Census work carried on during the past sea- 

 son indicates that between 2,500 and 2,600 elk 

 wintered in the Sun River area. The age class 

 distribution, as based upon positively identified 

 animals, showed that 27 per cent were calves of 

 the previous season. This figure indicates a high 

 rate of increase for the herd. 



Two distinct phases of migration have been 

 found to occur in connection with the Sun River 

 elk herd: 



1. Migrations from one portion of the Sun 

 River drainage to another. These movements are 

 motivated by a desire for forage. During the win- 

 ter months, distinct routes are followed as the 

 elk move from the deep snow of the high ranges 

 onto areas where food is more available. 



2. Migrations in and out of the Sun River 

 proper. The past year's work, as well as previous 

 surveys and observations, have pointed toward a 

 relationship between the Sun River and Flathead 

 elk herds. Use by elk of the passes along the 

 Continental Divide was first noticed in 1917. The 

 volume of this movement has apparently in- 

 creased markedly since that time. It appears that 

 the early hunting season throughout the head- 

 waters of the South Fork of the Flathead has been 

 an important factor in causing a movement of 

 elk into the Sun River during the early fall. Ob- 

 servations further indicate that the majority of 

 the elk that move into this Sun River, winter there. 

 It is thought that this movement of elk from the 

 Flathead has been an important factor in main- 

 taining the number of elk on the Sun River 

 ranges. 



Work in the field, both during the fall and 

 spring, has shown that the most important elk 

 passes along the Continental Divide are the fol- 

 lowing: 



1. Indian Creek-Molly Creek Pass. 



2. Larch Hill-White River Pass. 



3. Lick Creek-Hart Creek Pass. 



An analysis of the number of elk killed by 

 hunters for each season since 1910 indicates that 

 weather has been the most important single 

 factor in determining the volume of kill. Severe 

 fall storms have tended to move the elk out of 

 the more remote ranges into areas where they 

 may be reached by hunters. Checking station 

 records covering the past 1 1 years are listed in 

 the following tabulation: 



Elk Killed by Man in Sun River Area 

 In Last 11 Years 



Year 



Kill 



Year 



Kill 



1932 642 



1933 200 



1934 187 



1935 266 



1936 200 



1937 505 



1938 1,000 



1939 200 



1940 600 



1941 ...1,100 



1942 1,108 



Recommendations: 



(a) The number of elk in the Sun River herd 

 should be maintained at between 2,000 and 2,500 

 head. This is based upon the estimated carrying 

 capacity of the available winter range within 

 the National Forest boundary. 



(b) The problems of heavy vegetative use 

 in the Sun River area are local in character and 

 due primarily to faulty distribution. Every effort 

 should therefore be made to achieve the proper 

 distribution of the elk herd. 



The placement of salt on game ranges has 

 been found to be an important factor in drawing 

 elk into desired areas. An intensive salting pro- 

 gram has been developed for the Sun River. The 

 salt plan calls for placement in strategic areas 

 at intermediate and high elevations. The follow- 

 ing objectives were kept in mind when the plan 

 was drawn up: 



All salt should be placed above the winter 

 ranges. In this way, elk would be drawn up off 

 important winter ranges as soon as possible in 

 the spring of the year and kept off until late 

 in the fall. As a result the maximum amount of 

 forage would be reserved on ranges available to 

 the elk during the critical winter period. The de- 

 veloped plan also takes into consideration the 

 relief of heavy concentrations about natural licks. 

 It has been found that salt, properly placed and 

 available during the spring and early summer 

 months, has the desired effect of attracting elk 

 away from natural licks. 



In the light of the above described objectives 

 it is recommended that the intensive salting pro- 

 gram inaugurated three years ago be continued. 



A field check was made during the past sum- 

 mer to determine the results of the distribution of 

 1 1,700 pounds of salt by airplane on June 18, 1942. 

 The salt visited during this check indicated that 

 (Please turn to page 96) 



[62] 



