RU 42 and 43 



Acres: 25,928 

 Rent: $6,573 Annually 



Permittees: Poison Indian Stock Association 

 Mission Indian Stock Association 



Ranqe Units 42 and 43 are located on the west side of the Flathead 

 River with the east boundary in the river and the west boundary in the 

 Garson Gulch area and the Little Bitterroot area. These two units are 

 ^ery similar in that they have large areas of rough steep terrain and very 

 little stockwater on the higher and steeper areas. Due to the terrain and 

 location of stockwater, grazing is severe on the lower elevations and along 

 the river. About 40 percent of the ranqe area gets over grazed, and the 

 balance is in good to excellent range condition. 



Both of these units will require considerable cross fencing and 

 stockwater development. Most usable springs in the units have had little 

 or no maintenance and need considerable repair. Salting by the permittees 

 is done at the water which is a poor practice for getting nood livestock 

 distribution. Over the past years the turn out date has been May 1 which 

 is too early for these units. The grass never gets a chance to reseed or 

 build a good healthy root system. One solution to get better management 

 in these units is to cross fence. The fence could run north and south and 

 fence the lower range from the higher, steeper part. If cross fencing is 

 used the river portion of the unit could be rested the early part of the 

 grazing season. If fencing is done water will also have to be developed. 



Another solution that would require no fencing would be to set the 

 qrazinq season for fall and winter use. During the cool part of the year 

 cattle would graze most of the steeper parts and also give the unit a rest 



(9) 



