mid£^ January, 1961 — Montana Fish and Game Department Official Publication Information-Education Division I ^^^ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from IVIontana State Library http://www.archive.org/details/montanawildlifejan1961mont Governor. STATE OF MONTANA Donald G. Nutter Chairman Vice Chairman. MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION H. W. Black, Poison Secretary. Director , Deputy Director Chief, Information and Education Chief of Fisheries Management Chief of Game Management Chief Law Enforcement Officer..-. Chief Clerk John T. Hanson, Sr., Malta E. G. Leipheimer, Jr., Butte Ralph D. Shipley, Miles City E. J. Skibby, Lewistown Walter J. Everin DIVISION DIRECTORS Walter J. Everin Don L. Brown Frank H. Dunkle William Alvord Robert F. Cooney Orville W. Lewis R. H. Tumbull Editor — V. E. Craig TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Meet Your Commissioner 2 Wildlife and Parks 3 Montana Needs More Bear Hunters 5 It's Time To Go Fishing . 9 Elk Range Acguisition 13 The Mourning Dove As A Game Bird 18 Montana Game Wardens Are Friendly 22 Rough Country Deer 25 Letter From A Sportsman 28 Montanas' Place As A Game State 32 Edwin G. Leipheimer, Jr., well known businessman of Butte, Montana is the newest member of Montana's five-man Fish & Game Commission. Mr. Leipheimer was appointed during March, 1960 by Governor J. Hugo Aron- son. His district includes Deer Lodge, Silver Bow, Beaverhead, Madison, Jef- ferson, Broadwater, Gallatin, Park, and Sweet Grass counties. A native of Butte, he is a graduate cf Butte High School and attended the Montana School of Mines for one year and Montana State University at Missoula for two years. He is a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and also the Masonic and Shrine lodges of Butte. In addition, he is a member of the Skyline Sportsmen Club, the Jesters and the National Snoplane As- sociation. Mr. Leipheimer also serves on the Butte-Silver Bow city-county planning board. He and his wife, Dorothy, and their four children reside In Butte. Mr. Leipheimer owns and operates the Floral Park Service Station. Other members cf the commission are John T. Hanson, Sr., of Malta, H. W. Black of Poison (chairman), Ralph D. Shipley of Miles City and Edward J. Skibby of Lewistown. WILDLIFE AND PARKS GUEST EDITORIAL— BY R. YORK EDWARDS, GAME BIOLOGIST Department of Recreation and Conservation, Vancouver, B. C. Reprinted from "Wildlife Review" One hot day in one of our larger parks, I was relaxing on the road- side when a long car stopped beside me. "How far to the park?" came a voice from behind the sunglasses and big cigar. "This is it," I said, "in fact you've nearly driven through it." "But we haven't seen anything yet," he complained and, with an impatient wave cf his hand, swept aside my mention of a quiet lake with trout rings widening on it; a knoll where foxes sang a weird song every night; a glade where deer grazed at dusk; a range of hills clothed with cool, green forests and a series of lovely waterfalls. He wanted to know where the ani- mals were. I told him they were everywhere but they were difficult to see at 60 m.p.h. "Should have 'em in cages," and he roared away after I had suggested that this was a dif- ferent kind of park. That afternoon I sow seven bear-trees, fell off two beaver dams, was attacked by a ma- ternal grouse, and was serenaded by a wolf duet as I plodded for camp. Not everyone appreciates what wildlife is to large parks. Perhaps some explanation of wildlife aims in our provincial parks would be in order. Wildlife is one of the important re- sources contained in parks around the world. Many were created be- cause of the wildlife they possessed. Many parks have received most of their fame from the animals and birds they preserve. Parks and wild- life go together. The basic philosophy behind many parks is the preservation of natural contents as a setting for out- door recreation. This concept has wide geographical appeal and pow- erful public support. Such public in- terest alone is ample demonstration of the value of the park concept. Park use is a resource unique among resources, in theory at least. It is not renewable or non-renewable. It is self-perpetuating with a value that never diminishes, even tempo- rarily, but rather increases with every year, as the surrounding areas move farther and farther from their natural state. All this is clear-cut in theory, but in practice there has to be some man- agement. Fires, despite the fact that some are quite natural, must be sup- pressed. People need unnatural con- veniences and may trample some sections of parks into quite unnatural little dust bowls. Animals, too, need some manage- ment. Some parks, famed for their Avildlife, are losing it. Others have suddenly found that they have too many animals. Not so many years ago people created game reserves with great abandon and seemed to think