Outdoor news

Native plants

The Flathead Chapter of the Montana Native Plant Society will present a talk by MPG Ranch botanist Mel Waggy and Terry Divoky, owner of Windflower Native Plant Nursery, on “From the Mountains to the Prairies: Conservation Efforts at the MPG Ranch” at Teakettle Community Hall, 235 Nucleus Avenue, in Columbia Falls, on Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7 p.m. Topics will include restoration, wildlife and native plant projects on the 8,790-acre ranch established in 2009 that includes Sapphire Range forests, large grasslands and four miles of the Bitterroot River. For more information, contact Terry Divoky at 387-5527.

Trapper course

Registration is open for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Trapper Education Course for Northwest Montana which will be conducted by Montana Fur Harvesters Instructors on Dec. 7 and 8. The class is not required of trappers but it is strongly recommend. This is not a wolf trapper certification class. Classes will be taught at the FWP offices in Kalispell on Friday, Dec. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m. and t the Flathead Valley Clay Target Club north of Kalispell on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, stop by the FWP offices in Kalispell or call 752-5501.

Boating class

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will offer a free boating safety class on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m., at the FWP office in Kalispell. Montana had 11 boating fatalities in 2012. Six occurred west of the Continental Divide. The class will include an overview of boating safety equipment requirements and the rules of safe operation. Montana law requires youths 13 and 14 years of age to pass a boating safety course in order to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft without an adult on board. Class participants will learn how to obtain the motorboat operator certificate. Paddle craft operators also will learn about training for non-motorized vessels. Participants should be at least 12 years old and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To register, call 752-5501 or visit FWP’s office at 490 North Meridian Road, in Kalispell.