TRIBAL FORESTRY NOTICE TO MEMBERSHIP:
Attention all Tribal Members,
The Tribal Forestry is NOT taking applications for the 10,000 B.D. Ft. Free Use Allocation Program. The program has applicants through Fiscal Year 2009. Pending tribal budget allocations a notice will be put in the Charkoosta next year when Tribal Forestry will be taking applications for fiscal year 2010.

if you have any questions regarding this notice please contact the Tribal Forestry Permits office at (406) 676-3755.

May 1st, 2008 a fire season burn permit will be required from the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (CS&KT). Permits can be obtained by calling the Division of Fire Dispatch Office at 676-2550. Persons requesting a burn permit will be required to provide various details of the proposed burning to include a legal location of the burn activities as well as a telephone number and mailing address. Burners should call their local fire authority or county sheriff’s office prior to ignition.

Burners are reminded that all debris burns must be conducted carefully because the burner will be liable for damages and the cost of fire suppression if their burn escapes control. Burn must be manned at all times that smoke is visible and burner should ensure that the fire is dead-out.

Local burners are also reminded that only woody debris can be burned and that they should not burn at night and during periods of poor smoke dispersion. Check your local weather forecast for hazardous burn situations and for favorable smoke dispersal and transport conditions. Daily smoke dispersal conditions can be obtained by calling the Division of Fire Office at 676-2550 or the CS&KT Air Quality Department at 883-2888.

Next day smoke dispersal information can also be obtained from the Air Quality Bureau “Ventilation Hotline” (1-800-225-6779) or the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group homepage at http://www.smokemu.org. For areas within the Flathead Reservation, open or restricted smoke dispersal conditions will be announced with references to Airshed 2 (which includes Lake, Sanders, and Flathead Counties) and Airshed 3B (which includes a portion of Missoula County).

Spring Hunters Education Class
Registration for the Spring Hunter Education course will be Monday, April 14, in Room 118 at the Beaverhead Math & Science building on the Salish Kootenai College campus, Pablo from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. A parent or guardian must accompany students under 18 to registration.

By state law, anyone born after January 1, 1985 must have completed the Hunter Education Course to buy a hunting license in Montana. The minimum age for hunting in Montana is 12.
Volunteer instructors will teach the Hunters Education course beginning April 14, 15, and 16 and continuing the following week on April 21, 22, and 23 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. each evening. A mandatory field course is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th.
All hunter education classes are free of charge and open to hunters and non-hunters alike. Some students take the courses for the firearm safety and outdoor survival information, even if they don’t plan to hunt.

For more information on Hunters Education courses call Lead Instructor, Ray Aylesworth at 676-0300 or Instructor, Germaine White, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Natural Resources Department at 883-2888 extension 7299.

"Permit fees and regulations have generally remained the same again this year, said Tom McDonald, Manager of the Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation. One change is the increase from $10.00 to $12.00 in the Flathead Lake fishing permit.

McDonald said the Division of Fish, Wildlife, Recreation and Conservation has both Tribal member and non-Tribal member Fishing, Bird Hunting and Recreation Licenses for the 2007-2008 permit season available in Polson at 406 6th Avenue East.

According to McDonald, permits are also available at local vendors. Additionally, the Tribe’s continue implementing of the State Automated Licensing System and will offer the new license for sale on the internet at http://app.mt.gov/index

Contact Amanda Bourdon, Permit Agent, or Germaine White, Information & Education Specialist at 883-2888 if you have questions regarding the Hunting, Fishing and Recreation Regulations for the 2008-2009 season.

Spring Closures
The Tribal Wildland Recreation Program would like to remind the public about spring closures that are part of the 2008-2009 Fishing, Bird Hunting and Recreation Regulations.

The entire Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness Area is closed to all livestock use between March 1 and June 30. This spring closure includes all pack and riding stock. According to Les Bigcrane, Wildland Recreation Program Manager, “This stock closure is critical to minimize impacts to wilderness trails during spring runoff”.

Additional closures include the use of motorized boats on Flathead River and Dog Lake from March 15 to June 30, with the exception of boats powered by electric trolling motors. This closure is for the protection of nesting waterfowl.

All dogs in the Kicking Horse Reservoir area must be on a leash and under the direct and physical control of a person during the period of April 1 through July 15 of each year. The Kicking Horse area is defined as all Tribal lands within a mile radius of the high water line of Kicking Horse Reservoir. The use of electronic collars does not constitute direct or physical control nor does it constitute a leash.

For more information regarding these seasonal closures contact Les Bigcrane or Germaine White, Natural Resources Department, at 883-2888. Natural Resources Department office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.