Montana Historical Society
Archives
RS 125_RS 497
Montana Fish and Game
Commission
Montana Fish and Game Commission records
1901-1966
6.8 linear feet
This collection is a subgroup
(Division) of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks records, RS 497.
Please see the primary finding aid for more Montana Department of
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks records. These records (1901-1966) of the Montana Fish
and Game Commission (now named Fish and Wildlife Commission) consist of financial records,
legal documents, reports, subject files, and miscellany.
120:4-1
English
The Board of Game and Fish Commissioners was established in March of 1895 to oversee
licensing and hunting practices in the state. The Board was comprised of three
commissioners, appointed by the Governor and was empowered to appoint a State Fish and Game
Warden. The warden also served as secretary and business agent of the Board. The first
warden was chosen in 1898. The Board was abolished in 1901, but the functions were assumed
by the State Fish Commissioners in 1907. The State Fish Commissioners consisted of the
Warden and two commissioners. By 1911, two more commissioners were added. In 1921, the two
commissions, State Fish Commission and Fish and Game Commission, merged and were empowered
to establish fish and game districts and to close or open seasons on all game animals,
birds, and fish. The administrative arm of the Commission gradually came to be referred to
as the Fish and Game Department, although the Department was not legislatively formalized
until 1972. It was renamed the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in 1979.
The Commission is currently (as of 2024) named the Fish and Wildlife Commission, and is
made up of seven members appointed by the govorner. It sets fish and wildlife regulations,
approves property acquisitions, and approves certain rules and activities of the department
as provided by statute.
These records consist of financial records, including audit reports; legal documents
regarding the removal of State Fish and Game Warden J. S. McFarland; reports; subject files
regarding Flint Creek, fish test projects, and the Montana Search and Rescue Association;
and miscellany, including journals for state fish spawning stations and hatcheries;
blueprints and architectural drawings of Lewis and Clark Caverns, formerly Morrison Cave;
case records of regulation violations; confiscation registers; license registers; and docket
registers.
The collection is arranged by series.
Collection open for research.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical
Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection.
In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright
owners. For more information contact an archivist.
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 497, in order to help facilitate access,
reduce redundancy in the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives catalog, and to
follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks' various Divisions and
Commissions that were previously treated as separate entities are now integrated into this collection, RS 497. Rather than reprocessing over 17 linear feet
of FWP materials, MTHS staff decided to keep the past arrangement of those
collections/finding aids and provide access to them via links in the master finding aid.
This decision has allowed the MTHS archival staff to maintain intellectual control over the
collection, while removing the need to reprocess it. It also keeps State Agency finding aids
at manageable sizes. Please read the scope and content note carefully to determine if this
subgroup pertains to your research needs.
Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers.
Montana Historical Society Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
Acquisition information is available upon request.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the Montana Historical Society
Archives catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places
should search under these terms.
Environmental policy--Montana
Fish-culture--Montana
Fish populations--Montana
Game wardens--Montana
Picture-writing--Montana
Search and rescue operations--Montana
Wildlife conservation--Montana--Law and
legislation
Alvord Lake (Mont.)
Flint Creek (Mont.)
Hebgen Lake (Mont.)
Lewis and Clark Caverns State
Park (Mont.)
Libby (Mont.)
Libby (Mont.)
Montana
Fisheries and
Wildlife
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection
Financial Records
1 / 1-4
Audit reports
1933-1966
Vol / 6
Register of receipts and disbursements
1924-1927
1 / 5
Miscellaneous (re James W. Corey)
1933-1936
Legal Documents
2 / 1
In the matter of the removal of J.S. McFarland, State
Fish and Game Warden: Briefs
1943
2 / 2
In the matter of the removal of J.S. McFarland, State
Fish and Game Warden: Exhibits
1943
Reports
2 / 3
Report of State Fish and Game Commission
1941 April - September
Subject Files
2 / 4
DC shocker tests
1953-1958
2 / 5
Flint Creek (re test stream project)
1957, 1959-1960
2 / 6
Flint Creek stomach samples
1954-1955, 1958
2 / 7
TDS growth studies (includes "Electrical Conductivity
and Trout Growth Rates in Montana" by Jack Bailey)
1958-1960
2 / 8
Test stream: barricades
1953-1956
2 / 9-10
Test stream project
1953-1960
2 / 11
Test stream: shockers (includes "Collecting Fish with
Electricity" by V. K. Roberts)
1954-1958
2 / 12
Montana Search and Rescue Association
1956-1958
2 / 13
P. A. Young: Gallatin Petrified Forest, Square Butte
"spook rocks," and pictograph caves (includes photographs)
1932-1940
Miscellany
Vol / 7-21
Case records of regulation violations
1914-1939
Vol / 22
Confiscations (of illegally harvested game)
1942-1950
Vol / 34
Confiscations (of illegally harvested game)
1929-1939
Vol / 35-38
Docket registers
1901-1938
2 / 14
Hunting and fishing license stubs (Montana residents)
1926
2 / 14
Hunting and fishing license stubs (Montana residents)
1926
2 / OVSZ
Lewis and Clark Caverns (formerly Morrison Cave;
includes blueprints and architectural drawings; MAP CASE)
circa 1938-1964
Vol / 23-33
License register
1913-1919, 1920-1924
Vol. 1
Spawning station journals: Alvord Lake (near Troy)
1934-1948
Vol. 2
Spawning station journals: Libby Fish Hatchery
1930-1945
Vol. 3
Spawning station journals: Libby Fish Hatchery
1945-1956
Vol. 4
Spawning station journals: Madison (near Hebgen Lake)
1933-1943
Vol. 5
Spawning station journals: Madison (near Hebgen Lake)
1943-1947