ABSTRACT 



A fish and wildlife inventory and planning study was conducted 

 along the middle Missouri River from 1 October 1975 through 1 Janu- 

 ary 1980. Big game found in the study area include mule deer, white- 

 tailed deer, antelope, elk and mountain sheep. Game birds present 

 are sage grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, Hungarian partridge, ring- 

 necked pheasants, turkeys and waterfowl. Yearlong observations of 

 all species of game were recorded. Mule deer, antelope, mountain 

 sheep and sage grouse winter ranges were delineated during average 

 and extremely severe winters. Mule deer classification and winter 

 range densities and summer antelope population surveys were made. 

 Known sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse breeding grounds were 

 surveyed. Previously unknown sage grouse and sharp-tailed grouse 

 breeding grounds were located and surveyed. Primary pheasant habi- 

 tat was mapped, pheasant winter sex ratios were taken and Hungarian 

 partridge winter covey size was recorded. Upland game bird and 

 waterfowl brood data were collected. Canada goose breeding popu- 

 lations and nest surveys were made. Harvest and production figures 

 for some big game and game birds are presented. Other birds and 

 mammals are discussed. State and federal land parcels important to 

 wildlife are identified. Major existing and potential environmental 

 problems affecting the wildlife resource are discussed. Major prob- 

 lems are livestock overgrazing, brush eradication, weed eradication, 

 oil and gas development and dam construction. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION 



Fish and game resource planning has been, and continues to 

 be, an important phase of the fish and game managers' work. How- 

 ever, the constant pressure of day-to-day management consumes most 

 of their time. The intensity of individual fish and game problems 

 also varies from place to place in a management area. Consequently, 

 managers have not been able to develop complete inventories of 

 either wildlife or wildlife habitat in a common area. 



This project is a comprehensive inventory of the fish and 

 game resources in the study area, from which plans for management 

 of these resources can be formulated. This report consists of 

 two sections: (1) Fisheries, and (2) Big Game and Upland Game Birds. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 



Location 



The middle Missouri River project area is located in north- 

 central Montana (Figure 1) . The western boundary of the study area 

 originates at Morony Dam on the Missouri River approximately 8 miles 

 northeast of Great Falls, Montana. The study area continues north- 

 eastward, then southeastward and then eastward, following the 

 course of the Missouri River for about 184 miles and taking in the 



