NFORMATION & EDUCATION 



The importance of fish and wildlife can 

 not be minimized. The Fish and Game De- 

 partment manages a resource that both fur- 

 nishes clean, healthy recreation for thousands 

 of outdoorsmen and provides income for other 

 thousands. Service stations, sports dealers, 

 cafes, guides and outfitters, and countless 

 others depend on fish and wildlife for a por- 

 tion or all of their annual income. Conse- 

 quently, a great many people are keenly in- 

 terested in the welfare of this resource. 



With so many interests involved it is in- 

 evitable that there should be conflict. Un- 

 fortunately, many conflicts result from a lack 

 of understanding or misinformation. It is im- 

 peritive, then, that the Department continue 

 an intensive information and education pro- 

 gram. This need has been felt so strongly 

 that a specialized division with field repre- 

 sentatives is maintained. 



Information and Education personnel work 

 through all media of communications. Direct 

 correspondence, bulletins, newspaper, radio, 

 television, and magazines afford an outlet for 

 Information. Direct work is done through 

 civic groups, sports organizations, youth 

 groups, schools, other resource agencie: and 

 interested organizations. Following is a brief 

 iption of major Information and Educa 

 tion activities: 



Information Sen i< 



The days when h 

 tions could be poste 



id Eishmg regula 

 ■plioue pole and 



trees went out with the model T. Modern 

 management and the outdoor public demand 

 rapid and widespread news coverage. In order 

 to get this coverage, the Information-Educa- 

 tion Division prepares and distributes two 

 news releases each week. In addition, im- 

 portant events of urgent nature are given im- 

 mediate release. News materials are sent to 

 all newspapers, radio stations, television sta- 

 tions, and wire services in Montana. Feature 

 articles of both state-wide and local interest 

 are prepared as projects arise. The Depart- 

 ment has been most fortunate in the amiable 

 cooperation given by all news media. 



Television stations throughout Montana 

 have generously given free time to the De- 

 partment. Programs of both news and edu- 

 cational nature are presented from television 

 stations in Butte, Missoula. Great Kails, ami 

 Billings. Programs from Williston, North Da- 

 kota, are beamed into northeasl .Montana 

 where Little television coverage is otherwise 

 available. 



Information bulletins covering a wide field 



of Interests have been prepared and are \ei\ 



useful in providing information. These are 

 used primarily to answer inquiries thai would 

 otherwise necessitate bulky and time-consum- 

 ing correspondence One such bulletin. "Mon- 

 tana Camping, Picnic, and Fishing Access 

 Areas." was prepared in cooperation with the 

 Montana I lighwaj Advertising I >h ision Both 



stale and federal resource agencies have been 



very helpful bj willinglj providing informa 

 tion for bulletin use. 



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