some magic went with the term. Many of our game reserves today hold less game than adjacent areas. Land that used to hold game may have seen forest changes that have crowded it out. A preserve, park or otherwise, cannot lead to game in- creases unless there is range to sup- port it. The explosive gome increases in some parks are just as serious. Ruined forests and grasslands, erod- ing soils, and game herds eating themselves out of existence, are com- mon trends in many parks because of too many animals. Abundant game in parks needs good range which may need per- petuation through management, and control may be necessary to balance animal numbers with the range. This is one reason for wildlife manage- ment in parks and most park systems are forced to use it. Our provincial system is one of the few which recog- nized its importance from the start. This is not the only way in which the wildlife policy of our parks is unique. In some of our parks hunt- ing may be encouraged as a legiti- mate form of outdoor recreation. In most parks of the world fishing is encouraged but hunting is illegal. This is a bit inconsistent. In those British Columbia parks where hunt- ing does not conflict with other uses, game populations may be managed for hunters. This management aims at annually harvesting the annual herd increase, so that game stocks are never impaired. Since many game populations normally increase up to 25% per annum, or more, the harvest value of game is remarkably high as compared to many renew- able resources. The Parks Division is undertaking this second type of wildlife management, with most ef- fort placed upon Wells Gray Park. British Columbia is world famous for its scenery, vegetations, and wild animals. Our parks present typical fragments of the Province to all who are interested. Since wildlife is a part of British Columbia's fame, its management is a part of managing our parks. Cages will not do — for the same reason that a tagged yellow pine in Kew Gardens gives no idea of the sweeping rangelands that this spe- cies represents. MONTANA NEEDS MORE BEAR HUNTERS By Glen Cole, Big Game Research Supervisor Over most of the nation, black bears are considered a prize by any hunter. In Montana, too, bruin is a game animal, but for some reason has never gained a deserving stature with resident hunters. Since the Mon- tana Fish and Game Department is responsible for the management of the state's game resources, they are concerned with this part of recrea- tional hunting that is going down the drain. Accordingly, considerable time and effort has been expended toward developing a sound bear management program. Through department investiga- tions, many important details of black bears have been uncovered. One of the most common questions to be given light is their significance as livestock predators. Question- naires sent to 22% of all Montana farm and ranch units revealed that bears were considered responsible for the loss of about 500 cattle and 5,000 sheep during 1957. In order to get more positive information, 90 cases that reported livestock losses were followed up by personal inter- views. The interviews disclosed that the depredation figures were some- what exaggerated, for livestock which died from other causes were frequently mistaken for bear kills. Bears were blamed because they had been seen feeding upon the car- casses. Out of the 90 cases investi- gated, only 4 out of 16 reported cat- tle losses and 66 of 74 reported sheep losses could be attributed to bears. Despite the fact that relatively few bears are stock killers, livestock losses can be quite a financial blow to individual operators. However, such losses appear to reach signifi- cant proportions only when bruin is contending with a shortage of nat- ural food. It follows that the destruc- tion of individual "killer bears" is treating the symptom rather than the illness. As with other big game ani- mals, a long-term solution calls for keeping bear numbers in balance with their natural food supply. Research on bears is still continu- ing. In one particular area of west- ern "Montana, quite an intensive study is under way. Here bears are being captured alive and put to sleep with a chemically loaded dart. While ir. slumberland the bears are weighed, various measurements are taken, then they are tagged with bright markers. Upon v/aking, the bears waddle away a little drowsy but none the worse from their experi- ence. To date some 80 have been tagged. Charles Jonkel uses a dart gun to immobilize a trapped bear. —Photo by B. J. Rose Information gained from this and associated projects are rewarding the department with sound and sorely needed information. Our data agree that black bears in the wild are mainly vegetarians. Our study shows somewhat over 95% of their food is vegetable. Berries, pine nuts, forbs and grasses are major food items. Carrion is eaten when found. On the 80 square mile