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This week your host Downrigger Dale talks with Wildlife Manager Brett Dorak from Region 7 in Southeast Montana. Did you know that Region 7 is the largest hunting Region in Montana? So literally there is lots to cover in this Podcast. Rigger had a great conversation with Brett and in fact, Brett also threw out a few surprises that you just must hear. Here is a little hint; wait and until you hear what happened to the Antelope population there in just one year! As Brett put it, “We were shocked! It is a real head scratcher!”. And that is just one of the surprises. DO NOT miss this podcast. If you would like to watch this podcast instead of just listening you can click here to watch it. Yeah, the surprises and super valuable information just kept flowing during this podcast so again, DO NOT miss this one! Even if you don’t plan to hunt region 7 you will for sure still find it fascinating. From all of us here at the Montana Outdoor Podcast and the Montana Outdoor Radio Show have a safe, fun and above all productive hunting season!

Links:

• To learn more about Region 7 click here.
• Be sure and click here for Region 7’s Hunting Forecast. Also click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast.
• Make sure you visit the Block Management page for any hunting region you hunt in, in Montana. To go to Region 7’s click here.
• You can click here to get to Region 7’s Facebook Page.
• Click here to access the MT FWP Hunt Planner.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to win all kinds of prizes! And thank a landowner there as well.
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species in Montana!
• Questions? Click here to email to Brett Dorak in Region 7.
• Click here to email your buddy Downrigger Dale!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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Oh boy this is a "good un" as Rigger likes to say! This week your host Downrigger Dale talks with Wildlife Manager Cory Loecker from Region 4 in north central Montana. In this podcast Rigger and Cory will give you all kinds of great info on where to find the game you are looking in Region 4. Some of you may not know this but Region 4 has all 10 of the big game species you can hunt in Montana, so there was lots for Rigger to cover with Cory and yes there were some surprises. So listen close and you will get some nuggets of info that should help you have success when hunting in Region 4. If you want watch the podcast you can do that when you click here to watch. From all of us here at the Montana Outdoor Podcast and the Montana Outdoor Radio Show have a safe, fun and above all productive hunting season!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Region 4.
• Click here to get a copy of Region 4’s FWP 2025 Hunting Forecast. Also click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast.
• To go to the Block Management page for Region 4 click here.
• Head on over to Region 4’s Facebook Page by clicking here.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to win all kinds of prizes! And thank a landowner there as well.
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species in Montana! Always handy if you download it to your phone that way you have whether you have cell service or not!
• Questions? Click here to email Cory Loecker in Region 4.
• Click here to email your buddy Downrigger Dale!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale continues his annual Montana Regional Hunt Preview Series to bring you the latest on how the hunting will be in each of the 7 hunting regions across Montana. This week Rigger talks with Wildlife Manager Matt Ladd in Region 5 located in south central Montana. Rigger and Matt take a deep dive into everything south central Montana has to offer in the way of hunting, and boy is it A LOT! They talk about all kinds of wildlife from Mountain Goats, Bighorn Sheep, huge Elk, Mule & Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, even...well, you name it, and just wait until you hear about the over-the-counter Bighorn Sheep tags that Matt talks about! It’s just crazy! However, this region does have some challenging terrain and other things that take some planning and expertise and that is where this podcast comes in. Yeah, you will get exclusive information that will turn you into a well-oiled hunting machine and that even includes you folks that are not even planning on hunting in Region 5!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Region 5.
• You can click here to go to the Region 5 Facebook Page.
• Be sure and click here for the Region 5 Hunting Forecast. Also click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner.
• When you Click here you will find the Block Management info and maps for Region 5.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to to win all kinds of prizes!
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species!
• Questions? Click here to email Wildlife Manager Matt Ladd in Region 5.
• Click here to email Downrigger Dale!

