dMoqtaifa ‘Fist^, ‘Wildlife C§L cPari(s VISION FOR THE 21s1 CENTURY- Montana Fish. Wildlife £c Parks will provide ihc leadership ncccvsaiy ro create a commitment in the hearts and minds of Montanans to work together in partnership to sustain the diverse fish, wildlife, and parks resources and recreational opportunities essential to a high quality of life for Montanans and our guests. ...emphasizing education engagement and partnerships An active, informed public n critical to the protection of Mont, uni i full, wildlife, and porks resources A g roup of communication ipecialiili writes and produces press releases, public service announcements. Montana Outdoors magazine articles, video productions, and the FWP website. Hunter Fducatwn. Montana 's Family lushing Program, and othrr initiatives aim to increase people s knowledge, skills, and safety Hryond this work, every FWP employee is charged with informing, engaging, and partnering with the public DEPARTMENT GOALS- Creatc an efficient and effective work environment where priorities arc clear and employees arc accountable, valued, and recognized for their contributions. Provide quality oppottunitics for public apprecia- tion and enjoyment of fish, wildlife, and parks resources Maintain and enhance the health of Montana's natural environment and the vitality of our fish, wildlife, cultural, and historic resources. Emphasize education, communication, and responsible behavior to afford Montanans the opportunity to better understand and participate in the decision-making processes that sustain our natural, recreational, and cultural resources for future generations. MONTANA f ISH. UILDUEE St PARKS COMMISSION— STAN MEYER. Chairman, Great Falls DAVID w SIMPSON, Viet Chatman. Hardin DARLYNE DASCHER. Fort Peek CHARLES R DECKER libby TIM MULl l(, AN. Whitehall ftp. state. mt. us is FWP's award-winning home on the world- wide web. For a colorful look at Montana's latest hunting, fishing, wildlife, and parks news, please come visit us. FWP bear specialists and the Wind River Rear Institute have saved about 16 grizzly bear lives over the past two years by conditioning the bears ro stay out of human territory. This successful work uses trained Karelian bear dogs and rubber bullets and noise to change bad bear behavior when and where it occurs. At the same time, residents learn onc-on-onc and in arca-svidc information campaigns about bear attractants and how to eliminate them This work has measurably reduced the need to relocate or destroy bears. Recommendations by a 16-member Hunter Behavior Advisory Council appointed by FWP contributed to recent legislation creating a continuing hunter education program for adults and a mandators' course for convicted violators of fish and game laws. .Also in 1999. 1,435 hunter and bow hunter mstruciors taught 9,000 students ages 12 and older. All hunting on private property now requires landowner permission by law Prior to this, only big game hunting required landowner permission, unless the land was posted. To assist landowners and hunters with this change, FWP developed a directory of land ownership maps and pockct-sizcd "access courtesy cards.’ FWP is also working with other agencies to improve signing of legally accessible public lands. The 1.504 volunteers in Montana's state parks in 1999 provided 47,326 hours of time and saved the equivalent of 23 full-time employee positions. Interns contributed 12,560 hours of work or the equivalent of six full-time employee positions for the year. fWP DIVISIONS PARKS. The Parks Division n responsible for pvriopmem. maintenance, and operation of all state parks un! alliliated sites with an objective <>! pros iding diserse recreational opporiunmcs while preserv- ing important historical and cultural resources within Montana WIL DUFF.: The Wildlife Division is responsible for managing all species of wildlife including big game, threatened and endangered species, upland game birds and nongamc birds, and waterfowl m the state. FISHERIES: The Fisheries Division is responsible for the management md perpetuation of Montana's fish and urher aquatic resources CONSERVATION Fin CATION: The Corners. I Jucanon Division acts as a clearinghouse lor information on FWP activities and news items to the media and conducts a satiety of educa- tional and rccicaiinn-s ifeiv programs. ENFORCEMENT The Enforcement I 'i ision is responsible for enforcing all the fish and game laws of Montana, FWP rules, and FWP Commis- sion regulations Division personnel also enforce state boating and snowmobile rules and state park regulations, as well as private property laws and bunting and fishing regulations FIELD SERVICES The Field Services Division is responsible for FWP's lands program and construc- tion propels, as well as us Block Management (publis hunting access) and Udowner-humcr relations programs. )MINISTRA DON FINANCE: The Helena-based l hrector's Office staff makes major policy and administrative decisions. Regional supervisors handle on-thc-ground implementation of policies and programs. Hu Administration and Finance Division is