study area, representative of western bear coun- try, there were actually 1.25 animals per square mile (about 100 on the 80 square mile area). This is a large number of bears. Much of western Montana, in fact, is good bear coun- try and is substantially populated with this fine game species. Bear numbers in many areas appear to Still groggy from drugs a tagged bear begins to wake up. —Photo by B. J. Rose be too high for their own good, and trophy size animals are not main- tained. The yearlings seem to suf- fer most when pickings are poor, and many don't make the winters. Here are the places where we have trou- ble, for during lean years bears be- come nuisances around human habi- tations. Even where bears are numerous, surprisingly few are taken by Mon- tana hunters. In 1959 about 1,400 were taken state-wide. Only 5 of 80 marked bears on a western Mon- tana study area were killed by hunt- ers during the last two years, despite publicity aimed to get hunters into that area. The department recognizes that in many parts of the state we just aren't shooting enough bears to keep their numbers within desired limits. Younger animals lose out in compe- tion for food, and we are conse- quently raising inferior, small-sized bears. Severe competition is also forcing some bears to become nui- sances, and in cases, stock killers. Several things can be done to help solve this problem. Following are some important objectives: • Seasons and bag limits should be set by area as they are on other big game. This would permit corrective seasons in problem areas. • Regulations should permit the taking of cubs, or females with cubs, after September 15. Black bear cubs are able to take care of themselves when about bVi months old. Additionally, such a regu- lation would aid law enforcement. Problems arise in the fall when it's difficult to tell large cubs from yearlings. • Issuance of special non-resident licenses for black bears would help put hunting pressure in areas where bears are numerous and not adequately harvested by residents. The $20 license would be restricted to problem areas. • Classification of blacks as trophy (instead of game) animals would put them in the same classification as grizzlies. This would permit hunters to take black bears for their hides alone. They would not have to use the m.eat unless they want to. The two latter objectives will be recommended to the 1961 legisla- ture for their consideration. The de- partment feels that such laws would be a big step forward in solving our bear problems. Our black bears have the potential of a valuable rec- reational resource. Under good man- agement both hunters and bears would benefit, and the blacks would be recognized as the fine game ani- mals they are. The department is anxious to bet- ter its public services and will ap- preciate public support for this pro- gram. Even small fry enjoy a brisk day on the ice. ^t'^ ^CtHC 7<^ ^ ^C^^Ut^ For the majority of sportsmen, gun- ning season has come to an end. Rifles are being hung up and tackle is coming out — for it's time to go fish- ing again. Montana offers a diversity of win- ter fishing. In fact, nearly any part of the state provides some kind. Trout, whitefish, perch and ling are the most popular fish this time of year. And you don't have to be the rugged type to enjoy it — you just have to be prepared. An exhilarat- ing day on the ice will convert even the confirmed house plant to ranks of the 'red-nosed' who are at their best in old man winter's deep freeze. If you are not a veteran winter fisherman, then special attention should be given to preparation for your outing. Personal warmth and comfort must be given top priority; plenty of good warm clothing is a must. For maximum warmth, cloth- mg must fit loosely and outside gar- ments should be wind-proof. In- sulated clothing now on the market IS very efficient. It is warm, yet light- weight. Wear a good cap that will protect both your head and ears. Gloves also must fit loosely. Inner liners are added protection against the cold, so take along on extra pair in case one becomes wet from han- dling fish and fish lines. An other- wise enjoyable trip can be miser- able if your feet ore cold, so wear good footgear, preferably with some type of inner-lining or inner-soles. A tarp to stand or kneel upon can also be a big help in keeping feet warm. A word of caution, however, don't bundle up so snugly that you will perspire enroute to the fishing area. Dampness greatly reduces the in- sulating quality of any clothing. The next item to consider is fish- ing equipment. This need not be ex- pensive nor extravagant. If you in- tend to fish through the ice, a tool for chipping holes will be an impor- tant item. Axes and picks are both dangerous for cutting ice and also ineffective. A wide chisel welded to a %" x 5' piece of pipe is a very ac- ceptable chopper. These are called 'ice-spuds.' Put a rope or thong on