Butte Ranger District

As hunting season approaches, learn important safety tips for outdoor activities in Southwest Montana from local forester Jocelyn Dodge.

With fall approaching, even inside of city limits there has been plenty of bear activity this year. You can be sure that if bears are wandering into town, they are certainly active in the forest this time of year. We had a chance to sit down with local forester and outdoor recreationalist Jocelyn Dodge who offered tips on how to avoid potential bear encounters.

All one needs to do is look outside to see that fire season has come to our region, particularly Southwest Montana where several forest fires are presently burning. The smoke in Southwest Montana has been particularly thick and hot, dry weather has settled in over the past couple of weeks. This increased danger does not mean the end of summer outdoor recreation, but it does mean that you will need to be mindful of conditions and vigilant in preventing wildfires when venturing onto public lands. We sat down with local forester and outdoor recreation enthusiast, Jocelyn Dodge, who offered advice on the steps that need to be taken.

How are you handling the midsummer heat? With temperatures frequently in excess of 90 degrees, many residents are looking for ways to cool off and we had a chance to chat with local forester and outdoor recreation enthusiast Jocelyn Dodge about the role that area lakes and rivers can play in your family's plans and important steps you need to remember if you plan on heading into the great outdoors.

Planning on retreating to the Great Outdoors over Independence Day or over the next couple of weeks? Temperatures are expected to soar in to the upper 80s next week and July is always a great time to head out to one of our area's beautiful lakes and rivers.

Well, after another long winter behind us, the recent snowfall notwithstanding, we have come to Memorial Day Weekend and Summer's unofficial start. Regardless of the weather or the forecast there are many who will be heading to area campsites for the holiday weekend, and local forester and outdoor recreation enthusiast Jocelyn Dodge says that the campgrounds are ready. She shared with us some things you should know beforehand if you're heading for a campsite or river over the long weekend.

We recently caught up with local forester and outdoor recreationalist extraordinaire, Jocelyn Dodge and she shared some great news for those experiencing a bit of cabin fever. "Thompson Park is now open for the summer from 8 AM to 9 PM through Labor Day," she told us. But with the warm weather comes more active wildlife. "It’s also bear and tick season and bears are beginning to come out of hibernation and will be looking for food."

We are only a few days away from a day that hunters from all across Montana and even all across the entire region have had circled on their calendars since early last December. The Treasure State's general big game rifle season opens on Saturday, October 21 and we had the chance to talk with local forester and avid outdoor enthusiast Jocelyn Dodge about what steps you need to take when venturing into the Montana backcountry.

With the arrival of September comes cooler temperatures and fall colors and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities on the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest. Local forester and outdoor enthusiast Jocelyn Dodge gave us some insight on what to expect this fall if you plan on venturing out into the woods, be it for some late-season camping, the beginning of big-game archery season or just a relaxing drive on a Southwest Montana backcountry road.

Make no mistake. It is HOT in Southwest Montana this summer. As temperature records fall across the entire country, the mercury in our neck of the woods has gone into the 90s several times already and August looks as though it could be another scorcher. However, there are areas nearby where the temperatures are a bit cooler, the air has a little more moisture, and the views are unbeatable. Southwest Montana forester and outdoor recreation expert Jocelyn Dodge has a few viable suggestions.