SUN RIVER UNIT 



(Progress Report) 

 Introduction: 



The small number of mountain sheep remain- 

 ing in the state are apparently little better than 

 holding their own. The reason for this is the 

 number one wildlife problem, not only in Mon- 

 tana but throughout the West. From one of the 

 more abundant big game species of half a cen- 

 tury ago, the mountain sheep have dwindled to 

 a small number of isolated groups. 



Many theories have been put forth attempt- 

 ing to explain this unsatisfactory condition. In 

 breeding, due to the isolated location of the small 

 bands, an overabundance of rams, and the affect 

 of disease — particularly pneumonia, have been 

 put forth as possible contributing causes. There 

 is also the thought that the activities of civiliza- 

 tion have caused the mountain sheep to remain 

 throughout the year in areas of higher elevation 

 and a more severe climate than they were ac- 

 customed to on their historic range. Competition 

 for forage with other game species and, in some 

 cases, livestock is another consideration. 



To date the riddle has remained unsolved. 

 One band in the West, however, has proved the 

 exception to the rest. The Tarryall herd in Colo- 

 rado, which is said to have numbered seven head 

 in 1923, now includes over 400. This exception only 

 goes to prove that mountain sheep have the po- 

 tential possibility of rapid increase if conditions 

 are favorable. 



The Sun River herd has been selected for a 

 detailed investigation. This unit is representative 

 of the mountain sheep ranges of the state. It is 

 therefore felt that the result of the investigation 

 in this area may be applied for the development 

 of this species in other parts of the state. 

 Procedure: 



On May 20, 1942, a fieldman was assigned 

 to the Sun River area to carry on detailed in- 



vestigations of the mountain sheep and their 



ranges. 



Findings: 



All of the sheep seen during the present sum- 

 mer have seemed healthy. The census to date 

 totals 206 animals: 13 rams, 75 ewes, 20 yearlings, 

 49 lambs, and 49 unclassified. This represents the 

 summer count. Few mature rams were seen on 

 the lower and intermediate portions of the range. 

 Those that were found were in high inaccessible 

 areas. Counts during the breeding season of early 

 December will no doubt show a marked increase 

 in rams. 



A desirable number of lambs has been ob- 

 served during the past summer season with a 

 ewe-lamb ratio of 1 : .83. However, the number 

 of yearlings was comparatively small, indicating 

 the probability of a rather serious loss of lambs 

 during the first winter. 



The range conditions have been recorded as 

 excellent. No evidence was found of coyote dam- 

 age during the summer months. Golden eagles 

 are very common the year around in this area. 

 The possibility of predation from this source is 

 being carefully checked. 



The work on this project will be completed 

 on June 30, 1943. A detailed report covering the 

 complete findings will be available at that time. 



URAL TWEED MOUNTAIN SHEEP REPORT 



A cooperative mountain sheep investigation 

 was carried on during the winter of 1940-1941. 

 The work was conducted on the game ranges 

 between Five Mile and Sutton creeks on the east 

 side of the Kootenai river. This area lies 30 miles 

 north of Libby on the road to Rexford. The Mon- 

 tana Fish <S Game Commission and the U. S. 

 Forest Service sponsored this project jointly. Rob- 

 ert Brink conducted the field work and submitted 

 the final report. 



Within the winter range of the big horns the 

 mountains rise rather abruptly from the narrow- 

 river bottoms. Outcroppings of ledge type rock 

 occur along these steep side hills. The entire area 

 is predominately timbered with larch and fir. 



It was found that approximately 100 head of 



mountain sheep were wintering in the area. There 



was no evidence which indicated serious deple- 



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