-^^^^ 





The objective ol deer management is to adjust deer num- 

 bers to available forage on critical seasonal range. 



deer forage has not been generally satisfactory 

 to date. The largest, healthiest and most pro- 

 ductive deer are found where food supplies 

 are adequate and hunter harvest keeps deer 

 in balance with available forage. 



The elk is probably the most popular big 

 game animal in Montana. Hunters will expend 

 considerable effort and time and expense in 

 hunting this large deer. It is now well distrib- 

 uted throughout the mountainous portions of 

 the State and even in certain parts of the Mis- 

 souri River Breaks. 



The elk has expanded its range during the 

 past 20 years through growth of native herds 

 and reproduction of transplanted elk. The spe- 

 cies is highly adaptable in food habits and 

 dominates deer when competition for range 

 exists. The animal now occurs on all suitable 

 range of the State. 



Future elk seasons may have to be more 

 restrictive in the accessible ranges where hunt- 

 ers tend to concentrate. Proper management of 

 this big game animal will require herd reduc- 

 tions in some locations to perpetuate its forage 

 supply. The properly managed elk herd will 

 thrive on good range and provide continued 

 high quality recreation. The elk management 

 program is designed to produce maximum 

 numbers for hunting, that are compatible to 

 forage supplies and other land uses. 



During the biennium, weather and habitat 

 conditions have proved ideal for the produc- 

 tion of the various species of bird life that are 



hunted throughout the State of Montana. Cer- 

 tain of the grouse species have returned to 

 Montana in numbers that were thought at one 

 time to be impossible to achieve. This was 

 done in the face of providing reasonable hunt- 

 ing opportunity on these birds during the en- 

 tire period that they were recovering from a 

 low in their population cycle. Bird hunting is 

 becoming an ever increasingly popular sport. 

 The Montana Fish and Game Commission will 

 continue to provide the maximum recreational 

 opportunity in this field. It is felt that game 

 bird hunting is one sport where the entire 

 family can go into the fields as a unit. 



Research is the key to future game manage- 

 ment programs and progress toward better un- 

 derstanding of wildlife problems. Research re- 

 sults cannot be adequately summarized but 

 reports are published and available to indicate 

 the scope and findings of the work accom- 

 plished during the biennium. 



Small game research included studies of 

 the Merriam's turkey in Montana, sharp-tailed 

 grouse and blue grouse ecology, and the effects 

 of spraying on this species in the forests of 

 western Montana. Blue grouse life history stud- 

 ies indicated surprising production of this spe- 

 cies and resulted in more liberal seasons to 

 more fully utilize the annual production of this 

 bird, as well as other mountain grouse species. 



Radiotelemetry was used to increase the 

 effectiveness of sharp-tailed grouse population 

 and ecologic studies in north central Montana. 

 Land use practices, such as grazing and agri- 

 culture, have been found to greatly affect pro- 

 duction and survival of sharptail populations. 



Big game research continued on the Sun 

 River elk herd, Gallatin elk herd, moose in 

 southwestern Montana, deer in the Missouri 

 Breaks and black bear in northwestern Mon- 

 tana. 



Studies revealed the disproportionate har- 

 vest of segments of the Sun River elk herd 

 which may contribute to the lower production 

 found in that herd. The Gallatin elk range con- 

 ditions continued to deteriorate and the need 

 to maintain a lower elk population was con- 

 firmed. 



Deer populations in the Missouri Breaks 

 were found to fluctuate in response to critical 

 forage conditions. 



11 



