O NT ANA and Game Commission January - March 1954 Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid Projects Helena, Montana April 15, 1954 Regional Director Fish and Wildlife Service Swan Island Portland 18, Oregon Dear Sir: We are herewith submitting a Quarterly Progress Report in connection with the projects carried out through use of Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration funds. The coverage is for the period January, February and March 1954. Submitted by: Robert F. Cooney, Director-^ Wildlife Restoration Division Approved by: A. A. O'Claire State Fish ajid Game Warden QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT For The WILDLIFE RESTORATION DIVISION STATE OF MONTANA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION Chairman - Walter Banka, Conrad Mason H. Bailey, Jr., Glasgow R. D. Shipley, Miles City J. W. Black, Poison William T. Sweet, Butte State Fish and Game Warden - A. A. O^Claire Chief Deputy - W. J. Everin Director, Wildlife Restoration Division - R. F. Cooney Volume V Number 1 January, February and March 1954 i TABLE OF COOTENTS W-36-R-4 Lincoln County Deer Management Study — Lincoln Index Census Technique flobert M« Blair and Owen A. Wilson Page W-37-R-5 Game Range Predevelopment Survey — Field Trials in Deter- mining Browse Use Withstandability of Willow, Aspen Re- production and Sagebrush .Richard L. Hodder 8 W-38-R-5 Upland Game Bird Survey — Sage Grouse Strutting Ground Counts — 1953 »•..««»..«•«».. o o ..... e ....... Robert L. Eng 19 Sage Grouse Brood Studies - 1953 Robert L. Eng 28 W-59-R-1 Eastern Montana Big Game Surveys — Antelope Census. ...... . .Don L. Brown and Joseph L. Egan 36 An Appraisal of the Proposed Gas Springs Bighorn Sheep En- closure Site, George B. Chaffee 40 Questionnaire Analysis of Special Seasons Card Returns...,. • ••• ....Don L. Brown and Joseph L, Egan 44 « STATE Montana PROJECT NO. W-36-R-4 DATE April 15. 1954 VOL . V NO . 1 Title of Project: Lincoln Coimty Deer Management Study Leader: Robert M. Blair Job Completion Report Job No. I-A Investigations Project Title of Job: Lincoln Index Census Technique DISCUSSION: During the month of February 1954 eight individual box type traps were operated on the Fisher River-Wolf Creek area for the purpose of trapping, tagging, and marking white-tailed deer. Traps were dis- tributed at various points in this unit to assure uniform sampling of the deer utilizing the winter range. At the time of trapping, individual animals were dye marked (picric acid-40^ alchohol solution applied to the ventral surface of the tail and rump patch) for the purpose of field recognition during the application of the Lincoln Index censusing method on March 11 and 12, 1954. A total of 72 white-tailed deer were dye marked during the trapping opetation and released into the unknown popiilation. OBJECTIVES: 1. The initiation of game management on any area of land first requires an envmieration of the population utilizing the area. The ap- plication of the Lincoln Index censusing method was used primarily to determine the white-tailed deer population on the Fisher River-Wolf Creek drainages. This method has been proven to be highly significant and reliable throughout the realm of wildlife work. By introducing a known quantity into an unknown population many of the uncertainties of big game censusing can be reduced. For any game census to have maximum value it must adhere to certain standards and be clearly set forth. The conditions that must prevail if the Lincoln Index is to be valid are as follows: (a) The marked animals must suffer the same natural mortality as the unmarked ones . (b) The marked animals must not lose their marks. (c) The marked animals must be as subject to sampling as the unmarked ones . -1- (d) The marked animals must become randomly distributed with the unmarked ones, or the distribution of sampling effort must be proportional to the number of animals in different parts of habitat being studied. (e) All marked animals must be recognized and reported on observation. (f) There can be only a negligible amount of recruitment to the population being sampled during the sampling period. 