/9S-Q MONTANA - -«&•'' FALL ISSUE Official Publication of *7/te Mo*Ua*ta tyi&U and. Qa*m 2befuVit*tte+tt 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.