LEWISTOWN – The Missouri Breaks region of central Montana is a favorite area for deer hunters, but this year hunters will need to carefully check the regulations, since opportunities to hunt mule deer have dramatically changed due to low population levels, and mule deer hunting is extremely limited or non-existent over many Missouri Breaks hunting districts. 

After several years of severe droughts, mule deer populations in this area of Montana have suffered steep declines. In response to the low numbers, biologists have significantly changed the hunting regulations, and some hunting districts (HDs) now require a special permit to hunt mule deer for the entire season, while another requires a permit for part of the season.

Specifically, Hunting Districts 410 and 417 are now permit-only to hunt mule deer bucks during the general or archery seasons, while HD 426 requires a permit to hunt mule deer bucks during the last two weeks of the general deer season. The deadline to apply for these permits was April 1, so hunters who did not already draw one of these limited permits cannot hunt mule deer bucks in these districts this year.

Sonja Andersen is the FWP wildlife biologist based in Lewistown for the last 13 years.

"This is not a trophy management effort nor is limiting buck harvest going to bring the deer back totally on its own—we need healthy does producing fawns for that to happen, which is habitat and weather-driven,” Andersen said. “But our deer numbers are near record lows here and even with very limited doe harvest we aren’t seeing improvement, especially given the 2020, 2021, and 2022 drought years on top of a bad 2022-23 winter. Biologists have only so many levers to pull when managing populations, and limiting buck harvest was one of our only remaining options.”

Mule Deer B Licenses to hunt antlerless mule deer are also extremely limited this year and were only available by special draw with a deadline to apply of June 1. In addition, the antlerless B Licenses in HDs 410, 411, 412, 417, 419, and 426 are valid only on private land, as is the case in FWP Regions 6 and 7.

“The Breaks have been getting lots of pressure lately, especially since Covid. There’s a lot of public land, and we’ve liberalized elk harvest, so there are a lot of hunters, and pressure on the deer has grown tremendously,” Andersen said. “These efforts are just as much hunter management as deer management. While we can ease off the hunting pressure, it’s still going to take some years with favorable weather and good precipitation to improve habitat and see a rebound in mule deer populations.”

WEST YELLOWSTONE – A grizzly bear was killed Monday in an encounter with bowhunters in Tepee Creek, north of West Yellowstone.

The two hunters reported being charged by a sow grizzly bear with two yearling cubs. Using handguns, the hunters shot and killed the sow. The yearling bears also charged at the hunters, who shot at and injured one of the yearlings. The hunters were not injured.

Bear specialists, game wardens and a helicopter pilot with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, as well as law enforcement staff with the Custer Gallatin National Forest, visited the site on Wednesday. They confirmed the mortality of the adult bear, an older female. Officials found evidence of a yearling bear being injured, but they did not locate the yearling bears.

No further management action by FWP is planned. This incident is still under investigation by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, who also provided assistance this week.

Be bear aware

Montana is bear country. Grizzly bear populations continue to become denser and more widespread in Montana, increasing the likelihood that residents and recreationists will encounter them in more places each year.

This time of year is when bears are active for longer periods as they consume more food in preparation for hibernation. This period overlaps with hunting season and other fall recreation activities.

Hunters have reported encounters with grizzly bears in other areas since the start of Montana’s archery season on Sept. 7. No hunters have reported injuries, and no other bears have been wounded or killed to date.

Avoiding conflicts with bears is far better than dealing with such conflicts. Here are some precautions to help residents, recreationists and people who work outdoors avoid negative bear encounters:

• Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.
• Make noise to alert bears to your presence and travel in groups.
• Stay away from animal carcasses, which often attract bears.
• Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.
• Keep garbage, bird feeders, pet food and other attractants put away in a secure building. Keep garbage in a secure building until the day it is collected. Certified bear-resistant garbage containers are available in many areas.
• Never feed wildlife. Bears that become food conditioned lose their natural foraging behavior and pose threats to human safety. It is illegal to feed bears in Montana.

Some areas with dense concentrations of grizzly bears are very accessible to hunters, especially during the archery season. Keep these precautions in mind when hunting in grizzly country, which includes much of the western two-thirds of Montana:

• Carry bear spray and be prepared to use it immediately.
• Watch for and be extra cautious around bear sign, creeks and areas with limited visibility. Most attacks happen in surprise, close encounters.
• Hunt with a group of people. This can help you make localized noise to alert bears to your presence, and it may also increase your chances of survival in the event of a bear attack.
• Be aware that elk calls and cover scents can attract bears.
• Bring the equipment and people needed to help field dress game and remove the meat from the kill site as soon as possible.
• If you need to leave part of the meat in the field during retrieval, hang it at least 10 feet off the ground and at least 150 yards from the gut pile. Leave it where it can be observed from a distance of at least 200 yards.
• Upon your return, observe the meat with binoculars. Make noise while approaching the meat. If it has been disturbed or if a bear is in the area, leave and call FWP.
• Follow food storage orders from the applicable land management agency.

Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Management authority for grizzlies rests with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, working closely in Montana with FWP, the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, Wildlife Services, and Native American tribes. This collaboration happens through the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

September is Bear Aware month in Montana. For information and education events on bear safety, click here.

The holiday season is upon us! It is a joyful time of the year, filled with holiday music, adorable sugar cookies, festive drinks, and so much more. However, this is also a season of jam-packed schedules, which can bring on a lot of stress. According to psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, connection with other people within our lives is one of the greatest strategies to feeling happier. After all, the holiday season is not just about gifts, it is a fantastic opportunity to spend more time with family and boost bonds with your children. However, the challenge is to find an activity that both you and your teen, or pre-teen will enjoy. As two teens, aged 16 and 14, we are sharing activities that are certain to bring both enjoyment and connection for all ages this holiday season. 

1. Support Local

Head out to a holiday market!  Listen to caroling, enjoy hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts, or other seasonal treats. Take photos together with beautifully decorated Christmas trees, as well as pick up a gift or two for loved ones, and feel good in supporting local vendors.  Chat with your child about current events in both your lives, and what you are looking forward to in the coming year. 

This is an enjoyable event, as it allows both you and your teen an opportunity to catch up and form new memories. 

2. Cook or Bake

Traditions are an important part of the holiday season.  Recall a traditional holiday dish from your childhood or culture.  Maybe it is a special dish passed down through generations, or a delicious sugar cookie recipe. Find the joy in creating a tasty treat together with your child, and teach them this recipe! Then, enjoy the fruit of your labor (who doesn’t love good food)! This time of year is about sharing; perhaps pack up a small amount of your culinary delight and drop it off for your neighbors.  Giving to others brings a small bit of happiness to the person who receives your delicious dish, as well as to you and your child.  Seeing our own actions bringing happiness grants us a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction. 

3. Take Downtime

Unplug together with a game!  Put all phones away, and take some time to relax during this busy time of year.  Enjoy a board game, card game, or one of our personal favorites - Mission: Small Bits of Happiness. Designed by the both of us, Mission: Small Bits of Happiness features 100 unique and fun activities to do to feel happier daily, allowing you and your child to bond together and learn what brings happiness.

4. Build A Care Kit

Since helping others boosts feelings of purpose and satisfaction, create a care kit.  With a budget of $10-15, (or whatever you decide) head to a local grocery store and compile a small care kit of necessities.  These can include toothpaste, a travel toothbrush, a bar of chocolate, and chapstick.  Bring one (or a few!) of these care kits to a shelter and feel good by supporting other people and building a charitable tradition with your child. 

Written By Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut

BOZEMAN – Fisheries staff with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will tag trout in the upper Madison River during annual sampling this month. Staff continue to monitor water temperatures and flow levels to ensure they are adequate for safe sampling and handling of fish.

The fish tagging is a continuation of studies looking at trout recruitment, health and adult mortality in the upper Missouri River Basin. A combined sum of about 8,000 trout were also tagged on the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Ruby and lower Madison rivers this spring. So far, anglers have reported catching more than 1,000 of them.

Anglers who report catching tagged fish are helping biologists study and better understand trout population declines in parts of the basin. As these reports and encounters with tagged fish during long-term monitoring efforts continue, fish managers can use angling and annual sampling as ways to measure how environmental factors like flows and water temperatures are affecting fish populations by species, age class, waterbody and time of year. FWP staff will continue to tag trout in these rivers for at least the next two years.

In addition to helping fish, anglers who report catching tagged fish can be eligible for rewards. Yellow tags are each worth $100, and blue tags are entered into drawings for prizes. So far, Montana Trout Unlimited has held several drawings to give away artwork, fly boxes with hand-tied flies, a guided fishing trip on the Madison River, and other fishing equipment.

At the end of the year, all anglers who submitted reports of blue tags will be entered into a grand-prize drawing, even if they’ve been drawn before.

Each tag has a unique number and is attached to the fish near the dorsal fin. Anglers should use clippers to remove the tag from the fish as close to the skin as possible while minimizing handling time and exposure to air for the fish, then submit a report online for each tagged fish they catch. Click here to submit a report.

Anglers should continue to abide by seasonal closures and restrictions that may be in effect for these waterbodies.

River recreation surveys

Anglers and other river users may also see surveys about recreational use. These surveys are conducted in person by creel clerks, as well as through survey cards left at vehicles at fishing access sites. The surveys are used to better understand all recreational use on rivers. 

Survey respondents are also included in the prize drawings mentioned above.