2. To test on an experimental basis the reliability and suscep- tibility to error of the Lincoln Index with other censusing methods ap- plied to the same area. 3. To gain annual, white-tailed deer population figures to deter- mine trends and fluctuations. 4- To gain population data for correlation with other phases of experimental study. TECHMIQUE; 1. Division of Censusing Unit; The white-tailed deer winter range, comprised of approximately 26,343 acres, in the lower Fisher River-Wolf Creek area was divided into 31 counting compartments. Subdivision of the unit was based primarily on topographical characteristics of the range, e.g., with respect to basins, ridges, major and secondary drainages. Note Figure 1. Portions of some compartments exceeded the predetermined limits of the white-tailed deer winter range. However, this measure was taken to sample any fraction of the population that may have dispersed onto areas immediately adjacent to the winter range. 2. Personnel; Assistance in field application of the Lincoln Index censusing method was given by personnel of the U. S. Forest Service and the Montana Department of Fish and Game Law Enforcement and Restoration Divisions. One man was assigned per compartment with those participating as follows : U. S. Forest Service - Kootenai National Forest; Alfred Flint John Milodragovich LeRoy Lewis Law Enforcement: Ross Wilson Ray Dupler Robert Lambeth Vernon Friend 0. J. Nollar A. H. Cheney Edwin Sager Louis Haverlandt Lawrence Deist -2- Restoration: Merle Rognrud D. Patrick Couvillion Albert Mullenax Charles W. Luscher Dwight Stockstad Owen Wilson Phillip Marshall Robert Blair 3e Counting Technique; Individual counters were furnished with a printed map of the Fisher River-Wolf Creek area (note Figure l) showing their respective compartments and indicating their route of travel and starting point. Starting points were marked in the field prior to the census. Field tally sheets were also supplied for recording species of game seen and niiraber, as well as observations on range condition, predators, weather, etc. See Figure 2. In general, direction of travel was established so that stream bottoms and lower benches of heavy timber were traversed during the early morning hours and higher elevations of open sites during midday. This pro- cedure was adopted on the basis that deer would be active and more easily seen in the heavier timber during early hours. During the later hours of reduced animal activity, deer would tend to be more readily visible on the higher and more open sites. This would permit a more complete sample in correlation with deer activity, topography and vegetative cover. analysis . CALCULATIONS: At the conclusion of the count, field sheets were submitted for 1. White-tailed Deer Population Determination by the Lincoln Index Censusing Technique T:m: :n:x or T = m n X - m Where: T z estimated totcQ. population m = number of pre-census marked animals - 72 n - number of unmarked animals recorded in field sample - 2,426 X = number of marked animals recorded in field sample = 16 X - ratio of marked to unmarked animals in population n sample z 16 2,426 T - m 72 (16/2,426) -3- -4- I 4 Figure 2 Big Game Census - Daily Report Form ^Big Game Unit Sub Unit No. (Date) Unit or area name No« A. Maps: Fill out back of sheet to the mile detail showing route, game seen, overuse areas, etc. B. Strip data: No, of strip Starting point ^Time started Ended C. Gaxae Census (Actually seen) White-tailed Deer Mule Deer HJc Bucks Does Fawns Unci. Bucks Does Fawns Unci. Bulls Spikes Cows Calves Unci. Marked Deer Unmarked Deer Totals D^ Forage 1. List major species used in order of importance (1) (2) (3) (4) ^ ^ ^ (5) 2. Relative density (underline one) Light (0-20%) Medium (21-40%) Heavy (over 40%) 3. Estimated use (underline one) Light (0-50% of last yearns growth) Mediimi (51 to 75% of last year's growth) Heavy (75 to 100% of last year's growth) Overuse (last year's growth plus second and third year growth) E. Losses (List species; sex and age classes when possible) Cause Seen Estimated