BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana officials want to relocate as many as 40 sage grouse to Alberta next spring in a bid to reverse a decades-long decline of the birds in the Canadian province. An environmental study on the relocation was expected Tuesday. The birds would be shipped in April if the proposal is approved by Montana wildlife commissioners. If the first group of relocated birds thrives, wildlife managers intend to ship 60 more sage grouse each year to Alberta for up to three years, said Mark Sullivan, wildlife program manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Sage grouse are classified as endangered in Canada. In Alberta, their numbers have declined by about 80 percent in recent decades as open land has been developed for agriculture and energy production. The U.S. Interior Department announced in March that more protections for sage grouse were warranted but precluded in the western U.S. because other species were in greater need of protection. However, wildlife officials say the ...

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Shores of Rat Lake Looking to Gallatin Nat'l Forest The changing seasons of southwestern Montana all have a very different and specific personality. Many enjoy the summers in this country, and as many revel in the “cold smoke” that charges our winters, but many find it is the Montana fall that captures their hearts. When the mornings begin to cool and the aspens transition from their summer greens into their autumn blondes and gold’s, there is a special awakening of the soul in those who are fortunate enough to spend time out of doors. The bugle of bull elk rings across the mountain glades, bears are beginning to prepare for their impending slumber, chipmunks and squirrels are topping off their winter stockpiles and preparing for season spent under snow. Fall even has its own smell. It hangs in the woods, indescribable and unique, crisp and invigorating, heavy with earth and unlike any other time of year. Spring has its own scent also, but I have always preferred the perfume o ...

Southwestern Montana is dotted with a plethora of clear mountain stream and crystal lakes, and many of them are located a short distance the recreation centers of Bozeman and Big Sky.  The trouble lies not in the decision to visit these natural wonders but in which one to choose as the days destination.  A couple weeks back, my wife and I loaded up kids, car seats, stroller and camera and headed to Fairy Lake which is located in a mountain cirque in the Bridger Range north of Bozeman.  After exiting the asphalt we followed the Forest Service road approximately 7 miles to the campground, trailhead and parking lot.  The parking lot also services hikes for the North and Middle Forks of the Brackett Creek hikes as well as the trails to Sacagawea Peak, Hardscrabble Peak and the Bridger Foothills National Recreation Trail so there were more than a handful of cars present on this beautiful Montana day.  For you hardcore back country ski enthusiasts, this may be an area to place on your lis ...

      I had the opportunity this past weekend to take a morning and enjoy it with my family, which is something we do not get to do as often as I would like.  My wife and I currently have two children, our son is almost 4, our daughter is 18 months, and we are expecting #3 in December.  We are not crazy but, if the family continues to expand at this rate we may be soon.  Spare time is at a premium and enjoying it all together is rarer still. So when the opportunity arose for a family hike we were all excited.  As I have said previously, the most difficult part of recreating in the Bozeman area is choosing what to do and where to do it.  The possibilities are as near endless as it gets.  My wife and I are stealing an idea from my cousin Seth and his wife Brooke, we are taking 52 hikes in the Bozeman area and writing each of them on a playing card.  When it comes time to choose a path, we simply choose a card and head out, it makes the selection p ...

  VIew of Absaroka Mountains from Bullis Creek Ranch The Property It is a rare property that encompasses an unobstructed panoramic view of an incredible alpine wilderness that also offers unparalleled privacy within walking distance of a highly desirable mountain community. The 6,765± acre (5,485 deeded) Bullis Creek Ranch utilizes its natural topography and large private neighboring holdings to create an ultra-private setting only six miles from Livingston. Located in the sought-after Paradise Valley, which offers the only year-round entrance to Yellowstone National Park, Bullis Creek Ranch consists of productive irrigated lands on the Yellowstone River Valley floor and transitions through a range of microclimates before reaching the high alpine forested areas of Wineglass Mountain. The valley climbs gently up through lightly treed mountain rangeland to inviting stands of aspen tucked under a dramatic rock face. Home sites from virtually any spot in the valley command truly dramatic views of the t ...

Joe Brooks Madison-Gallatin TU Yellowstone River Clean-Up The Chapter Joe Brooks Trout Unlimited, based in Livingston, is the oldest active local TU chapter in the state of Montana. Formed in 1968, they currently have 197 members and a 10 member Board of Directors dedicated to conserve, protect and restore the Yellowstone River and its tributaries. JBTU has received both state and national attention for their work on behalf of the Yellowstone River and one of the most successful annual events they host is the one day clean-up of the river.   Pre-event Instructions to Volunteers The Event The river clean up emerged after a group of local fishing guides and conservationists realized that the pristine Yellowstone River that they called home was no longer so pristine in some places. Spring flooding, recreational users, illegal dumping and legacy businesses along the banks of the fabled river had taken their toll over the years. As members of both Joe Brooks ...