responsible for budgeting accountin'..' purchasing, personnel, data processing, and adminis- tration of FWP's Iks using functions. REVENUE SOURCES 2000 FWP is funded primarily by user fees Funding sources include HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES IKii includes ill been* alts rcstnuc. micrrsi eunrop md other moccllincuuv resenue Nonresident u!n jununi tor neirly mo-thirds of FWP’s rotil license rest nut FEDERAL REVENUE FWP reseises Irdrrjl Funds n> lid in list' md wildlife restoration efforts, fot pirls deselopment ind mimienince, ind lot boiling safety, educinon. ind rcgulwon Nearly 59 7 million apportioned to Moouni n denied bum in eune m on sporting irrns ind immunirion, hmdguni ind ceeuin irehety equipment— is well n from in excise tu on fishing equipment ind electric milling moion. i portion ol thr fcderil-lucis tu, ind imj.ifl dunes on fishing tickle ind plclsule bulls OTHER STATE REVENUE Other irate resenue sources include fees lor sine pni use. 1 portion of the Miles lodging t inline. use 111. i mull petcenuge of iFk irate fuel us. interest timings from coil reserance tu receiptr md offset misoellineous revenue sources STATE GENERAL FUND Stitt tu dollire Leo thin 1 percent of fWP i soul budget comes from ihc general fund About 7S percent of this funding goo id the Puis Division TOTAL REVENUE: 54,030.695 64.4% S4.819.989 Federal Revenue 22.3% 12.071,407 Other State Revenue 12.4% 6,718.294 State General Fund 0,8% PLANNED EXPENDITURES 2000 FWP TOTAL: Operating 45,846,870 Capital 8,183.825 Total 54,030,695 PARKS 8,803.459 WILDLIFE 10.387,374 FISHERIES 9,451,988 ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE 10.337.810 CONSERVATION EDUCATION .4% 2-377810 ENFORCEMENT / 6.320.118 FIELD SERVICES 6,352.136 FWP SPENDS ITS MONEY TWO WAYS: Operations tor day-to-day management of fish, wildlife, and parks resource Capita] for major repair and maintenance of FWP properties, for renovation and construction ot facilities, and to protect and enhance critical habitats. INifsisai ssu list, li >1 (Wfwi Ihu tiscumani h fMMtnJ •• |flf.s.fn*ir.in on the tO»l W pubfabce no he ohumel hv *r.no* CW-pmn*-ni .1 AJm.ss..ir,i..n lleC.v. M I MONTANA STATE II HCUMtMVi OfciEcrio* fWf? 2 ; m MIKim ei ll.SSt Reinvestment Act" Congress HUNTERS ENJOYED ()\ MONTANA’S FAMILY In striving \to reach our goals we... ...provide quality Opportunities Opportunities to fish, hunt and hike grew in 1999 as FWP improved state parks, upgraded trails and fishing access sites — and increased hunter access to public and private lands. 250,000 DAYS OF public hunting on " 3 million acres of land in 1999 through the successful Block Management Program. Even with some S3 million in annual funding from the sale of licenses to nonresident hunting clients of outfitters, the program is unable to sign up many interested landowners. Resident hunters also show interest in helping to fund more access to private and public lands. The Private Land/Public Wildlife Advisory Council, a 15-member citizen's group, oversees the program and makes recommendations on funding to the governor and the legislature. The Block Management Working Group, a committee of landowners, hunters, and FWP staff, advises on day-to-day issues. I HE APPROACH 10 Nj^HI TORING DEER POPULATIONS and setting hunting regulations is becoming more consistent and comprehensive Wildlife biologists across the state arc working together to refine the deer harvest management program— for example, by monitoring a total of 79 areas to continuously collect population data. Over time, this work will improve FWP's ability to detect measurable changes in deer numbers and to more precisely assess the impact of hunting and other factors on deer populations. NG PROGRAM, after three years of educational fishing clinics and events, is thriving. The "Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs” program now involves 100 classrooms and 2,300 Montana students. Over 600 teachers have been trained in aquatic education and will potentially reach 15,725 students annually Through the Montana Angling Youth— MAY — Club. 4,000 youngsters receive a newsletter with information on fishing in Montana. In addition, the Family Fishing Program continues to create mote fishing opportunities in urban areas. About 312 fishing access sites in the state welcome anglers and campers alike. These sites, funded by angler license fees, benefited from nearly $1 million in upgrades and maintenance in 1999. Campers will see a new S 10 camping fee at about 10 percent of these sites, if they don't have valid fishing licenses. The standard camping fee at these sites is S5 for those with a fishing license. PARKS AND TRAILS... Ulm Pishkun State Park > new visitor center helps tell the ancient story of survival, culture, and land that unfolded at this buffalo jump over the past 1 .500 years. FWP is working with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation on a land trade to bring the remainder of the buffalo jump and key surrounding property into FWP management. Tribal leaders, historians, neighbors and community organizations