for total unit Starvation Coyotes Other (disease etc.) F. Predator population 1. Coyotes (underline one) None Light Medium Heavy 2. Lions None Light Medium Heavy G. Weather Conditions 1, Temperature Maximum Minimum 6-8 P.M. 2. Type of day 3. Depth of snow on area covered Condition (Underline one) Powder, Soft, Heavy, Light crust. Heavy crust. Crust with Powder on top. 4. Precipitation (Amount) Rain Snow H. Type of Travel (underline one) Foot, Snowshoes, SkLis, Horseback, Motor toboggan. Car, Jeep, Plane. I. Other Game Seen J. Game Birds Seen K. Fur-Bearing Animals Seen Remarks: (Game movements and migrations. Life history notes, Post-mortens, Land use. Trapping, Photographs taken, etc.) Use extra sheet if necessary. Name of Fieldman Reporting -5- 3 4 9 Estimated Total Population - 10,917 white-tailed deer wintering on the Fisher River-Wolf Creek area during the winter of 1953-54. 2. Confidence or Fiducial Ratio Limits: Based on the 95^ level as determined from the Poisson frequency distribution (Ricker 1937). This indicates chances are 95 to 5 that the true population lies within these ratio limits. a = C n and b _ D n Where: a & b r graphical limits at 95^ level n - number of unmarked animals recorded in field sample z 2,426 C r calculated upper ratio limit at 95^ level D = calculated lower ratio limit at 95^ level That is: 8.9 _ .00367 2,426 - and 25.9 _ .01068 2,426 Conversion of Ratio Limitations to Estimated Population: m = E C and m r F D Where: m - number of pre- census marked animals C = calculated upper ratio limit at 95^ level D - calculated lower ratio limit at 95^ level E - calculated upper population limit at 95^ level F - calculated lower population limit at 95^ level -6- That is: 22 - 19,619 .00367 and 11 = 6,742 .01068 Considering all degrees of possible sampling errors there is a tendency to get a sample ratio which approaches more or less closely the true population ratio. Of all possible sample ratios, the one most likely to occur in the sample is the true ratio of the population (Adams 1951) . Ho\-jever, ratios close to that of the true population are nearly as likely to occur as the true ratio. In accordance with this, a population of 10,917 white-tailed deer was calculated with the ratio of x/n limitation range, at the 95^ level, of .01068 to .OO367 or 6,742 to 19,619 in direct population figures . Submitted by: Name Robert M. Blair Title Junior Biologist Name Owen A. Wilson Title Junior Biologist Approved by: Name Merle J. Rognrud Title Senior Biologist Approved by: Montana State Department of Fish and Game By Faye M. Couey. Assistant Director Wildlife Restoration Division Date April 15. 1954 STATE Montana PROJECT NO. W-37-R-5 DATE April 15. 195/^ VOL. V m. 1 Title of Project: Game Range Pre development Survey Leader: Richard L. Hodder Job Completion Report Job No. I-C Investigations Project Title of Job: Browse Withstandability Tests FIELD TRIALS IN DETEMINING BROWSE USE WITHSTAI\fDABILITY OF WILLOW, ASPEN REPRODUCTION AND SAGEBRUSH PERSONNEL: Richard L. Hodder, Range Biologist, Leader L, 0. Peck, District Ranger, Gallatin National Forest INTRODUCTION; The importance and status of browse as a source of big game winter forage is not fully understood. Browse is obviously a signif- icant part of the diet of all our big game species, at least under usual conditions, and in a great many wintering areas this use of browse has proved to be far in excess of what the supply of browse plants will support. Further study must be made to determine some limits of grazing on browse so that optimum use can be made of these woody species without reducing their vitality to a point where forage production becomes very low or to where the species is killed outright. Because this overgrazed condition of the major browse species was apparent on the Gallatin Elk Winter Range for sometime, a series of browsing use withstandability trials was started. This series of trials was set up to include willow, aspen reproduction (vegetative sprouts) and sagebrush, all within a game-proof exclosure located immediately east of the State Porcupine Game Range on the Gallatin