live management division. Such recommendations 

 shall also consider other land uses and public 

 understanding. Another basic consideration in formal 

 season recommendations shall be the alleviation of 

 game damage to private property." 



The primary tool of game management is regu- 

 lated harvest through recreational hunting. Annual 

 surpluses of game birds taken in this manner are 

 used to the benefit and enjoyment of approximately 



100,000 upland bird and waterfowl hunters each 

 year. These hunters harvest in excess of 500,000 birds 

 each year. An army of big game hunters numbering 

 about 140,000 similarly enjoys a harvest of 150,000 

 or more big game animals. These sportsmen also 

 serve the necessary function of adjusting big game 

 numbers to capacity of winter food supplies. In ad- 

 dition the animal fur take of 60,000 pelts brings 

 monetary rewards to about 1,000 trappers. 



RESEARCH IN MONTANA'S GAME 

 MANAGEMENT 





jgement necessitates a constant search for facts. Here, pheasants are being caught at niqhi md b inded. 

 vill give facts on an area where hens have bsen hunted for several years. 



The use of the scientific approach in game man- 

 agement is relatively new. During the past forty 

 years this approach has grown from a small be- 

 ginning to the point where game management is 

 now considered a science. As with all new develop- 

 ments, research is needed in order to best accomplish 

 the job. The statement "Research is the key to tomor- 



row" is never more true than when it is applied to 

 the game management field. With increasing human 

 populations utilizing our wildlife resources, we need 

 all of the information possible in order to manage 

 and maintain wildlife. 



Research in Montana is being accomplished in 

 two major fields. Small game research deals with 



13 



