Tag: Montana

Yellowstone bison, spooked by hunters, stampede toward park

A Montana photographer has shared footage of dozens of bison stampeding toward Yellowstone National Park after apparently being targeted by hunters.

A Montana photographer on Friday shared footage showing dozens of bison stampeding toward Yellowstone National Park after apparently being targeted by tribal hunters.

A description on Elizabeth Aluck’s Facebook reel reads: “Bison running back into Yellowstone National Park after being shot at by hunters.” (Click here to view the reel.)

The footage, posted on the Yellowstone Critters page, was captured in mid-February near Gardiner, just north of the park. Aluck told FTW Outdoors that she saw hunters shooting at bison and subsequently followed the herd for about 15 minutes as it ran toward the park.

A second Reel showing the beginning of the stampede also was posted to her Yellowstone Critters page. (Aluck privately shared several clips with FTW Outdoors that showed hunters shooting, and wounded bison limping. She said she did not want such graphic content on her public page.)

RELATED: Yellowstone National Park logs first grizzly bear sighting of 2023

On Friday, she added: “Hunters are all over town right now, and will be all weekend.”

Montana’s general bison season closed Feb. 15. But Native American tribes, which enjoy traditional hunting rights, operate within their own system of guidelines.

According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, several tribes “have demonstrated their aboriginal right to hunt bison in Montana near Yellowstone National Park under treaties that were negotiated with the U.S. Government.

“These are legal hunting rights, and tribes hunt during seasons and under regulations established through their own regulatory processes. At times, these hunts may occur outside of Montana’s regulated hunting seasons.”

The hunts are controversial, in part because bison are sometimes shot soon after crossing the park boundary toward winter foraging areas such as the Gardiner Basin. (Hunting inside the park is illegal.)

The harvest for 2022-23 exceeded 800 animals as of March 3.

It’s worth noting that the park anticipated a significant cull this winter because so many bison were expected to migrate outside of the park in search of grass, posing potential problems.

To be sure, management of Yellowstone National Park bison is highly complex. The park boasted a population of about 6,000 bison before the 2022-23 hunting seasons began.

–Image showing bison running toward Yellowstone National Park is courtesy of Elizabeth Aluck

Take a look at Joe Montana’s Super Bowl memories

After Montana’s memorable career at Notre Dame that came to a thrilling end with a miracle comeback win versus Houston in the Cotton Bowl, Montana led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and was considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all-time when he retired.

Before there was Tom Brady there was the professional quarterback that he grew up idolizing: none other than [autotag]Joe Montana[/autotag] of the San Francisco 49ers.

After Montana’s memorable career at Notre Dame that came to a thrilling end with a miracle comeback win versus Houston in the Cotton Bowl, Montana led the 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and was considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all-time when he retired.

With the countdown to the Super Bowl on, please enjoy a look back at Joe Montana at those four Super Bowls as well as a couple of appearances he’s made in and around the big game since retiring.

Related: Watch Joe Montana’s commercial for Super Bowl LV

Related: FIW Staff picks for Super Bowl LV!

Yellowstone-based wolves faring much better this hunting season

Montana hunters have killed three wolves from packs based in Yellowstone National Park so far this season, which pales in comparison to the toll exacted by this time in 2021-22.

Montana hunters have killed at least three wolves from packs based in Yellowstone National Park so far this season, which pales in comparison to the toll exacted by this time in 2021-22.

Yellowstone Public Affairs Specialist Linda Veress provided the following  details to FTW Outdoors on Thursday:

One was an un-collared male wolf from the Rescue Creek Pack, killed on Dec. 5, 2022. The second was a radio-collared 2-1/2-year-old male, cataloged as 1325M, from the 8-mile pack, killed on Dec. 31, 2022.

The third was a 3-1/2-year-old collared female, 1229F, from the Junction Butte Pack, killed via trapping on Jan. 13, 2023.

All were harvested in southwest Montana after they’d wandered north of the the park.

Junction Butte Pack. Photo courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

In all, five wolves have been killed in a district that was notorious for wolf kills last season. The other two, both males, are not believed to have been based in Yellowstone.

ALSO: Watch as baby elephant gets ‘hint’ that foster mom wants to be left alone

The district quota this season is six.

PERSPECTIVE

Through Jan. 26, 2022, 17 Yellowstone wolves had been shot or trapped after leaving the park. A few were harvested in Idaho and Wyoming, but most were killed in the same southwest Montana region.