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast Your host Downrigger Dale continues his annual Montana Regional Hunt Preview Series to bring you the latest on how the hunting will be in each of the 7 hunting regions across Montana. This week your Rigger talks to Region 3 Wildlife Manager, Warren Hansen and Communication and Education Manager, Morgan Jacobsen and boy did they have lots to say about all the different species you can hunt there in region 3. For starters Warren talked about the strong Elk population that lives throughout the region however he did give some great info about where some of the better hunting districts are that you will be able to find elk. Morgan told Rigger about the the strong hunting access that exists in Region 3 due to the growth of the "Its Up to Us" Program that hunters have been Participating in Region 3 for the last few seasons. Both Warren and Morgan had a great conversation with Rigger about Bison hunting in the region that was very interesting plus they covered health of Bear, Mountain Lion, Mule and Whitetail Deer, Pronghorn, Upland Game Birds, Waterfowl and more that are populating the Region. If you want to give hunting a try in Region 3 in southwest Montana this podcast is a must and even if you are not going to hunt there you will with out a doubt find it interesting!

Links:

• Click here to learn more about Region 3.
• You can click here to go to the Region 3 Facebook Page.
• Click here for the Region 3 Hunting Forecast or click here for the Statewide Upland Game Bird Hunting Forecast.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner.
• For Block Management info and maps click here for Region 3.
• Click here for more info about the “It’s Up to Us” program and to take the quiz to automatically entered to to win all kinds of prizes!
• Click here to get a digital copy of any hunting regulations for any species!
• Questions? Click here to email Region 3 Wildlife Game Manager Warren Hansen or here for Communication and Education Manager Morgan Jacobsen.
• Click here to email Downrigger Dale.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast we are doing something for the first time ever! We are doing a Montana Outdoor Podcast Double Feature! That’s right, you will be able to watch and or listen to two different podcasts this week. This half of of our Double Feature is all about Region 2, located in the central part of Western Montana. Rigger heads to Missoula to talk to MT FWP Regional Access Manager, Trenton Heisel. Trenton gives some awesome advice about gaining hunting access in the region and outlined all the different hunting access programs there. On top of all that Trenton gave all kinds of inside info about where you can find Elk, including where you might find some nice bulls, Muleys, Whitetail, Black Bear, and the list goes on and on. All and all Trenton will get you dialed in for hunting success in FWP Region 2. The other half of our double feature has your host Downrigger Dale talking to FWP Wildlife Manager for Region 1, Neil Anderson in Kalispell. He will tell you what the hunting will be like in Montana FWP Region 1 located in Northwest Montana. Be sure and listen to both of these podcasts and become a Region 1 and 2 hunting genius!

Links:

• Click here for more about Region two.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner to plan you hunts in any region.
• Click here to get all the block management info and BMA maps for both Region 1 & 2!
• Click here to learn about winning those Griz Football tickets that Trenton talked about. Plus, other prizes in the "Its Up to Us" promo.
• Click here for Deer, Elk and Antelope regulations. Click here for Upland Game Bird regs and here for Waterfowl regs.
• Click here to get the Wolf Hunting regulations for Montana.
• You can click here to get the Region 2 Hunting Forecast.
• Click here for the Upland Game Bird Season Outlook for Montana.
• Questions, click here to email Trenton Heisel in Region 2.
• You can email Downrigger Dale when you click here.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast we are doing something for the first time ever! We are doing a Montana Outdoor Podcast Double Feature! That’s right, you will be able to watch two different podcasts this week. This half of our double feature (the one you are looking at now) has your host Downrigger Dale talking to FWP Region 1 Wildlife Manager Neil Anderson about what the hunting will be like in Montana FWP Region 1 located in Northwest Montana. This podcast is all about what Region 1 is like, it's terrain, size, how much public access there is and how much private access is there through block management and other access programs and more. Plus, you will learn all about what you can hunt in region 1 and where you can find those critters, from Black Bear, Mule and Whitetail Deer, Elk, Mountain Lion, Upland Game Birds, Waterfowl and Wolf. Region 1 has some great opportunities including one species that you can harvest 30 of if you do it right! The other half of our podcast Double Feature is all about Region 2, located in the central part of Western Montana. Rigger heads to Missoula to talk to MT FWP Regional Access Manager, Trenton Heisel. Be sure and watch that as well. You can find it right here on this site. Watching both of these great podcasts will for sure make you a Region 1 and 2 hunting genius!

