Jocelyn Dodge

Although the long Labor Day holiday weekend signals the unofficial beginning of fall, in Southwest Montana there are still plenty of opportunities for us to enjoy the great outdoors even with the changing of the seasons. We had a chance to sit down with local forester and recreation enthusiast Jocelyn Dodge to chat about what the end of summer means for campers, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts.

All one needs to do is look outside to see that fire season has come to our region, particularly Southwest Montana where several forest fires are presently burning. The smoke in Southwest Montana has been particularly thick and hot, dry weather has settled in over the past couple of weeks. This increased danger does not mean the end of summer outdoor recreation, but it does mean that you will need to be mindful of conditions and vigilant in preventing wildfires when venturing onto public lands. We sat down with local forester and outdoor recreation enthusiast, Jocelyn Dodge, who offered advice on the steps that need to be taken.

Local forester Jocelyn Dodge stresses preparedness in the wilderness amidst melting snow and muddy roads.

We are only a few days away from a day that hunters from all across Montana and even all across the entire region have had circled on their calendars since early last December. The Treasure State's general big game rifle season opens on Saturday, October 21 and we had the chance to talk with local forester and avid outdoor enthusiast Jocelyn Dodge about what steps you need to take when venturing into the Montana backcountry.

Fall is definitely in the air in Southwest Montana but along with the crisp mornings and imminent snowfall there are many recreation opportunities on our area's roads, trails and campsites. We had a chance to chat with local forester and outdoor enthusiast Jocelyn Dodge and she offered some helpful suggestions for anyone who wants to get outside and enjoy the changing of the seasons.

Local recreationalist and forester Jocelyn Dodge tells us the campsites in our area open are ready for use. "All campgrounds in the Butte area including Delmoe Lake, Beaver Dam, Lowlands, Toll Mountain and Whitehouse are now open along with campgrounds in the Georgetown Lake area," Dodge told us. "However, along with a new season comes new fees that you may find upon arrival," she added.