in the past created a concentration of 1,000 to 

 1,500 elk on the vital winter ranges of the Tepee 

 and Daily Creeks, preventing a normal distribu- 

 tion and utilization of the ranges of the lower 

 country. The attached map shows this area of 

 heavy use. On the upper Gallatin, in the vicinity 

 of Tepee Creek, there is marked evidence of over- 

 utilization of forage by elk during winter months. 

 In this area most of the Key-Species have been 

 used very heavily, and some to the point of 

 killing. Early stages of erosion are evident on 

 the west and south exposures of the hills in the 

 lower Tepee, Daily and Black Butte Creeks. 



Conservation Committee for the Upper 

 Gallatin Water Shed 



In February, 1932, a group of men interested 

 in this particular game problem, and representing 

 the Montana State College at Bozeman, Bozeman 

 Chamber of Commerce, Forest Service, National 

 Park Service, Sportsmen's Organization, Dude 

 Ranches, State Game Department, Stockmen and 

 the Northern Pacific Railroad, were called to- 

 gether by Fred B. Williams, president of the 

 Bozeman Rod and Gun Club, to correlate the sev- 



eral uses being made of the winter range of the 

 Gallatin elk herd. Out of this group there ema- 

 nated the Conservation Committee of the Upper 

 Gallatin Watershed. (When it was created, the 

 Junior Chamber of Commerce was also included 

 in the group.) 



The members of this committee have trav- 

 eled on horseback twice each year over the 

 principal winter elk ranges. As a result of these 

 inspection trips, a definite set of recommenda- 

 tions has been drawn up and submitted to the 

 Fish and Game Commission. The aid and co- 

 operation given by this group has been greatly 

 appreciated. 



Recommendations: 



(1) That the number of elk using this winter 

 range should be maintained at approximately 

 2,000 head. 



(2) That the Squaw Creek Checking Station 

 should be maintained in order that accurate data 

 may be kept on the kill by hunters. It is fur- 

 ther recommended that an annual field check 

 be made during the most desirable winter period. 



(Please turn to page 95) 



This yearling: mule deer buck seems 

 very proud of his first antlers. The 

 single spikes as shown in this picture 

 are rather rare in this species in Mon- 

 tana. Small two-point hoads are far 



$ .- 



