Elk hunters will be able to access the 9,665 Blue Ridge Ranch in Hunt District 622 on the north shore of Fort Peck Lake. Hunters need to get permission from the ranch owner first.

In exchange, the landowner Will Carlson will receive a single either-sex elk tag to use on his ranch.

Attorney General Tim Fox has issued an opinion that Gov. Steve Bullock ignored the law when he approved a conservation easement on an eastern Montana ranch after the State Land Board had voted 3-2 against the deal.

According to the AG's opinion, the state must secure Land Board approval for any conversation easement of more than 100 acres or $100,000. The opinion carries the force of law unless it is overturned in court, but does not hove direct impact on the already approved easement.

Bullock allowed FWP to move ahead with the $6.1 million easement purchase on the 15,000-acre Horse Creek Conservation Easement near Wibaux.

New strategies for counting the state's biggest cat part of the proposal.

The elk hunter attacked by sow griz near Livingston says bear should not be tracked and euthanized.

"That's what a bear will do. It was startled, protecting its cub, starting to take care of the threat that was there," said Bob Legasa of Hayden, Idaho, to the "Coeur d'Alene Press" as he recovered from his injuries.

A 6,380-acre conservation easement in the Stillwater State Forest is the final phase of the Whitefish Lake Watershed Project.

Another bear encounter, this time a bow hunter. Thanks to his fast-thinking friend, and bear spray, he survived.

Congrats to inductee Dale Burk, owner of Stoneydale Press in Stevensville and one of Montana's all-time great journalists.

Montana will hold a youth-only deer hunt will be Oct. 18-19. The hunt is for 12 to 15 year olds and coincides with the state's annual two-day teacher's convention. In other words, no school. Yippee!

Dwight and Steven Hammond were convicted of arson on public lands, and their case led to the standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon for 41 days in 2016.

Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte has said he is "grateful" for President Trump's pardon of the two men.

Still, a gate on Hughes Creek Road, which was declared a public highway in 1900, remains. The controversial locked gate blocks access to public lands beyond, and has been up since 1978.