An analysis of range conditions and trends 

 on a statewide basis represents an increasingly 

 important segment of the management staff's 

 work load. Cooperation with public and private 

 land administrators is a particularly important 

 factor of this program. 



Problems of range depletion brought to 

 light by recent cooperative studies have point- 

 ed up the need for an exhilarated hunter take, 

 particularly in regard to deer. For several 

 years the harvest of either sex has been an im- 

 portant factor of this program. Where special 

 range problems have been observed, seasons 

 have been extended. This has aided in pin- 

 pointing hunting pressure in areas of special 

 need. The use of a legislative enactment allow- 

 ing the issuance of $20.00 out-of-state deer and 

 antelope licenses has represented another im- 

 portant aid in the control of game numbers. 

 Antelope range problems appear to be, in most 

 cases, reasonably well in hand. Deer, however, 

 still present some serious use problems. Much 

 appreciated cooperation of landholders, sports- 

 men. Legislators, and Federal Agencies has 

 represented a vital factor in the working out 

 of these problems. 



The acquisition of small isolated tracts of 

 key winter game range ( discussed in detail 

 further on in this report) has proven to be a 

 solution to sex'eral of Montana's most perplex- 

 ing elk problems. A careful study of the food 

 relationship of elk and livestock on mountain 

 ranges will, when completed, add a great deal 

 to the fund of information necessary to prop- 

 erly manage both these important users of 

 public range lands. It is becoming increasingly 

 apparent that through careful management 

 there is adequate forage for both domestic live- 

 stock and elk on the majority of mountain 

 ranges. 



Elk Planting: 



The planting of elk from surpluses in 

 Yellowstone National Park, although highly 

 important during the years of herd establish- 

 ment, is taking a less important place in the elk 

 management program today. It has been found 

 that elk have now been established on the ma- 

 jority of ranges adaptable to this highly prized 

 species of big game. Major effort has now 



been shifted to the management of the herds 

 in harmony with the forage supply and other 

 uses of these ranges. 



Harvest of moose by special permit has 

 increased in scope and importance through the 

 past several years. Starting as a mature bull 

 harvest only, the seasons have been, in most 

 cases, liberalized to either sex. The number 

 taken has reached somewhat over 400 yearly. 

 This represents only a little over 10% of the 

 estimated statewide annual increase. It ap- 

 peal's, therefore, that with careful management 

 the harvest m.ay be somewhat increased on a 

 sustained basis in the future. 



Hunters must work to get the prized Rocky Mountain 



Mountain goat hunting has become an im- 

 portant sport of considerable magnitude. Sev- 

 eral areas where goats were introduced in the 

 '40s are now making a very important contri- 

 bution to the mountain ranges where this game 

 species has been hunted for many years. The 

 Crazy Mountains represent an area of extreme 

 importance as one of the newer hunting 

 regions. 



Bighorn Sheep : 



The Rocky Mountain bighorn, long a rare 

 species in Montana, has increased in recent 

 years to numbers justifying a carefully regu- 

 lated hunt. Coupled with the opportunity for 

 mountain goats, sheep hunting has bi'ought 



