Field Trips
Please note: many of our field trips take place on state lands that require all users have a Montana Conservation License.
If you have a current Montana hunting or fishing license of any kind, you do NOT need to purchase an additional Conservation License- your hunting/fishing license covers this fee!
- All recreation site users ages 12+ must have a permit.
- These permits cost $8 for Montana residents, $4 for youth ages 12-17 and seniors ages 62+, and $10 for non-residents.
- Festival attendees are responsible for getting their own permits; this cost is not included in your registration fee.
- These licenses help pay for maintenance and conservation work on Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks lands, and a portion of the proceeds also are put into a trust for Montana K-12 schools and other public institutions, helping fund education in Montana.
- A Conservation License lasts from March 1 to the end of February the following year- so make sure you purchase your 2024 license anytime after March 1!
Visit the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks website for more information and to purchase:
Conservation License
Field Trip Key
A trips depart at 6:15 am
B trips depart at 6:45 am
C trips depart at 7:00 am
Saturday 6:15 am
- Black Sandy State Park & Hauser Dam | SatA1
- Elkhorn Mountains/McClellan Creek Rd. | SatA2
- Hilger Hereford Ranch/Gates of the Mountains | SatA3
- Phantom Springs Ranch/Little Prickly Pear Creek | SatA4
- Sieben Ranch | SatA5
- Stemple Pass Rd. to Lincoln | SatA6
- Vigilante CG/Trout Creek| SatA7
- Warm Springs Ponds Complex | SatA8
- Birds & Botany | SatA9
Saturday 6:45 am
- Austin Rd./Skelly Gulch | SatB1
- Helena Regulating Reservoir | SatB2
- Lake Helena WMA Paddle | SatB3
- Lewis & Clark Co. Fairgrounds & Spring Meadow State Park | SatB4
- Sevenmile Creek | SatB5
- Tenmile Creek/ Moose Creek/ Lazyman Gulch | SatB6
Saturday 7:00 am
- K-Mart Wetlands & Nature Park | SatC1
- Upper Prickly Pear FAS & Stansfield Lake | SatC2
- Spring Meadow Bird Banding & Lake Trail | SatC3
Sunday 6:15 am
- Black Sandy State Park & Hauser Dam | SunA1
- Elkhorn Mountains/McClellan Creek Rd. | SunA2
- Hilger Hereford Ranch/Gates of the Mountains | SunA3
- Phantom Springs Ranch/Little Prickly Pear Creek | SunA4
- Sieben Ranch | SunA5
- Stemple Pass Rd. to Lincoln | SunA6
- Vigilante CG/Trout Creek| SunA7
- Warm Springs Ponds Complex | SunA8
- Beartooth WMA | SunA9
- Blackfoot Valley-Cutoff Rd./Brown’s Lake | SunA10
- Canyon Ferry WMA | SunA11
- Chain of Lakes-Seeley/Swan | SunA12
- Headwaters State Park/Old Town Rd./Central Park Pond | SunA13
Sunday 6:45 am
- Austin Rd./Skelly Gulch | SunB1
- Helena Regulating Reservoir | SunB2
- Lake Helena WMA Paddle | SunB3
- Lewis & Clark Co. Fairgrounds & Spring Meadow State Park | SunB4
- Sevenmile Creek | SunB5
- Tenmile Creek/ Moose Creek/ Lazyman Gulch | SunB6
Sunday 7:00 am
- K-Mart Wetlands & Nature Park | SunC1
- Upper Prickly Pear FAS & Stansfield Lake | SunC2
Black-headed Grosbeak. Photo by Dan Ellison.
Lark Sparrow. Photo by Dan Ellison.
Ovenbird. Photo by Dan Ellison.
Western Bluebirds. Photo by Dan Ellison.
Field Trip Descriptions
