C fMoqtaqa WtldltfeC&TarHs Mission Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, through ics employees and citizen commission, provides for (he stewardship of the fish, wildlife, parks, and recreational resources of Montana, while contributing to the quality of life for present and future generations. To fulfill its mission, FWP solicits feedback from Montanans and develops action plans to ensure the agency achieves meaningful results. communication FWP'S Centennial celebrated the state’s conservation legacy, acknowledging the previous 100 years of conscious decisions and difficult personal sacrifices on the part of Montanans to conserve what is best about this state. Renowned western artist Larry Zabcl created "Sun River Challenge." an original oil painting that commemorates the 1947 creation of the Sun River Game Range KWP published a special edition of Montana Outdoor > magazine, produced an award-winning documentary film, "No Nttd for a Saturday Night." and celebrated in other ways around the state. Black and grizzly bear identification skills will be tested before hunters can obtain a black bear license under a new mandatory bear identification program. The intent is to save grizzlies and Montana's black bear season. The training and test arc available by mail at FWP regional offices, the Helena headquarters office or on line at Iwp.statc .mt.us. A citizen commission, appointed by the Governor, determines the policies and regulanons that support the management and protection of the state's fish, wildlife, and parks resources in order to provide outdoor opportunities for present and future generations of Montanans. The Montano Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission Dan Walker, commission chairman, from Billings, is a retired executive from US West Communications. (Term expires Jan. 1,2005) Timothy J. Mulligan, commission vice-chairman, is owner of the Corner Store Conoco in Whitehall and is involved in his family's homestead ranch in Cardwell. (Term expires Jan. 1.2003) Darlync Daschcr is a partner in a ranch operation south of Fort Peck and works as the local brand inspector. (Term expires Jan. 1,2003) John Line of Cascade operates a portion of the family ranch and is a member of the Devil's Kitchen Management Team, which works with FWP in managing wildlife resources in the area. (Term expires Jan. 1, 2005) Michael Murphy, a Wolf Creek rancher, has been executive director of the Montana Water Resources .Association since 1993- (Term expires Jan. 1. 2005) The Remedial Hunter Education program, authorized by the 2001 Legislature, is the only way for individuals who have had their hunting privileges suspended to regain those privileges. Designed to strengthen hunter ethics and awareness, the program is available by mail or at fwp.statc. mt.us at the Hunter Education icon. Construction of the Montana Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center is underway, while fundraising for the $800,000 project continues. Latct phases may include additional interpretation and education facilities. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Foundation, the Mik.il Kellner Foundation for Animals, and the U.S, Forest Service arc partners in building the facility. The Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs program now includes 109 classrooms, and this year 36,000 Montanans enjoyed fishing clinics, special events, and school-related aquatic education programs, Montana Watercourse-Project WET. Federation of Fly Fishers, school districts, and teachers partnered with FWP to generate funds to match the nearly $300,000 in federal funding that FWP's aquatic education programs attract. cMor\taqa tFisi t- ‘Wildlife C& ‘Paries The Parks Division is responsible for development, maintenance, and operation of all state parks and affiliated sites in order to provide diverse recreational opportunities while preserving important historical and cultural resources within Montana. § The Wildlife Division is responsible for managing all species of Montana wildlife including big game, threatened and endangered species, upland game birds and non-game birds, and waterfowl. The Fisheries Division is responsible for the management and perpetuation of Montana's fish and other aquatic resources and the habitats they depend on. The Conservation Education Division prepares and distributes information on FWP activities and news items to the media and conducts a variety of educational and recreation-safety programs. The Enforcement Division is responsible lor enforcing the laws of Montana, FWP rules, and FWP Commission regulations related to fish, wildlife, and parks. Division personnel also enforce state boating and snowmobile rules and laws related to private property. The Field Services Division is responsible for FWP's lands program and construction projects, as well as its Block Management (public hunting access! and landowner-hunter relations programs. The Director's Office staff makes policy and administrative decisions Regional supervisors manage on-thc- ground implementation of polities and programs. The Administration and Finalise Division is responsible for budgeting, accounting, purchasing, human resources, data processing, and administration of FWP's licensing functions. Revenue sources FWP is funded primarily by user fees. Funding sources include: HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES TOTAL REVENUE: S58.S33.640 Thu includes ill lian* ulo revenue. imereti arrnnp. ind oihti mmfltuKiHii ronw Nnnmidtnt ulo mount for Hunting and Fishing License more ihin rsto-ihini, of FWP i roul lictnie romur 62. 