Sporting Montana

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MONTANA

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FALL ISSUE

Official Publication of
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STATE OF MONTANA

John W. Bonner, Governor

MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

Elmer Johnson, Chairman A. C. Grande, Jr.

Edward M. Boyes Thomas S. Morgan

William Carpenter Robert H. Lambeth, Secretary

When we speak of Montana's wealth of natural resources, par-
ticular emphasis must be given our abundance of fish and game.
No other state surpasses Montana in the variety and number of fish
and game species. Many of our State's most ardent boosters are
sportsmen from Maine to California who hunted our forests and
fished our streams. Their chorus of acclaim nearly always includes
the phrase "You Montanans have something worth protecting."

They are one hundred per cent right! Game Conservation is
"everybody's job" and a program to which all Montana citizens must
give their full, year-'round co-operation if our youth and their chil-
dren are to enjoy the same hunting and fishing privileges we are in-
clined to take for granted.

^a/m It/. IZottnei

REPRINT PRIVILEGES

Permission to reprint any of the articles, or portions thereof, appearing in
this magazine is hereby granted, provided a credit line is included.

Your Department's Structure Table of Contents

Governor

Montana Fish and
Game Commission

STATE FISH AND

GAME WARDEN

Robert H. Lambeth

LAW
ENFORCEMENT
CHIEF DEPUTY
GAME WARDEN
Walter Everin

FISHERIES
DIVISION

Superintendent
Walter Allen

r

WILDLIFE
RESTORATION
DIVISION

DIRECTOf*
RoQERT CoomEY

GAME FARM
DIVISION

Superintendent
Ray Wells

r

1

MAINTENANCE

FOREMAN
REX SMART

ADMINISTRATION
CHIEF CLERK
Ovti WoolvCRToN

PHOTOGRAPHIC

FISCAL
01 RECTOR

Od£ll Helmhm

DIRECTOR

Hector LaLas*c

PROPERTY
CUSTODIAN

KEITM FRE5EMOW

department

£NC,IN£FR
CK. DRLIOIM

PUBLIC INFORMATION

«*- LEGAL
JOHN H. RISKEN

SpxvUina Montana

Lorraine Kurfiss, Editor

Editorial 2

Dingell Bill 2

Your Commission 3

Speaking of Conservation 5

Sun River Elk 6

Sport in Montana 8

Return of White Beaver 1 1

Warden From Beaverhead 12

Department Personalities 14

Fish Historians 15

Don't Waste Game Meat 17

COVER PICTURE

Governor John W. Bonner is one
of the many thousands of Mon-
tana hunters who enjoys a day
in the field with a good retriev-
er and plenty of shooting. He
is pictured on the cover with
Sandy of Avalanche, a field
trial and hunter. The yellow
laborador belongs to Lou Babb
of Helena.

Selling Conservation

vuesufbacLf. '± job

In every one of the 48 states, at the
present time, there is taking place
one of the greatest selling jobs ever
attempted in this country, a nation
renowned for its salesmen and ability
to sell. It is a strange sort of sale
that is being made. One compara-
tively small group of persons is en-
deavoring to sell the entire country
on the idea that conservation of wild-
life resources is everyone's job.

Initially, the fish and game depart-
ments of the various entities of our
republic were the standard bearers,
but close on their heels came sports-
men's organizations. They were not
long in seeing that the active partici-
pation of greater numbers of inter-
ested citizens was essential for the at-
tainment of any degree of success.
But, progress is slow because not
everyone is a hunter or fisherman,
nor is everyone concerned with con-
servation as a means of making a
livlihood.

Today, however, the evidence is
piling higher and higher that this
job of selling the entire populace is
achieving more success. John Q.
Public, through constant hammering
by conservation departments and
outdoor groups, is being awakened
to the fact that the fish in the waters
and the game and birds in fields and
hills belong to him. Wildlife re-
sources are the property of all of the
(Continued on page 20)

The Dingell-Johnson
Bill

Ma+Ua+tal SUaAe

Ten years from today, some Mon-
tana angler will roll his fly line out
across the Madison and set his hook
in a nice rainbow. Whether he fills
his creel that day may depend a
good deal on what his state does in
those years with federal funds from
the recently enacted Dingell-Johnson
bill.

There still will be trout in Mon-
tana in 1960, whether anything is
done under the bill or not. What our
mythical Madison angler wants to
know is whether he will be able to
take a reasonable catch with not too
much time between bites.

Montana's first step under the bill
is state legislative assent. Until the
last day of the 1951 session of the
Montana legislature the bill can be
put into effect by order of Governor
John W. Bonner. This is highly de-
sirable, for it will take that much
time to perfect an organization, con-
sidering the current of well trained
personnel.

The mechanics of the act are these:
tackle stores everywhere will con-
tinue to collect the 10% levy on rods,
creels, reels, and artificial lures and
baits, but now the money will go to
a special fund, earmarked for aid to
sport fishing. Up to 8% will be held
out by the federal Fish and Wildlife
Service for an overall program,
mainly marine, and the rest will be
divided among the states, based on
(Continued on page 21)

Your Fish and Game Commission

Men With a PuAlic lutit

Top Row: Edward Boyes, Thomas Morgan, Robert Lambeth, William Carpenter.
Bottom Row: A. C. Grande, Jr. and Elmer Johnson, Chairman.

As early as 1865, the law makers
of the territory that was eventually
to become the State of Montana were
confronted with problems in the field
of wildlife conservation. Even in
those frontier times, when the white
man had not completely succeeded
in overcoming Indian opposition to
his invasion of the virgin hinterlands,
far thinking legislators realized that
the wildlife abundance then enjoyed
by the populace would soon be dis-
sipated if proper steps were not
taken.