“We appreciate the public’s overwhelming support in these efforts,” said Mike Duncan, FWP’s fisheries program manager in southwestern Montana. “Participation from the public continues to play a critical role in studying and managing these resources.”

To learn more about fish research and management in the upper Missouri River Basin, click here.

Ground level falls are a leading cause of injury in Gallatin County for older adults. Patient falls often result in a visit to the emergency room, admission to the hospital and surgery. Bozeman Health’s trauma registry outcomes indicate that ground falls account for 31% of injuries, with around 82% of fall injuries occurring in people over the age of 65.

Bozeman Health is entering its fourth year of offering fall prevention courses at no charge because small, simple changes can help prevent a fall from happening, especially with icy winter conditions on the horizon.

Stepping On is an evidence-based, fall prevention course offered for free to older adults who are members of the Belgrade Senior Center. The Stepping On course meets weekly over seven weeks beginning on September 26 and is designed to improve confidence, reduce falls and reduce fear of falling. The course is focused around incorporating strength and balance exercises into your daily routine, as well as discussing many other topics like home hazards, medications and vision.

Registration for our 2024 course at the Belgrade Senior Center is now open. Individuals interested in signing up for the course can contact the Belgrade Senior Center at 406-388-4711.

ThinkFirst is an additional evidence-based program that Bozeman Health will be faciliting at the Belgrade Senior Center. These are one-time, 90-minute courses to review strength and balance excercises happening September 19 at 1 p.m. and September 24 at 10:30 a.m. Those interested in this course can contact the Belgrade Senior Center as well.

For questions or to learn more, email BHTraumaProgram@bozemanhealth.org.

GREAT FALLS – Recent cooler temperatures will allow the hoot-owl fishing restriction to be lifted Tuesday, Sept. 10, on the Sun River from the mouth of Muddy Creek to the Highway 287 bridge.

Hoot-owl restrictions have been in place since July 10 and are designed to protect fish that become more susceptible to disease and mortality when low flows and high water temperatures combine with other stressors, including catch-and-release fishing.

Anglers can reduce stress on fish at all times of the year by getting fish to the net or in hand quickly, keeping them in the water, and reviving them prior to releasing them back into the river.

For a list of current drought-related fishing restrictions and closures, click: fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions/waterbody-closures

Sports are always changing, and athletes are always looking for ways to get better. In recent years, there have been big changes in how athletes train and compete. These new trends help players and teams gain an edge over their rivals. Some of these changes include using advanced technology to track performance, focusing more on mental health, and trying new ways to recover from training and injuries. Teams are also using data to make smarter decisions about strategy and player selection. Nutrition and personalized training plans have become more important too. Even how fans watch and interact with sports is changing, with more use of social media and virtual experiences. These trends are not just for professional athletes - they're spreading to college and youth sports as well. Understanding these changes can help athletes, coaches, and fans keep up with the evolving world of sports.

Key Trends in Sports Training and Competitive Advantage

Data Analytics and Performance Tracking
Sports teams are now using lots of data to improve how they play. Athletes wear small devices that track things like how fast they run or how high they jump. Coaches use special computer programs to study game videos and find ways to play better. Teams even track players' health to prevent injuries. All this information helps coaches and players make smarter decisions about training and game strategies. It's changing how teams choose new players and plan for games. The challenge is understanding all this data, so many teams now hire experts to help them make sense of the numbers.

Recovery and Injury Prevention
Recovery and Injury Prevention in sports has evolved with the integration of wearables. These devices track vital metrics like heart rate, sleep quality, and muscle fatigue, enabling personalized training and recovery strategies. They monitor movement patterns to identify injury risks and guide prevention exercises. Wearables in sports also enhance traditional methods like cryotherapy and specialized diets by providing data-driven insights. This technology allows athletes to train intensively while minimizing injury risks, optimizing performance through precise, individualized approaches to recovery and prevention.

Mental Health and Psychology
Teams are realizing that a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Many now have mental health experts who help athletes deal with stress and improve their focus. Players are learning things like meditation to stay calm during big games. There's also more effort to help athletes have a good life outside of sports, which can prevent burnout. This focus on mental health is helping athletes perform better and enjoy their sports more. It's also helping to reduce the stigma around mental health issues in the sports world.

Teams are moving away from one-size-fits-all training. Instead, they're creating special plans for each athlete. Some teams even use DNA tests to understand an athlete's strengths and weaknesses. Computer programs can analyze how an athlete plays and suggest specific exercises. Players on the same team might do different workouts based on their position or role. This personalized approach helps each athlete improve in the ways they need most, which helps the whole team perform better.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Training
New technology is changing how athletes practice. Virtual reality (VR) lets athletes practice in computer-generated environments that feel real. For example, a football quarterback can practice reading defenses without risking injury on the field. VR can also help athletes practice specific skills over and over, like a golfer perfecting their swing. It can even help players get used to the feeling of being in a big stadium before a real game. This technology allows for more practice time in a safe way and lets athletes try things that might be too dangerous or expensive to do in real life.

