localities where antelope had once been found, but had been exterminated 

 many years ago. Areas where plants were made were the Shields River 

 Valley, the Missouri Valley, the Waterloo Area in the Jefferson Valley, 

 and the Horseshoe Hills in the Gallatin Valley. 



Trapping and Transplanting Beaver 



A program of live-trapping and transplanting beaver is being car- 

 ried out. This involves moving beaver from areas in the agricultural 

 districts where they were found to be a nuisance back into the moun- 

 tainous portions of the state where their ponds and dams are a distinct 

 benefit in the control of water run-off as well as an aid in the de- 

 velopment of game fish habitat. 



During the past two years 364 beaver have been moved into desir- 

 able areas. A follow-up of this work has indicated that in most cases, 

 the introduced beaver have very quickly adapted themselves to their 

 new environment. 



Posting Game Preserves and Closed Areas 



Work has been continued on this project dui-ing the past two years. 

 A number of the important game preserves and closed areas within the 

 state have been posted. 



Waterfowl Habitat Improvement 



Under this program which has been carried on since the beginning 

 of the Restoration work, 37 reservoirs have had wildlife areas fenced 

 around their upper edge. In addition to fencing the areas, both food 

 bearing shrubs and aquatic plants have been placed in these areas. The 

 reservoirs vary in size from 50 acres up to several square miles. The 

 reservoirs upon which this work is being conducted are leased by the 

 Montana Fish and Game Commission from the Soil Conservation Service 

 and the Montana Water Board. 



Leasing Winter Game Range 



Approximately 120,000 acres of critically important winter deer and 

 elk range have been leased during the past two years. These ranges 

 are located in the Fish Creek drainage in Mineral County, the Thomp- 

 son River area in Sanders County and the Blackfoot Canyon in Missoula 

 County. 



Game Range Salting 



Fifty-five tons of game salt has been purchased yearly during the 

 past two years under this project. Of this amount 12 tons were placed 

 in the Sun River, Flathead and Mission range areas by plane two years 

 ago and 16 tons last year. The Bitterroot range was added to the areial 

 salting program during the past year. Salting by plane has been found 

 to be the most practical method of getting game salt in remote wilder- 

 ness range areas sufficiently early in the spring to obtain maximum 

 benefits in regard to better game distribution. 



Ring-Necked Pheasant Food Shelter Development 



During the past two years 12 food shelters have been constructed 

 in the Helena Valley and 6 in the Gallatin Valley. Food and grit hop- 

 pers have been provided within these shelters. 



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