A century ago, when Warren Harding was in the White House and the United States was just becoming accustomed to Prohibition, an estimated 8,000 elk lived in Montana — fewer than half what hunters now harvest in a bad year. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, unregulated hunting had diminished elk distribution in western Montana and all but decimated the species east of the Continental Divide.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on shooting range grant proposals. Public comments will be accepted through Aug. 9 at 5 p.m. Montana’s Shooting Range Grant Program, administered by FWP, provides funding to non-profit shooting clubs, organizations, local governments and school districts to build and improve public shooting ranges throughout the state. The program

While mule deer populations remain steady in portions of the state, spring green-up surveys conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife biologists showed populations in some parts of the state remain lower than desired, and as a result, licenses available to hunters in those areas have been cut back. Over the past few years, persistent drought, particularly in southeast Montana, has

Hunters interested in signing up for elk permits left over from the permit drawing can do so until Aug. 4. This new process for the sale of surplus licenses began in 2020 in response to issues in years past. The old process was vulnerable to long lag times, confusion, and a perception of inequity for those unable to use the first-come, first-served online option starting at 5 a.m. There