1% FEDERAL REVENUE S36J50.993 FIAT nveiso i tinces of ledeeil lundi for fiih. nrldlifr. ind polo nimim including fundi fiom die fnjenl Aid in Spun Fuh ind W'ddlilc Roronnon prognmi Wore ifun SI I million ippimoned 10 Mon uni 11 denied from in nun ui on iponing jnm ind immunmon, tundguru. ind catun ircbrf) equipment— D well u from in a*uc ui on fnflinf equipment ind dearie trolling moron, i pornon of the fedral-futb in. ind import duuo on (idling rnUr ind pleuure bniu OTHER STATE RFYFNUF Other iutc re>enue uiurca indude Sore TiiSi fee*, i pinion of the mrt i lodging fxibuo tu i mull pnenuge of the mtr fuel, u>; intcrot eitninp ft urn toil wv evince til revripu ind other toenue owner STATE GENERAL FUND I err thin one pertent of FMi T’ i tnul hudgo coma (tom the suit gaierd fund. Ntsdi ill of dit, furring goa to the Plrtj Dmuoa State General Fund 0.5% $ 281.818 The tnenue sources here illuirnte ho* FWP eipenditurer ire funded. Acini! innui) revenue, mil fall ibose or Mens the rercoua in thu ilfuitntion Planned expenditures HELD SERVICES $7,322,075 ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE $11,479,651 FWP SPENDS ITS MONEY TWO WAYS: Operations tor day-to-day management of fish, wildlife, and parks resources. Capital to make major repairs and maintain FWP properties, to renovate and build facilities, and to protect and enhance critical habitats. PARKS SI 0.003.0 1 3 ENFORCEMENT $6,449,140 WILDLIFE SII.12'.2I0 CONSERVATION EDUCATION $2,530,639 FWP TOTAL Operating $4', 770,340 Capital $10,763,300 Total $58,533,640 FISHERIES $9,621,912 s 639.9 F2ar 2001 cMoqtaqa Tisti. ‘Wildlife C&Yartfs Montanans luxe to make tough dexisions in eating for the state \ fish, wildlife, and park. Everyone has an opinion on deer and elk quotas, wolves, gnzzlv beats, prairie dogs, managing recreational pressure on some of our streams, or preserving our native fish population, I actor in how a decision will impact the resource, the surrounding environment, the economy, and public safety, and things get truly complex We bring our combined knowledge and passion to making these decisions that go to the core of what we cjrc about most — our wav of life. But, how do xve ensure we're nuking the absolutely best choice? How do xve balance the diverse interests and needs ol Montanans, and our out-of-state visitors, with what is best for the fish, wildlife, and parks in our «.are: The resources at stake are too precious to settle for anything but the best we can do. I imagine ihc best choices mas rest like trophy bulls— in the remote, hidden places. They may only show themselves after long hours of quiet listening and patieni attention. We at FWP commit we w4l go the extra mile to find the best choices, wherever they may rest. And sse will wxitk to continuously improve the |ob we do of listening to and involving as partners in caring for Montana's fish, w ildlife, and parks. That's our commitment We hope you’ll roll up sour slccses and join us again in 2002 — 3 0864 0015 3309 3 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E 6tts AVE. HELENA. MONTANA 594*0 Montana Fish. Wildlife & Parks Director quality opportunities Big game hunting trips an Ik planned online with FWP's " Interactive Hum Planner. ' Hunters an select a species, obtain information on regulations, and see the hunting districts displayed on Montana's new digital highway map. Harvest statistics and quotas, special-drawing statistics, and opening and closing dates are a mouse click away. The hunt planner is free at hvp state mt.us, Hunting access is available on more than 8.6 million acres of land enrolled by ncarlv 1 , 1 00 landowners, with more than 330.000 days ot hunting annually on Block Management lands, Access Montana assists Montanans in using more than 33 million acres of legally accessible state and ledcral land. Together, these programs strengthen partnerships with landowners, land-management agencies, and hunters, and they increase the amount of land accessible to hunters, The Automated Licensing System is developed and will go into service at license agents and FWP regional offices throughout the state in 2002. Once fully on line, the new system will provide all types of licenses— hunting, fishing, state lands recreational use licenses, and Parks Passports— in one place. New rules on the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers better distribute angling and floating pressure by setting specific days, river stretches, and access points for resident use, commercially guided float (tips, and nonresident floating anglers. The need to manage recreational pressure on popular Montana streams is expected to continue. Resident pheasant hunters enjoyed two additional days of hunting before the general season opened, in a move by the FWP Commission to increase upland game bird hunting opportunities tor