The Glacier Reporter

Survey Shows Montana To Be One of Leading Deer Producers

Montana hunters had another outstanding big game season in 1958, according to W. J. Everin, Montana Fish and Game department director. Results from the statewide harvest questionnaire show that about 116,000 deer and 12,000 elk were harvested. The comparison with previous years is shown in an accompanying table. Everin said that since 1953 Montana has been one of the leading deer producing states in the nation and is only slightly below one other state in numbers of elk harvested.

The director also said that the present management program of the department is designed to maintain harvest of over 100,000 deer each year. Beyond 10,000 and 13,000 elk will be harvested each year with possible increases in the future. The primary objective of the management program is to keep deer and elk herds in balance with the food supply on their winter ranges.

The high rate of increase from healthy game herds balanced with their winter range provides the greatest number of harvestable animals to hunters. Everin reported that information from field surveys by department biologists shows that 1959 promises to be another outstanding big game season and possibly the best yet for Montana hunters. Modern day game management must be based on factual information from scientific field survey. The director emphasized that the support of many fine sportsmen's clubs and other organizations has permitted the department to carry out a game management program based upon facts.