12 



MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



As winter ranges were in poor condition, chiefly tlirough over-grazing of 

 domestic stock, elk wore forced on ]irivatc property. We received a drift from 

 tlie Dearborn country and from those ranges south of Ford creek to Lewis and 

 Clark pass that had been "grazed off. 



In January, 1934, we established a camp of four men and moved the elk 

 north — mostly across Sun river. We were able to move these elk and handle 

 them without much difficulty. By moving cattle and sheep farther back in 

 the national forest, adequate winter range would be provided and oik would 

 not be forced outside on private land. 



From what we have seen of the range during the fall and early winter of 

 1934, there is .sufficient feed on the North Fork of Sun river and also on the 

 West Fork. The manner in which the elk are drifting indicates that there will 

 not be much of a migration outside, except from the Dearlx)rn countiT- We 

 believe that we can drift those north by continuing our control work — an admitted 

 success. 



In 1932, 562 elk were killed in the Sun River drainage and enough were taken 

 out of the Teton to make a total kill of 700 head. The kill for 19.33 in the Sun 

 river drainage was 138 head and 27 were taken out of the Teton, making the 

 aggregate kill for the year about 165 head. Because of mild weather, the elk 

 did not come down until after the season was over. The kill in 1934 in the Sun 

 river drainage amounted to 160 head and about 20 were taken from the Teton. A 

 very mild winter and a lack of snow kept the kill light. A large number of 

 tho.se killed were shot south of Ford creek and Smith creek, many being forced 

 outside by range conditions in the Dearborn counti-j'- 



The elk count made by our party in 19.33 was 2,.$98. This was made in 

 March of that year. We took a heavy loss after the count as the elk were 



poor and weak, dying heavily after 

 green grass came. My count in April. 

 19.34, was 1.9S1. Wo have had a good 

 calf crop this year but I do not be- 

 lieve there are more than 2.."i00 head 

 in I lie entire territory. 



This cow elk in the Sun River country 



believes in a morning bath along 



with a drink. 



Note: Bruce \eal has lived in the 

 Sun river country for 27 years and is 

 con.sidered the best informed of any 

 man in ^Montana on the elk .situation 

 in lh;it territory. His chiefs .say: 

 "He's been over the whole country 

 barefooted". During the patrol in early 

 lii.'M. he kept a <laily diary of his 

 \vorl<. The item below tells only a 

 small jiart of the Sun river story: 



".laiuiary 27, 1931 — Up before day- 

 liglil. Tom look nie n]^ behind Heinle 

 Brookliaits. 1 cliinlx'd on top of Mo- 

 Tarty hill. -Nixon rod«' on the lower 

 rim. Frank half a mile lower down 

 and Tom on the outer edge. We started 

 the big drive. 



