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Dillon fire, Beaverhead Ambulance, Lima Fire and Ambulance were dispatched to the scene. Two individuals had to be extracted from the vehicle. One was pronounced deceased in the vehicle the other passed away on the way to Dillon in the ambulance. Air Idaho was dispatched to the hospital in Dillon but was not needed. The third juvenile individual was transported to Dillon with minor injuries. The deceased were from northern Idaho. This is still an ongoing investigation by Highway Patrol and names have not been released. Speed was to believed to be a factor in this crash. Please keep the families of the deceased in your prayers as well as the first responders that were on scene. Sheriff David Wendt

A hunter killed a grizzly bear in self-defense last week in the Madison Range southeast of Ennis. The person was hunting black bears in a remote parcel of private land in the backcountry on June 5 when he was charged by a grizzly bear. The hunter shot and killed the bear with a pistol and was not injured. The hunter notified Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks the same day. Officials from FWP, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest conducted a field investigation with help from the landowner and confirmed the bear mortality. The investigation is ongoing. The bear’s behavior appeared to be defensive in the surprise, close encounter with the hunter. The 15-year-old female grizzly had previously been captured for research purposes in 2013 and had no known history of conflict with people. No cubs were seen with the bear. The bear died outside the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear recovery zone, and inside the demographic monitoring area. Be bear aware Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year. Avoiding conflicts with bears is easier than dealing with conflicts. Here are some precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative bear encounters: Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately. Travel in groups whenever possible and make casual noise, which can help alert bears to your presence. Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears. Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency. If you encounter a bear, never approach it. Leave the area when it is safe to do so. Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas. Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana. Hunting in places that have or may have grizzly bears—which includes areas of Montana west of Billings—requires special precautions: Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately. Look for bear sign and be cautious around creeks and areas with limited visibility. Hunt with a group of people. Making localized noise can alert bears to your presence. Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears. Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible. If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during processing, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards. Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Services, and Native American tribes. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee . For more information and resources on bear safety, visit fwp.mt.gov/conservation/wildlife-management/bear .