QalLatUt Ma*u2Xfe*He*tt IttUt 



Introduction: 



The area included in this unit lies on both 

 sides of the upper reaches of the Gallatin River. 

 The princial winter range includes a total of ap- 

 proximately 60,000 acres and extends 20 miles 

 down the Gallatin River from the Yellowstone 

 Park boundary. 



Historians differ as to the origin of this elk 

 herd, but the concensus of opinion is that the 

 remnants of elk that survived the early day plains 

 hunter adapted themselves to the mountainous 

 environment. 



According to Mr. C. K. Skinner of the Park 

 Service, elk were scarce in Yellowstone Park 

 up to 1890, after which they began to increase 

 in numbers. In 1908 the records indicate that 

 winter storms and deep snows in the park drove 

 large bands of elk into the valleys of the Madi- 

 son and Gallatin Rivers. 



Between 1890 and 1906 the present winter 

 elk range was grazed heavily by range live- 

 stock. In 1908 the first area in Montana to be set 

 aside for big game was closed to grazing by 

 the Forest Service. This game range was located 

 on the Bacon Rind, Snowslide and Monument 

 Creeks of this winter area. Heavy stocking con- 

 tinued over other portions of the range, however, 

 until 1917. Since 1917 the numbers have been 

 gradually reduced. The result has been the re- 

 moval of the serious conflicts on the winter elk 

 ranges. 



The principal problem as regards manage- 

 ment of elk in this area is primarily one of dis- 

 tribution. That is the prevention of undesirably 

 heavy concentrations on relatively small areas 

 during the winter months. The number of elk 

 that this unit will support year after year is of 

 necessity limited. One of the specific objectives 

 of the winter's investigation was, therefore, the 

 determination of the carrying capacity of these 

 winter ranges. 

 Procedure: 



On November 15, 1941, a two-man crew 

 started the investigative work that was carried 

 on continuously until April 30, 1942. Headquar- 

 ters was at the Cinnamon Station, which is situ- 

 ated in the approximate center of the winter 

 range area. Field stations at convenient intervals 



were stocked early in the fall. The 60,000 acres 

 of winter range was covered twice each month 

 by horse as long as snow depths permitted, after 

 which coverage was made on foot with the aid 

 of snowshoes or skis. 

 Findings: 



The attached map shows the extent of the 

 average winter range. By the appropriate sym- 

 bols are shown areas of heavy use, under use, 

 and those ranges that are considered to be prop- 

 erly stocked with game animals. A survey to 

 eliminate portions of the winter range that were 

 found to be nonusable because of barren rock, 

 heavily drifted snow, cliffs, or other reasons, re- 

 sulted in a reduction of the available range on 

 an average winter to 41,830 acres. 



The Key Area — Key Species method was used 

 in determining the desirable carrying capacity 

 of the winter elk range. By this method the use 

 made of the most important forage plants on 

 typical portions of the various units of the win- 

 ter range was used as an index to the number 

 of elk the area as a whole would support through- 

 out the critical winter months. In this way it was 

 determined that the Gallatin unit would support 

 approximately 2,000 elk. 



The census for 1941-42 placed the total num- 

 ber in this herd at approximately 2,500 head. 

 From 875 identified animals of breeding age a 

 sex ratio of one bull to 6.4 cows was determined. 

 Of the total herd, 57.3 per cent were cows (in- 

 cluding yearlings), 19.3 per cent were bulls, and 

 23.4 per cent were calves. This year's study 

 indicates an increase of 620 animals over the 

 number determined in the area the previous 

 year. 



The dates of migration from the summer 

 range in the park to the Gallatin winter range 

 appear primarily controlled by weather condi- 

 tions. During the average year it has been found 

 to begin during the latter part of September. 

 By October elk have been observed in migra- 

 tory herds in the park area from Daily Creek to 

 the headwaters of the Gallatin River. Their travel 

 to the winter ranges follows well established 

 migration routes. The presence of hunters along 

 the boundary of the Gallatin Game Preserve has 

 acted as a check to this natural drift. This has 



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