OUTDOORS: Fish for free on Father's Day

Montana FWP

Whether you're tying on a salmon fly or putting a night crawler onto a hook, during Father's Day weekend, everyone in Montana can fish for free.

While this family-oriented opportunity allows anyone to fish without a license on June 20-21, all other fishing rules and regulations are in effect and must be followed.

FWP encourages all would-be anglers to be aware of boating and water safety on Montana's rivers and streams, particularly this year as many rivers across the state are still experiencing spring runoff and flood conditions. Additionally, FWP reminds those with watercraft of any kind to remember to stop at all AIS inspection stations.

For water and boating safety tips, click on the Recreation tab at http://fwp.mt.gov and choose your activity. For specific information on boating safety go to http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/safety/boating.

Leave newborn wildlife be

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is receiving calls from people who have picked up deer fawns, young birds or other newly born wildlife. 

It's important to remember that FWP no longer accepts, holds or rehabilitates moose, deer, elk and most other animals. Diseases, such as chronic wasting disease, are a concern when moving moose, deer and elk, and rehabilitating fawns and calves is often unsuccessful because the animals become quickly habituated to people. 

FWP is reminding everyong, if you see a young animal, whether a goose or a grizzly, keep your distance and leave it alone. Handling them can be dangerous, and usually once they are picked up by people they can't be rehabilitated.

What can you do?

• Leave It There. It's natural for deer and elk to leave their young alone for extended periods of time. What appears to be an orphaned animal may not be.

• Control Your Dog. Keep your dog under control, especially in the spring when newborn wildlife is most vulnerable. Pet owners can be cited and dogs that harass or kill wildlife may, by law, have to be destroyed.

• Keep in Mind. It is illegal to possess and care for a live animal taken from the wild.

As Montana's wildlife agency, FWP's priority is to keep wild animals wild. When people keep and raise elk, deer or other animals, it habituates wildlife to humans, potentially causing problems once released back into the wild.

Should someone bring a deer or elk to FWP, they'll be asked to take the animal back to the site where it was found. If the animal can't be returned, it may need to be humanely euthanized.