WATERFOWL 



The waterfowl woik has been one of the newer fields of activity 

 entered into by the wildlife restoration staff. The first project was a 

 state-wide coverage to determine the amount and location of water- 

 fowl breeding grounds. This was accompanied by both aerial and 

 ground census to further determine the annual production of water- 

 fowl. In this way Montana's contribution to the hunter by locally 

 raised ducks and geese was worked out. The coverage of the breed- 

 ing grounds has brought out the need for the improvement of several 

 marsh areas with the primary objective of raising the number of 

 locally produced waterfowl and encouraging migrants to linger in 

 the state. / 



The areas now approved for acquistion and development are 

 Little Muddy Creek near Cascade, Freezout Lake near Fairfield, 

 Chain-O-Lakes near Fresno Reservoir north and west of Havre, Fox 

 Lake near Lambert in Richland County ^nd several others. 



Montana affects, and is affected by, two of the major waterfowl 

 flyways, the Pacific and Central. Committees have been formed com- 

 posed of representatives of the various states and provinces lying 

 within these flyways. Montana has been able to contribute matei ially 

 to the fund of important information gathered by these FI3 way 

 Councils. This information regarding the migration of waterfowl is 

 of extreme importance in setting, the waterfowl seasons throughout 

 the nation. s^'-^^^'^--^ ^ 



Of particular importance in this regard has been the banding of 

 20,000 ducks. Returns from these bands are adding much needed in- 

 formation regarding the movements of waterfowl along the two major 

 flyways. 



An intensive study of locally raised Canadian geese is being 

 conducted in conjunction with the Wildlife Research Unit at the Uni- 

 versity. It is expected that the results of this work will lead to the 

 betterment of conditions for this important waterfowl species. 



stock pond reservoirs in Kastern Mont.ina offer some of the better waterfowl 

 breeding Rrounds in the state but over-KrazinK b.v livestock (left) discourages 

 brood production. A continuinK program of the Fish and Game Department to 

 provide sufficient vegetative cover (right) will assure future waterfowl harvests. 



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