stands are common along stream courses and in wet areas. Scattered patches of aspen and 

 serviceberry can be found on the more mesic sites. 



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. 