By season’s end, Yellowstone would lose 25 wolves – about one-fifth of the population – to hunting and trapping, thanks largely to the elimination of quotas near the park’s northern boundary.

Wolf crossing road inside the park. Photo courtesy of Yellowstone National Park

Montana hunters accounted for 21 kills in a season that was intensely controversial long before it ended. (Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte declined a request by Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly to suspend the hunt as concerns mounted in Dec. 2021.)

Yellowstone was left with only 89 wolves entering the spring pupping season. They faced an uncertain future as apex predators deemed important both ecologically and from a tourism standpoint.

But last August, to avoid a repeat of last season, the Montana Fish and Game Commission voted to cap the number of wolves killed in what’s known as Wildlife Management Unit 313, at six wolves for 2022-23.

CURRENT STATUS

The 2022-23 season in WMU 313, which began last Sept. 15, will end March 15 or as soon as the quota reaches six. Veress said that as of Dec. 31, 2022,  108 wolves belonging to 10 packs were residing primarily inside the park.

–Images show gray wolves inside Yellowstone National Park

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ESPN’s College GameDay picks winners for USC vs UCLA, Utah vs Oregon and more

Who do you have winning the big games today?

The top college football pregame show went to cold Montana, as they were in live from Bozeman for the matchup between Montana and Montana State. There aren’t a lot of big games this Saturday but enough with plenty of intrigue that Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso (welcome back), Kirk Herbstreit and guest picker, the three-time winner of both the Open Championship and Masters Championship Sir Nick Faldo. That group selected who they believe will be winners during week 12’s action.

Kirk Herbstreit dressed for the Montana cold weather and everyone roasted his outfit

Kirk Herbstreit attempted to dress for the bitter cold in Montana. The internet was still ruthless.

The ESPN College GameDay crew made a trip out to Bozeman, Montana this week for the “Brawl of the Wild” between Montana State and Montana. This is allegedly the coldest ever location for the Saturday pregame show, and it was a balmy -3 degrees at the time of publish.

Understandably, the crew bundled up for the occasion, donning an unusual amount of jackets, scarves and hats than we’re used to seeing. Panelist Kirk Herbstreit went above-and-beyond, donning several layers that he capped off with a sassy camel-colored jacket and a hat fit for the outback or an extra on Yellowstone.

Of course, the internet had jokes.

Featured image courtesy of ESPN. 

Nick Faldo to be guest picker on College GameDay in Bozeman, Montana

Sir Nick Faldo is putting the headset back on Saturday.

Since stepping away from the broadcast booth in August, Sir Nick Faldo hasn’t made many TV appearances. That’ll change Saturday.

ESPN’s College GameDay ventured into Bozeman, Montana, for the big rivalry game between Montana State and Montana, which dates to 1897. Since retiring from broadcasting, Faldo moved to Montana, where he spent plenty of time fly fishing and has been vocal in his support for all things Montana State.

Now, he gets to put the headset back on, as he’s the special guest picker on College GameDay. FCS third-ranked Montana State and No. 12 Montana will kick off at 2 p.m. ET.

Legendary broadcaster Lee Corso returned to the College GameDay set this week after battling health issues the past few weeks. And there should be little doubt that he and Faldo will be must-watch TV.

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Montana hunters fire at charging grizzly bear, but apparently miss

Montana on Tuesday detailed several recent incidents involving grizzly bears, including one in which two hunters fired multiple handgun rounds at a charging bear.

Montana on Tuesday detailed several recent incidents involving grizzly bears, including one in which two hunters fired multiple handgun rounds at a charging bear in self-defense.

The “defensive encounter” occurred Oct. 14. The hunters were walking on a trail in the Madison Range when they heard brush breaking and saw a large bear emerge. Both hunters fired repeatedly and the bear fled without apparent signs of injury.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department stated in a news release that the female bear probably was caught by surprise because of the wind direction, and that her charge was in defense of her two cubs.

Remarkably, the bullets seem to have missed the large target.

RELATED: Biologists discover huge grizzly bear den with ‘spectacular view’

On Oct. 15, FWP staff flew over the area and did not find an injured bear. A ground search turned up bear tracks and shell casings, but no “blood, hair, or any other evidence the bear was injured.”

The incident remains under investigation.

FWP also reported that a female grizzly bear and two cubs were captured from the town of Gardiner, near Yellowstone National Park, and relocated after repeatedly feeding in apple trees in public areas.

The bears did not respond to hazing attempts and instead became more brazen. On Oct. 17, the bears were feeding in apple trees near a school bus stop and prevented children from boarding the bus.