National Forest. This study was set up as sugg,ested by Fred Johnson, Forester, Region I, in 1946. The next year, 194.7, this particular study became one of a series of joint game range studies conducted on the Gallatin Game Manage- ment Unit by the Montana Fish and Game Department and the Gallatin National Forest, Region I. PURPOSE: The purpose of these trials was to: (l) determine limits of allowable use by big game for three important browse species; (2) learn something about field methods for measuring such use. PROCEDURE; A series of 12 sagebrush plants (Artemisia tridentata) ; 12 aspen plants ( Populus tremuloides) sprouts two to three years old; and 13 willow bushes, were selected within the Porcupine exclosure. Current growth for 1946 and for four years following was clipped at varied rates, simulating browse use. All clippings were made in the fall of the year after summer groi-rth had been completed. Those plants selected for clip- ping were all in thrifty condition although most of the willow had been subjected to grazing previous to the building of the exclosure in 1945- Clipping of vjillow and aspen was applied at four rates or in- tensities on the same group of plants each fall removing: (l) all of the current growth do;vn to and excepting the first lateral or axillary bud (2) all current growth down to a point leaving two lateral buds, (3) all current gro^vt-h leaving four lateral buds, (4) all current groxvth leaving six lateral buds. This system of clipping was used because stem buds are the source of browse forage production for the coming growing season. It was thought that the length of stem sometimes has little correlation to number of buds present, or to their location on a new stem, and so by removing a designated length of stem on each of several shoots one might well be removing the source of next yearns production to varying degrees. On sagebrush, partial clipping of current growth was found impractical. The new leaves of sagebrush make up most of the current growth excepting the flowering parts. For sagebrush, there- fore, crowns of 12 plants ivere clipped at three rates: i.e., removing each fall 33;^, 66)? and 100^ of current stem gro^rth of entire crowns. Clipping v;ork on sagebrush in this manner removed some of the older stems of croxms, especially during the first clipping. Clippings from each plant were sacked, air dried, and weighed. Lengths of stems removed, and lengths of stems remaining were measured and recorded for both aspen and willow. Again it was impractical to try to measure lengths of sage. The following tables describe results of clipping and response to varied intensities of treatment. The graphs show total clippings in yields beginning in 1946, and total weights clipped for the following years. -9- TABLE I SUMMARY OF ASPEN CLIPPINGS PORCUPINE EXCLOSURE 1946 1947 1948 Plant Numbpr ■1.1 (.4J(1V'V'~' Method Inches Clipped Inches Left Grams Clipped Inches Clipped Inches Left Grams Clipped Inches Stems Clipped Inches Stems Left Grams Stems clipped 1 Leaving 6 buds 22.00 14.25 1.0 30.50 17.25 1.5 51.9 32.75 3,6 2 100^ 17.00 None 1.0 4.25 None 0.1 Dead No Growth 3 Leaving 2 buds 25.50 4.00 1.0 18.50 1.75 1.1 tt tt tt 4 Leaving 4 buds 39.50 6.25 2.3 19.75 9.75 0.8 25.4 16.40 1.6 5 100^ 43.75 None 2.4 — Dead 6 Leaving 4 buds \jj « Q 37 2 ft 7 TiPavinpf 2 buds 36.25 3.75 2.4 33.00 4.00 2.8 37.0 4.25 6.2 8 Leaving 6 buds 39.25 19.00 2.1 26.00 15.50 1.7 69.4 44.25 3.7 9 100^ 22.25 None 1.2 39.00 None 4.9 23.5 None 2.7 10 Leaving 4 buds 38.50 5.75 3.9 50.25 9.25 3.9 39.4 11.50 3.2 11 Leaving 2 buds 38.25 4.13 2.3 18.50 2.50 1.1 16.5 2.75 1.4 12 Leaving 6 buds 42.00 14.75 3.4 29.00 16.00 1.9 47.4 35.00 2.9 TABLE I SUMMARY OF ASPEN CLIPPINGS PORCUPINE EXCLOSURE Plant Nxomber Method 1949 1950 Inches Stems Clipped Inches Stems Left Grams Stems Clipped Inches otems Clipped Inches Stems Left Grams Stems Clipped 1 Leaving 6 buds 19.4 20.00 1.1 13.50 18.65 .60 2 100^ — Dead — — Dead — 3 Leaving 2 buds — Dead — — Dead — 4 Leaving 4 buds 3.1 4.50 0.1 None 2.50 0.0 5 1005? — Dead — — Dead — 6 Leaving 4 buds Dead Dead 7 Leaving 2 buds