lange in Montana. Improvement of the environment for wildlife as a 

 first step in the whole process of wildlife management promises to be 

 the most feasible and logical. 



The whole pheasant program during this biennium has been modern- 

 ized and revamped. Closer correlation between the three enlarged and 

 improved game fai'ms now exists. The Restoration Division has a large 

 part in the pheasant program. Guesswork and personal opinion are 

 being discarded, and facts are being gathered to present a real basis 

 for an intelligent program. 



Since the state has a combination small game and fishing license, 

 there is no immediate method to determine the trends of small game 

 hunting pressure. In addition, the combination license forces the distri- 

 bution of funds for fish and game bird work to be made by estimate. 



Hungarian Partridge 



The sportsmen have been aware that this speedster has not been 

 plentiful for a number of years. From all indications this splendid 

 game bird does not have the fortunate facilities to weather through a 

 tough winter as does the Chinese pheasant. It is entirely possible that 

 almost the entire population may be wiped out in local areas by adverse 

 weather conditions. It is just as likely that these birds may appear in 

 their former abundance almost as quickly as they vanished. Since 1946 

 reports indicate that the Hungarian partridge is seen in greater numbers 

 than previously, and in view of the fact that the welfare of this bird 

 depends to a large extent upon factors beyond the control of man, the 

 department must follow the plan of allowing the maximum utilization 

 of the increase whenever satisfactory populations permit. 



GAME BIRDS LIBERATED 



1946 1947 



Billings 15,142 19,075 



Fort Peck 17,153 16,194 



Warm Springs 4,724 10,846 



TOTALS 37,019 36,115 



Fur-Bearing Animals 



The legislature in 1947 gave the Fish and Game Commission author- 

 ity to set the trapping season on fur-bearing animals. Using this 

 authority, the Commission in 1947 declared an open season on mink, fox, 

 raccoon and muskrat. The recommendations of sportsmen's clubs, the 

 fur industry, trappers and other interested parties all were considered. 

 Generally the season proved to be satisfactory. 



An auction sale of confiscated furs was conducted in 1947. The sale 

 was conducted on a high plane, following procedures regularly used in 

 the fur industry. Montana fur interests have been well pleased with the 

 method of procedure and with the results obtained. 



The department has been actively engaged in a program of trapping 

 and planting beaver. Complaints of damage received during the summer, 

 when the pelts are not prime, result in the live trapping of individual 

 beaver which are damaging to private owners and public land managers. 

 Suitable transplanting sites are selected where beaver are not present. 

 Preliminary investigations indicate that this type of program is pro- 

 ducing beneficial effects. 



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