Janurary 23 Outdoor Briefs

Forest camping

Flathead National Forest supervisor Chip Weber has selected Barta Enterprises Inc. of West Yellowstone to operate and maintain the Forest’s campgrounds for the 2013 season. Barta Enterprises successfully bid on two campground prospectus packages which included facilities at Big Creek, Doris Point Boat Launch, Doris Creek, Devil Creek, Emery Bay, Lid Creek, Lost Johnny Point, Lost Johnny Camp, Murray Bay, Riverside, Holland Lake, Owl Creek Packer Camp, Swan Lake Day Use and Campground and Tally Lake Campground. Barta Enterprises will be doing business as Flathead Valley Campgrounds.

Wolf comments

Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials are seeking additional comment on a recent court-challenged decision to close the wolf hunting and trapping seasons in two areas north of Yellowstone National Park. The FWP Commission closed the area on Dec. 10, 2012, in response to concern about the harvest of wolves with collars that supply scientific information to Yellowstone Park researchers. The commission will meet via conference call on Jan. 29 to reconsider its closure decision. Comments can be submitted online at www.fwp.mt.gov, click “Hunting ” or mailed to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Attn: Wolf Comments, P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT 59620-0701. Deadline is Jan. 25.

Ice-fishing for women

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will sponsor an ice-fishing workshop as part of its Becoming an Outdoors Woman program at Peterson Lake near Bigfork on Feb. 8-10. This class is for beginning or intermediate anglers who want to learn the basics or improve their fishing skills. The workshop setting is a modern camp located on the shore of Peterson Lake. The $100 fee includes all equipment, meals and two nights lodging. Scholarships are available. For more information, contact Liz Lodman at 406-444-9940 or llod man@mt.gov. Registration forms are available online at http://fwp.mt.gov under “Beyond BOW” and at the FWP office at 490 North Meridian Road in Kalispell.