tain passes and always returning to the place 

 from whence they came. 



Only one instance was recorded where mar- 

 ten came from Glacier Park into the area being 

 studied. No instances were recorded where they 

 migrated in from Canada. This is probably due 

 to the continuous burned off area on either side 

 of the International Boundary at this point. 



Marten were found in the Wigwam Drain- 

 age, and it is altogether probable that an inter- 

 change between Canada and the U. S. takes 

 place in that area because of the continued green 

 timber types. 



Conclusions: 



A fund of basic information was gained dur- 

 ing the past winter's work. Additional data will, 

 however, be needed to complete several phases 

 of the survey. Particular emphasis will be placed 

 upon the development of additional information 

 pertaining to the migratory habits of the import- 

 tant fur bearers and how their numbers in a 

 given area are affected by fluctuations in the 

 population of important food species such as 

 snowshoe rabbits and pine squirrels. " 



In addition, information will be gained con- 

 cerning the compatability between members of 

 the same species and between species; in that 

 way the maximum possible population of fur 

 bearers on the area will be determined, and, by 

 comparison, the volume that may be produced 

 in other mountainous areas throughout the state. 



The data will be checked in connection with 

 the most desirable method of taking a substan- 

 tial fur crop year after year without damage to 

 the breeding stock. In this connection, the pos- 

 sibility of developing a trapper unit system upon 

 public lands, somewhat like that now used suc- 

 cessfully in Canada, will be investigated. The 

 chief advantage of this system is the assurance 

 of an orderly take of fur. The trapper working 

 upon each particular unit will take only the an- 

 nual increase each year with the assurance that 

 no one else will come in and deplete the remain- 

 ing animals. In this way the violent fluctuations in 

 number of the more valuable fur bearers through- 

 out the years would be eliminated and trapping 

 as an occupation would be placed upon a more 

 reliable basis. 



BITTERROOT DEER AND ELK SURVEY 



(Continued from page 52) 



used moderately by sheep. A quantity of the 

 coarser grass types are left after the herds have 

 grazed over the area. 

 Recommended: 



1. Maintain the game herds in the East Fork 

 area at approximately 1,250 deer and 650 elk. 



2. Place adequate amounts of salt well back 

 on the Skalkaho unit. This will tend to draw the 

 elk back onto the higher summer range, thus 

 saving the lower ranges for the critical winter 

 months. 



3. A closure was recommended in the 

 Medicine Tree area north and east of the lower 

 reaches of the East Fork of the Bitterroot. This 

 area includes approximately 33 sections (see 

 map). The protection afforded by the closed area 

 would tend to draw game animals out of the 

 heavily utilized ranges; it would also act as a 

 stepping-stone in the distribution of game to near- 

 by understocked ranges. 



4. Inaugurate an extended season in the 

 East Fork area during the fall of 1942. This would 

 aid in balancing the numbers of game animals 

 with the available winter range, and would also 

 accelerate the drift into the above described 

 closed area. 



Progress to Date: 



1. The recommended extended season to 

 December 15 in the East Fork area was put in 

 effect during the fall of 1942. 



2. An adequate amount of salt was distri- 

 buted during the past spring on the high sum- 

 mer ranges in the East Fork and Skalkaho areas. 

 Checks during the past summer indicate that a 

 more desirable distribution of elk has been ef- 

 fected. 



3. The recommended closure in the Medicine 

 Tree area on the lower East Fork was created 

 and has thus been in effect throughout the 1942 

 hunting season. A detailed inspection of the area 

 will be made during the present winter to deter- 

 mine its effect on game distribution. 



4. A detailed investigation of mountain 

 goats is being carried on at the present time 

 in the Bitterroot Range. Important information is 

 being gathered relative to other species of big 

 game in the area as well. 



[94] 