the handle so the spud will not wind up on a lake bottom. It's easy for one to slip away on the first ice break-through. A soup skimmer or a piece of coarse mesh screen is handy for dipping chipped ice and slush from the fishing holes. For fishing through the ice a long pole is useless; in fact, the recom- mended length is not over three feet. Telescoping rods, tips of fly rods, or any such devices are suitable for ice fishing. Fishing in open water is another story. Here, long cane pcles are popular. Cane poles afford a lati- tude of distance and some action without the frustration of frozen guides. Commercially manufactured poles are made specifically for ice fishing. Many are nothing more than short wooden poles with large line guides and some provision for holding extra line. Non-absorbent line has less chance to hold water and freeze. The line should be heavy enough to resist cutting by jagged ice and to take the weight of fish as they are hoisted from the water. Include a light bobber in the tack- le box along with a supply of sink- ers. Bell-type sinkers are popular with lake and pond fishermen. A box secured to a child's sled pro- vides an excellent vehicles for carry- ing equipment. Bait will vary with the kind of fish you're after. Maggots, worms and sucker meat are dependable for perch. Whitefish and trout will go for maggots, worms, and the popu- lar stone fly nymphs (commonly called scratchers or hellgrammites). Scratchers can be easily collected with a window screen having wood- en handles tacked on two sides. While holding one end of the han- dles, spread the screen and prop the opposite handle ends upon a stream bottom. Now have someone roll the rocks and gravel immedi- ately upstream. Scratchers will drift against the screen and may be easily collected. The small, light- colored ones produce best results. Ling feed almost entirely upon other fishes. Live bait then is im- perative. In Montana, cottus (com- monly called sculpins) are the only live fish that may be used for bait statewide. Regulations allow use of other kinds in some eastern Mon- tana areas. Be sure to check cur- rent regulations to determine what is allowed in your area. 10 An elephant could fall through a hole of this size. Keep fishing holes SMALL for safety. Yellow Perch Now with equipment loaded and a thermos of hot coffee handy, let's head for the lake to catch some perch. Ten a.m. to four p.m. are the most productive hours for perch. Don't expect perch to give the thrill of fighting trout in July. They're not that kind of fish, but perch taken from winter waters are firm and tasty. You'll find that trout aren't the same as they are in July either. Cold water slows them down to al- most a lethargic condition. Perch are not classed as game fish in Montana so there is no limit as to the numbers one can take. While perch fishing you may hook trout also. Be certain to check your fishing regulations for open waters and creel limits. Once in the fishing area, your next step is to make certain the ice is safe. Don't bunch up and put con- centrated weight on small ice areas. Avoid ice over swift water, around stumps or other projections, and above springs. Sunken areas often indicate underlying springs and thin ice. Be cautious also of cracks and holes which may hove been pre- viously opened by fishermen. Early spring ice presents special hazards of rotten ice and weak areas cre- ated by fluctuating water levels. 11 Finding a good fishing spot may present a problem on unfamiliar waters. Good bets for perch are in deep waters off rocky poinds, sandy bars, or mainland areas that protrude into the lake. Tell-tale bait, blood spots, wood ashes and fishing holes ore evidence of successful fishing spots. Dig a series of holes small enough so that other fishermen, and children especially, cannot fall bodily into the water. Perch congregate in schools and where one is caught, others are nearby. If one hole does not provide fish, try another. Some- times movement of only a few feet will mean the difference between a good catch or no fish at all. Put a sinker on the end of your line and tie on the first hook so it will rest near the lake or pond bottom. The second hook should be tied about a foot higher. A light float is an advantage when fish are biting daintily. Jiggling the bait up and down will often attract fish. If you are unsuccessful fishing near the bot- tom, try different levels. Whitefish The feeding habits of whitefish, like perch, are not greatly affected by cold water. Most of our other fishes ore slowed down and feed less; consequently, whitefish provide a large part of Montana's winter fish- ery. In the rivers, whitefish congregate or 'school' where fast water blends into slower moving water along the shore and at the foot of rapids or riffles. The larger ones are generally found in the deeper water. When fishing through the ice, the same equipment used for perch