Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-08-26

Fifteen members of a sports
mems party which spent five days
in the South Fork of the Flathead
area submitted a report to State
Fish and Game Warden James A..
Weaver, ratifying the state fish
and game commissions action in
extending the elk season in that
country. The IS members of the
inspecting party included repre-
sentatives of the state game de-
partment, the federal forest. service
clubs and several Wildlife declarations
Of the state.
Purposes Of the trip were to COM
pare forage conditions with those OBJ
served IN 1886 and 1897; to determine
the effect Of abandoning the Spotted
Bear game preserve in 1886, the length
ening Of the usual 30-day season by
Is days in 1887 and extending it TO
rs days In 1885, to consider advisable
ity Of basing recommendations pertain
ing to regulatory measures upon a
comprehensive field examination, and
to make a particular study Of the
winter range below Young's creek.
Those Making Survey
Those making the survey and or
u
Louis w. Wendt Of Great Falls, Mon
tana Wildlhe federation; George r.
Hopkins of Paradise, president of the
Montana Wildlife federation: M. VI
Wick Of Kalispen and DR.. D. M. Gre
well Of Billings, Western Wildlife
league; Al E. Riegel of Helena, Helena
SpOrtsmens association; DR.. B. F.. Wis
burg, Kalispell Chamber Of Commerce;
Deputy Warden Bruce Neal, stationed |
at Augusta, state fish and game COM
mission
J. C. Urquhart of Kalispell, super
visor Of the Flathead national forest; /
Dr. V. w. Sundelius of Kalispell and |
FIathead Sportsmens association:
Chester r. Yale and Dr. j. S. Nc /
Farland, both of Whitefish Rod and I
Gun club; William S. Gaffney, district |
forest ranger at Big Prairie; John N.
Root. district forest ranger at Spotted |
Bear: Harry w. Campbell of the Kali
ispeH Kiwants club.
Continue Study
The group also adopted a recommen-
dalton that the policy of making
studies Of the South fork elk problem
continued in the future, subject to
changing conditions, until inspection
determines that the forage and browse
conditions have become adequate to
support the herd.
Another recommendation asked the
state fish and game commission "to
assume responsibility Of cooperating
with the forest service In the observa-
tions Of range and browse conditions
IN the South fork to the end
that it will be cognizant of the meas
ures necessary to maintain the balance
between game and ranges
A fourth recommendation asked the
state commission to furnish 80 tons
Of salt per year to be distributed by
the forest service In order to Sub
stantially help control the elk problem
IN the South fork"
Browse Found Good
The inspection party's report also
stated browse from Coram to Spotted Z
Bear range station was good, that from
he station to Meadow creek was bet
-er than in 1896 and 1887 due to the
ELK kill of 244 animals and four inches
)f rain in June, that from Meadow s
,reek to Black Bear and from there
% Big Salmon creek good.
The winter range 0rom Big Salm-
IN creek through Big Prairie to Young's !
'reek) Is practically destroyed, all pal
atable species of browse being sub
;tantially killed; shows use Of conifers
With distinct elk line in many places
carrying capacity of winter range In !.
hat area gone, and new growth must !
tart from seed and sprouts which will )
AXE many years without USE" the (
'eport also stated. :
TEST plot fenced by the forest serv- : J
ce give ample proof that use by !
Tx has killed browse because within 3
he plots the. new growth is luxuriant, ;,
where the area around same Is de- !
luded of browse" y