Early Day Law

In the first session of the Territorial
Legislature, 1865, a law was enacted
to conserve fish in the state. The
law, in substance, s t a te d that
speckled mountain trout were to be
taken only by hook, line and pole^
and nets and seines were specifically
made illegal.

Four years later, the shooting of

quail and partridge was closed for

three years, and in 1872 the first

statutes were passed affecting game

(Continued on page 4)

FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

(Continued from page 3)
animals. From February 1 to August
15 was named a closed season for
buffalo, moose, elk, deer, mountain
sheep, mountain goats, antelope and
hares.

Various acts were written into the
Montana law books for the protection
of game but it was not until 1889,
when Montana became a state, that
the law enforcement end of conserva-
tion was brought into being with the
creation of a warden force. The job
of hiring these men was left to the
county commissioners of each coun-
ty. And, in 1895, the first board of
fish and game commissioners was
appointed. Six years later, W. F.
Scott was named the first State Game
Warden.

The present day law on the pow-
ers and duties of the Commission sets
forth that — "The commission hereby
created shall have supervision over
all the wildlife, fish, game and non-
game birds, and waterfowl, and the
game and furbearing animals of the
state, and shall possess all powers
necessary to fulfill the duties pre-
scribed by law with respect thereto,
and to bring actions in the proper
courts of this state for the enforce-
ment of the fish and game laws of
the state, and the orders, rules and
regulations adopted and promul-
gated by the commission."

Understanding Necessary

A reading of just this part of the
statutes dealing with the Montana
Fish and Game Commission gives
one a starting point towards a fuller
understanding of this agency's posi-

tion in affairs of the state. The times
and attitudes of the people have
changed somewhat down through
the years since the initial attempts at
setting up an effective operating
wildlife group were made, but the
aim has remained substantially the
same. The prime objective, now as
then, is to control for the best interests
of all of the people in Montana mat-
ters pertaining to wildlife preserva-
tion, propagation, and protection. It
is toward this end that all effort of
the Commission is directed

A recognition by early day legisla-
tors of the sound principle that fish
and game within the borders of this
state are natural resources to be pre-
served for the benefit of all the peo-
ple was the impetus behind the first
faltering steps that, as time elapsed,
became firm strides in the direction
of the present day fish and game
management programs. When the
pioneers crossed the plains, the
streams were filled with fish and the
plains and hills with game and game
birds. Short sighted hunting and
fishing of a promiscuous nature soon
depleted stocks to a point where the
thinking populous sensed danger.
For instance, in the area just north
of the Capitol City of Helena one
man in one season alone took over
100 deer. This was not, even in
those days, "food hunting" but could
be rightly categorized as slaughter.

Commission's Power

Delegation of sufficient power to

administer the laws passed by the

local statute makers with reference

to fish and game was conferred upon

(Continued on page 18)

Speaking of Conservation

B*f RoUtt Jl. £amUtkt State Quit & Qame. IVaAdett

Daring the past twenty years, we
have seen the concept of manage-
ment of fish, game, and birds change
from one of mere regulations of sea-
son and bag to one of intensive man-
agement. We must know how much
game a particular range or area can
support, how many pounds of fish a
stream will produce, how much feed
and cover are needed to maintain
game birds. This transition has be-
come necessary by a greater land
use urged on by ...
an expanding
American popula-
tion and shorter
working hours, al-
lowing more time
for more people to
take advantage of
the great recrea-
t i o n a 1 facilities.
Game depart-
ments and people
who participate in
hunting and fishing have perhaps
both been slow in recognizing the
trend toward increased use of recre-
ational areas and increased pressure
upon our game and fish. Both have,
however, in co-operation with farm-
ers and ranchers, worked diligently
and effectively to maintain and in-
crease these natural products of land
and water. The part of the individual
hunter and fisherman in this program

is becoming more important as time
goes by.

One important phase is the con-
sideration of game law violations.
Laws and regulations are based
upon a fair share for all consistent
with a stable breeding stock. An in-
dividual violation by one person tak-
ing more than a legal limit or killing
out of season is a much greater con-
cern than in years past. Each oc-
currence of this nature robs another
of his rightful
share and every
effort should be
made to stamp out
violations by
everyone who be-
lieves in a fair
portion for each.

Great strides
have been made
retaining and re-
p 1 e n i s h ing our
wildlife, but much
more remains to be done. The task
will be never ending, but with faith
in one another and the belief that
the recreation that hunting and fish-
ing provides is an American heri-
tage and must be retained, we are
assurred of success.

SPORTING MONTANA may reach
you free of charge every three
months if you send your name in
to us.

SDN RIVER
ELK HERD

Bruce Need, veteran game warden, views the
Sun River Range — To him a dream come true.

A Jl&iA lot, the. fyutwie

By Bob Cooney

The key to the future of any elk
herd lies in the winter range. Those
with adequate winter forage will sur-
vive; those without are in constant
danger of severe losses and even
possible annihilation. For this rea-
son, the purchase and development
of the Sun River winter game range
has been of primary importance. The
availability of this range for elk has
completely changed the picture in
that area. The change from a herd
surrounded by almost insurmount-
able problems to one living upon a
balanced range — perhaps the best
on this continent — is a story of keen
interest.

Even in historic times the Sun River
country was famous for big game. In-
dian tribes from both sides of the
Continental Divide made long dan-
gerous treks into the area to secure

their yearly meat supply. In those
days game in vast numbers roamed
the foothills and prairies adjacent to
the mountains. The coming of the
whites drastically changed the pic-
ture. Slaughter for meat and hides
was the order of the day. By the
turn of the century game had become
scarce, elk being found only in small
numbers up around the Continental
Divide.

