Costly Reminder at Wild Horse Island: Recovering bighorn sheep skulls and other natural objects prohibited
Submitted by Montana FWP
Kalispell — Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is reminding the public that
collecting antlers, horns, skulls, and other natural objects is prohibited in
Montana State Parks, such as Wild Horse Island on Flathead Lake.
Shed hunters are reminded to check site-specific regulations and opening dates before venturing afield. For bighorn sheep horns or skulls, on property
that allows collection, the law allows a person to recover and possess the horn
or horns and attached skull of a mountain sheep that died of natural causes.
They are required to present the skull/horns to FWP where they are plugged.
A person may not possess mountain sheep parts if the sheep was unlawfully killed, captured, or taken, including being struck by a vehicle.
Regardless, it’s never legal to collect horns, skulls, and other natural objects
in state parks.
In January 2021, an individual pleaded guilty in Lake County justice court to unlawfully recovering and possessing the horns and skull of a bighorn sheep from the Wild Horse Island Unit of Flathead Lake State Park. The individual was fined $2,000 and cannot access the island for two years.
“The bighorn sheep on Wild Horse Island are a treasured resource for
everyone to enjoy. Our game wardens work hard to patrol the state park and
prevent the illegal collection of horns,” FWP Warden Captain Lee Anderson said.
“Game wardens Morgan Post and Chris Neu did outstanding work on this
recent investigation.”
Anyone with information about crimes involving fish, wildlife or park
regulations is encouraged to call FWP’s 24-hour tip line at 1-800-TIP-MONT
(1-800-847-6668). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a
reward up to $1,000 for providing information that leads to a conviction.
2021 State of the Scotchmans
Event adjusts activity plan
amidst pandemic still at play
Submitted by Friends of Scotchman Peaks
Some important changes have been made to this year’s State of the
Scotchmans Event to be held on Saturday, October 9 on the grounds of the Shanty at Cherry Hill at Blue C Ranch (127 MT Hwy 200, 59844). In light of the Covid-19 pandemic still at play and to reduce the risk of close interpersonal contact, we have modified the schedule and activities as follows:
Music by Bryan Lloyd will run from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. MST with our award
ceremony to follow from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. You are invited to bring your own
picnic and chairs; FSPW will provide a simple, well-packaged dessert. Social
distancing and masks will be recommended and encouraged.
Attendance for this event is being limited to 100 persons. As such, FSPW is requesting that all who wish to attend please RSVP via email or by visiting us and accessing our event on Facebook. We do look forward to seeing those who are able to attend at the Blue C Ranch in next week.
The FSPW annual raffle has been modified to an online auction which began on Friday, September 24 and will end on Friday, October 15. Items up for bid
include a scenic Scotchman Peaks plane tour, a week-long stay at the luxurious Pend Oreille Shores Resort, backpacking food and gear, and much more.
Those wishing to access the auction for more information or to place a bid may do so by visiting www.32auctions.com/organizations/62016.
Thank you for helping to ensure that our 2021 State of the Scotchmans
Annual Event is both safe and enjoyable for all this year.
FSPW can be reached by email at info@scotchmanpeaks.org. More
information on this and all FSPW events can be found online by visiting:
www.scotchmanpeaks.org.
Sincerely,
Phil, Kelsey, Amy, and Cameron
FWP Seeking Best Fishing Photo & Art
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
annual fishing regulation photo and kids’ art contest is underway. Winners will see their work on the front and back cover of the 2022 fishing regulation booklets.
All submitted photos will be considered for the contest, but the department will give special consideration to photos that highlight the diversity of people and fishing
opportunities that Montana has to offer.
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.
Send your best photo or 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.