point toward a comeback in this area but still 
a long way from duck peaks of the midfiftie Ss, 
MONTANA 
Data supplied by Dale Witt 
and Wynn G, Freeman, Montana 
Department of Fish and Game 
Weather and Habitat Conditions 
Water conditions during the May survey in 
the glaciated sub-divisions showed improve- 
ment in two areas and a decline in the other 
two (table D-3, p. 105). The water conditions 
were greatly improved in the eastern part 
of the State and deteriorated in the western 
part, east of the Continental Divide. 
In the unglaciated prairies water conditions 
were greatly improved. Inthe McCone County 
Trend Area the water index was the highest 
recorded since records were kept in 1952. 
This was generally true in the whole south- 
eastern part of the State, 
The water conditions inthe Flathead Valley 
or Pacific Flyway portion of the State were 
generally good. 
Breeding Population indexes 
The 1963 May survey of the glaciated sub- 
divisions indicated an increase in totalducks 
over last year. Three of the subdivisions 
showed an increase over last year, with two 
divisions having populations above the 14- 
year average (table E-17, p. i20). 
In the unglaciated prairie the conditions 
look even better, Onthe McCone County Trend 
Area the waterfowl index was the highest 
ever recorded. This year there were 3,7 
ducks a square mile as compared to 1.5 
ducks a square mile last year. The ll-year 
average for this area is 1.4-ducks a square 
mile, 
This year a survey was made inthe central 
portion of the unglaciated prairie, covering 
the stratum J. Donald Smith flew in 1958, 
Transects were flown sampling an area of 
12,618 square miles, The waterfowl index 
was determined to be 8.3 ducks a square mile 
or 104,720 ducks. The 1958 index was 1.4 
ducks a square mile inthe area. From the 
above data it is evident that the unglaciated 
prairies have a significant increase in water- 
fowl, Because of the size of this area 
(approximately 60,000 square miles) there 
could be one-half million ducks present, This 
18 One of the highest waterfowl indexes the 
State has ever had. 
The 1958 survey showed 92 percent mal- 
lards whereas the 1963 survey indicated 
Slightly over 50 percent mallards. 
_ Canada goose breeding population trends 
in the Hi-Line, Helena, and East slope 
showed increases (table E-18, p. 120). 
lhe waterfowl breeding population survey 
in the Flathead Valley was not conducted this 
year. 
Production Indexes 
Production and brooding conditions in east- 
ern Montana in both the glaciated and un- 
glaciated prairies are very good with one 
exception. The Great Falls Piedmont area 
remained in poor condition, especially that 
portion just south of Alberta. The remainder 
of the State still received above average 
rainfall, 
Duck production surveys were not con- 
ducted in the State this year. Observations 
during goose production surveys showed 
an exceptional early hatch of mallards and 
pintails in the areas checked. Considering 
the increase in populations onthe unglaciated 
prairie, fall flights coming from the Central 
Flyway portion of Montana is as good as, or 
better than, it has ever been since the start 
of the surveys. 
The Canada goose production trend showed 
a surprising increase over last year. In 
the Hi-Line Unit, the productionis the highest 
since the survey was started in 1954, At 
present the only explanation for this increase 
in production is the exceptional water con- 
ditions present in this area, In the East 
Slope and Helena Units the production trend 
indicated increases (table F-19, p. 147). 
A serious drop in production was noted on 
the Marias River downstream from the dam 
where water releases were increased at the 
peak of nesting and considerable flooding 
occurred, 
The decrease in production both 1962 and 
1963 could have been from poor counts inthe 
upper end of Flathead Lake (Flathead Valley 
Unit), The river below the lake was down 
in both years. Different observers made 
the count in 1963 which may also have had 
an influence. 
31 
