FWP has made no herbaceous seedings and has no plans to do any seeding. However, some smooth 

 brome and timothy persists in areas that were formerly hayed. 



TRAVEL MANAGEMENT 



The travel plan for the WMA was last updated in 1996. Travel restriction updates on the WMA are 

 coordinated through planning of the Interagency Visitor map for Southwest Montana produced by the 

 BNF. This travel plan is updated approximately every three years. Consult the latest Travel Plan 

 map for the latest travel restrictions. The Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission establish rules and 

 regulations for access on the WMA. Presently the WMA is closed to all public use each year from 

 December 2 through May 15. However, county roads that exist through the WMA are open year- 

 long. 



WILDLIFE 



ELK 



The WMA was the first acquisition by FWP using Habitat Montana (HB526) funds raised through 

 the sale of big game combination licenses, both nonresident and resident. It was acquired primarily 

 as an elk winter range. At the time of FWP's acquisition, a wintering population of 500-800 elk were 

 found on and adjacent to the WMA, and this remains the number of wintering elk in the area. 

 Depending on winter conditions and elk distribution, a larger number of elk can be found on and 

 adjacent to the WMA as a part of the approximately 3000 elk that winter in the larger area including 

 the Robb/Ledford and Blacktail WMA's. 



This elk population principally summers in the Gravelly and Snowcrest Mountains on the BNF. 

 However, the bulk of the elk winter range occurs on the Robb/Ledford and Blacktail WMA's. 

 Therefore, acquisition of the WMA secured a very important link in the seasonal distribution chain of 

 this elk herd. Seasonal elk distribution data are summarized in annual progress reports by Hamlin 

 and Ross (1996). 



DEER 



Mule and whitetail deer spend spring, summer and fall on the WMA. In addition, the WMA serves 

 as part of a major winter range to a wintering mule deer population from the Snowcrest Mountains. 

 Recent trend surveys for this area put the population at approximately 700-800 animals ranging in the 

 last ten years from approximately 600 to 1300. 



MOOSE 



Prior to 1972, an estimated 10 to 35 moose resided on or near the WMA. While riparian areas are 

 recovering from long-term continuous grazing, moose populations have not recovered to their levels 

 of 20 years ago. 



ANTELOPE 



There is a large population of antelope in the hunting district that encompasses the WMA, the largest 

 district in the Region. A large segment of this population uses the WMA yearlong but most 

 significantly as winter range on portions of the WMA. 