Dead Dead 8 Leaving 6 buds 27.0 28.25 1.0 .50 6.25 .18 9 100^ Dead Dead 10 Leaving 4 buds 9.4 12.00 1.4 — Dead — 11 Leaving 2 buds Dead Dead 12 Leaving 6 buds 5.9 11.50 0.5 17.25 .10 * *• t 1 TABLE II SWmRY OF WILLOW CLIPPINGS PORCUPINE EXCLOSURE 1946 1947 1948 Plant Number Method Inches Stems Clipped Inches Stems Left Grams Stems Clipped Inches Stems Clipped Inches Stems Left Grams Stems Clipped Inches Stems Clipped Inches Stems Left Grams Stems Clipped 1 100^ 1333.00 None 42.5 1697.75 None 62.1 1308,5 None 62.7 2 100^ 1215.25 None 33,4 1427.25 None 53,0 556,7 None 23.7 3 100^ 1058.75 None 33, 2 1208.50 None 38.6 731,4 None 32.6 4 Leaving 4 buds 166.50 40.50 4.2 228,75 39,50 6,7 358.2 45.75 17.7 5 Leaving 2 buds 399.75 101.00 12.0 529.00 29 =,00 19.4 726.2 26.00 34.8 6 Leaving 6 buds 449.00 278.00 10.2 864.25 262,00 20.7 1115.2 463.75 31.3 7 Leaving 4 buds 1135.00 207.00 29 .4 1275.50 242,50 31.4 1165.6 298.00 37.2 8 Leaving 2 buds 1072.50 175.00 33.8 2585.25 252,00 89.3 2147.6 84,8 9 Leaving 6 buds 25S2.00 1002.25 114.1 3205.50 1197,00 156.3 3267.1 867.25 183.8 10 Leaving 4 buds 715.50 143.50 20.5 1385.25 495,75 39.1 2051.9 343.50 82.2 11 Leaving 2 buds 763.00 139.00 22.0 682,00 64,00 22.4 786.4 32.50 33.6 12 Leaving 6 buds 256.50 182.25 5.6 225,50 125.75 4.7 286.4 128.25 6.1 13 1005? 2846.50 None 81.4 4718,50 None 169.4 3279.7 None 128.7 TABLE II SWIMARY OF WILLOW CLIPPINGS PORCUPINE EXCLOSURE 1949 1950 rXdnX Inches Stems Inches Stems Grams Stems Inches Stems Inches Stems Grams Stems Number Method Clipped Left Clipped Clipped Left Clipped 1 loo:^ 1256.8 None 54.6 677.25 None 19.5 2 100^ 695.7 None 26.7 468.75 None 21.3 3 100^ 387.2 None 13.4 394.75 None 15.7 4 Leaving 4 buds 373.0 23.00 17.8 242.75 22.50 8.2 5 Leaving 2 buds 397.7 21.25 13.8 280.75 6.25 12.7 6 Leaving 6 buds 1063.4 233.20 31.6 972.50 206.00 24.7 7 Leaving 4 buds 1443.2 164.25 42.7 1085.50 116.75 29.4 8 Leaving 2 buds 2339.4 66.90 93.5 2138.25 36.25 77.1 9 Leaving 6 buds 3418.6 545.75 160.5 2371.25 220.00 115.0 10 Leaving 4 buds 1819,9 179.20 64.9 1602.75 214.25 46.7 11 Leaving 2 buds 566.4 51.00 13.3 496.25 20.75 20.7 12 Leaving 6 buds 445.9 91.25 12.6 121.00 27.00 3.0 13 100^ 1785.0 None 51.1 1450.50 None 48.6 TABLE III SUMMARY OF SAGEBRUSH CLIPPINGS PORCUPINE EXCLOSURE Plant Number Method 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 Grams Clipped Grams Clipped Grams Clipped Grams Clipped Grams Clipped 1 100^ Clipped 41.6 51.4 32.4 15.6 Dead ■ 2 100^ Clipped 47.4 33.8 25.7 15.2 1.3 3 1/3 Clipped 18.4 13.2 10.5 9.3 5.1 4 2/3 Clipped 48.8 69.2 53.0 55.5 34.4 5 100^ Clipped 53.1 48.3 21.7 11.6 Dead 6 1/3 Clipped 28.2 25.7 23.7 11.5 12.6 7 2/3 Clipped 47.0 62.2 65.4 80.5 41.3 8 2/3 Clipped 18.4 19.9 19.8 7.1 4.0 9 1/3 Clipped 28.4 14.8 9.8 11.4 16,6 1 A 4 GRAPH I ASPEN 4. »46 »47 M8 U9 »50 100^ Clipped 6 Buds Left 4 Buds Left 2 Buds Left -15- GRAPH II WILLOW 100 ^ 100^ Clipped 6 Buds Left 4 Buds Left ^ 2 Buds Left GRAPH III SAGE 100^ Clipped 66% Clipped 33% Clipped -17- i i I RESULTS; Aspen; Aspen reproduction (vegetative sprouts) two to three years old will not survive annual clipping at any of the rates applied. The light- est rate of simulated use, i.e., leaving si:x buds per stem, is much too severe. This rate converted to percentage of length clipped, or utilization, was 51 >!% of annual growth. Even this rate caused great reduction in production as indicated in Table I, Willow; This work demonstrates clearly that willow responds initially to coppice cuttings. However, repeated annual clipping at the rates applied caxises gradually accelerating deterioration of annual stem production. At the end of the five-year clipping study, most annual production was below the original production level before the response to the cutting started. It is assumed that probably production would continue to decline under each of these intensities of use until all plants would be beneath production levels sig- nificant to management. Sage; Sage will not withstand any of the clipping rates applied without deterioration of current production or complete loss of plants. The lightest rate, i.e., clipping