A Comeback
In 1912 the Sun River Game Pre-
serve was created. The elk started
a slow comeback. By 1926 they be-
gan to appear in the foothills again.
Many changes had taken place.
Their historic winter range had been
for the most part taken up as ranch
land. Notwithstanding this, elk de-
veloped a habit of migrating out onto
these lands to winter. Then started

the difficult and discouraging job of
attempting to herd the elk back into
the mountains. This went on for six-
teen winters.

Bruce Neal, veteran game warden,
was in charge of the work. Areas
of heavy use were showing up back
in the Forest and even with all of the
herding effort elk were breaking out
on private lands during severe storm
periods.

It was a dark picture. There sim-
ply wasn't sufficient winter range
available to support the herd. It
looked as though the numbers would
have to be drastically cut. Then in
1947 the Sun River got a real break.
A substantial block of land in the
foothills was listed for immediate
sale. Here was nearly 20,000 acres
of range in the very heart of the
area that elk had been vainly at-
tempting to reach during all of those

winters.

This acquisition was of particular
interest as the land is located entirely

on historic winter range. To the
west it adjoins the Lewis and Clark
National Forest; eastward it extends
out through wooded foothills to in-
clude rolling grassy prairie land.

Minimum Herding

Three winters have passed since
the range was purchased by the
State Game Commission. During
these winters large bands of elk have
lost little time in moving out into the
foothills soon after the close of the
hunting season. A minimum of herd-
ing has been required to keep them
on their range. More than 3,000 elk
used the area last winter.

It has been interesting to watch
them grazing over the foothills and
adjoining prairies during the winter
time in a leisurely drifting fashion,
very possibly assuming the natural
feeding characteristics of their spe-
cies.

A careful check of the range last
spring as the elk were moving back
(Continued on page 21)

Migrating elk keep on the move to winter forage lands.

M *''.'*

?v

SPORT IN MONTANA

9ti /Sup QulineAl

By Ken Thompson,

Assistant Director, Wildlife Restoration Division

Leaves are turning into the reds
and golds of Indian summer. Moun-
tain ranges are becoming frosted
with the snow that will be there for
the next several months. Another
sure sign of fall is the nervous twitch-
ing of trigger fingers which becomes
apparent about this time of year. All
over the state anxious nimrods are
either hunting or preparing to do so,
for another Montana game season is
just getting under way.

With everyone thinking about his
favorite sport it may be well to con-
sider some of the facts known about
last year's season.

The Economical Standpoint

First, from the standpoint of eco-
nomics; the average resident big
game hunter spends $65 while the
non-resident expends $385 in quest
of the several big game species. Up-
land game hunters report a yearly
cost of about $32. Multiplied by the
number of hunters in the state, the
cost of pursuing game adds up to the
considerable sum of over 10,500,000
dollars. This definitely puts the
sport in the category of big business.

However, even the most mercenary
would have to admit that the chief
value of hunting is in the relaxation
and pleasure derived from tromping

8

the hills with that favorite musket.
Whether the preferred firearm is a
souped-up .22 or a .300 Magnum one
can always get a good argument
over the relative merits. If popular-
ity is any indication, the 30.06 is the
best for big game hunting; at any
rate 40 per cent of the men stopping
at game checking stations carried
this caliber. Twenty per cent rely
on the 30.30 while other favorites, the
30.40, 300, and 270 each averaged
about seven per cent. The remain-
ing 19 per cent is composed of over
40 different calibers of all makes and
in various states of repair.

Gains Popularity

The sport of seeking wild game
has become steadily more popular in
spite of the fact that wild game costs
from three to five dollars per pound.
Hunters afield in this state have in-
creased tremendously in the past two
decades. As an example, consider
the difference in big game hunting
pressure. In 1931, 24,000 hunters pur-
chased big game licenses; this in-
creased to 40,000 in 1941 and by 1949
nearly 80,000 persons hunted big
game. Yet the numbers of big game
have also increased so that hunter
success has remained about con-
stant. In 1949 with the greatest mass
of hunters ever concentrated in this

state about 45 per cent successfully
bagged a deer and 15 per cent got
elk.

As an example of what is pro-
duced in the way of a big game har-
vest, the following tabulation lists the
total big game kill for 1949. This in-
formation was compiled from check-
ing stations, hunting report cards,
and by questionaire.

MONTANA BIG GAME KILL
1949

Mule Deer 23,800

Elk 9,400

Whitetail Deer 8,600

Antelope 3,250

Mountain Goat 160

Moose 75

Black Bear 820

Grizzly Bear 25

Another important phase of the
hunting program is that of small
game shooting. A very large amount
of upland game birds and rabbits
are killed each year. Of the persons
who purchase the general license for
fish and game only 12 per cent pro-
fess to be strictly fishermen. In other
words, 141,000 hunters shoot upland
game of one kind or another.

The yearly take of this group car-
best be shown by another tabula-
tion:

SMALL GAME KILL
1949

Chinese Pheasant 548,250

Hungarian Partridge 27,450

Ruffed Grouse 16,900

Blue Grouse 5,700

Franklin Grouse 2,600

Sharptail Grouse 20,900

Cottontail Rabbits 17,200

Jack Rabbits 15,700

Other interesting facts have been
accumulated concerning the hunters
of this state. These have no particu-
lar relationship to problems of game
management but will answer ques-
tions frequently asked the depart-
ment.

