The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Posts Tagged ‘hunting’

Best Rifle Magazines in 2022

our rifle becomes unreliable when feeding from a poor-quality mag. Read our guide and shop for the best magazines for AR-15 and other platforms. ... more

How To Find The Top BB Gun

When it comes to finding the top BB gun, there are a few things you need to take into account:... more

Protect Yourself From Heat And Sweat With A Lightweight Hunting Outfit

If you want to protect yourself from heat and sweat, lightweight hunting gear is the best bet for you and here's why:... more

How Tactical Gear Impacts Your Performance While Hunting

Here are some tips on tactical gear that will improve your hunting success:... more

The Different Types Of Guns: Benefits And Uses

This article will discuss the different types of guns so that you can make an informed decision about what gun to purchase for your needs.... more

Here’s What You Need to Look For When Buying a Rifle Scope

Here are some things that you need to look for when buying a new rifle scope for your gun.... more

Professional Equipment That’ll Greatly Improve Your Hunting Experience

When you go hunting, you will need the necessary equipment. When you prepare thoroughly, it is easy to capture your prey.... more

3 Tips For Your First Hunting Trip In Montana

To help you with this and get educated in the necessary areas, here are three tips for your first hunting trip in Montana. ... more

Hunting Permit Drawing Results Now Available

The wait is over as the deer and elk permit drawing is complete, just 12 days after the application deadline. ... more

The Essentials You Must Bring For Every Hunting Escapade

Here are some of the essentials you must pack for every hunting escapade.... more

7 Essential Things Every Hunter Should Know

Here are seven essential things every hunter should know and must put into practice. ... more

6 Must-haves For Every Hunter For An Ultimate Experience

Preparation is key if you want to be safe and successful while hunting. If you want to make your hunt a memorable experience, follow this easy guide.... more

Hunting and Fishing License Year Begins March 1st

The new license year opens March 1, which means that is the day you can buy your 2021 hunting and fishing licenses and begin applying for permits and special licenses.... more

How to Use Modern Optics to Boost Your Hunting

In the long run, using optics will not only make you a better hunter but also improve your understanding of wildlife.... more

5 Perfect Accessories for Your AR-10

Whether you are a competitive or hobby hunter, an enhanced AR-10 rifle is paramount to your success and ease of shooting. ... more

How to Improve Your Rifle Shooting Accuracy

Here are a few tips and guidelines to consider when shooting if you are looking to improve your accuracy.... more

How to Have a Safer Hunting Experience Without Spending Too Much

If you want to ensure that your next hunting excursion is the fun and safe getaway of your dreams, read on to know more.... more

Hunting Basics Every Aspiring Hunter Should Know

Here are some hunting basics every aspiring hunter should know.... more

Montana’s Special Drawing Deadlines Reminder

Montana FWP's deadlines to apply for special license drawings is May 1 for bison, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat; and June 1 for the elk B, deer B and antelope license drawings.... more

Shed Hunters Should Give Wildlife a Break

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking shed hunters and other recreationists to give deer and elk their space until the snow melts.... more

Bird Hunter Shoots, Kills Charging Grizzly Near Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY - A pheasant hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear Nov. 4 near Pendroy along the Rocky Mountain Front that charged him.... more

Bird Hunters Need to be Bear Aware

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Upland bird hunting began Sept. 1 and hunters along the Rocky Mountain Front, especially in riparian areas, need to be aware they are in bear country.... more

Remember: Hunting is Fun

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Somehow we have forgotten that hunting today is about being outdoors, perhaps companionship, enjoying nature.... more

Elk, Mule Harvest Down, Whitetails Up On Rocky Mountain Front

Elk and mule deer taken by hunters remain below average on the Rocky Mountain Front, but the white-tailed deer harvest is up at the end of the second weekend of the 2015 general big game season.... more

Elk, Mule Deer Below Average Opener on Rocky Mountain Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Hunters hit the Rocky Mountain Front for the opening weekend of Montana’s general big game season, taking home fewer elk and mule deer compared to the past five years.... more

Donate a Hunting License to Disabled Veterans & Armed Forces Members

By JOLEEN TADEJ - Montana residents and nonresidents can show support for members of the military who have given the ultimate sacrifice by donating their hunting license.... more

Early Season Hunters: Make Fire Safety A Top Priority

By JOLEEN TADEJ - All early season hunters need to make wildfire prevention a top priority.... more

Fewer Surplus Nonresident Elk and Deer Hunting Licenses Available

Beginning Monday, May 4, nonresident hunters can choose among Montana's surplus deer, elk and big game combination hunting licenses and purchase them online or the FWP office.... more

