BIG GAME 



Antelope (Present population — 50,600) 



During the early years ofi) 

 work consisted of a state-wide. 



lion on heirj 

 that num 

 this speci 

 gram, tl 

 veloped 

 animals into 

 hund 

 new 



ers and loi 



big ga 



follow 

 plane w 

 e winaii,j^ th: 

 ine antelope 



restoration program, most of the 

 in order to obtain basic informa- 

 hese early aerial counts indicated 

 the state were almost devoid of 

 active trapping and transplanting pro- 

 very successful type of trap was de- 

 d in herding these fleet-footed game 

 portable trap. Three thousand four 

 re captured and moved into desirable 



s. ija^ibiis way—65 additional antelope herds have been 

 develop?Qf^ -_ *:^^ '■«w^— - ^ - -^ -- 



With the rapid increase in antelope numbers, particularly during 

 the past several years, an increasingly heavy take by hunters has been 

 possible. Antelope hunting, almost unknown in Montana ten years 

 ago, has now become a major big game sport. 



Grizzly Bear (Present population — 815) 



This big bear has become one of the rarest of the nation's gai:^^- 

 It has been eliminated entirely from much of its historic range through- 

 out the west. This critical problem was recognized early in the restora- 

 tion program. A detailed study was conducted throughout the wilder- 

 ness ranges in the state where grizzlies were still found. Recommenda- 

 tions from this study resulted in the discontinuance of spring hunting 

 and the establishment of a pattern of grizzly bear closures. Under this 

 type of management, it has been possible to retain an annual hunting 

 program and still encourage the restoration of the grizzly in remote 

 back country areas where it is felt to represent a distinct big game 

 asset. Montana holds first place in the number of grizzlies with only 

 Wyoming and Idaho maintaining any population worthy of note.; 



— 19 



