The marked increase of antelope and deer throughout much of 

 the State during the past several years has brought about the need 

 for a careful analysis of the feeding habits of these two important 

 big game species. This work will materially aid in correlating the 

 management of big game with agriculture. 



Perhaps the most important phase of the program highlighted 

 during the past two years has been the acquisition and development 

 of waterfowl areas. Although the need for public hunting areas has 

 not as yet presented as serious a problem in Montana as in the more 

 thickly populated states, it is felt its future assurance is being guar- 

 anteed by such acquisition programs and will become increasingly 

 important in the future. 



More detailed phases of the Wildlife Restoration program with 

 particular reference to that accomplished during the past two years 

 is summarized in the following pages. 



Big Game 



The above figures indicate a continued upward trend among sev- 

 eral species of big game. The taking of either sex deer throughout 

 much of the state has become necessary in order that numbers of 

 game may be kept in balance with forage available to them, particul- 

 arly during severe winter periods. Observation has indicated that a 

 higher rate of production is evidenced among big game herds on range 

 where adequate amounts of forage are available. 



This basic principal as applied to game management indicates 

 the desirability of a substantial hunter take throughout many big 

 game ranges in the State to assure a maximum annual increase. In 

 addition to this important objective, hunter harvest, as based upon 



— 25 — 



