MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 13 



"I followed Lime ridge over the top, picking up small buuches. We cow- 

 bellied them, the boys below making considerable racket. We moved the entire 

 buch north. On lea\ang the head of Lime I'eef we could see the had of the 

 hej'd coming through the pass far below on Out Rock basin. 



"Looking down from the head of Lime gulch I could see long files of elk 

 trailing out through the pass into the green timber headed for Beaver creek. 

 This was part of the herd I spilled on McCarty hill at daybreak. I had close 

 to 100 head in front of me on Lime reef. These broke down on the end and 

 through the narrow pass into Cut Rock basin before the bunch the other boys 

 were bringing through under the foothills. 



"I ran all the way from the top of the mountain down to the pass, climbed 

 high up on the north side of the pass and just made it in time to head the lead 

 back towards the gulch. It was wonderful sight to see those elk, about 400 

 head I would judge, strung out in long files, each bunch with its leaders. The 

 whole basin was covered with them. We gave them plenty of time to settle 

 aown, then edged in slowly. They scattered some but the main bunch broke 

 down through Holme's gulch * * * » 



"THOSE ANTELOPE" 



By W. P. SULLLIVAN 



CHAIRMAN, STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



Reports from reliable sources indicate some increase in the number of 

 antelope in isolated bands throughout the state. The herd on the Sullivan 

 game preserve near Square Butte has increased normally in the last two years. 



Excessive heat, drought, grasshoppers and a consequent low stage of stock 

 water, forced the removal of all domestic stock from the preserve in mid-July. 

 About the first of August the antelope herd began to break up into small bands 

 and migrate. They scattered over southern Choteau, northern Fergus and Judith 

 Basin counties. 



It was with deep apprehension concerning the future of these antelope that 

 we discovered only a few remaining on the preserve on September 10. We had 

 a five-day rainstorm, accompanied by snow, in late September, followed by a 

 r)eriod of warm, spring-like weather. On October 6, I made an all-day ride 

 through tne presei*\'e and was delighted at the view from every hill crest. The 

 antelope had returned home ! Grasshoppers had disappeared, water was revived 

 in springs and reservoirs and new grass had turned hills and valleys green. 

 I spent the entire day in the hills and counted 812 antelope within the enclosure. 



On November 15, I made a careful survey of the winter feed situation on 

 the preserve. There are about four sections of good winter feed in the rough 

 interior of the preserve that escaped destruction by hoppers. Should we have 

 another mild winter, this feed will be ample, with four-fifths of the preserve 

 reduced to the status of a desert. I feel that hay will have to be provided if a 

 considerable loss is to be avoided. 