one-third of crowns, resulted in approximately a fifty percent reduction in forage during the five-year period, SUI#IARY; Typically representative plants of aspen, willow and sage were subjected to varying degrees of simulated grazing over a five-year period to determine the withstand ability of these species and limits of allowable use, and to learn something abount field methods for such withstandability trials. Aspen shoots and willow were clipped down to the axillary buds, down to the second lateral bud on the current growth, down to the fourth lateral bud on the current growth, and down to the sixth lateral bud on the current growt.h. Sage was clipped at 33%, 66^ and 100^ of the current growth on the crown. All intensities of simulated grazing were found too severe for maintenance of vigor and plant production in all species tested. GENERAL; This five-year clipping study indicates that much more work needs to be done in this field. Observations show that this work might well follow unconventional lines in that severe use is usually made of some parts of the plants while other branches may hardly be used at all. This suggests that perhaps a combined utilization standard is required. Such a standard for willow, for example, might be stated as "not more than perhaps G0% of current growth removed, provided that not more than 30% of the plant is used 100^". Submitted by; Approved by: Name Richard L. Hodder Tit 1 e Range Biologist Montana State Department of Fish and Game By Faye M, Couey, Assistant Director Wildlife Restoration Division Date April 15. 1954 -18- STATE, Montana PROJECT NO. W-38-R-5 DATE April 15. 1954 VOL . V NO . 1 Title of Project: Upland Game Bird Survey and Investigations Leader: William R. Bergeson Job Completion Report Job No. V-B Investigations Project Title of Job: Population Trends and Breeding Potential Studies SAGE GROUSE STRUTTING GROUND COUNTS - 1953 PERSONMEL; Robert L. Eng, Junior Biologist Don L. Brown, Senior Biologist Dale Witt, Junior Biologist Glen F. Cole, Student Assistant PURPOSE; To thoroughly investigate the biology and activities of sage grouse during the mating season on a unit of known size in an effort to better evaluate over a period of years, the relationship between population fluctuations and strutting ground use. PROCEDURE: A 48 square mile tract was added to the original 54 square miles giving total coverage on the trend area during the spring of 1952. Aerial coverage of the entire 102 square miles was accomplished on the mornings of April 24 and 25, in the same procedure as used the previous year (Montana Quarterly Report, Vol. Ill, No. 2; 100-103, 1952) . Aerial coverage of the trend areas is used primarily for the purpose of locating all the strutting grounds. No attempt is made from the air to get actual counts of birds on each ground. Observa- tions have shown that as the plane approaches a ground near enough for a total count, the birds squat making them difficult to see. Consequently, counts of birds using the strutting groionds were made from the ground. Repeated counts were made on the Fergus-Petroleum trend area as often as time and weather v/ould allow. A 45 square mile trend area in Meagher County was established and was given aerial coverage on May 5 and birds counted from the ground on May 6. -19- Beginning in the last week of January and continuing through the strutting season, two to five birds per week were collected from areas adjacent to the Fergus-Petroleum trend area to compare physical changes with strutting ground activities. FINDINGS; Complete aerial coverage of the 102 square mile area making up the Fergus-Petroleum trend area was accomplished in two mornings. Flights were begun at sunrise and terminated approximately one and one-half hours later. Complete coverage of this same area with the aid of a vehicle and binoculars revealed no additional strutting grounds . Table 1 shows the locations of and numbers of males present on strutting groiinds counted in 1952 and 1953. Five of the grounds on which counts were made in 1952 were recounted in 1953. One ad- ditional ground (No. 8) was observed in 1953 on that portion of the Fergus-Petroleum trend area receiving complete coverage both years. The total males counted on this portion during the two years, (ground numbers 1, 2, 3 and /j. in 1952, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 in 1953) suggests a decrease of 21.6 percent from 1952 to 1953. Including ground number 5 which was counted both years and is located approximately a mile off the trend area, the indicated decrease for the area is 19. 