FWP Staff Conducting Aerial Surveys and Research Captures Across Southwestern Montana

February 13, 2026
5:49 am

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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) biologists are taking to the skies over southwestern Montana, deploying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters for aerial surveys of mule deer populations and upcoming winter elk counts, while also conducting hands-on research captures of elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and wolves. This isn't some routine flyover—it's a high-tech pulse-check on the health of these iconic species, gathering critical data on population trends, disease prevalence, and habitat use to guide management decisions that keep ecosystems balanced and hunting opportunities sustainable. For the 2A community, these efforts hit close to home, as thriving wildlife directly fuels our hunting heritage and the self-reliance ethos at the heart of the Second Amendment. Healthy mule deer and elk herds mean robust tag allocations and quality hunts, preserving the traditions of responsible gun owners who invest in conservation through Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on every box of ammo we buy. But let's read between the lines: in a state like Montana, where wolves have exploded post-reintroduction—now numbering over 1,100 with ongoing captures for collaring—these surveys are a frontline defense against over-predation that could crash prey populations. FWP's data-driven approach counters urban anti-hunting narratives, proving that science-backed management, often involving hunter-funded programs, protects the resource better than top-down federal overreach. Imagine the implications if wolf numbers skew elk surveys downward; it bolsters the case for targeted predator control, aligning perfectly with 2A advocates pushing for tools like suppressors and semi-autos to humanely manage threats on public lands. This aerial vigilance underscores a bigger truth: wildlife management isn't just about binoculars and boots on the ground—it's aerial intel ensuring future generations can shoulder up to that ridge at dawn. 2A patriots, keep an eye on FWP's reports; they're ammunition in the fight to defend our hunting rights against those who'd lock us out of the backcountry. Stay vigilant, stay armed, and support the stewards keeping Montana wild.

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For the 2A community, these efforts hit close to home, as thriving wildlife directly fuels our hunting heritage and the self-reliance ethos at the heart of the Second Amendment. Healthy mule deer and elk herds mean robust tag allocations and quality hunts, preserving the traditions of responsible gun owners who invest in conservation through Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on every box of ammo we buy. But let’s read between the lines: in a state like Montana, where wolves have exploded post-reintroduction—now numbering over 1,100 with ongoing captures for collaring—these surveys are a frontline defense against over-predation that could crash prey populations. FWP’s data-driven approach counters urban anti-hunting narratives, proving that science-backed management, often involving hunter-funded programs, protects the resource better than top-down federal overreach. Imagine the implications if wolf numbers skew elk surveys downward; it bolsters the case for targeted predator control, aligning perfectly with 2A advocates pushing for tools like suppressors and semi-autos to humanely manage threats on public lands.

This aerial vigilance underscores a bigger truth: wildlife management isn’t just about binoculars and boots on the ground—it’s aerial intel ensuring future generations can shoulder up to that ridge at dawn. 2A patriots, keep an eye on FWP’s reports; they’re ammunition in the fight to defend our hunting rights against those who’d lock us out of the backcountry. Stay vigilant, stay armed, and support the stewards keeping Montana wild.

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