Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on multiple environmental assessments and proposals, including private fish pond licenses, westslope cutthroat trout restoration projects, Beavertail Hill State Park upgrades, Wedding Reservoir fish stocking, and a conservation easement purchase from Green Diamond Montana Timberlands LLC.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife is hosting free spring open houses at six state fish hatcheries where visitors can learn about fish production and see 36 million fish raised for stocking in Ohio's public waters. Events feature tours, family activities, and displays at locations including Hebron, Senecaville, Castalia, Kincaid, and London hatcheries.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department Advisory Board will host public meetings this spring at eight locations across the state. These meetings allow citizens to discuss fish and wildlife issues with district advisors and agency personnel. The District 7 meeting in Bismarck will be streamed live on gf.nd.gov.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife released the 2025-2035 Maine Wildlife Action Plan, identifying 721 Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Developed collaboratively with the Maine Natural Areas Program, Maine Department of Marine Resources, and Maine Audubon, the plan provides voluntary conservation strategies to protect vulnerable fish and wildlife while leveraging federal funding.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has established an idle speed only zone and navigational safety channel near a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad bridge construction project on the Missouri River near Bismarck-Mandan, effective March 30, with marked buoys directing boat traffic through the construction area.
Utah's 2026 legislative session passed five wildlife-related bills signed by Gov. Spencer Cox, including HB30 updating WMA access requirements with free digital permits, HB93 creating Goshen Bay Waterfowl Management Area, HB125 modifying aquatic invasive species education requirements, HB431 allocating $2 million annually for wildlife crossing projects, and HB376 establishing the Utah Forest Restoration Institute at Utah State University.
Target shooting will be prohibited at Dogwood Wildlife Management Area from April 1 to June 31, 2026, due to early season intensive grazing that provides wildlife habitat benefits. Recreational users are encouraged to use the Kearney Outdoor Education Complex during this closure period.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks released the 2026–2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), approved by the National Park Service. The five-year framework guides outdoor recreation planning and investment while maintaining Montana's eligibility for the Land and Water Conservation Fund State Assistance Program.
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is celebrating its 40th anniversary by offering 280 unique outdoor field trips across the state in 2026. Trips range from hiking and kayaking to citizen science experiences, with options for all ability levels. Registration opens April 8th at noon on WisConservation.org.
The Sage-Grouse Implementation Team will meet April 8 at 10 a.m. at the Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Commission in Casper. The team, comprising state and federal agencies, industry, and non-governmental organizations, works to maintain greater sage-grouse populations under Wyoming's Sage-Grouse Executive Order.
The Nebraska Master Naturalist Program offers Spring Core 24 Training on April 10-11 and 17-18 at the Schramm Education Center near Gretna. Participants will receive certification training combining classroom instruction with hands-on field experience guided by conservation experts in Nebraska ecology and conservation practices.
Michigan's Department of Natural Resources is hosting multiple advisory board meetings in April covering forestry, fisheries, off-road vehicles, and Belle Isle Park. The meetings include the Forest Management Advisory Committee, Lake Erie/Lake St. Clair Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee, Off-Road Vehicle Advisory Workgroup, and Belle Isle Park Advisory Committee, among others.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host an open house on April 9 in Havre to discuss the Fresno fishery management plan. Fisheries biologist Cody Nagel and Bureau of Reclamation staff will present updates on the 2025 netting results, Milk River Project information, and 2026 water forecasts.
The Indiana Natural Resources Commission will hold its bimonthly meeting on Tuesday, March 24, at Fort Harrison State Park's Garrison Ballroom in Indianapolis, beginning at 10 a.m. ET. The meeting agenda and related materials are available at nrc.IN.gov/meetings-and-minutes/current-meeting-agenda.
The Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee closed indefinitely after heavy snow damaged roof trusses on February 21. Emergency stabilization begins March 23, with Mike Colleur from Colleur Construction and Will Rajala from WR Construction LLC removing 4-6 feet of snow from the compromised roof.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is advising outdoor enthusiasts to exercise caution on trails and state parks affected by a record blizzard that dumped over 4 feet of snow in some Upper Peninsula areas March 15-16. DNR staff continue assessing conditions and warn of downed trees, power lines, and limited facility access in seven declared state of emergency counties.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved a preliminary FY27 budget of $110.6 million during its March meeting in Torrington, with Mark Jolovich elected as new President and Rusty Bell as Vice President. The budget includes an $8.3 million increase driven by inflation and infrastructure needs, while the commission also reviewed mule deer monitoring research conducted across 25 of 37 herds statewide.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has closed Open Fields and Waters public walk-in access properties and wildlife management areas affected by recent wildfires in Lincoln, Dawson, Keith, Arthur, Morrill, Garden, and Cherry counties. Hunters are urged to stay away for public safety and to allow recovery efforts to proceed.
Indiana Conservation Officer Max Winchell has been promoted to sergeant for Indiana DNR Law Enforcement District 5, where he will supervise 16 field officers across eight counties. Winchell has served as a conservation officer since 1995 and was recognized as the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators Boating Officer of the Year for Indiana in 2024.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on multiple environmental assessments and proposals, including westslope cutthroat trout introductions, a Logan Public Shooting Range acquisition, Siskin Island Fishing Access Site development with the Trust for Public Land, and Upper Thompson Conservation Easement Phase 1 with Green Diamond Montana Timberlands LLC.