Gallatin County is in the early stages of identifying improvement options for three critical intersections on County roads between Belgrade and Bozeman. The purpose of this project is to identify potential improvement options for each intersection, conduct a detailed analysis of all options, and identify the best solution for each intersection. The analysis will consider multimodal traffic needs, safety concerns, environmental impacts, cost, feasibility, and input from landowners, stakeholders, and the public. Once a preferred alternative has been identified for each intersection, the County intends to move forward with design and construction as funding becomes available. The project intersections include the following.

• Alaska Road South / Cameron Bridge Road
• Alaska Road South / East Valley Center Road
• Love Lane / Durston Road

The county is hosting a public open house to provide information to interested parties about identified areas of concern, present preliminary findings, and gather feedback on potential improvements. The open house will be hosted in-person over a two-hour period, and the public is invited to drop in at their convenience to see what is planned and talk with the project team.

WHAT: Public Open House

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 14 from 4-6 PM

WHERE: Gallatin County Courthouse (311 W. Main St. in downtown Bozeman), Community Room

​In addition to the open house, the county will also host a live virtual public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 14 over the lunch hour. The meeting will start with a brief presentation covering initial findings and an overview of potential improvement options. An opportunity for public comment will be offered at the end. The virtual meeting will be recorded and posted to the project website for those who are unable to attend live.

WHAT: Virtual Public Meeting

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 14 from 12-1 PM

TO REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3R05cDJ

Pre-registration is required to attend. 

Community input is a very important part of the process. The public is encouraged to participate in the open house and/or attend the virtual public meeting to share their concerns, thoughts, and ideas with the project team. This project is intended to be a collaborative effort between the county, landowners, stakeholders, and the public. As such, all input gathered from these events will be considered by the project team as the project advances.

Comments can be submitted at any time to the project manager, Scott Randall, via email at srandall@rpa-hln.com, by phone at 406-447-5005, or by mail at 3147 Saddle Drive, Helena, MT 59601.

For more information about the project, visit https://rpa-hln.com/gallatin-intersections/.

HELENA – By order of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, the hunting of male mountain lions will close in Lion Management Unit (LMU) 130, except for Limited Special License holders, one-half hour after sunset on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

The mountain lion quota in this LMU have been met. For more information, visit FWP's website at fwp.mt.gov/hunt/by-species to check the current quota status, or call the toll-free number at 1-800-385-7826.

Gateway Conservation Alliance is calling for everyone and their brother, sister, cousins and uncles - everyone - to flood DEQ with emails protesting this Opencut Mine Application. Our voices count and they must be heard in Helena. Even if you've already submitted comments, please do so again.

Address your emails to: DEQOpencut@mt.gov
The subject of your email needs to be: “TMC, Inc. 3462”

If you prefer to use regular mail, send your letters to:

DEQ Opencut Mining Section
PO Box 200901
Helena, MT 59620-0901

Primary concerns are:

Gateway Conservation Alliance teams are evaluating this new application and will provide more updates ASAP. However, we wanted you to hear about this new development immediately to get the word out and those emails flowing.

HELENA – The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission will move the review of  proposed 2024-2025 black bear hunting regulations to its February meeting and add a final decision on the wolf administrative rule amendments to its meeting Dec. 14.

The change provides additional time for FWP to assess potential commission amendments to the FWP’s proposed black bear regulations, which have included statewide changes. The public comment period deadlines for the proposed black bear regulations and commission amendments will remain unchanged. Comments already submitted will be reviewed by commissioners prior to the February meeting, which is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 16.

During the December meeting, the commission will take final action on proposed amendments to the current Administrative Rule of Montana (ARM) dealing with wolf management. The public comment process followed for these proposed ARM changes is outlined in statute. A public hearing to hear comments was held Nov. 3. Comments were received through Nov. 6. Comment at the commission meeting will be limited to whether the commission should or should not adopt the rule amendments as final.

For a full agenda, background on the scheduled topics and public comments, go to the Fish and Wildlife Commission page on the FWP website.

FWP’s website offers live-streamed audio of each Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting.

BOZEMAN – Hunter success in southwestern Montana continued to trend mostly at or below average during the latter half of the general deer and elk hunting season, according to data gathered by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists.

Mild weather during much of the general season made it challenging for hunters to find game at lower elevations.

The general season lasted from Oct. 21 through Nov. 26. During that time, FWP staff operated game check stations at various times and locations in southwest Montana, including stations in Alder, Cameron, Canyon Ferry, Divide, Gallatin Canyon, Lakeside, Mill Creek and Townsend. Collectively, they met with 6,112 hunters who harvested 66 white-tailed deer, 152 mule deer and 310 elk, among other species.

Biologists use check stations to collect data on hunter participation and success, as well as the species, sex and age class of the animals harvested. Check station data supplements information collected through hunter harvest phone surveys each year.

The Alder check station was open on the first, third and sixth weekends of the general season. Wildlife staff there met with 768 hunters who collectively harvested 15 white-tailed deer, 38 mule deer and 40 elk over the three weekends. Hunter success for the final weekend was 18 percent, slightly below the long-term average of 21 percent.

Biologists operated a check station at Canyon Ferry on the final weekend of the general season. They met with 266 hunters, 7.5 percent of whom harvested deer or elk.

The Cameron check station was open each weekend during the general season. Wildlife staff there met with 2,339 hunters who harvested 16 white-tailed deer, 47 mule deer and 180 elk. Hunter success rates were at or near average during the season, except the fifth weekend, which had a success rate of 7.6 percent that tied with the lowest on record for that weekend. Hunter success climbed to 18.3 percent on the sixth and final weekend, compared with a long-term average of 15 percent.  

The Divide check station was also open each weekend during the general season. Biologists there met with 1,357 hunters, who harvested 15 white-tailed deer, 40 mule deer and 48 elk. Mild weather made it especially challenging for hunters to harvest game in this area. The general season ended with a success rate of 6.1 percent on the final weekend, compared with a long-term average of 11.8 percent.

The Gallatin check station operated during the first, fourth and sixth weekends of the general season. Wildlife staff there met with 345 hunters who harvested six mule deer and 13 elk. Hunter success over the final weekend was 7.6 percent, compared with a long-term average of 9.9 percent.

The Mill Creek check station was open over the first, third and final weekends of the season. Wildlife staff met with 693 hunters who harvested two white-tailed deer, 3 mule deer and 18 elk. On the final weekend, 2.2 percent of hunters were successful, compared with a long-term average of 6.7 percent.

Check stations were also run in Lakeside and Townsend during the first weekend of the general season. Between these two stations, wildlife staff met with 344 hunters who harvested 11 white-tailed deer, five mule deer and eight elk.

On 11/28/2023 at 5:16 pm, 911 dispatch received a call from a recreationalist near Hyalite Canyon Road stating an elderly hiker had not returned to their vehicle after leaving earlier in the afternoon to cut a Christmas Tree. Due to cold weather conditions and darkness setting in, Search and Rescue was requested.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue (GCSAR) volunteers from the Valley section as well as an Ambulance from American Medical Response responded. GCSAR members deployed off-road vehicles, drones, and dog teams to locate the hiker. Fortunately, the hiker was eventually located by GCSAR members approximately three miles from where they had last been seen. The hiker was then transported to the waiting AMR ambulance for a medical evaluation.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind recreational enthusiasts to always have a backup plan when recreating. Being dressed for changing weather conditions and having adequate supplies is good practice for ensuring a safe trip. Also, cellular service is still spotty at best in much of Gallatin County’s backcountry. Having a communication plan that does not depend on cell service is always recommended.