They were deemed a public safety hazard, trapped, and relocated to a site pre-approved by the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission.

On Oct. 21, a female grizzly bear was euthanized after several conflicts with humans in Big Sky. Her two older cubs were relocated to a pre-approved release site.

On Oct. 23, an older male grizzly bear was found dead on U.S. Highway 191 after being struck by a vehicle near West Yellowstone.

FWP reiterated that 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.”

The agency asked residents to take more precautions to protect themselves and the animals. Unsecured attractants such as fruit trees, bird feeders, and garbage are often factors in bear-human conflicts.

–Generic grizzly bear image is courtesy of the National Park Service

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These nine states have never hosted a PGA Tour event

There are still nine states that are still hoping their day in the sun is still to come.

This week the PGA Tour visits the First State for the time.

Wilmington Country Club will play host, marking the PGA Tour’s first-ever event in the state of Delaware and the 10th different venue to host the BMW Championship since the inception of the FedEx Cup in 2007.

“You’ve got to hit it as far as you can and hit a lot of fairways,” advised BMW defending champion and reigning FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay.

Delaware becomes the 41st state in the union to host a Tour event, but that means there are still nine states that are still hoping their day in the sun is still to come.

Maine is one of the nine remaining states that have never hosted a Tour event. Professional golf has been absent from northeast New England, five states within the Mountain Time Zone and Alaska. Some states barely avoided making the list. Nebraska was spared solely by the 1933 Nebraska Open, Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene hosted the 1992 Merrill Lynch Shootout and Arkansas made headlines with the Arlington Hotel Open from 1955-63.

Some of these states have hosted Nationwide, Champions and LPGA events, but the locals are waiting patiently for Rory, Tiger and Jordan to grace them with their presence.

Here’s a list of some of the golf courses that could potentially host the stars of the PGA Tour someday. (Special thanks to longtime Golfweek reader and journalist Peter Kollmann, who helped with the research.)

Former Oregon Ducks walk-on QB commits to Montana Grizzlies

Former Oregon Ducks walk-on quarterback AJ Abbott announced on Twitter he is transferring and joining the Montana Grizzlies.

Exactly one month ago, Oregon Ducks walk-on quarterback AJ Abbott announced he was entering his name into the NCAA transfer portal, and on Thursday he took to Twitter to reveal he is headed to Montana to play for the Grizzlies. He will have four years of eligibility remaining.

“Thank you to all the coaches that have connected with me but I’m proud to announce I will be playing ball and continuing my studies at the University of Montana,” Abbott wrote.

Abbott was a star football player at Stratford High School in Houston, Texas before joining the Ducks ahead of the 2021 season.

However, he was unable to carve out any playing time whatsoever last season, and the competition at the quarterback position is as tough as ever with Bo Nix, Ty Thompson, and Jay Butterfield all competing for snaps in 2022.

Instead Abbott will head to the Big Sky Conference, where he’ll compete to play right away in one of the strongest FCS conferences in the country.

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Moose spotted on roof at Montana guest ranch; video

Moose are abundant in the wilderness surrounding The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana, and visitors recently spotted one of the iconic animals on a rooftop.

Moose are abundant in the wilderness surrounding The Ranch at Rock Creek in Montana, and visitors recently spotted one browsing from a rooftop.

The peculiar sight, captured on video by General Manager Jon Martin, shows the moose leaning outward to browse on Aspen leaves. (See video below.)

Asked if this was common, or dangerous for moose, ranch spokeswoman Krista Johnson explained that a portion of Granite Lodge at the facility was built into a hillside. Critters can easily walk onto its “living roof” among wildflowers and grass.

However, rooftop moose sightings are not common.

ALSO: New Zealand orcas hit the surf in pursuit of prey; photos

“I’ve been working as the social media manager for almost eight years, and I’ve only seen it happen four times,” Johnson told FTW Outdoors. “One time one got up there and peed in front of the guests. This one was pretty clever and could reach some Aspen leaves.”

Johnson assured that a moose has never fallen “and they always leave the way they came.”

She mentioned another phenomenon involving moose that kneel to feed on landscaped grass in what resembles a “downward moose” yoga position. (See video below.)

“We let them be wild but ensure guests and staff keep their distance,” Johnson said of the potentially dangerous animals. “We want to protect this habitat as much as we can.”

The Ranch at Rock Creek is a secluded guest ranch on an authentic 19th Century homestead.