Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (Region 2)

09/29/2026

Help monitor and manage Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Montana by getting your deer, elk or moose tested this season. Testing is free and offered at various locations around the state.

In west-central Montana, during archery season you can bring your animal by the Missoula FWP office:
* Monday & Tuesday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
* Wednesday & Thursday, 8 a.m.- 12 p.m.

Or, take your own sample and mail it in.

Find out more: fwp.mt.gov/conservation/chronic-wasting-disease/get-your-animal-sampled

09/28/2026

We're in the final days of Montana's "bear aware month," and here's an opportunity you don't want to miss!

Montana FWP has teamed up with Lee Enterprises of Montana and Amplified Digital for a contest to test your bear awareness this September.

Enter online, with a chance to earn bonus entries! See contest page for details and for full contest rules and restrictions here: MTBearAware.io/2026

Contest runs through September 30, 2026!

09/26/2026

If you want to PROTECT THE HUNT in Montana, prepare your mindset, not just your gear, and take the Hunter- Landowner Stewardship Video Guide + Test and and then be entered to win one of 11 great prizes if you are 18+. fwp.mt.gov/protectthehunt

Backed by partners across the outdoor community, 11 winners will be randomly drawn in Spring 2027 for a chance to win gear and donated hunts.

RESPECT ACCESS and the people who share it with us to help keep Montana’s hunting traditions alive for the next generation. youtu.be/1-NAlZRLvos

09/25/2026

September is "Bear Aware Month" in Montana! Stop by Travelers' Rest State Park this Saturday any time between 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. for bear aware tips and a chance to practice with inert spray.

09/23/2026

FWP and the US Forest Service have a prescribed burn happening Sept. 22 and 23 in the Threemile Wildlife Management Area northeast of Stevensville. See the details below.

🔥Fall Prescribed Burning Begins on the Bitterroot National Forest 🔥

The Stevensville Ranger District, in partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, will be conducting up to 500 acres of prescribed burning Sept. 22 and 23 in the Threemile Creek State Wildlife Management Area located 11 miles northeast of Stevensville and north of Wheelbarrow Creek.

This fuels reduction project was coordinated with FWP to burn understory units which were previously thinned to promote wildlife habitat.

This burn will be done with hand ignitions over two days. On the third day, firefighters will transition to mop-up (extinguishing any remaining hot spots). Once the fire is secured, crews will continue to patrol the area.

Smoke will be visible from the Threemile, Ambrose, Stevensville and Florence areas. No closures are scheduled with this burn. Please check the Bitterroot National Forest Interactive Burn Map at https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/4ac726fda3434b40bf59a127f1ddf380

County officials are aware of this burn.

To read more about fall planned prescribed burning, please visit the Bitterroot National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot/newsroom/releases/bitterroot-national-forest-plans-conduct-fall-prescribed-burns

For updates, please also check https://www.facebook.com/DiscoverBitterrootNF
And Inciweb at https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/mtbrf-threemile-creek-prescribed-burn

Ravalli County Sheriff's Office
Ravalli County Office of Emergency Management
Fire In the Root

09/22/2026

🦌 Join us this Wednesday 9/23 at our FWP Missoula office (3201 Spurgin Rd) beginning at 6 p.m..

📈 For the first hour, you'll have a chance to hear from local wildlife biologists and ask questions about mule deer numbers, current research, and factors affecting their population in west-central Montana.

➡ For the second hour of the meeting, FWP’s wildlife health biologist, Bevin McCormick, will present on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Montana. Come for one or both topics!

09/21/2026

Heads up: Woodside Bridge Fishing Access Site (FAS) on the Bitterroot River will close to vehicles Sept. 22-25 and again Sept. 29-Oct. 1 because the nearby highway bridge will be temporarily closed, impacting access. The site will remain open for walk-in access.

09/18/2026

❓Curious about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)? Prevalence is relatively low in west-central Montana, compared to some parts of the state, but monitoring continues, and hunters play a big role in submitting samples. FWP Region 2 wildlife manager, Liz Bradley, shares a few observations here about CWD and mule deer.

💁 Want to learn more? We are hosting a CWD + mule deer information session on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. at our FWP Missoula office (3201 Spurgin Rd). It's a great chance to hear from FWP’s wildlife health biologist, Bevin McCormick, about CWD. Local wildlife biologists will also be on hand to answer your questions about mule deer numbers, current research, and factors affecting their population in west-central Montana.

09/16/2026

Stop by and see us TODAY after work or school for our last set of bear aware office hours for this season!

09/16/2026

Regional hunting forecasts are available to help you prepare for the season ahead. Check out the link below for the west-central Montana forecast as well as other areas around the state: fwp.mt.gov/hunt/seasons/forecasts