North Fork Blackfoot reopened on all reaches
The North Fork Blackfoot River reopened to fishing on all reaches. Although fishing restrictions were lifted on the lower stretch of the river on Aug. 29, the portion of the North Fork above Smoke's Cabin Pack Bridge remained closed due to Forest Service fire closures in the area. For the information on the remaining drought and fire restrictions and closures in Montana, visit FWP's Web site at fwp.mt.gov and select "Drought and Fire."
Northern Rockies fungi will be sought out in the Glacier Institute's "Fall Mushroom" course offered Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30. Participants will learn about the ecology and uses of edible mushrooms, and learn how to discern between edible and poisonous mushrooms in the field. Instructor Larry Evans, co-founder of the Western Montana Mycological Association, has been collecting mushrooms and teaching about them for more than 25 years. Register by calling (406) 755-1211 or online at http://www.glacierinstitute.org. The course fee is $155 and includes lodging at Big Creek, approximately 20 minutes north of West Glacier.
Campus Recreation offers variety of programs
To sign up for the following Campus Recreation programs at the University of Montana call 243-2804:
Outdoor Cooking Class, Oct. 3, 5-8 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes dinner. Register by Oct. 1. "The Last Outdoor Program" Mission Mountain Wilderness Backpack, Oct. 12-14. Cost is $55. Trip limited to seven participants; register by Oct. 8. Pre-trip meeting on Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. "Leave No Trace" Trainers Overnight Course, Oct. 13-14. Cost is $45 and includes certification. Register by Oct. 9. Pre-trip meeting is Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. "Kayak Roll Clinic," Oct. 23, 25 and 30 and Nov. 1 from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Grizzly Pool. Cost is $60. Register by Oct. 18.Backpacking trip to Allan Mountain slated
The Sierra Club Bitterroot-Mission Group will sponsor a backpack trip to Allan Mountain on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29-30, in conjunction with Public Lands Day. The group will visit the Allan Mountain Roadless Area in the Bitterroot Mountains while monitoring the area's trails for off-road vehicle impacts. (This outing will cover trails not covered on the July trip.) Expect about 12 miles of hiking and one night in the backcountry. Monitoring and documentation materials will be provided. Contact Sierra Club's Missoula office at 549-1142 or bob.clark@sierraclub.org.
Regular waterfowl season begins Sept. 29
The regular waterfowl season runs Saturday, Sept. 29, through Jan. 11, 2008, in the Pacific Flyway, which is generally the western half of Montana. In the Central Flyway, which covers most of the eastern half of Montana, the season runs from Sept. 29 through Jan. 3, 2008. There are some exceptions related to dates and bag limits, so check the regulations, which are available on-line at the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Web site at fwp.mt.gov. Printed copies are available at most FWP license providers across the state.
Correctional Enterprises Ranch open to hunting
The Montana Correctional Enterprises Ranch near Deer Lodge is open to hunting again. The lands had been closed since Aug. 20 due to fire danger in the area. Bowhunters are reminded that a valid MCE land access permit is required for hunting in the archery-only area, and archery hunters must enter the area through the checkpoint location. For more information on the MCE Ranch rifle and archery-only areas, contact the Missoula Fish, Wildlife & Parks office at 542-5518.
Volunteers invited to help Mount Jumbo on Saturday
Prairie Keepers will sponsor a "Mount Jumbo Prairie Restoration" project on Saturday, Sept. 29. Volunteers are asked to meet at 1 p.m. at the Cherry Street trailhead for an afternoon of pulling knapweed, scattering seeds and covering up eroding trails. Bring work gloves and water. Call the Montana Natural History Center at 327-0405 or visit http://prairiekeepers.dbs.umt. edu for more information.
Kalispell Ski Club to hold annual swap and sale
The Kalispell Ski Club annual Ski Swap and Sale is coming to the Kalispell Fairgrounds Expo Building on Oct. 6 and 7. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Consignments of equipment to be sold will be taken Friday, Oct. 5, from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Expo Building. Sale proceeds support the club's free "Learn to Ski Program" for children ages 6-14 and other family activities. For more information call 752-SKIS or go to http://www.kalispellskiclub.com.
Women Fly Fishers holding annual festival in Utah
The International Women Fly Fishers will hold its 12th annual Fly Fishing Festival on Oct. 4-7 in Midway, Utah, at the historic Homestead Resort. The festival will include instructional classes as on-the-water sessions. For more information or to register, go to http://www.intlwomenflyfishers.org.
Hunter ed registration begins in October
POLSON - Registration for the final hunter education course in western Montana will be held Oct. 1 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Polson Middle School cafeteria. Classes will be held Oct. 8-11 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the school with the field course on Oct. 13. Parents must accompany students to the registration. The course is free and open to hunters and nonhunters alike. State law requires anyone born after Jan. 1, 1985, to complete the course in order to buy a hunting license. The minimum age for hunting is 12. Call Rud Knudsen, (406) 883-5409, for more information.
Be active, come hike the Tin Cup Creek Trail
Hike along the rolling terrain of the Tin Cup Creek Trail on Oct. 6 as part of the Be Active Bitterroot Activity program. Meet in the parking lot of the Bitterroot National Forest's Darby office at 10 a.m. to car pool to the trailhead. Dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes. Bring a lunch, snacks and water. For more information, contact Janeen Hetzler with Bitter Root Resource Conservation and Development at 381-2951.
Learn more about the Lewis and Clark Trail
The Travelers' Rest Chapter of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will host a presentation by Lolo National Forest archaeologist Milo McLeod on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Lolo Community Center. McLeod will discuss how the trail became a National Historic Landmark, how the original trail was located, archaeological sites that were found, and management of the trail. The program is free and open to the public.
Get an up-close look at Grant Creek elk herd
Join the Montana Natural History Center and local elk enthusiast Bert Lindler for an up-close look at the Grant Creek elk herd on Oct. 6. Participants will meet at the center, 120 Hickory St., at 8 a.m. and return by 11 a.m. Cost is $10 for MNHC members or $15 for nonmembers. Call 327-0405 for more information.
Take a gander at used outdoor gear
A used outdoor gear sale will be held on the first floor of the University Center on Oct. 10 from noon to 5 p.m. The public may bring items for the sale between 7 and 11 a.m. and pick up unsold gear between 5 and 8 p.m. The University of Montana Outdoor Program will collect 15 percent of the sale price. For details call 243-2804.
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