7 percent. TABIxE 1 LOCATIONS AND NUMBERS OF MALES PER GROUND ON STRUTTING GROUNDS Location Ground Number Number Males 1952 Per Ground 1953 Fergus-Petroleum Trend Area 1 30 33 tt 2 12 10 tl 3 49 28 It 4 29 17 It 6 31 It 7 52 It 8 6 It 9 30 tl 10 15 Petroleum County 5 22 20 It 11 50 Meagher County Trend Area 1 79 II 2 12 It 3 34 It 4 46 The relationship of the strutting ground locations to each other on the two trend areas is shown in Figures 1 and 2. •20- FIG.I FERGUS- PETROLEUM COUNTIES STRUTTING GROUND TREND AREA LEGEND BOUNDARY OF COMPLETE COVERAGE O STRUTTING GROUND FIG. 2 MEAGHER COUNTY STRUTTING GROUND TREND AREA -22- 1 • The first and last observed strutting activities on the Fergus- Petroleum trend area in the spring of 1953 were March 19 and June 9 re- spectively. Data obtained from grounds which were comted more than once during this time gave some indication as to the increase and decrease in numbers of males using these grounds. Table 2 shows the number of grounds counted, the number of birds observed on the grounds and the percent of the seasons maximum number of males and females observed on the same grounds. This information is recorded by weekly periods from March 15 ' to June 13- Table 3 shows the testes volumes from adult and yearling males collected in areas adjacent to the Fergus-Petroleum trend area. The volumetric measurements given include both testes. Determination of adult and yearling males was accomplished by examination of the bursa of Fabricius and by the presence or absence of the outer two juvenile primaries . TABLE 2 MALE AND FEMALE SAGE GROUSE OBSERVED ON STRUTTING GROUNDS FERGUS - PETROLEUM TREND AREA, 1953 Birds Observed Active Males Females on Ground Number % of Seasons % of Seasons Grounds Max. No. on Max. No. on Dates Counted Total Same Gromds Total Same Grounds March 15-21 2 37 80.4 0 March 22-28 2 25 51.0 0 March 29 to April 4 3 49 98.0 0 April 5-11 1 19 35.9 3 21.4 April 12-18 7 173 71.8 69 84.1 April 19-25 4 196 92.9 23 46.9 April 26 to May 2 1 27 87.1 0 May 3- 9 9 192 86.2 1 5.0 May 10-16 6 91 90.1 1 4.8 May 17-23 May 24-30 1 31 59.6 1 5.0 May 31 to June 6 June 7-13 3 6 5.5 2 10.0 -23- TABLE 3 TESTES VOLUME FROM ADULT AND YEARLING MALES COLLECTED IN PETROLEUM COUNTY, 1953 Adults Yearling Average Number of Average Number of Date Volume Sp ecimens Volume Specimens March 1— 7 — — — March 8-1 L 1.9 1 0.2 1 March 1 0.5 1 llcLX Uii <,*C~<,0 5.2 1 0.8 1 ridl Oil Hunters Computed Ar63. xssueu. oenu uuT. Returned Successful Kill T J. onA oU.O 81. 3 167 J& ^1 ^ 31 o/.l 77.8 243 "3 J JUX ■31 31 76.7 73.9 224 1, ^uu on 30 73 o 77.3 232 OQ 81.8 238 OA 75.0 86.7 88 7 ( xU oU •U 87.5 89 7a-X- f d." xuu 1 A xU 66.7 67 ft-);- O IKK 75 77.3 67.2 507 Q* •^i XU 85.7 44 1 n ^uo ■jn AA A 88.9 272 OA C>A A Z rt rt 68.8 138 J — Ld'* 54 r/A / 70.4 rt ^ rt 86.8 469 J LU yxu yx it) L rt 1 1 84.4 768 1 c Xp 00. (' 92.3 140 Ol <^x 85.7 rt 0 0 83.3 170 _i_ d xyx 1 Q i xy 80.7 166 34 96.4 324 y 1 4X 73.2 rt / n 86.7 349 1 Ah 33 75.8 rt rt r\ 88.0 291 Am pux Al ox 75.4 87.0 520 OA 30 77-3 77.3 231 5i>i) tit. 83.9 95.7 531 p5U 35 62.8 72.7 254 BU /' 80 71.2 91.2 730 JOO 30 76.7 82.6 248 40 80.0 87.5 373 154 23 73.9 94.1 145 750 75 92.0 94.2 707 308 30 80.0 75.0 231 20 91 KX 86 .8 139 20a* 51 5 80.0 75.0 38 21 50 15 66.7 80.0 40 21a* 4S 5 60.0 66.7 32 22 150 15 46.7 85.7 129 22a* 47 10 90.0 77.8 37 23 193 20 85.0 82.4 159 24 525 52 75.0 92.3 485 24a* 300 30 63.0 89.5. 