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Paddling Film Festival is May 14 in Whitefish

| April 27, 2023 12:00 AM

Paddling Film Festival

Flathead Rivers Alliance and Montana Kayak Academy co-present the 18th annual Paddling Film Festival at O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish on Sunday, May 14 from 7-9 p.m.

The Paddling Film Festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year — whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, rafting, SUP, action and lifestyle around the world. Audiences will see expert whitewater showcases, motivating environmental documentaries, epic standup paddle boarding quests and grueling kayak fishing battles.

Proceeds from tickets will go to support Flathead Rivers Alliance and Montana Kayak Academy’s nonprofit mission work There will be chances for give-a-ways and raffle items for attendees.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

Film fest tickets are available online and at the Sportsman and Ski Haus in Whitefish and Kalispell. Tickets may be available at door day of event, but not guaranteed pending advance ticket sales.

Missouri River paddlefish season

This year’s Montana paddlefish seasons kicks off on May 1 with the opening of the Upper Missouri River section from Fort Benton downstream to Fort Peck Dam. Anglers must have a White Harvest Tag to participate in catching and keeping a paddlefish from this section of the river. These tags are issued through a lottery system. FWP mails these tags to successful applicants.

Unsuccessful paddlefish drawing applicants will be issued a snag-and-release only license for the Upper Missouri River. Others may also purchase snag and release tags for this fishery, even if they are not part of the lottery.

The paddlefish season on the Missouri River below Fort Peck Dam and in the Yellowstone River below the mouth of the Bighorn River opens May 15, and the archery fishing season for paddlefish in the Fort Peck Dredge Cuts below Fort Peck Dam opens July 1.

All harvested paddlefish must be immediately tagged and reported within 48 hours.

Hunting license deadlines

The deadline to apply for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and bison is Monday, May 1. The deadline to apply for elk B, deer B, and antelope is Thursday, June 1.

All applications must be completed online or at an FWP office. Most FWP offices with license sales are open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. is at www.flatheadrivers.org.