50 Years of Progress 



Fifty years of operation as a functional part of the state's govern- 

 ment were completed by the Montana Fish and Game Department dur- 

 ing the past biennium. In these five decades one can trace tremendous 

 changes in the status of wildlife in the state. At one time Montanans 

 depended on wild game for food and clothing. This dependence gradu- 

 ally decreased as agriculture developed until today the fish and game 

 resource is one that fulfills a different but very real need of people 

 living under modern strains, healthful recreation and relaxation. Man 

 is essentially an outdoor animal, and wildlife gives him an opportunity 

 to be out of doors. 



Actually the demand for more hunting and fishing has increased 

 at almost unbelievable rates. In 1901 less than 5,000 people purchased 

 hunting or fishing licenses. Fifty years later, in 1951, this ever growing 

 group of hunters and fishermen had increased to more than 200,000. 

 Nearly one out of every three men, women and children in the state 

 purchase a hunting or fishing license. 



Paralleling this increase has been the advancement in equipment 

 and methods of taking game. High velocity rifles; telescope sights, 

 spinning rods, more and better ammunition and lures all have made 

 the hunter and angler potentially more effective in putting game in the 

 bag and fish in the creel. Add to these more leisure time and faster 

 transportation and it can be seen that the pressure on wildlife is many 

 times greater than at any previous period in the state's history. 



Yet in spite of the great increase in sportsmen demand it is safe 

 to say that more game was taken during the past biennium than in any 

 other two-year period in the history of the state. 



What better measure of a successful game management program 

 can be had than the amount of fish and game taken by the participating 

 sportsmen? This game management program is one that has grown 

 each year to meet the demand. Facilities and equipment have been 

 enlarged and modernized. More and better trained personnel have 

 been added to the department staff. The Fish and Game Department 

 has moved forward during its 50 years of existence. It has met the 

 challenge of civilization against wildlife and at least for the present is 

 maintaining adequate game populations to meet the needs and demands 

 of Montana sportsmen. 



Trends today in business, science and industry are toward improved 

 methods, resulting from research. In game management scientific 

 treatment of pi'ob'ems is a necessity. Long past are the times when 



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