Trapping 



Montana history started with fur trapping 

 and this resource gained an early importance. 

 Although furs taken each year are not as im- 

 portant to the State as in former years, the 

 fur resource has a potential which is not fully 

 exploited and is often overlooked. 



The Montana fur harvest is greatly affected 

 by the demand for furs and by fur prices. 

 Mink, muskrat and beaver are still the most 

 important species but prices have declined. 

 The floods in Montana during June 1964 ap- 

 parently affected the habitat and populations 

 of these species which resulted in a decreased 

 harvest the following season. The number of 

 pelts taken and fur harvest value declined 

 markedly for the 1964-65 season. 



Small Game 



Interest and participation in small game hunt- 

 ing remains high. In some areas the severe 

 winters have curtailed population increases; 

 however, there is no indication to support any 

 curtailment in seasons as these populations 

 respond very rapidly to habitat changes. 



of pesticides on mountain grouse is also under- 

 way. To date, the results of these studies have 

 led to liberalized hunting seasons, as well as 

 more efficient and effective collection of man- 

 agement information, and increased awareness 

 and consideration of game bird populations 

 habitat requirements in management of Fed- 

 eral lands in Montana. Continuing studies will 

 undoubtedly lead to further refinements in 

 game bird and land management. 



Current research on big game includes stu- 

 dies of mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, 

 elk, moose, bear and bighorn sheep. All of 

 these are concerned with forage and habitat 

 requirements. In addition, information is being 

 obtained on relationships between the various 

 big game species and between big game and 

 livestock as well as on other habits, life his- 

 tory and management techniques. Recent big 

 game research findings have played important 

 roles in management of bear, moose, elk and 

 deer. They have also been utilized by land 

 management agencies in management of big 

 game and livestock on public lands. Further 

 refinements in harvest and other management 

 practices will undoubtedly ensue from contin- 

 uing studies. 



Research 



As demands on natural resources increase 

 with rapidly expanding human population and 

 greater leisure time, the demands for more and 

 better information to manage wildlife become 

 more pressing. 



New facts, concepts and techniques must be 

 obtained to maintain or increase game popu- 

 lations squeezed between intensified land use 

 and management on one hand and expanding 

 demands for recreational use on the other. As 

 in other fields and all new developments, this 

 job can be best accomplished through scion- 

 tific research. 



Game research in Montana has been carried 

 on in two major fields, small game research 

 concerning game birds and big game research. 

 Several studies are currently underway in each 

 field. As one study is completed, another is 

 undertaken on the basis of priority established 

 by the needs of the Department. Recently a 

 major project was undertaken to determine 

 effects of sagebrush control and greater effort 

 has been placed on waterfowl and game hab- 

 itat development research. 



At present, research on small game is con- 

 cerned with increasing our knowledge of grouse 

 habitat requirements and effects of land use or 

 management practices on blue grouse, sharp- 

 tail grouse and sage grouse. Information is 

 also being obtained on the habits, life history 

 and harvest of grouse as well as management 

 techniques. A special study to evaluate effects 



Habitat 



A program was undertaken during 1965 in 

 cooperation with the U. S. Department of the 

 Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Results 

 will provide game and range managers with 

 information on the effects of various sagebrush 

 control techniques on all forms of plants and 

 animals which occur on sagebrush ranges. 

 This information is expected to be the basis for 

 future Department and Bureau of Land Man- 

 agement pKolicies on sagebrush control. Consid- 

 erable information on animal habitat require- 

 ments and life history will also be obtained 

 for use in game and range management. 



Waterfowl 



Research conducted under the statewide wa- 

 terfowl project is continuing toward further 

 refinements of waterfowl management in Mon- 

 tana. Previous findings provided basis first for 

 placing portions of Montana west of the Conti- 

 nental Divide in the Pacific Flyway and later 

 the changing of several counties lying east of 

 the Divide from Central to Pacific Flyways. 

 Information from studies now underway may 

 enable sub-flyway management of mallards in 

 portions of eastern Montana. 



Deer 



The problems affecting the status of the game 

 resource have not changed. Efforts have been 



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