Age classes form an interesting
comparison for, while practically
every Montanan from 15 to 90 is
either hunting or dreaming of pleas-
ant days afield, the active hunters
fall into certain definite age groups:

AGE CLASSIFICATION OF LICENSE
BUYERS

15-19 8%

20-29 21%

30-39 28%

40-49 22%

50-59 12%

60-69 8.2%

70 up 0.8%

Another group of figures which
will serve to answer many queries,
is the occupational classification of
Montana hunters. Logically this
should follow closely the same
classes as are common to the state
population. This is best shown in
the following table which is taken
from license stubs:

OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION
OF MONTANA HUNTERS

Retired 3.4%

Housewives 3.8%

Students 4.4%

Professional 9.9%

Business 11.6%

Ranchers <& Farmers 23.3%

Skilled & Unskilled labor and

others 43.6%

(Continued on page 20)

9

THE RETURN OF THE
WHITE BEAVER

nat da wild a abeam

Maybe you know or have heard
of Howard Campbell, State Trapper.
Anyway, Howard has trapped about
every kind of animal there is to trap
in this section of the United States.
But his specialty is beaver. 'Got a
beaver you want trapped — Ho ward' 11
get him every time, using his own
self-devised methods, which can't
exactly be called pseudoscientific —
they're just Howard Campbell spe-
cials, application of practical- down-
to-earth science. But he had a very
special experience early this year
which has heightened and directed
his trapping career along new chan-
nels.

It happened the morning he set out
to inspect his beaver traps on Miner
Creek in the Big Hole. The Fish and
Game Department had received a
complaint about troublesome beaver
in that vicinity and had sent Howard
to trap them.

As he approached the traps, he
was pleased to note that the first
one had a catch — but something
startlingly different about this crea-
ture caught his astonished eye. This

Howard Campbell holds up one of his
< («(( prize white beaver pelts.

beaver, if beaver it was, was almost
white! Each of the remaining traps
yielded a companion to the first, un-
til Howard had seven all-told.

White Spots

White beaver — he certainly had
heard about them, that they were ex-
tinct, but long ago were a reality. A
fellow trapper had told him of having
caught unusual beaver with white
spots, and wasn't it the white spots
and light color of the fur that had first
caught his own eye? Later, after
pelting the animals (at which he is
an expert from the word "go") he
discovered that these beaver had a
different structure from most, and that
even the texture of the fur was dif-
ferent. The skeltons he saved for
further scientific study.

He learned that his guess had
been right — they were beaver of the
white variety, but they were, of
course, not pure white beaver. Even
so, it gave the trapper a real thrill,
and when he was asked how he felt
about his find, he said:

The Long Search

"Why, when I discovered them in
my traps, I felt something like a pros-
continued on page 22)

11

The Warden from Beaverhead County

By Lorraine D. Kurfiss

Assistant Director Public Information

Somewhere in Beaverhead Coun-
ty, by a good fishing hole, or a
grassy clump under a towering pine
tree there's a spot which Charlie
Price has picked out as his own pri-
vate sanctuary where he can sit and
reminisce.

In the summertime 25 years ago,
Charlie Price began his long career
as a Deputy Game Warden in Bea-
verhead county. Last August 1, he
retired, the oldest warden to contrib-
ute unbroken service to Montana's
Department of Fish and Game.

The fields and forest of the Bea-
verhead were his back yard, its wild-
life creatures his pets, and the mind-
ful hunter, his friend. Everyone in

Charlie shows off a prize catch.

the county, with few exceptions,
knows Charlie. Maybe they first en-
countered him when he checked their
fishing licenses in the Big Hole, or
when he was on the trail of a culprit
who was reported spotlighting deer.
Maybe he didn't know it the first
day of work, but from then on, Char-
lie was one of Mother Nature's right-
hand men. It was up to him to see
that the streams were well stocked
with fish, but not with more than they
could feed; he had to erect scare-
crows to protect farmers' crops from
complete devastation by hungry
fowls; and he had to separate an elk
from a haystack when it was evident
that the two had mixed.

The Waste

Charlie has good reason to stress
the importance of conserving wild-
life. He can remember the days be-
fore a possession limit was set for
ducks.

"That was a terrible waste and ex-
ploitation of ducks," he said, "when
the hunters would go on a two-week
hunt, and maybe have 20 ducks at
the end of the first day. You could
just figure on at least twenty birds
being spoiled by the end of the ex-
cursion."

That was the period when Mon-
tana's wildlife was more plentiful,

12

but on the brink of a serious to dan-
gerous decline.

In this years, Beaverhead coun-
ty had the alarmingly low number
of 50 head of antelope left to exist
on its bounteous ranges. In the
Blacktail country, startling though it
may seem, there were no elk at all.
Predators, long, hungry winters, and
myriad hunters each season had re-
duced their numbers to dwindling
herds.

There was a lot to do in that terri-
tory when Charlie added his name to
the pay roll of the Fish and Game De-
partment. But he rolled up his
sleeves and looked the sparse wild-
life situation square in its guant face.
He was Beaverhead county's only
game warden, and, fortunately, he
had married a very able assistant.
Mrs. Price has been his secretary
and all-around aid for lo these many
years.

Streams Stocked

The fisherman who thinks that the
best fishing holes in many of the
Beaverhead's lakes and streams
have always been there waiting to
be fished has overestimated Mother
Nature. Miles of these waters had
never seen a fish until Charlie
stocked them. Sometimes he had to
pack in on foot or horseback into
virgin wilderness where an automo-
bile dared not tread. Being a war-
den had its heartbreaks, too, when
sometimes his finicky marine passen-
gers survived a tough pack-trip only
to die shortly after having been
planted in the strange waters of their
new homes. But in his quarter-cen-
tury of service, Charlie has stocked

This crippled elk refused flatly to leave.

millions of fish to help make the wild-
erness into the now heavily visited
fisherman's haven which has given
it a real name in the sports world.

