The Perfect Place For Wildlife and Bird Watching
Nature lovers will find that there is an abundance of opportunities to appreciate the things they’re passionate about in Great Falls, Montana. There is a wide variety of wildlife in the area that can be observed any time of year. Great Falls has been considered the best viewing area for wild animals and birdwatching.
Covering thirteen square miles, Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge is a very popular place to visit for these types of activities. There is a Prairie Marsh Wildlife Drive Auto Tour that takes you over nine miles of terrain in about an hour and a half. There are signs along the tour that tell about each area. In the first section, you will find eight manmade wetland areas that are perfect for breeding ducks. There is an open prairie, ideal for birds such as meadowlarks, longspurs, and sparrows. There are opportunities to see duck nests and hatchlings. You can even walk the Prairie Marsh Trail and take the boardwalk out over the marsh to look for a variety of nests.
The hunting of waterfowl and game bird is permitted during waterfowl season, which is during the months of October and November. Big game hunting is not permitted.
Sun River Wildlife Management Area is another great place for viewing the natural wildlife in Great Falls. The goal here is to improve the quality of habitats for elk and other wildlife, as well as to provide both viewing and hunting opportunities.
The wide variety of game bird, non-game bird, and animal species provide for impressive viewing from May 15 through December 1. Spring and fall are the best times to see the migrations of birds. Winter is the prime season for spotting Elk.
Hunting and fishing are permitted in the Sun River Wildlife Management Area. Elk hunting is permitted during archery season. You may hunt deer, black bear, and grouse during archery season as well as their individual seasons. Fishing is permitted in Barr Creek and Swayze and Dickens Lakes.
There are plenty of other wildlife refuges in the area, such as the Ear Mountain Wildlife Management Area, where you can spot mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, and grizzlies. Judith Wildlife Management Area provides plenty of opportunity for viewing the elk and deer that feed on the lush vegetation there. Kevin Rim is another area that offers viewing of elk, deer, fox, and other native wildlife.