Conclusion

These new trends in sports training and competitive advantage are changing how athletes prepare and compete. From using data and technology to improve performance, to focusing on mental health and personalized training, sports are becoming more scientific and individualized. These changes are helping athletes perform better, stay healthier, and enjoy their sports more. As technology continues to advance, we can expect even more exciting developments in the future. These trends aren't just for professional athletes - they're spreading to college and youth sports too. Understanding these changes can help athletes, coaches, and fans keep up with the fast-changing world of sports and get the most out of their athletic experiences.

ROLES AVAILABLE FOR MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND A DOG!

This heartwarming family musical comedy, considered one of the best-loved Broadway shows of all time, opens December 11 and runs to December 22, with ten performances total.

Auditions for Annie are open to all and prior experience is not required. Casting is based on a combination of abilities in vocal, acting, and movement. We are looking for actors with a positive attitude who are ready to work hard to bring this wonderful show to life at The Ellen Theatre.

Sign-ups for an AUDITION SLOT begin Thursday, September 12. Please review the information below. If you would like to audition, re-visit this page and click on to the sign-up link to reserve a spot.

Audition Dates for Annie and Orphan Girls (ages 8 - 14)
Sat., Sun., and Mon., Sept. 21, 22, and 23
NOTE: All girls interested in being Annie or an Orphan need only attend one of these dates. Once registered, you will be sent an audition packet with sheet music, a recorded musical accompaniment, and brief monologues from the script.

All girls auditioning will be asked to sing, read one or more of the monologues, and learn a short piece of choreography for a movement evaluation. Please wear clothing you can move in and appropriate footwear such as dance shoes or sneakers. Please no open-toed shoes or flip-flops.

All girls – be sure to review the song “It’s a Hard Knock Life” and be prepared to sing it at the audition. If you are interested in the role of Annie, please review the songs “Maybe” and “Tomorrow” and be prepared to sing them as well. 

Audition Dates for all Women and Men (ages 15 and up)
Wed., Sept. 25 and Thur., Sept. 26
NOTE: You will only need to attend one of these dates.
Those auditioning will be asked to sing and learn a short piece of choreography for a movement evaluation. You may also be asked to read a scene from the script. 

Please prepare a song and bring the sheet music to the audition. Please choose a song from the world of musical theatre. If you prefer, you may sing something from Annie and we will provide the sheet music. Each person will be given one minute for his or her vocal audition, so please find the best 60 seconds of your song in which to show off your voice. An accompanist will be provided.

Please wear clothing that you can move in and appropriate footwear such as dance shoes or sneakers. For your own safety, avoid open-toed shoes, i.e. flip flops.

POSSIBLE ANNIE and ORPHAN CALLBACK
Tue., Sept. 24 - 6:30 PM
We may ask some girls to return on this evening to finalize casting of Annie and/or the Orphans. Please be sure to be available on this date. 

POSSIBLE Adult Roles CALLBACK
Mon., Sept. 30 - 6:30 PM
This Callback, if needed, will help determine the best combination of actors for the cast, and those called will more than likely read and/or sing for specific roles. Not receiving an invitation to callbacks does not necessarily mean you will not be cast in the show. 

Audition will be held at:
The Ellen Theatre at 17 West Main Street in Downtown Bozeman. Please enter through the front doors of the building.

Rehearsals will begin:
The first week of October and are held Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturdays during the day. Evening rehearsals will begin at 6:30 PM and Saturdays at 10:00 AM. On school nights, we work with the children first so they may be dissmised as early as possible.  PLEASE NOTE: For the month of October and first two weeks of November, not everyone is called to every rehearsal.  

Sandy the Dog Audition: We are looking for a well-behaved dog that is trained to follow basic commands such as sit, stay, and heel. We will consider any breed. If you think that your dog is a good candidate, please contact The Ellen business office at 585-6910.

As of Thursday, 9/12, CLICK HERE to reserve an Audition Slot. 

Thank you for your interest in ANNIE. We’ll see you at auditions. Break a leg!

Angie Ripple is in the running to become this year's Ultimate Explorer, but it is all up the voters! Vote daily for free, or make a donation to the National Park Foundation and really help out. Thanks in advance!

You decide who will win $10,000, embark on a national park expedition in a Winnebago RV, and appear in Outside Magazine.

The Ultimate Explorer has an insatiable thirst for the wilderness, whether they crave adrenaline (skiing), conquer trails (Lava Lake), or simply find peace in nature's stillness (Bozeman). But they also prioritize preservation (heck yes), treading lightly and leaving nothing but footprints to protect the land for future generations to come.