Shortly after he retired in August,
Charlie was asked to specify what
part of his job he had liked most. He
scratched his head, thought a mo-
ment, and then said:

"Well, I liked all the phases of it,
but I think maybe I enjoyed live-
trapping beaver, planting fish, and
meeting people the best."

And he made a lot of friends, too.

Rancher's Helper

"One day," he said, " a rancher
called me and asked me to come to
his place. It seems that months ago
he found an elk by one of his hay-
stacks. It had a broken leg, and he
felt sorry for the poor thing, so he de-
cided to let him stay until he found
it necessary to use the hay. He even
built a pole fence around the elk
(Continued on page 19)

13

^eptf/dmetit PeMxui&lvti&l:

The Women Who Help

The sporting world may belong to
the men, but women play a large
part in the functioning of the Fish
and Game Department as stenos,
junior clerks, typists, bookkeepers,
etc.

Now meet Bev, the gal who is-
sues trappers permits. Some of you
who are trapping your own trouble-
some beaver have dealt with Bev
to get your per-
mits.

Her full name is
Mrs. Beverly Hil-
ger, age 24. When
she and her hus-
band Bob decided
to get married,
nothing could stop
them. Not the
thousand miles of
distance which
stretched between
them — nor even World War II. It
was back in 1945 when Bob was sta-
tioned at an air base in Texas, so
Bev, just out of high school, packed
her trousseau in a suitcase and flew
south to marry her soldier boy-friend.

Theirs is the story of striving suc-
cess. In the five years of their mar-
riage they have made plans for a

14

9ntnxiduci+Uf lieu:

dream house where their little four-
year-old daughter Linda may have
a room of her own. Now that little
house is a reality to be completed
by Christmas. Though they both
work, their budget doesn't allow
carpenters, so Bob, after a hard
day's work, builds their house by
night, while Bev, with Linda's aid,
olans the inside furnishings and helps
with odd jobs.

During her lunch
hour, Bev often
dashes down town
to pick up some
pipefittings, or rent
a floor sander.
Then, after work,
she picks Linda up
at the nursery
school, and hurries
home to cook din-
ner.

She's a good cook, too, and, being
around the Fish and Game Depart-
ment gives her plenty of opportunity
to learn the best ways of preparing
wild meat.

Says Bev, "It's fun to work when
you're working for something good —
and especially when you're em-
ployed by the Montana Fish and
Game Department."

FISH HISTORIANS —

Collect 2>ala fey SUocJuHf Sbi&anti

From a Report by C. K. Phenici

Fisheries Biologist

It's hard enough to write a history
of human beings, but to follow the
life of a fish and record it is a big
job any way you look at it. But it's
being done, and the fish hsitory is
becoming more accurate each year.

Migration, food habits, growth, and
age have to be determnied some
way, and the Fish and Game Depart-
ment thinks the "shocking" method
is the best.

Probably the best example of
stream sampling by this method is
the Prickly Pear Creek Project. It
was begun in the summer of 1949 for
a detailed study of the fish popula-
tions of Prickly Pear creek near Wolf
Creek, Montana, by a five-man crew
headed by Frank Stefanich who is
a "Prickly Pear" boy in the summer,
and a graduate student at Montana
State College in the winter.

The other crewmen, students, also,
are Vern Craig, graduate, and Jack
Bailey, Jim Ready, and Bill Alvord.
Random Sampling

The portion of the creek from the
Missouri River to Sieben was desig-
nated as the study area. Six 600-
foot sections were selected at random
for sampling, and each section was
seined and shocked with electrodes.
Stunned, the fish were netted and put
in screen cages near the bank of the

river until all the fish in that section
were taken. Then, one by one, the
captives were dunked in urethane to
put them to sleep after which they
were weighed, measured, scaled,
tagged, then were released un-
harmed into the section from whence
they came.

A census was then made of each
section four times in 1949, and three
times since May of this year in an ef-
fort to collect all the fish from each

After being drugged, the fish are

weighed, measured, scaled, and

tagged. "This one's IIV2 inches,"

says Frank Stefanich.

15

section. The dwellers of the stream
were trout, whitefish, suckers, carp,
ling and skulfins. Records were
made of all fish caught that had
been tagged on previous shockings.
The findings will show the fisheries
biologists how to aproach other
stream studies. When some of the
problems on trout streams are ans-
wered by this experiment, fisheries
should be able to:

*Establish the size of the sample
needed to measure the abundance of
trout and the fluctuation of abund-
ance in streams of average size. This
would cut the size of the experiment
down as far as possible and still pro-
vide an over-all picture.

* Learn the size of the Prickly Pear
Creek trout population along with its
length, weight, age, and species com-
position.

Two of the Prickley Pear boys clean
the nets.

* Learn the size sample needed in
streams to measure adequately the
growth rate of fishes and to measure
the mortality rates, both of which are
extremely important in fishery man-
agement.

* Study the angler's catch as it re-
lates to the estimated size and com-
position of the trout population.

* Measure the movement or dis-
persion of trout.

* Study under conditions that can
be controlled the relation between
the various species of trout.

* Establish the reality of sucker mi-
gration and to measure its magnitude
and direction.

* Study the survival of hatchery-
reared trout in a stream where the
size of the wild population can be es-
timated and controlled.

*Find and study the portions of the
stream where trout are most numer-
ous.

* Learn the types of stream im-
provement that may be used in Mon-
tana waters.

*Test the effectiveness of stream
improvement.