fish- ing is suitable. Whitefish have small mouths, so No. 10 or No. 12 short- shanked hooks are most effective. It is imperative that small hooks be used, otherwise you may go home empty-handed. Keep the bait mov- ing up and down. Open water fishing requires dif- ferent equipment. Here, the short pole is replaced by a long one. Cane poles, either jointed or in single units, are quite effective. Equip them with V2" or larger guides made from fine stiff wire. A reel, spool, or wooden brackets should be attached to the pole for storage of excess line. Again, a fairly heavy line that will not ab- sorb water is required. The most effective whitefishing method in open water is to cast into the lower end of a riffle and allow the bait to drift along the edge of the fast water into a pool. When streams carry floating ice, whitefish may be taken near the stream edges and be- neath shelf-ice. Adjust a bobber or float on the line so the bait drifts near the stream bottom. When a whitefish strikes it should be allowed to pull the float beneath the water surface before the hook is set. Ling The slick eel-like ling are fresh water members of the codfish family. In Montana, ling are found prin- cipally in the Kootenai, Missouri and lower Yellowstone River drainages. In rivers they seem to prefer the smoother waters and show prefer- 12 With an ice shack one may fish in comfort on even the most bitter days. ence for deep waters in lakes, ex- cept during spawning. Specimens have been known to reach lengths in excess of three feet and weights of over 24 pounds. But don't expect to be pulling out whoppers of this size. When cooked, ling flesh is flaky, snowy-white and delicious. Ling are most active at night usually hiding in the shelter of stones during the daytime. At night they forage the streams in search of other fish. Although fish are their main stay, some other animal life is also eaten. Considering the food habits of ling, live fish are about the only effective bait. Montana law limits live fish bait to cottus, (locally called scul- pins) in most of the state. This law is to prevent contaminating areas with undesirable fish. Other kinds may be used in parts of eatern Mon- tana. Check current fishing regula- tions to determine what bait may be used in the area where you intend to fish. Montana law also limits hours of fishing, except set line fish- ing. Consequently, ling fishing is essentially limited to set line fishing with cottus for bait. Present regula- tions limit one fishermen to no more than six lines. No single line may contain more than six hooks. Be certain to consult current fishing regulations for waters open to set line fishing. No need to sit around the house and dream of the big ones you caught last summer. If you haven't tried winter fishing — this is your chance. Maybe the wife is bored, so take her along. You'll find com- pany on the lake or river. There's good sport waiting and some good eating too. 13 ^t*^ a Smait TVcnCct The time-worn cliche' "It's a small world" seems still to apply, even in the field of fish- eries management. Following are some cartoons which appear in "The Pesca Fluvial." This leaflet, originating in Madrid, Spain, shows a remarkable parallel between fisheries problems of that country and our own. Accompanying captions have not been in- cluded. The illustrations very ably carry the messages. Water pollution. DRAWINGS BY PEDRO MARTIN 'y-f'^ik Habitat loss through stream channel work. 14 Stream obstructions. The Poacher. Dewatering of streams. ^15= Crime doesn't pay. 15 R. F. COONEY— CHIEF OF GAME MANAGEMENT The recent purchase of the Kolt Ranch by the Montana Fish and Game Commission has made the Madison- Wall Creek winter e 1 k range a reality. This area of some- what over 5,000 acres lies adjacent to the Gravelly Range on the west side of the Madison Valley above Cam- eron. For many years an important part of the Gravelly Range elk herd has drifted into this area to winter. Ex- tended seasons have been necessary to hold the elk down in order to pre- vent serious damage to private prop- erty. Last winter up to 250 elk were seen in this area. This is the largest number that has been observed there in several years. In addition, a con- centration of mule deer has also pre- sented a range problem in this area since the early '40's. Antelope have more recently moved up the valley in this vicinity. In addition to dis- tinct benefits to big game, the new game range presents ready access to approximately six miles of the Madison River for fishermen. The Gravelly Range in southwest- ern Montana has long played a vital role in the maintenance and develop- ment of a very important livestock economy. In recent years, game has materially increased in numbers and importance throughout this same area. Careful management of both 16 of these important resources has been necessary in order that con- fhcts could be avoided. In this