(.HAITER 1: AKKJX. TED ENVIRONMENT 



time span include the severe winter of 1996/97, large summer forest fires, especially favorable hunting 

 conditions in 1994, an overhaul of mule deer management, and other smaller regulation changes. The 

 methods used to estimate hunter numbers changed in 1996, so the data for 1990-94 may be slightly over- 

 estimated compared to 1995-2001 . The average the number of elk hunters and the average number of elk 

 hunter days in the early 1990s was about the same as the late 1990s (Figures 15 and 16). Although the 

 exact number changes from year to year, there are no trends upward or downward. The number of deer 

 hunters and deer hunter days is much more variable year to year. The long term averages are also 

 variable and are generally lower in the late 1990s compared to the early 1990s across most FWP regions 

 (Figures 17 and 18). This likely reflects real declines in mule and white-tailed deer populations due to 

 environmental events and the resultant changes in regulations, particularly for mule deer. Hunter 

 participation is affected by a host of factors beyond just the presence of a recovered wolf population. 



The diet of gray wolves in Montana is expected to be primarily white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and 

 moose. While other ungulate species or small mammals may also be taken, they are expected to be a 

 minor portion of the total diet. The actual proportion of whitetail and mule deer, elk, and moose will vary 

 in part based on prey availability and relative prey vulnerability. In northwestern Montana (FWP Region 

 1 and a portion of Region 2), wolves are expected to prey primarily on white-tailed deer, elk, and moose 

 (Kunkel 1999). The white-tailed deer is the primary ungulate species sought by human hunters as well. 

 Figure 19 shows long term trends in FWP Region 1 white-tailed deer hunting. Figure 20 shows long term 

 trends in FWP Region 1 elk hunting. 



Table 7. Payment from the Defenders of Wildlife Bailey Wildlife Foundation Wolf Compensation Trust 

 Fund (rounded to nearest dollar) for confirmed livestock losses or injuries caused by wolves, 

 1987-2001, in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming (see www.defenders.org/wolfcomp.html ). 



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