The importance of environment
to maximum production has already
been demonstrated. During the 1949
season, an average of 13.5 pounds
of trout per 150 feet of stream was re-
moved with the electric shocker from
sections with one or more medium
sized pools. On the other hand, only
an average of 3.4 pounds of trout per
150 feet of stream was resident in
those sections with 100 per cent riffles
or small pools and riffles. Approxi-
mately three-quarters of this stream
is in the low production category.
Experiments are under way to de-
termine the feasibility of increasing
production by artificial stream im-
provement.— L. K.

16

Don t Waste -- pur game meat

So you got your deer!

Even so, it is much too early to be
self-satisfied to the point where you
figure it's all over but the eating.
What if you quti conserving your
game the minute fired the fatal shot?
You'd soon find that proper care goes
beyond killing the animal and drag-
ging him out of the hills.

First of all, for the cleanest kill,
game should be shot as close to the
heart as possible, then dressed out

at once to avoid spoil from the body
heat. Without puncturing the intes-
tines, slit him from the breastbone to
the base of the tail. Cut around the
vent and pull in, and roll out the
viscera (that means intestines), and
cut the gullet loose and drain it.

Next, it is important that the empty
body cavity be wiped clean and
dry. Then hang him up, propping

the body cavity open. During the
(Continued on page 23)

NECK-

MINCEMEAT
Me/VTB^Lt.*
5T6.W OH,

CHUCK

ROAST

SADbLH

LOIN

RUMP

ROttST

SHOULDER

ROAST

MEAT ftfV-LS

5 PARE RIBS

OONeO AND

OROSE LIKE
FLRNK

FLANK

QR.OIL, STEW.
RACiOOT
HftMSURCiER

HAUNCH

STEAKS

17

FISH AND GAME COMMISSION

(Continued from page 4)

the Montana Fish and Game Com-
mission. And, today, this agency,
cinsisting of five men from different
specified districts, directs the destin-
ies of this state's wildlife.

Headed by Elmer Johnson, a resi-
dent of Glasgow, the Commission
meets once a month in Helena to
pass on the numerous questions that
arise relative to the field it controls.
Surprisingly few citizens appreciate
the fact that these men receive no
monetary return for their efforts, other
than the bare expenses they incur
traveling to and from the meeting
place. Their time, taken from their
own private businesses, and their ex-
perience in wildlife matters gleaned
from years in the field and in deal-
ings with sports enterprises, are don-
ated free of charge.

The Governor of the state appoints
members of the Commission, when
vacancies occur, for terms of four
years. By statute, the importance of
any political affiliation of a consid-
ered candidate for such 'an appoint-
ment is specifically excluded. But,
the law does insist that he be inter-
ested and experienced in the subjects
of wildlife, fish and game before he
is eligible.

The 5 Districts

The five districts set up are as fol-
lows:

District 1. Lincoln, Flathead, San-
ders, Lake, Mineral, Missoula, Pow-
ell, Ravalli, Granite and Lewis and
Clark. Edward M. Boyes of Libby is
the delegate from this district.

District 2. Deer Lodge, Silver Bow,
Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson,
Broadwater, Gallatin, Park and
Sweetgrass. William Carpenter of
Butte represents District 2 on the
Commisison.

District 3. Glacier, Toole, Liberty,
Hill, Pondera, Teton, Chouteau, Cas-
cade, Judith Basin, Fergus, Blaine,
Meagher, and Wheatland. These 13
Montana political subdivisions are
the jurisdiction of A. C. Grande, Jr.,
of Lennep.

District 4. Phillips, Valley, Dan-
iels, Sheridan, Roosevelt, Petroleum,
Garfield, McCone, Richland, Dawson
and Wibaux. Chairman Johnson
speaks at Commission meetings for
this section.

District 5. Golden Valley, Mussel-
shell, Stillwater, Carbon, Yellow-
stone, Big Horn, Treasure, Rosebud,
Custer, Powder River, Carter, Fallon,
and Prairie. From Miles City, Thomas
S. Morgan makes the monthly trip to
attend for this area.

The rules and regulations which
the commission pass on would be
wasted effort if it were not for an
executive member of the board who
sees them into being. This is the
funciton, or one of the functions, of
State Game Warden Robert H. Lam-
beth. His official title is that of Sec-
retary of the Commission. He is a
full time employee of the Depart-
ment, and oversees the working of
all sections at all times. Because of
his vast experience in the field of fish
and game law enforcement, he is
well qualified to give opinions and
make suggestions during the course

18

of Commission gatherings.

A Finger on the Pulse

Reports from district warden super-
visors, deputy game wardens, and
special project groups in the field
keep the Commission's finger on the
fish and game pulse of the state.
Over-populations of various types of
game in certain areas have to be
coped with as well as the more com-
monly experienced scarcities, and it
is the Commission's job to see that
every person purchasing a Montana
fishing permit gets his three dollars
worth of fishing thrills by keeping all
streams and lakes well stocked with
fish most suited to the peculiarities
of the water concerned.

It is a big job that the legislature
has delegated to this small group of
men. Unlike other state agencies in
Montana, the Fish and Game Depart-
ment receives no appropriations from
the legislature. It is a self sustaining
entity within the complex state struc-
ture. Operating funds for the De-
partment are derived from the sale of
sporting licenses, trapping licenses,
sale of confiscated furs, and fines.

Co-Operation — Sought and Got

The administration of this wildlife
trust for the people of Montana re-
quires not only ability to meet pres-
ent needs but vision sufficient to
recognize future problems. It has
been a source of satisfaction to the
Commission to observe the unlimited
co-operation of both individual sports-
ment and organized outdoor clubs,
which individuals and clubs have
come to realize that their own actions
and suggestions can assist the Com-

mission in seeing through to a suc-
cessful end the enormous task set be-
fore it.