re- gard, the acquisition of the Holt Ranch area presents an important step in insuring the future enjoyment of the big game and fisheries re- sources in harmony with other im- portant uses of the land. Prior to this purchase it was be- coming increasingly evident that without the acquisition of a range for wintering game, there would be little opportunity to maintain the numbers presently in the area and that reductions of game might v/ell be necessary. It is expected that the purchase of the Madison-Wall Creek unit will go a long way in solving this problem. Big game will tend to concentrate on the newly acquired winter range, thus relieving adjoining private lands of serious game use. Plans for future numbers of elk and other big game species in this area will be based on the available for- age supply and in consideration with the over-all multiple use pro- gram for the Gravelly Range unit. Other important recreational assets, mcluding public hunting, fishing and camping, will be given careful con- sideration in this plan and will add materially to the benefits that will result from the area. As with the several other winter game ranges acquired in key loca- tions during the past years, funds in lieu of taxes will be paid annually by the Montana Fish and Game Commission to the county. The amount will be determined by the County Assessor and will be com- parable to that paid by adjoining private landholders on similar types of property. 17 'v » /^ -^-^ This mourning dove will wear a metal tog throughout its life. The tag will provide valuable management information. — Photo by courtesy of Texas Game and Fish Commission THE MOURNING DOVE AS A GAME BIRD Montana, like other states, is faced with the situation of diminishing game bird habitat while at the same time the numbers of hunters are in- creasing. On the other hand, we are passing by some of the best wing shooting to be found — this is hunt- ing for mourning doves. During late March and early April, mourning doves wing into Montana by the hundreds of thousands. Here they find ideal nesting conditions and from May to August their ener- gies ore turned to rearing young. In September and early October the doves fleck together; then, impelled by some age-old force they begin their annual flight to the south. The birds drift leisurely through Montana hardly noticed, but in thirty other states hunters anxiously await opening of the dove season. The small gray birds are swift, erratic flyers — no lumbering, easy target. Women, men and youngsters take to the fields to test their skill. So ex- citing is the sport that doves top the list, in numbers, as the prized game 18 species in many states. Despite the pressures, doves are not only hold- ing their own but are increasing over much of the country. What is the secret of the dove? How can it continue to prosper in the face of increased hunting pressure and land use? Actually, there are several factors in the doves' favor. Of no small importance is the doves' potential for reproduction. They are adaptable and persistent nesters. From nearly the time they arrive in Montana until well into August, doves devote most of their time to replenishing their numbers. Each clutch averages only two eggs, but this bird wastes no time in rear- ing a second, third and even a fourth brood. The young of one clutch are scarcely able to fly before eggs are laid for another. Young of a brood are often cared for by one parent while the other parent incubates new eggs. This repeated nesting of small clutches gives doves an advantage over other game birds. Periods of bad spring weather do not cut into a large portion of the entire season's production. Doves are also adaptable to a wide variety of nesting conditions. They will nest in trees, shrubs, on the ground, and even on rock ledges. Thus, their potential to increase is not apt to be curtailed greatly by changing conditions. Another factor to the benefit of doves is the harmony between their food habits and changing land use. Doves are seed eaters and seldom take insects; consequently, most ag- riculture tends to fill the dove larder. In many sia'.es doves are number one game bird. — Photo by Don Wooldridge, Missouri Conser- vation Commission. 