New Year for Hunting & Fishing Licenses Begins March 1

March 1 begins the new 2015 license year for Montana hunters and anglers. The new license year is especially important for early-season anglers, and for those who enjoy ice fishing.... more

FWP Access Program Offers Tax Credits to Landowners

Landowners have until March 15 to submit applications to Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks for enrollment in a program that may qualify them for up to $2,000 in annual tax credits.... more

Hunters Need To Be Bear Aware

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Hunters along the Rocky Mountain Front, especially bird hunters in riparian areas, need to be aware they are in bear country.... more

Archery Season in Montana: Technology’s Role

By BRUCE AUCHLY-Let’s be clear. Advances in gear, archery equipment and clothing are wonderful. They are also not the culprit. The problem is not technology but what it does to us. ... more

Hunters Must Expect to See Bears

With Montana's upland game bird season opening Sept.1—and the bow hunting season set to open Sept. 6—remember that slow moving, quiet and camouflaged hunters will soon be encountering bears.... more

Fish and Wildlife Commission Adopts New Hunting Regulations

Montana's fish and wildlife commissioners recently adopted a number of new regulations that will be in effect for the next two hunting seasons.... more

Elk Totals Above Average, Deer Below Average on Rocky Mountain Front

By BRUCE ACHLEY - At the end of the fourth weekend of Montana’s big game general season, harvest numbers for elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer continues below the long-term average on the Rocky Mountain Fr... more

Elk Hunting: It’s a Young Person’s Game

By BRUCE AUCHLY - So why, you may ask, do I continue to go elk hunting. Each year it gets harder. The mountains are taller. My muscles ache more.... more

Big Game Harvest Continues Down on Rocky Mountain Front

By BRUCE ACHLEY - At the end of the fourth weekend of Montana’s big game general season, harvest numbers for elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer continues below the long-term average on the Rocky Mountain Fr... more

Hunter Numbers Strong, Wildlife Harvest Down on Rocky Mountain Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY The number of hunters remains strong on the Rocky Mountain Front but the number of animals taken is mostly below the 10-year average at the close of the second weekend of Montana’s general ... more

Opening of Big Game Season Slightly Below Average on Rocky Mountain Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Hunters hit the Rocky Mountain Front for the opening weekend of Montana’s general big game season and took home slightly fewer elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer compared to the past three... more

Hunters Beware: Two Grizzlies Spotted on Sun River near Simms, Fort Shaw

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Two separate grizzly bear sightings since Sunday near the Sun River west of Great Falls have prompted state wildlife officials to alert homeowners and hunters in the area.... more

The Third Week in September

It's the autumnal equinox, which some equate with death. But for hunters, anglers, and hikers, the third week of September is a time to anticipate, to delight in, to anxiously await. ... more

Hunters Must Expect to See Bears

With Montana's upland game bird season opening Sept.1—and the bow hunting season set to open Sept. 7—remember that hunters will soon be sharing the landscape with bears.... more

White-tailed Deer, Elk Harvest Up on Rocky Mountain Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Hunters on the Rocky Mountain Front took home more elk and white-tailed deer than average but fewer mule deer during the general big game season, which ended Nov. 25.... more

Elk, Whitetail Harvest Up, Mule Deer Below Average on Rocky Mountain Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Elk and white-tailed deer harvest numbers continue above average, while the mule deer harvest is down on the Rocky Mountain Front.... more

North Central Montana Deer and Elk Hunting Outlook

By BRUCE AUCHLY - The news for big game this fall in north central Montana is decidedly mixed. Elk and white-tailed deer numbers are solid. However, that’s generally not the case for antelope and mule deer. ... more

The Itch to Hunt in Western Montana

By BRUCE AUCHLY - The itch starts about this time of year. The itch to be in the field, trying to bugle in an elk, following a dog along a coulee on a hunt for Hungarian partridge, scouting an antelope buck as ... more

Missoula Story of the Week: Wolf Hunting in Montana

By TOM DIDDEL - A recap of this week's most talked-about story in Missoula. This week, it's wolf hunting in Montana and the controversy that surrounds it.... more

River to Table: A “Blast and Cast” Trout and Duck Harvest

By BRYCE MCLEAN and MATT DEVLIN - As big game season comes to an end, we find ourselves looking for other ways to spend our weekends. Fortunately, fishing season lives on and duck season still has two months to... more

How to Lose a Staring Contest with an Elk

By PAUL QUENEAU - Montana’s rifle hunting season is over, my freezer sits empty, but I’m more grateful than ever for this place that I live.... more

Best Brown Trout Flies for Spawning Season

By BRYCE MCLEAN & MATT DEVLIN. This weekend was the opening weekend of this year’s big game hunting season--one of the best weekends of the year. Unfortunately it falls during some of the best streamer fishin... more