Montana has been justly named
"a sportsman's paradise." It will
continue to have this title so long as
the Montana Fish and Game Com-
mission has anything to say about it.

THE WARDEN FROM BEAVERHEAD

(Continued from page 13)

and the stack to assure the creature
of privacy.

"In the meantime, the elk's leg
healed and the farmer was down to
his last stack, but try as he would,
he could not make the animal leave.
He would just run around and
around the haystack."

Well, Charlie silently eyed the situ-
ation for a minute, then walked over
to the fence, stuck the end of one of
the fence poles into the stack and
when the elk ran around again, he
naturally diverted and ran out
through the opening in the fence. The
farmer was astounded. Why hadn't
he thought of a simple Lhing like
that?

Charlie has a millon stories to tell
about his experiences as a game
warden, and, though he isn't the type
of person to dwell on his own tales,
he can easily be lured into conversa-
tions when wildlife is the topic. He
likes to tell about the buffalo he shot
for Herman Peterson who wanted
one of his herd for a banquet. It was
his first buffalo, and he was as
thrilled as a kid with his first fish.

What a far-cry 1950 is from 1925.
(Continued on page 20)

19

THE WARDEN FROM BEAVERHEAD

(Continued from page 19)
Pride is hardly the word to describe
the expression in Charlie's eyes
when he reports that the Beaverhead
now has 1,335 antelope, over 1,300
elk, and a good waterfowl and resi-
dent bird population, not to mention
the fish — that long — which anglers
make up stories about. No, pride
isn't the word. Maybe it's merely
the expression of satisfaction over a
job well done.

SELLING CONSERVATION

(Continued from page 2)

people and not of the hunting and
fishing public alone. These resources
amount to a national trust adminis-
tered by state agencies for universal
benefit.

In Montana, your Fish and Game
Department keeps the contsant vigil.
It, along with interested organiza-
tions, is doing this state's job of sell-
ing the people of the Treasure State,
not what is already our own, but
the idea that each and every man,
woman, and child has a valuable in-
terest in the wild things that thrive
here. This interest should not be
abused, as it so often is, by thought-
less acts.

We must sell and be sold. And,
when we have been firmly and ir-
revocably convinced, let us then,
conservation-wise, start operating in
the black and throw away the red
ink that has smeared the picture on
our wildlife ledger.

J.R.

SPORT IN MONTANA

(Continued from page 9)
There we have looked at the Mon-
tana hunter, his business, his pocket-
book, his age, and what he shoots.
Occaisonally one of this group will
grumble about the non-resident hun-
ter, whom he blames for his poor
luck. Actually less than one per cent
of the total deer kill is by out-of-state
hunters and they take less than 3 per
cent of the elk. These figures show
that only a fraction of the game
killed is by the non-resident while
he contributes a substantial part of
the money spent on the sport.
Fodder for Fights
That about rounds up the hunting
story and while this article has been
a little heavy with statistics, which
are always dull, it should at least
provide fodder for the campfire and
hot stove leagues to argue over.
Much of this information could have
been obtained only through the co-
operation of thousands of Montana
hunters who stopped at checking sta-
tions or answered long questionaires.
In addition to the above facts, the
Wildlife Resoraion division which
has been assigned the job of con-
ducting this operation, has a consid-
erable volume of game weights and
measurements. These show the age,
classes, and size of game harvested
and are valuable for the game man-
agement program.

Many facts needed must be proved
by the hunter, who is on the consum-
er end of game production. The de-
partment wishes to thank all who
have co-operated in the past and
earnestly to request further help this

20

fall when effort will again be made
to gather material for examination
and information on the annual hunter
kill.

Montana has a variety of game un-
equalled in the country and enough
to provide all with a fair chance of
success. To maintain what we have
we must remember that good man-
age ment and wise utilization of that
resource must be based on facts and
not guesses.

SUN RIVER ELK HERD

(Continued from page 7)
into the mountains showed only mod-
erate use of the grass-type forage.
The winter loss was very light and
confined entirely to old animals.

The influence of the Sun River
Range extends even across the Con-
tinental Divide. Heavily-used trails
during the past several falls have in-
dicated a significant drift of elk from
the South Fork and Middle Fork of
the Flathead and on to the range in
the foothills. A return drift has been
noted in the spring.

The ranchers in the area are well
pleased. They are no longer both-
ered by large bands of elk; those that
do apear are quickly moved on to
the Game Range.
Bruce Need — His Dream Come True

Let's look for a moment through the
eyes of a man who has spent a life-
time with the Sun River elk. To Bruce
Neal, the Game Range is in reality a
dream come true. As manager of
the area he is now able to apply a.
vast fund of knowledge acquired by
working so closely with game
through the years. It is not difficult

to realize the satisfaction that he must
get in drifting the elk onto their own
ranges after years of pushing them
back into the deep snows of the
mountains.

There is one cloud in an otherwise
perfect picture. A dam has been
proposed on the Sun River in the
mountains to the west of the Game
Range. Concern is felt that the re-
sulting impoundment would form a
block to the outward movement of
elk. Should it be built, it is very-
possible that elk would find alternate
migration trails, thus bringing them
to the foothills far to the north or to
the south of the Game Range. In ad-
dition, much of the important calving
range for the herd would be flooded.
New roads necessary for the con-
struction would very possibly bring
about serious "firing-line" conditions.
We hope that this problem may be
worked out satisfactorily.

