i* 



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Food and rest is the big need of migrating ducks and geese. The Montana Fish 

 and Game Department provides water lor resting and introduces food and shelter 



plants in ponds and lakes. 



Waterfowl 



In 1947 the total duck population of the United States was estimated 

 to be in the neighborhood of 54,000,000 ducks. This was a low in duck 

 populations, and in spite of diversified opinions as to the cause of the 

 decline, the fact remains that the nation does not have the ducks that 

 it formerly did. 



The department has aided the waterfowl program by the improve- 

 ment of thirty-seven existing reservoirs which formerly provided little 

 waterfowl habitat. During this biennium the department has actively en- 

 gaged in a program of maintaining these reservoirs. In addition, suitable 

 waterfowl development areas have been investigated with the idea of 

 creating habitat suitable for waterfowl nesting areas. Plans are now in 

 progress that will see Montana up to date with other states in taking a 

 more active part in obtaining facts which will lead to more efficient and 

 intelligent management of the waterfowl resources. A project will be 

 initiated whereby the department will co-operate with states in the 

 Pacific and Central fljrways. These studies will include the outlining of 

 migration patterns, census, hunter-take analysis and other factors which 

 will enable the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service to set regulations which 

 will more effectively utilize the ducks and geese. It is likely that the 

 continuation of managing waterfowl by the flyway concept will be 

 continued. Flyway concepts of management will be greatly aided by 

 the type of information which will be collected by the studies planned 

 in this state. With the greatly increased demand for waterfowl since 

 the end of the war, it is not likely that each hunter's share of the water- 

 fowl crop will approximate that enjoyed by hunters of former years. 

 However, through further research, the development of waterfowl areas, 

 favorable weather and good land use, it is possible that waterfowl hunt- 

 ing may be enjoyed in such quantity as to satisfy the logical and reason- 

 able sportsmen. 



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