the average Montana bird hunter. The commission alvn capped sales ol nonresident upland game bird hunting licenses at 1 1,000 beginning in 2002 In 2001, 6,466 nonresident upland game bird licenses were sold through December Montana's new bonus-point system improves the odds in FWP special drawings. Hunters who tailed to draw a special big game license in 2001 were able to sian collating bonus points for a leg up on the not special moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and general nonresident combination license drawings. The voluntary bonus-point system is $2 for Montana residents and $25 for nonresidents, payable only with the big game drawing appliution fees. / M.vfl m / If/ ft./ I, ArWt' 1 i , : T Ik r \ , ' '5 1 . M 9 ' state parks & trails The new Traveler's Rest State Park, south of Missoula near Lolo. brings the total number of Montana State Parks to 42. The site is a traditional Native American camping area and is tied to the lewis and Clark Expedition. The Montana State Parks Passport can now Ik purchased worldwide on FWP's web site at fwp.state.mt.us/parks or at discovcringmontana.com. Anyone with a credit card and current driver's license can purchase the passport, which will be mailed within five days, Community grant programs for trails and facilities delivered more than $1.1 million through "6 grants for recreational trails, off-highway vehicle, and snowmobile- trail maintenance and improvements, Montana's first State Trails Plan and Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement were adopted to guide future trails planning. More than $300,000 in Land & Water Conservation Fund grant money went to six municipalities across the state to develop or acquire outdoor recreational facilities.. The 320 Fishing Access Sites across the state mean nearly every angler has a favorite FAS. In the past two years, FWP has added six new sites and completed about $700,000 in improvements such as vault toilets, boat ramps, and stream bank protection Montana's native species and habitat Mule deer populations fared better than expected during the winter of 2000-200 1 , following a summer of drought. Fawn mortality w as low due to a mild winter, and many mule deer populations around (he stare continued to rebound. FWP'S noxiOUS weed management expenses totaled more than $350,000 on FWP lands. Landowners who participate in FWP's Block Management Program will now In- eligible to receive a five percent increase in their incentive payment to use exclusively for managing weeds. The Fork Peck Hatchery took a Step forward when President George Bush signed an appropriations hill including $1.5 million lor rhe design and engineering of this projected $20 million project. The hatchery will enable the propagation of walleye and other sport fish, as well as native and endangered species such .is saugcr and pallid sturgeon and other species of concern. Montana's Wolf Management Advisory Council, a group of citizen advisors, has completed a proposed wolf management approach tor public review. Their work could lead to a state management plan, required by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service before delisting can occur Breeding packs of wolves number 35 or more in the Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming recovery area. New conservation easements for wildlife and fish totaled more than 4,000 icrcx. with another 5.894 acres acquired in fee title land' The Patks Division consolidated holdings at Ulm Puhkun State Park acquired 32" aero near Bannack State Park, acquired mineral rights on 640 acres at Makoshib State Park, added six new Fishing Access Sito. and accepted 320 donated acres in Chouteau Giuncy. Future Fisheries Improvement grinu totaling S-rs.3"! were approved for 35 projects across Montana, The propers, when completed, will improve conditions for wcstslopc cutthroat trout, bull trout, brook trout, brown trout and rainbow irout, as well as walleye and yellow perch, blucgill. and bass Furbearer population management decision' rely on annual snow-trask surveys, which show that pine marten and fisher populations arc relatively stable and that wolverine numbers are increasing. Bobut and lynx populations show recent increases. The Ivnx was listed federally as a threatened species last sear, and FWP biologists will continue to document its status in the state Montana native fish are getting a boost , 1 \\ p builds us management plan to shed more conservation light on native fish populations and habitats. To help spur inierest, FWP has produced ‘Montana Native' bumper stickers, lapel pins, a special Fish of Montana Cl), and FWP’s Internet-based Bull Trout Education and Identification Program at Iwp.statc. mt.us under Fishing. FWPsEnforcementDivision.in a 12-month period, processed more than 4,500 violations for nearly $300,001) in bonds and fines, over S64.000 in restitution, and over 10,000 months in suspended hunting privileges. Other pending cases will increase these totals. Wardens also spent thousands of hours presenting information at Hunter Education classes and other public forums; assisting at fishing tournaments, snowmobile and boating events; and helping landowners with game damage and other issues