19 Waste grain and weedy edges of grain fields provide their super- markets. Any change from grass- land to more weedy types provides more food. In cases, even overgraz- ing may encourage weed growth. An additional lift has been given doves by more water sources. Through more arid Montana, con- struction of countless stock-water ponds has opened new areas or im- proved conditions for them. While considering how the hunter effects the welfare of these birds, one must keep in mind an important point. That is that doves, like other birds which have a great potential for rapidly increasing their numbers, are relatively short-lived. Every year obout 70% of all doves are lost through natural causes. Such fac- tors as disease, predation, accidents, and weather all take their annual toll. Bear in mind that this loss is suffered whether the birds are hunted or not — it is the way of nature. When one factor takes a large number, other factors become less efficient. Where doves are hunted, the hunter take is a part of, not an addition to, the normal 70% loss. The hunter fac- tor becomes a substitute for natural causes which constantly operate to keep doves in check. Hunters, however, are poor com- petitors with nature. For example, California hunters account for only about 4% of the annual dove losses in spite of the fact that 3V2 million of these birds were harvested there dur- ing 1959. Natural forces accounted for the other 66% Doves nest repeatedly each season. — Photo by Charles Schwartz, Missouri Con- servation Committee Since it is evident that Montana hunters would have little effect on our dove population, let's consider some advantages of putting doves on the game bird list. From a game management stand- point, it would be wise use of an otherwise wasted resource. From the sportsmen's viewpoint, exhilarat- ing hunting would be offered at a time when little is available other- wise. The colorful days of early Sep- tember are naturals for lady hunters and for teaching the youngsters how to wing shoot. These hunts can be leisurely, family affairs, for by nature dove hunting is not strenuous. Parts of western Montana have good numbers of mourning doves, but the entire eastern two-thirds of our state is dove country. Accord- ingly, wing shooting would be of- fered to many Montanans who now have less chance for this kind of 20 OEPARTUtNT OF THE INTERIOR MSH AND WILOLIfE SERVICE sport. Much of the more isolated Montana — which includes a lot of public land — is excellent dove coun- try. Conflict there with agricultural activities would be minimum. Since no figures are available, one can only speculate on how many doves would be taken annually in Montana. One thing for certain, the harvest would increase as hunters discovered the fun in this sport. Ex- amples might indicate what we could expect to take. During 1958 Idaho hunters took 144,000, in Col- orado 152,000 were harvested and in sparsely populated Nevada the take was 90,000 birds. During 1958 Montana hunters took a total of 442,000 game birds — all species com- bined. Doves are migratory birds. This puts them under jurisdiction of the U. S. Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. This agency sets dove sea- sons and bag limits in much the same manner as they regulate hunt- ing of ducks and geese. Studies for the management of doves are con- ducted by the bureau in cooperation with individual states. During 1959, effort equivalent to 24 full-time men was directed toward gathering in- formation needed for better manage- ment of this game species. Two years ago your Fish and Game Department recommended to the legislature that doves be placed on the Montana game bird list. Management-wise it is biologically sound. The department would be negli- gent if they did not attempt to pro- vide all recreational hunting possible to Montana sportsmen. Whether or not we will be able to join the other 30 states now hunting doves will de- pend largely upon the interest shown by outdoorsmen and the support or lack of support sportsmen give to proposed legislation. 21 By Gene Sherman, District Warden Supervisor When the telephone rings at two o'clock in the morning and a gruff voice demands "Is this the game warden?" It isn't always easy to be pleasant, but we try. The fellow who called may have hit a deer with his car and wanted to inquire what to do about it. A re- ply that the warden will come right out and help him seems to bring a welcome response, despite the bad luck which has befallen him. Perhaps the fellow has lost his li- cense and wants to go hunting in the morning, or he wants to know if the elk are coming out at Gardiner. A few days ago the phone rang at 11:00 p. m. "I want to go fishing in Canyon Ferry Lake tomorrow and I need a boat license. Can I get one tonight?" the voice inquired. To make a long story short, he got one and I expect soon was fast asleep — dreaming of the big ones he'd catch tomorrow. 