Links:

• Click here for more info about Region 1.
• Click here to access the FWP Hunt Planner to plan you hunts in any region.
• Click here to get all the block management info and BMA maps for both Region 1 & 2!
• Click here for Deer, Elk and Antelope regulations.
• Click here for Upland Game Bird regs and here for Waterfowl regs.
• Click here to get the Wolf Hunting regulations for Montana.
• Click here to get the Region 1 Hunting Forecast.
• Click here for the Upland Game Bird Season Outlook for Montana.
• Questions? Click here to email Neil Anderson in Region 1.
• Course, you can always email your old buddy Downrigger Dale when you click here.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your host Downrigger Dale starts his annual series of Hunt Preview Podcasts. That’s when he talks to Wildlife Managers and other folks with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to find out what the hunting will be like in each of the 7 hunting Regions across Montana. In this first podcast in the series Rigger talks with Scott Thompson, Wildlife Manager for Region 6 located in northeast Montana. When you listen to this podcast you will be able to find out not only what the hunting opportunities are in Region 6, you’ll get a whole lot more, from how the populations of Elk, Mule Deer, Whitetails, and more are doing, in fact, wait until you here about the Pronghorn, aka Antelope population numbers. We think that might shock you! Well, actually there are likely several things that may surprise you in this one! Rigger’s guest Scott will also give you some ideas of which hunting districts might be the best to find those critters as well as some great information about Upland Gamebirds and Waterfowl! On top of all that you will also get great information about the terrain, the amount of private land and public land hunting opportunities and the list goes on and on. So, if you are planning on hunting in Region 6 this year or just ever wondered if that part of Montana might be a good place for you to try for the first time or heck, maybe you are just curious, this is the absolute perfect Podcast for you! So go ahead and mash that play button to become the most informed hunter in Region 6!

Links:

• To learn more about Hunting Region 6 click here. Be sure a scroll all the way to down for info on all species in the region.
• Click here for some hunt planning tools!
• Click here for the 2025 Hunting Forecast for Region 6.
• How about a Hunt forecast for Upland Game Birds and Waterfowl? Click here for that!
• Click here to send an email to Region 6 Wildlife Manager Scott Thompson.
• As always good old Rigger is standing by to answer your questions and he would love to find out what you thought of this podcast, click here to do that.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.

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This week on the Montana Outdoor Podcast your Host Downrigger Dale had a great discussion with Greg Lemon, the Head of Communication and Education for the FWP. The main topic they covered was hunting land access. Most all the research on this topic has centered around two main areas, how do we get more land access and how do we keep the access we currently have. The number one reason we don’t get access or lose access boils down to one thing, hunter and landowner relations. The sad fact is it only takes one bad hunter to lose access for all the good hunters. When you listen you'll learn all about the growth of and the current plans for a program called, It’s Up to Us. Respect Access. Protect the Hunt. This podcast will give you some great information on that program and will give you some ideas on how you can help weed out the bad actors and how you can get even more access for your future hunts. When you listen you will also learn about some incredible incentives that Greg and his crew have come up with to entice us all to learn more ways to protect the access we have and how to get more. In fact, you can get a free three-month onX Elite membership (some restrictions apply) just for watching a video and taking a short test! Plus, you will be entered to win some great prizes! If that weren’t enough there are a bunch of companies and individuals that are investing a TON into this including Montana State, University of Montana, onX, Maven, and VIAM Outdoors and the result is you will have a chance to win all kinds of prizes just for simply taking a little time to learn all about the “It’s Up to Us” program. So give it a listen!

Links:

• Click Here to lean more about the program.
• Click the links below to get even more info about all different hunting access programs:
  • Black Management Program
  • Upland Game Bird Enhancement Program
  • Other Public Land Hunting Opportunities
  • Montana Cadastral Maps
  • Montana Hunt Planner
• Click here to take a quick test and get automatically entered for prizes!
• Questions for Greg Lemon? Click here to send him an email.
• Let Downrigger know what you thought of this Podcast or to ask him any questions, click here.

Remember to tune in to The Montana Outdoor Radio Show, live every Saturday from 6:00AM to 8:00AM MT. The show airs on 30 radio stations across the State of Montana. You can get a list of our affiliated radio stations on our website. You can also listen to recordings of past shows, get fishing and and hunting information and much more at that website or on our Facebook page. You can also watch our radio show there as well.