(2) Current harvest and potential harvest: 



The JRWMA and the proposal property is in Hunting District 420, which currently 

 allows elk hunting by permit only. However, the majority of the Judith River elk 

 herd is hunted under the any antlered bull regulation; antlerless permits; and 

 either sex provisions in the adjacent Hunting Distncts 418, 432, 448, and 454. 

 They make up that portion of Region 4 in the Little Belt Mountains, east of U.S. 

 Highway 89. Studies of marked elk have documented some Judith River elk 

 movement to hunting districts much further from the winter range area; e.g., the 

 west Little Belt, Castle, Big Belt, Crazy, and Bridger mountain ranges. 



Harvest data for that portion of the Little Belt Mountains east of U.S. Highway 89 

 (HD's 418 420, 432, 448, and 454) indicates the current annual harvest (1996 

 data) at approximately 850 elk with 27,200 hunter days afield. A portion of this 

 harvest data is contributed by 3 lesser wintering elk herds not associated with 

 the Judith herd. The additional big game habitat provided by the property v^ll 

 Increase the winter carrying capacity for elk on the JRWMA. This will help 

 ensure the maintenance of the upper Judith River elk herd into the future. 

 Increased opportunity for deer, pronghorn, and bird hunting will contnbute up to 

 1 50 hunter days each year. 



Contribute to non-huntina re creation: 



(1) Hiking horseback riding, bird watching, wildlife observation, antler and flower 

 picking, and rock hounding will be available to the general public from May 15 

 through December 1 . 



(2) Recreation days provided: 400 days annually. 



Protect open space and sce nic areas: 



(1 ) Vegetation and topographic features provide diverse and unique examples of 

 native habitats greatly threatened by homesite and recreation subdivision. High 

 quality wildlife winter range habitat on and adjacent to the JRWMA attract 150- 

 250 deer 50-75 pronghorn, and 800-1 ,100 elk; plus an ever increasing desire by 

 humans to live nearby. The adjacent Sapphire Village subdivision already exists 

 and occupancy is expanding. Expansion is limited only by availability of 

 property, not a lack of interested buyers. 



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