assisted in creating this inviting center to keep the stories of Ulm Pishkun alive Makoshika State Park near Glcndive is jnother precious paleontological and archeological window on the past. FWP is protecting this unusual site for future generations to cn|oy and study by strengthening land-use agreements. With SI 00,000 in state park fees appropriated by the 1999 Montana State Legislature, FWP plans to purchase private mineral holdings within the park. Recreational trails across the state received a S486.000 facelift as private trail clubs and public agencies completed projects funded by the Federal Recreational Trails Grant Program administered by FWP. Groups matched at least 20 percent of project costs with dollars from local funding sources and usually contributed their time and labor. ... maintaining and enhancing the health of Montands native species and habitat WO SUBSPECIES OF CITJ THROAT TROUT— WESTSLOPE AND YELLOWSTONE— received tremendous attention in 1999, as did the fluvial Arctic grayling and the bull trout Populations of these important native fish have declined, in some places drastically, in the past 100 yean due to habitat loss, competition and hybridization with introduced nonnativc trout species, water divemons, and disease. Biologists are hard at work gathering information on the distribution, population sizes, genetic purity, and habitat requirements of these native fish Planners crafted conservation agreements uniting state and federal agencies, private landownen, conservation groups, and tribal representatives to maintain, and in some cases reestablish, these native fish in traditional waters. Montana s fish hatchery facilities arc being upgraded to protect hatchery fish from the potential infection of whirling disease Hatcheries in Great Falls, Lcwistown, and Bridger saw improvements in 1999 that will protect the hatchery water supplies and enhance water quality The project draws from both state and federal funds Montana hatcheries produce over 43 million fish a year— including native Yellowstone cutthroat trout, wcstslope cutthroat trout, and svallcvc. FWP’s Criminal Investigation Section targets commercial poachers I i me- tested H methods combined with advanced technology including DNA matching. sharpens i FWP's edge in investigations. In the pist two years. FWP his cracked down on seven ‘ separate organized commercial and interstate poaching operations, recovering wildlife 2 parts and leading to severe fines and other penalties. Recent legislation increased Sj restitution for unlawfully taking a trophy animal to a range of $2,000 to $30,000 1] Fines for repeat violations of hunting laws have increased too. NATIVE HABITAT... In 198’, the Montana Legislature set aside a portion of hunting license revenues to protect scriouslv threatened habitat, mainly through conservation casements Since then, about 176,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat have been protected at a cost of S26 million. In related work, 830 short-term contracts protect 438,702 acres of upland bird habitat at a cost of $10 5 million. FWP uses other funds to help preserve additional fish, wildlife, parks, historic, and cultural resources. In total, FWP holds perpetual land interests on about 400,000 acres and short-term contracts on 550.000 acres. In 1999. FWP completed reviews of all conservation easements to ensure the terms arc being met as intended. The Future Fisheries Improvement Program has lunded S3. 8 million in habitat improvements for wild and name fish in three years, including 49 projects recom- mended in 1999 by the program's citizen review panel Projects may. for evamplc. improve water quality, restore river or stream channels, or make diversion dams more fish-friendly. All program funds come from the calc of Montana fishing licenses. Fish populations have increased in about 7$ percent of projects monitored so far DOG is not threatened with extinction in Montana, but populations have declined throughout its 1 1 -state range. Montana has at last 1 ,433 prainc dog colonies occupying a minimum of 76,139 acres To address prairie dog concerns. FWP joined in an 1 1 -state conservation plan to make the case to the l S. Fish and Wildlife Service for state management of the species AND CHRONIC \\ ASTING DISEASE in elk and deer arc health issues FWP continuously collects data on and monitors The whirlir ; disease pet ante infects fish and has been found in varying degrees in 83 of the more than 350 utev -unplcd. FWP studies show when daily mean water temperatures fall below 45° or exceed 64° infection levels are near zero. So. for example, trout who live in very cold streams may not experience severe disease. CWD, or chronic wasting disease, is an illness that causes weight Iocs and other symptoms resulting in death in elk and deer. In 1999, officials confirmed an elk in a game farm herd near Philipsburg died of chronic wasting disease and the herd was eliminated. CWD has not been found in Montana's wild hetds and FWP continues rigorous observ ation and testing of wild deer and elk THE BLACK-TAILED PRAltiE