MONTANA 
Weather and Water Conditions - 
Spring run-off was light in the Flathead Valley and Great Falis 
Piedmont regions resulting in a reduction of potholes, Late snows in the 
central and eastern Hi~line were heavier than in the above regions and 
remained on the ground for an extended period. This precipitation 
resulted in a 107% increase in the number of potholes in the east and 
central Hi-line region. 
Below zero temperatures and snow during early oe a resulted in 
some waterfowl mortality. 
During themonths of May and June, precipitation and temperatures 
were near normal. 
Breeding Population Indices - 
Aerial census routes were again flown in order to establish the 
breeding population trend. Identical routes have been censused for the 
past six years. The results are presented in Table I. 
Table I. Waterfowl populations as determined from aerial census routes 

App. Size Birds/Sq. Mi. Population Est. 
Physiographic Area of Area 1953 i9 1983 195 
Sheridan County 1,440. 39 ol 57.5 50,256 82,800 
East Hi-line 7,920 5.2 7ol 1,18) 56,232 
Center Hi-line 9,468 11.5 15.6 108,882 147,700 
Great Falls Piedmont 7,020 79 8.4 55,58 58,968 
Total 25,848 949 13.4 255,780 345,700 
Percent Change #35,.2 
Trend areas flown in the area south of the Missouri River show 
the population to be approximately the same in 195) as it was in 1953, 
Production Indices - 
Weather and water conditions have been excellent for production 
in the Hi-line area since the start of the nesting season. At this date, 
the average brood size is 1.2 ducklings larger than brood counts for a 
similar period during the previous year. The pees species contribut- 
ing to this brood count and the average size of their broods are as foliows: 
Mallard 20h 
Pintail 208 
hovelter §°8 
Blue-winged teal 963 
48 