1 was still wondering what he'd been doing all week that he didn't have time to get a license in the day- time instead of getting me out of bed just after I'd fallen asleep. Typical calls such as these do come in at all hours and we try to be cheerful and consider it as just a part of the job. A large part of a game warden's work is contacting the public and, of course, checking to see if the Fish & Game laws are being adhered to bv the public. Sportsmen clamor for more game wardens instead of less; mind you, not to keep an eye on them, but to watch the other fellow — the out-of-towner or the out-of- stater. The sportsmen argue in the interest of our hunting and fishing that we need a game warden in our community. Whether you are one of these sportsmen who like game wardens or not, remember, he has been hired to do a job because people like you who hunt and fish insist that he be among you and on the job — not to check on you of course but the other fellow who lives on the other side of town. Game wardens have been on the job both in Europe and the United States for several centuries. Their job at first was primarily that of a game protector. The game warden still on the job now has a much more complicated role. Law enforcement is only part of his job. He has learned to help manage our wildlife re- sources more wisely, keeping pace with the changing times. While law enforcement is only part of a warden's job, it is a basic func- tion of any Fish and Game Depart- ment. Without laws and their en- forcement, is would be highly im- probable that any management prac- tice would see the break of day be- cause there would be nothing to manage. Nearly all Fish and Game Departments- — and Montana is no 22 Jack Thompson (deceased) and Leonard Secor greet each other in the field. Warden contacts create important public impressions. — Photo by author e::ception — are financed by the sale of hunting and fishing hcenses. The warden who checks your hcense helps make it possible for your Fish and Game Department to oper- ate. The game warden is perhaps your only contact with the Fish and Game Department and the impres- sion he leaves reflects the over-all ]ob the Fish and Game Department is doing for you. Montana encompasses an area of 147,138 square miles. The State Fish and Game Department employs 50 game wardens to work with the peo- ple of this state. This gives an aver- age size district of nearly 3,000 square miles per warden. It is no wonder then that you go on many hunting trips and many fishing trips without seeing a game warden. During the past several years, I hove contacted many sportsmen who said — "You are the first warden who asked to see my license." These were important contacts to me and the sportsman often seemed to be glad that I had stopped to check his license. As previously mentioned, the job of game warden encompasses much more than law enforcement and li- cense checking. In the local com- munity the game warden is the con- tact man for the Fish and Game De- partment. He deals with nearly every phase of the department's responsi- bility to the public. People come to him for information concerning the department's activities. A well-in- formed, friendly game warden cre- ates good will for the Fish and Game Department. When game seasons are set, the game warden plays an important part because of his familiarity with 23 population trend surveys and range work. He has also been very close to ranchers' problems, including game damage and other problems of complicated range use. He is also aware of the public reaction in the community regarding the type of hunting season sportsmen would pre- fer. This information plays an im- portant role in the final setting of seasons. The game warden takes creel census from the many miles of fishing streams and lakes. This in- formation plays an important role in the proper fish management and the final season setting to gain the best possible fish harvest for the sports- man. Game wardens attend meetings with the public, sportsmen, cooperat- ing agencies and ranchers to work out a satisfactory pattern of land use which would be beneficial to the fish and wildlife resources. Such jobs as granting beaver permits, inspecting fish pond and game farm permits, checking boats for licenses and life- saving equipment, conducting hunter safety classes for the young prospec- tive sportsman are all in day's work for the game warden. So, if you like to hunt and fish or if you're just interested in the wild- life and out-of-doors, call up the warden. Stop by and see him. He will be glad to answer your ques- tions and help you. Montana game wardens are friendly. WILD FISH BOUNCE BACK By Jack Bailey, Hatchery Biologist During the 1959 spring census, catchable-size game fish were removed from the study area in Flint Creek, Granite County. Enough fish were re- moved to reduce the total weight of fish in the study area from 486 pounds to 238 pounds. The carrying capacity of the area is believed to be 460 to 500 pounds per mile. No hatchery fish were planted, so the return to carrying capacity was accomplished by natural growth and recruitment. This amounted to full re- covery from 50% exploitation within a matter of 12 months. In Flint Creek the recovery would be roughly 1,200 catchable game fish or 120 creel limits per mile of stream. This would provide 1,200 man- hours of good fishing (1.0 fish per hour) or 300 successful fisherman days per mile — per year. Such information will be useful in assessing the values of our streams presently endangered by pollution and physical destruction. 24 #^ J^-