Outdoor news

Wilderness talk

The Swan View Coalition will host a free talk by Frederick Swanson, author of “Where Roads Will Never Reach: Wilderness and its Visionaries in the Northern Rockies,” at the Swan River Community Hall, across Highway 83 from Swan River School, on Wednesday, May 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. Swanson’s previous book, a study of Montana conservationist G. M. Brandborg, won the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award in 2012. His talk will include historical photographs of wildland areas in the region.

Fishing regulations

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host a public open house at the Region 1 offices in Kalispell on Thursday, May 7, from 6-8 p.m. to provide information on the 2016-2019 fishing regulations and gather ideas from the public. Every four years, FWP does a comprehensive review of Montana’s fishing regulations. Proposals for the entire Western Fishing district include increasing the lake trout harvest limit and changing the cutthroat trout harvest limit to include some fish larger than 10 inches. Proposals for Region 1 include changing cutthroat trout regulations in the Flathead River sloughs to agree with those in the Flathead River, changing bass regulations in the Flathead River to match more restrictive regulations in Flathead River sloughs, applying size limits on yellow perch in Flathead, Smith and Lower Stillwater lakes, and increasing the northern pike harvest limit at Smith Lake. For more information and to comment, viist online at http://fwp.mt.gov or contact Region 1 fisheries program manager Mark Deleray at 751-4585.

Burn permits

Free burn permits are required for debris burning in Flathead County starting May 1 and are good for the entire burning season. They are available online at www.firesafekalispell.com or at the Flathead Environmental Health office or by calling 752-7376. Escaped debris and agricultural burns are the top causes of human-started wildfires in the Flathead area, and burners can be held responsible for the cost of suppression. Air quality compliance is required for every burn by calling 751-8144 or checking online at www.flatheadhealth.org/environmental-health/burn-restrictions/ for the daily ventilation and burning forecast.

Fishing Fair

The Flathead Fishing Fair will be held at Snappys Sport Senter in Kalispell on Saturday, May 2, from 9 am to noon. Co-sponsored by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the event includes a Kids Fishing Derby for 12 and younger in Snappys Pond as well as fun and educational activities for all ages. For more information, call Mark Deleray at 751-4550.

Forest Plan talks

Flathead National Forest officials will talk about the proposed action for the Forest Plan revision at the next  Flathead Forest Friday event at the Nite Owl Cafe in Columbia Falls on May 1. The no-host breakfast chat will start at 7 a.m. The proposed action includes management direction for the next 15 years or the life of the plan. The Forest is also releasing an amendment to integrate the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the forest plans for the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo national forests. For more information or to RSVP, contact  Colter Pence at cfpence@fs.fed.us or 406-758-5252.

Bear meeting

The Flathead National Forest will host the upcoming spring Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem grizzly bear management meeting at the Hungry Horse Ranger District Office in Hungry Horse on Wednesday, May 6, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There will be updates from NCDE members on the Draft NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy, work plans for the coming year, educational tools, bear mortality rates for 2014 and bear management spring activity. For more information, contact the NCDE chairwoman Deb Mucklow at 406-387-3800 or visit online at www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/grizzly/continentalindex.html.

Forestry Expo

The 26th annual Family Forestry Expo will take place at the Trumbull Creek Educational Forest, midway between Columbia Falls and Whitefish, about two miles north of the U.S. 2 and Highway 40 intersection, on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co., the event will feature educational displays; a free logging camp lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; demonstrations of mule string packing, logging equipment and a portable sawmill at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and hands-on activities all day of cross-cut saws and paper making. For more information, visit online at www.familyforestryexpo.org.

Audubon update

Montana Audubon executive director Steve Hoffman will present information on Montana Audubon’s priority bird conservation efforts during the Flathead Audubon’s annual meeting at the Whitefish Community Center, 121 Second Street in Whitefish, on Monday, May 11. Doors will open at 5 p.m., potluck dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Hoffman will describe the organization’s current program initiatives. Work on rare and declining species inhabiting sage lands, grasslands, wetlands and streamside forests will be emphasized, as well as the Important Bird Area program.

Park volunteers

The Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates will hold their annual work day and meeting starting at the Community Building at Park Headquarters on Saturday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is open to members and the general public interested in volunteer projects in Glacier Park. Following a continental breakfast, volunteers will work on selected short work projects, including at the native plant nursery, Lower McDonald Creek boat launch and Avalanche Campground buildings. Bring a sack lunch. For more information, contact Nancy Barrus at 406-387-4516 or nbarrus1033@gmail.com.