Outdoor news
Rifle event
Project Appleseed will present a rifle marksmanship event at the North Valley Sportsman’s Club, on the North Fork Road north of Columbia Falls, on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Youths will be taught how to safely handle firearms and the fundamentals of marksmanship. Pre-registration is free for active military personnel. Cost is $5 for youths under-21, $10 women and $70 all others. Range fees are $5 per person per day. For more information or to pre-register, e-mail NWPromo@appleseedinfo.org visit online at http://appleseedusa.org.
State fish plan
Montana fisheries officials are seeking comment on a draft statewide fisheries management plan that would establish goals and direction for fisheries management, habitat protection and improvement, fishing access and angling opportunities for the next six years. A open house on the plan will be held at the Fish, Wildlife and Parks offices in Kalispell on Thursday, Sept. 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. To review and comment, visit online at http://fwp.mt.gov and click on “Statewide Fisheries Management Plan.” Comments can be submitted online or mailed to Statewide Fisheries Management Plan, Montana FWP, 1420 East Sixth Ave., Helena MT 59620. For more information, call Don Skaar at 406-444-7409. Deadline for comments is Oct. 12.
Hunting seasons
Montana’s hunting seasons for most upland game birds, including grouse and turkey, and the state’s archery-only hunting season for deer, elk, antelope, black bear, wolf and mountain lion are underway. Montana’s general rifle season to hunt black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and moose will begin Sept. 15. The general hunting season for antelope will begin Oct. 6, followed by the general season for wolf on Oct. 15 and then deer and elk on Oct. 20. Pheasant season will open Oct. 6. For other season dates and details, visit online at http://fwp.mt.gov and click on “Hunting.”
Outdoor classes
The Glacier Institute will offer the following outdoor classes this month: Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 17-18, Inspired by Glacier: Writing Workshop; Friday, Sept. 21, Autumn in Glacier; Saturday/Sunday, Sept. 22-23, Fall Mushroom Foray; Saturday Sept. 22, Hawk & Eagle Migration; Saturday/Sunday Sept. 29-30, Ecology of Elk. Marking its 29th year of educational programs, the Glacier Institute is a long-time partner with Glacier National Park, the Flathead National Forest, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Flathead Valley Community College. To register or for a complete listing, call 755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org.
Wolf talk
The Montana House and the Glacier National Park Fund will co-host a presentation by Cristina Eisenberg, research director, conservation biologist and author of “The Wolf’s Tooth” at the Montana House in Apgar Village, in Glacier Park, on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. Eisenberg will share field accounts from her recent research for her forthcoming book about carnivores in which she traveled from Montana to Alaska along the Rocky Mountains examining how carnivores affect ecosystems. Seating is limited. For more information or to reserve seats, call 406-888-5393.
Park award
Headwaters Montana is seeking nominations for its first Jack Potter Glacier National Park Stewardship Award. The award recognizes the legacy of Jack Potter, who retired in 2011 after 40 years of public service in Glacier Park. He ended his career at the Park in 2011 as chief of science and resource management. The nomination period for this year closes Sept. 30. Nominations can be sent online to www.headwatersmontana.org.