Montana

BILLINGS — Pictograph Cave State Park has scheduled a series of weekly and one-time educational programs for the summer.

Saturday, May 24, Ruth Vanderhorst of the Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society will lead an early morning “Wild Birds at Pictograph Cave” walk and bird identification program at the state park. Participants should wear clothing and footwear appropriate for the day’s weather and bring binoculars. The program starts at 8:30 a.m. at Pictograph Cave State Park.

BILLINGS — Some of the teenagers who took Ted Moore’s first hunter education class in 1963 now are old enough to have grandchildren in the program.

Moore, the longest-serving hunter education volunteer in Yellowstone County, was recognized with a plaque May 10 for 45 years of work with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks classes.

Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking applications to fill one volunteer position on the Region 7 Citizen Advisory Council (CAC). The council was established to provide input and guidance to FWP from the public on a wide variety of issues.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking volunteers for help building a mile and a quarter of jackleg fence on the east side of the Sun River Wildlife Management Area. “Now is the time for all those folks who said last year they would help to step up,” says Mark Schlepp, WMA manager.

Wildlife Management Areas in north central Montana open to the public May 15, and the three WMA’s on the Rocky Mountain Front open at noon on that date. Those three are: Sun River, Blackleaf and Ear Mountain WMA’s.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks is now offering bowhunter education over the Internet. Although the course is online, students must still take a field test to receive their bowhunter education card.

Several field days are set throughout the state for online students. For more information check the National Bowhunter Education Foundation web site at www.nbef.org .

Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking to fill six volunteer positions on the Region 4 Citizen Advisory Council (CAC). The panel was established two years ago to provide input and guidance to FWP from the public.

From the artistic to the eccentric—it has been seen at one time or the other at one of Montana’s 306 Fishing Access Sites, say the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks folks who maintain, and like so many other Montanans, enjoy using these sites.

Attention boaters: new boat validation decals are needed before you launch your boat this year.

The red validation decal obtained for motorboats, sailboats, or personal watercraft expired at the end of February and should be removed or covered. The new decal needed before launching boats this spring is green in color and is valid through Feb. 28, 2011.

Montana drivers beware! The early signs of spring green up that are finally visible, may be especially bad news for unwary drivers.

"Deer and other wildlife are eating along roadsides this time of year, taking advantage of the fresh new green grass sprouts and buds on willows and brush," said Ron Aasheim, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks communication and education division administrator.