WILDLIFE 

 RESTORATION PROGRAM 



INTRODUCTION 



At the end of this biennium twelve years of restoration work has 

 been completed in Montana. This program came into being following 

 legislative assent to the Pittman-Robertson Act in the winter of 1941. 

 During the twelve years that have followed, a great deal of wildlife 

 work has been possible through the use of funds thus made available. 

 As the amount allocated each state from the excise tax on sporting 

 arms and ammunition is determined by the size of the state, as well 

 as the number of licenses sold, Montana ranks seventh in the propor- 

 tion of money received. This money is available for wildlife projects 

 on much the same basis as the Federal Aid to highway programs. That 

 is, the Fish and Game Department pays twenty-five percent of the 

 cost of the projects while the remaining seventy-five percent comes 

 from the Federal Treasury. 



Projects are prepared, administered and carried out by state per- 

 sonnel. The Fish and Wildlife Service, acting for the federal govern- 

 ment, determines only that the projects are sound and of value to wild- 

 life. All property and equipment acquired under this program belongs 

 to the state. 



The scope of the restoration program is wide as it includes neces- 

 sary investigative activities, wildlife habitat development and acquisi- 

 tion. The work covers big game, upland garne birds, waterfowl and 

 furbearers. 



The following includes a brief summary of the activities carried 

 on throughout the life of the program with special emphasis on that 

 portion completed during the reported biennium. 



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