HELLROARING - SLOUGH CREEK 

 MOOSE INVESTIGATION 



(Continued from page 45) 



POSSIBLE KILL BY DRAINAGES 



Present Number Desired 



Drainage Males Females Full Kill 



Hellroaring Cr 39 28 11 



Buffalo Forks 22 14 8 



Slough Creek 36 25 11 



Total Kill 30 



The recommended kill is believed conserva- 

 tive as it is based on the total number of 194 

 moose actually seen during the summer's work, 

 and not on the estimated number of 284, which 

 would give a kill of 54. 



During the following years the kill should be 

 based upon one half of the yearlings in the herd, 

 as it is thought the age class is a better indica- 

 tion of the annual increase than the calves, as 

 they have survived the most critical period of 

 their lives. This method of harvest would hold 

 the size of the moose herd at the maximum carry- 

 ing capacity of the area. 



The question of transplanting or removing by 

 driving the surplus of mature bulls has been dis- 

 cussed and given thorough consideration. Due 

 to past experience in other parts of the country, 

 and the inaccessibility of the overstocked area, 

 this method does not appear feasible. 



The harvesting of these moose can only be 

 accomplished by the limited license method, and 

 should be put under rigid control to guarantee 

 that only the desired sex and age class would 

 be taken. This would require legislative action. 



It is felt that the area warrants additional 

 inspection carried on during the criitcal winter 

 period; therefore, two trips have been planned for 

 the winter of 1942-43. In this way the data ob- 

 tained from the past winter's work will be checked 

 and additional information obtained. 



MOUNTAIN SHEEP SURVEY 



(Continued from page 42) 

 tion of the band by parasites or disease. Poach- 

 ing had apparently played a part in holding the 

 band down in the past but was not serious at the 



time the investigation was conducted. Very in- 

 teresting data was secured in connection with 

 the feeding habits of the sheep. Various species of 

 grass made up their principal winter diet. It was 

 determined that the winter range would support 

 up to 300 head of mountain sheep. 



MADISON COUNTY MOUNTAIN SHEEP STUDY 



A report compiled by Richard Alsop of the 

 Madison Valley Rod <S Gun Club was submitted 

 to the Fish and Game Commission in 1941. The 

 report was cumulative, including observations 

 made since the winter of 1935-36. The author 

 stated that much of the material had been obtained 

 in cooperation with the Gallatin National Forest. 



Three distinct groups of mountain sheep were 

 found in Madison county. These were in the fol- 

 lowing areas: 



1. Tobacco Root Mountains, west of Potosi 

 Hot Springs. 



2. Indian Creek, in the Madison Range. 



3. Moose and Squaw Creeks in the Madison 

 Range. 



The estimated total of these three bands was 

 given as 60 head. It was definitely determined 

 that there had been no material increase during 

 the period of the study. No extensive seasonal 

 migration was noted. It is felt that the ranges in- 

 volved will carry a substantially larger number 

 of mountain sheep. Poaching was not found to 

 be a serious factor in holding down the numbers. 

 No evidence of disease or parasites was found. 



Both the Ural-Tweed and the Madison re- 

 ports contain a great deal of worthwhile informa- 

 tion pertaining to the mountain sheep in the two 

 regions. This will be incorporated into the state- 

 wide management plan for this important spe- 

 cies of big game. 



FUR SECTION — INTRODUCTION 



(Continued from page 73) 

 Trailing observations indicate that marten 

 confine their operations to a home ronge. Follow- 

 ing the trails of individual marten has shown that 

 the cruising radius is limited to 12 or 15 miles, 

 going from one creek basin to another, using cer- 



[93 