265 25 300 30 60.0 100.0 300 25a* 100 10 60.0 100.0 100 26 302 30 66.7 100.0 302 * Bucks Only TABIE I (Continued). INITIAL CARDS AND FOLLOW-UP Hunting Area % Cards Returned fi> Hunters Successful Computed Computed Kill By Sexl Male Femal _ 1 No Cards Returned ±/ii5 ■ao J7 2 JlUO 11 *k 141 1 rM 3 c>n A oU .U 1 Ql • -LJ-L Tin JULU 4 yu.u ^ CO f4 5 fid o 79-3 ara.s Qqv-i4- Aii+- /« uaras Returned /o Hunters Successful Computed Kill on <■ 1 40 oU .0 90.6 364 on /CO 19 r 45.0 77.8 153 OQ 4 oU 1 1 69 .2 88.9 71 -5 A- a-" I J o on c J/. 5 "I AA A 100.0 75 33 Special T A 60.0 50.0 50 A 66. / 66.7 31 ■ Table IV lists the hunter success and computed kill (by species and sex) for the special deer seasons by area. This table could be used as a guide for computing the number of permits to be issued in comparable areas in order to effect a desired kill. -51- TABLE IV COMPUTED KILL CARDS % CARDS MULE WHITE-TAILED AREiV rJilWll 1 O " OT?T'ITT>\TI?'n KC/1 UKlMliD MATT? AMTirOT T?0'C? \fATT7 AN 1 lliKLboo MALii AXTTriT?T>T 1?C C ANlKl Lower Yelloxvstone (Savage; loU 15 QA n oT n yx. / Dry wolf luU lb yj . o yj , 3 yo — Missouri Breaks (N„ Fergus Co. E,j o o c 335 34 79.4 96.3 '"'^323 - Snowy Mountains Ann Or; 71 ft / 1 . o OZi.l -)!-;!- 9ft Missouri Breaks (N. I'ergus Uo. w.; T nn xuu lU /U. u oO . / OD — Little Belts (Dover; ±Uu lU OA A ~l AA A 1 AA lUU — South Moccasin 150 15 86.7 100.0 150 mm Sarpy Creek (Rosebud j 150 Z5 82.4 T O >l 124 - Pine Ridge (Big Horn Co. J ES 200 20 90.0 94.4 44 144 - mm Pine Ridge (Big Horn Co.) 100 10 40. 0 75.0 75 Belts (Arnott Ranch) 50 10 90oO 88.9 44 Highwood Mountains (Woodcock ES 50 10 80.0 100.0 12 38 Rockies (Dearborn River) ES 200 20 90.0 88.9 67 111 Marsh Area (Glendive)ES 50 10 60.0 50.0 0 25 Billings Airport • ES 60 12 83.3 70.0 17 25 Long Pines (Carter Co.) ES 200 20 90.0 68.4 90 *-!i-90 Intake (Dawson Co.) ES Unk 23 52.1 75.0 Ratio - M/F 4/5 * Anterless seasons only, unless otherwise specified, ■'5-"- Includes some white-tailed deer. Notes 400 permits were to be issued in Missouri Breaks E. but by the end of the season only 335 permits had been sold. ELK FINDINGS: Listed in Table V are the resiilts of the card returns for the %ghwood and Judith Mountain special elk seasons. Cards were sent out to all permit holders for the two areas. Twenty-three of the 43 nonreporters (either sex permits) were contacted by telephone on their success. This follow-up changed the overall success ratio from 88.2^ to 86.8^ or a difference of two animals. The "bull only" permit holders success ratio changed from 16.1% to 77.0^ upon contacting 18 of the 33 nonreporters during the follow-up. TABLE V Hunting Area INITIAL CARDS No. Permits No. Cards % Cards % Hunters Computed Kill Issued Sent Out Returned Successful Male Female Highwood Mtns. Highwood Mtns. Judith Mtns. Hunting Area 130 ES 130 65.4 93 Bulls 93 64.5 15 Bulls 15 66.7 88.2 76.7 40.0 45 71 6 70 INITIAL CARDS AITO FOLLOW-UP % Cards % Hunters Returned Successful Computed Kill Male Female 82.0 86.8 84.0 77.0 No Follow-up 44 72 69 Highwood Mtns, Highwood Mtns. Judith Mtns. The following brief special report is included. This information was gathered incidental to the work involved in issuing special season permits during 1952-1953. It will serve as supplemental information in determining, by area, the hunter success during the regular deer seasons. At all drawings it was mandatory that each applicant produce his big game license, and from this the tabulation of deer tags detached was made. The information contained in Table VI may not represent a cross- section of the hunters in an area, and may be biased by representing only the more enthusiastic hunters. However, a comparison of areas each year should show a trend. Prior to changing of the law in 1953, it was possible for a hunter to obtain a special deer permit in addition to his regular deer tag, thus -53- a record of deer killed was obtained at both deer and elk drawings. In 1953 only those persons holding a valid unused deer tag could apply for deer permits, thus comparable information could not be obtained. For comparison of success ratios of regiilar season deer hunters, only the information obtained at elk drawings during 1952 and 1953 will be used. TABLE VI DEEK DRAWINGS 1952 NO. PERMITS DEER TAGS USED DT A PI? riiAl-ili J-OoUJliJJ rju. ArrijXL'AiM io i\IU.