For the time being, at least, we are
counting our blessings and getting
real satisfaction out of handling at
least one herd of elk when we have
all the tools to work with.

DINGELL-JOHNSON BILL

(Continued from page 2)
a formula which gives 40% weight
to area and 60% to ratio of fishing
license holders to total population.
Montana's original share is estimat-
ed to be about $110,000.

Projects to be developed then will
be worked out by the state Fish and
Game Department and federal Fish
and Wildlife Service, with the fed-
erals putting up 75% and the state
(Continued on page 22)

21

DINGELL-JOHNSON BILL

(Continued from page 21)
25% of the money. After July 1,
1953, up to 25% of allocations from
federal funds may be used for proj-
ect maintenance. All projects will
belong to the state of Montana when
completed. Any unexpended bal-
ances go back to the federal fund
for research work on fish.

Projects, to be approved by the
Secretary of the Interior, through the
Fish and Wildlife Service, must be
"substantial in character and de-
sign" and the secretary has the last
say on project standards. These
projects may include: research on
fish management and culture prob-
lems necessary to efficient adminis-

tration of fish resources; findings of
fact needed to guide and direct regu-
lation of fishing, including fish popu-
lationsh, drain of fish supplies, and
natural causes; plans for restocking
waters according to natural areas
and fact finding for the purpose of
making those plans and testing the
efficiency of the plans; restoration,
selection, rehabilitation and improve-
ment of areas of either water or land
for hatching, feeding, resting, and
breeding places for fish. Acquisition
of these tracts by purchase, condem-
nation, lease or gift is provided in the
law as well as construction on the
sites of any building or other struc-
ture needed to carry out the pro-
visions.

RETURN OF WHITE BEAVER

(Continued from page 1 1)
pector must feel when he suddenly
picks up a small nugget after a long
search for gold. Yet, I was thrilled,
because I have looked a long time
for some trace of the now extinct
white beaver in the state of Montana.
Where the beaver we pelted came
from, I don't know, unless they are a
colony all their own."

But even if Campbell did know
where they came from, five-11 get you
ten that he wouldn't tell a breathing
soul. He wants them himself for a
special purpose which is forming
slowly in the back of his mind; he
wants to breed them back to their
original white state, and he doesn't
want them to be heedlessly exploited
until he gets to try his luck. He
knows what it means — careful live-
trapping, expert handling, a lot of

time, and lots of disappointments.

What happened to the seven
"white" beaver pelts? Well, they
were sold for $12 apiece, and were
bought by Leo M. Goldberg, clothier
and furrier of Helena. Since there
weren't enough for a coat, they were
destined to be used for trimming.

Campbell is valuable not only to
the Fish and Game Department, but
was a priceless aid last year to Walt
Disney who came to Montana to do
a featurette on the state's wildlife
called "Beaver Valley" which was
filmed in technicolor. Howard
trapped and maneuvered beaver so
as to make the filming of the elusive
little animal possible. Critics have
labeled the production as "excel-
lent." He worked for three months,
what time he could spare, with the
Disney photographers, then when he

22

got his big chance to meet Disney,
he was all tied up in work and
couldn't make it. Perhaps, though,
he'll have another chance sometime,

if he ever breeds white beaver back,
and providing they're photogenic.

"Oh well," Howard says, "we'll
see."

In June, the Department sold these furs at an auction. Ovie Wolverton,
Chief Clerk, stops counting pelts long enough to have his picture taken.

DON'T WASTE GAME MEAT

(Continued from page 17)
skinning operation, be sure to cut off
the loose meat. Cut the neck at the
base of the skull, give the head a
twist, and remove it.

The diagram shown is one of many
ways to cut up your game. Saw the
carcass in half down the middle of
the back, and start cutting in sections
from there. According to the size
of your family, wrap enough meat
for one meal in waxed paper pack-
ages, lable it, and put in cold stor-
age. Do not thaw meat out until you
are ready to use it. After these pre-
cautions have been taken, be sure to

use your game meat before the open-
ing of the season next year if you
wish to bag another animal.

Now, if the buck you bagged was
a big one, chances are that you and
the family will get a little tired of
your deer steaks, roasts, boils, and
stews. If that is the case, you've
missed out on the real delicacies ot
game meat. 'Ever taste smoked,
pickled, dried, or canned venison?
Well, you can fix it yourself, and
here's how:

In approximately 35 hours you can
have smoked venison simply by cut-
ting it up into strips and hang it up
(Continued on Page 24)

23

DON'T WASTE GAME MEAT

(Continued from page 23)

where it can get plenty of smoke.
Sawdust works well for smoking.

To pickle, all you do is cut the
meat up into strips about the size of
licorice sticks, put it in salt brine for
a day, or until it siuts you, and hang
it to dry in a very warm place. An
oven is best.

To dry your venison, cut it in strips
and hang it over a fire making sure
the smoke and flames cannot reach
it, and leave it there until it gets hard.

Venison may be canned raw and
processed or it may be pre-cooked,
merely by following the directions
used for canning ordinary meat.

Then, of course, your meat may be
frozen. One important step here is
aging, which requires two or three
weeks. During this time, it should
hang in above-freezing temperatures
while unharmful bacteria eat away
the tough tissues and grissle. After
this aging period, the meat is ready
to cook or freeze. If frozen venison
is removed from the locker, it should
be cooked the same day.

A well trained dog is as much a part of a successful hunting trip as a shot-gun. Pictured
here is a combination of the traits every retriever should have: intelligence, obedience,

and enthusiasm.

24

J give my pledge as an American

to save and faithfully to defend

from waste the natural resources of

my country — its soil and minerals,

its forests, waters, and wildlife.