In the course of food habit studies, 

 samples must be separated and contents 

 identified. 



carried out in regard to several big game spe- 

 cies will make available important information 

 needed for their management. 



In addition to these important considera- 

 tions, food habits information assists in the in- 



terpretation of data collected in other phases 

 such as range surveys, checking station pro- 

 grams, winter kills, sex and age ratios, etc. 



In addition to the food habits work, an 

 important program having to do with a study 

 of the skeletal characteristics of several im- 

 portant fur-bearing animals is also being con- 

 ducted. Necessary management information in 

 regard to age and sex ratio is being obtained 

 from a sample of mink carcasses being collect- 

 ed in cooperation with the trapper harvest. 

 This information is being analyzed along with 

 the harvest reports and field observations to 

 direct the future management of this import- 

 ant fur bearer throughout the state. In addition 

 to mink, a great deal of important information 

 has been obtamed through the facilities of the 

 laboratory in regard to the pine marten, beaver, 

 and otter. 



GAME BIRD FARMS 



Ring-necked Pheasants 



The Fish and Game Department continued 

 to operate the three pheasant farms located at 

 Billings, Fort Peck, and Warm Springs. How- 

 ever, the operation of the Bilhngs farm was 

 changed from a permanent station to seasonal 

 status. The hatching and brooding phases of 

 operation were discontinued and only the pens 

 were used for rearing. Additional birds were 

 hatched and brooded at the Fort Peck and 

 Warm Springs farms and were then trucked to 

 Bi'lings when four to five weeks of age where 

 they were put in the pens for rearing. The 

 birds vv^ere then released in the fall. This 

 method has proved to be practical as well as 

 economical, and the total State production was 

 mcinl^ined at approximately the same level as 

 in prG\ -ous years 



Chukar Partridge 



The Moiese Game Farm which had been in 

 operation since 1953 as a chukar farm was dis- 

 continued in the Fall of 1956 and the last of 

 the chukars were released in the Spring of 

 1957. It was felt that all areas considered to 

 be possible chukar habitat had received initial 

 releases of chukars and that game farm pro- 

 duction should be discontinued. Release areas 

 will be checked closely to determine the success 

 of the stocking. 1+ is hoped that natural repro- 

 duction in successful areas will provide birds 

 for stocking other areas through trapping and 

 transplanting. 



Ring-necked Pheasant Production 



Billing^s 



Warm Springs 



1956-1957 10,383 



1957-1958 11,730 



11,269 

 11,385 



12,007 

 12,329 



33,659 

 35,444 



1956-1957 

 1957-1958 



Chukar Partridge Prothiction 



1,402 

 607 



21 



