Community Briefs

Swan Valley AARP Meeting, March 7

Swan Valley - Local residents and historians Gary and Joyce Wagner will share stories about their recent travels to Israel and Jordan at the Swan Valley AARP meeting, Monday, March 7 at the Swan Valley Community Hall.

Members and guests are to meet for a potluck at noon. The program, to which the public is invited ,. begins at 1:45 p.m. Steve and Sharon Lamar will be the hosts for the occasion.

March 15 Permit Deadline for Western Montana Hunters

HELENA - The March 15 deer and elk permit application deadline has gained more importance to hunters in west-central Montana as a result of the new regulations for the 2016 hunting season.

This year, the Fish & Wildlife Commission reinstated antlerless elk permits in 13 of the 30 hunting districts in Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Region 2. The deadline to apply for these and other deer and elk permits is March 15. Find out more and apply online at fwp.mt.gov. Hunters can also apply at FWP offices and all license providers.

These antlerless permits replace antlerless “B” licenses in many hunting districts. Unlike a B license, the permit does not allow hunters to harvest a second elk. Instead, it provides the holder an opportunity to use a general elk license to harvest an antlerless elk in a particular district. 

The change was made to address public concerns in some parts of Montana, according to Mike Thompson, FWP Region 2 Wildlife Manager.

“Many people didn’t feel it was right for one hunter to harvest two elk in the same area, particularly on public lands where elk are vulnerable to harvest,” Thompson said. 

Antlerless permits for elk are available for 2016 in Hunting Districts 200, 201, 202, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 216, 270, 281, 291 and 293. Hunters must apply by March 15.

Also due by March 15 are applications for special permits to hunt bull elk and mule deer bucks in some hunting districts, as in previous years. Hunting for bull elk is by permit in Hunting Districts 250 and 270, as in the past and new HD 217 (southeast of Drummond).

Hunting for mule deer bucks is by permit in Hunting Districts 202, 204, 210, 212, 213, 214, 215, 217, 240, 250, 261, 262, 270, 281, 291, 292 and 298, which has not changed from previous years.

Elk B licenses—valid for taking a second elk—will still be available in some hunting districts in Region 2, particularly where elk populations are over objective or on private land portions of districts. The deadline to apply for B licenses is June 1.

The permit application information is available online at fwp.mt.gov now, and the complete hunting regulations for 2016 are expected to be online at fwp.mt.gov in early to mid-March.

Federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Grants Available

HELENA – Montana State Parks (stateparks.mt.gov) announced today that Land & Water Conservation Fund Program federal grants will be available to local, public and outdoor recreation project sponsors in Montana. Applications are due by Friday, April 15, 2016 at 5 p.m.

Cities, counties, school districts, conservation districts, Indian tribes and similar entities are eligible to apply. Typical facilities funded in the past include ball fields, city parks campgrounds, golf courses, ice-skating ponds, picnic facilities, tennis courts, outdoor swimming pools, splash parks and playground equipment.

The federal Land & Water Conservation Fund Program (LWCF), established in 1965, encourages a partnership between national, state and local governments in planning and funding outdoor recreation.

Montana State Parks administers the stateside Land & Water Conservation Fund in Montana. This federal program and the funds that support it are completely separate from all Montana State Park revenues, camping fees and related parks’ funding sources.

 The maximum grant award per project is $150,000. The grant may provide up to 50 percent of a local project’s total costs.  The 2015 stateside LWCF appropriation for Montana was $400,000. The application pool we receive will not only include the 2015 appropriation, but also the amount of the 2016 appropriation. At this time we are waiting for the 2016 appropriation for Montana.

 Some Requirements of the LWCF Grant Program includes:

• Project sponsors must be a city, county, school district or similar official entity or sovereign Indian Nation within Montana.

• The sponsor must own the project site or have control of the property under a long-term lease.

• The sponsor must have adequate resources to operate and maintain the area after the project is complete. The LWCF program provides no funds for routine operation and maintenance costs.

• The area within the project boundary must be maintained for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity.

 For more information about the LWCF Grant Program contact Seth McArthur at 406-444-3753 or smcarthur@mt.gov or visit: http://www.nps.gov/lwcf/  

To apply visit: http://stateparks.mt.gov/recreation/lwcf.html

Missoula County Sheriff’s Office Call Activity

2/22/16 – 02/28/16

2/23, 6:01 p.m., 33XX Highway 83, Seeley Lake: Assault.

2/23, 10:59 a.m., Sawbuck Trail, Seeley Lake: Burglary.

2/25, 6:22 p.m., Highway 83, Condon: Trespassing.

2/26, 3:55 p.m., Morrell Creek Road, Seeley Lake: Assault.

2/28, 12:00 a.m., Highway 200, Ovando: Accident - Injury.

2/28, 1:09 a.m., 6XX Pine Drive, Seeley Lake: Driving Under the Influence.

2/28, 6:59 p.m., Garnet Range Road, Greenough: Accident - No Injury.