CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE & Hailstone, Halfbreed, Lake Mason and War Horse National Wildlife Refuges and the CMR Wetland Management District 2001 Annual Narrative Report
U.S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM 8 ^ i—i sr1 co^ M CO Tl M w n W ' o M REVIEW AND APPROVALS
CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Lewistown, Montana
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 2001
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> A. HIGHLIGHTS 5 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 7 C. LAND ACQUISITION 10 1. Fee Title 10 D. PLANNING 10 1. Master Plan 10 2. Management Plans 10 4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates 11 5. Research and Investigations 11 E. ADMINISTRATION 13 1. Personnel 13 4. Volunteer Programs 16 5. Funding 16 Total 16 6. Safety 16 7. Technical Assistance 17 8. Other 18 F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 18 2. Wetlands 18 5. Grasslands 18 7. Grazing 20 8. Haying 22 9. Fire Management 22 10. Pest Control 23 11. Water Rights 26 12. Wilderness and Special Areas 26 G. WILDLIFE 26 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 26 3. Waterfowl 35 4. Marsh and Water Birds 35 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns, and Allied Species 35 6. Raptors 36 7. Other Migratory Birds 36 8. Game Animals 36 10. Other Resident Wildlife 43 11. Fisheries Resources 44 12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking 45 13. Surplus Animal Disposal 49 14. Scientific Collections • 49 15. Animal Control 50 17. Disease Prevention and Control 50 H. PUBLIC USE • 50 1. General 50 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 51 5. Interpretive Tour Route 52
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3 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations - 52 7. Other Interpretive Programs 53 8. Hunting 54 11. Wildlife Observations 70 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 71 15. Off-Road Vehicles 71 17. Law Enforcement • 71 19. Concessions (Outfitters) 72 I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 72 1. New Construction 72 2. Rehabilitation 73 3. Major Maintenance 74 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 75 5. Communication Systems 76 6. Computer Systems 76 8. Other 77 J. OTHER 77 4. Credits 77 K. FEEDBACK 77
4 A. HIGHLIGHTS
Wildbom black-footed ferret on the North Hawley prairie dog colony, UL Bend NWR (Matchett)
The UL Bend black-footed ferret population crashed. The spring 2001 black-footed ferret spotlight survey located 27 animals, 8 males, 18 females and 1 unknown. At that time, we thought we were on-track for continued success with wildbom kit production and were expecting over 40 kits for the third year in a row. Spotlighting for wildbom kits began in July. After exhaustive searches through September, only 8 females with 18 kits could be located. By mid- November the population totaled 15 ferrets. The causes for this decline are unknown. Reduced prairie dog numbers, likely because of a severe and continuing drought for the last 3-4 years, may have contributed. Although it hasn't gone epizootic in prairie dogs, sylvatic plague is extremely lethal to ferrets and may also have played a role.
Spring 2001 was our second attempt to breed ferrets in the field pens built at Bowdoin NWR. Disappointingly, no kits were produced despite all efforts to produce kits from 9 females.
For the fourth year, CMR closed the mule deer hunting season 2 weeks early (except in HD 700 and the permit-only area of HD 652) from the traditional 5-week rifle season permitted by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP). There has been a great deal of hunter support for this management approach and field reports indicate more deer and larger bucks. A systematic aerial mule deer survey was conducted in 2000 over about 25% of the Refuge. That survey was repeated in 2001 and indicate our objective of a minimum of 20 mature mule deer bucks/100 does post-season was nearly met on the western half of CMR, but Valley, McCone and Garfield Counties remained below the objective.
5 The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was instrumental in purchasing 4283 acres of in-holdings on the Refuge.
The Wildlife Tour Route was resurfaced for a cost of $700,000.
Ground breaking for the Interagency Interpretive Center at Fort Peck occurred. The multi million dollar facility is expected to be a great asset to the area. CMR will have will have a full time Information Officer at the facility when completed.
6 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Sunset over CMR
The first five months of 2001 started out as the driest recorded since 1931. Luckily, the unpredictable Montana weather changed for the better in June bringing the fifth straight year for above average precipitation for the Fort Peck Unit of the Refuge. Both Sand Creek and Jordan Units continue in a drought. Most of the precipitation fell as rain in the months of June and July. The snowfall total was 14.3 inches, only half of the yearly normal, and the least amount since 1992. Total precipitation at the Fort Peck Unit was 12.70 inches, 9.96 inches at the Sand Creek Unit, and 11.45 inches at the Jordan Unit.
January was warmer and drier than normal with less wind. The most significant snowfall occurred Jan. 13-16. Total snowfall for the month was 3.3 inches with measurable amounts on the ground the whole month. Total precipitation for the month was .18 inches. The high temperature was 47 degrees and the low was -6 degrees. Temperatures for the month were almost 10 degrees warmer than normal.
February continued the "drier than normal" trend. Temperatures were almost 10 degrees colder than normal. The highest temperature was 41 degrees with the low -21 degrees. Temperatures below zero were recorded on 16 days. February 25 brought 3.3 inches of snow and measurable snow remained on the ground the entire month. Total precipitation for the month was .14 inches.
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7 Dry weather continued in March with only .06 inch of precipitation. It was the fourth driest March recorded at the Glasgow weather station. March snowfall was 1.3 inches. This was the lowest snowfall since 1994. The maximum temperature for March set a new record on the 19th of 67 degrees. The low temperature was 7 degrees. Snow cover ended on March 12. This ended a 127 day period of continuous snow cover going back to Nov. 5, 2000.
April precipitation totals continued the "drier than normal" trend. Total precipitation for the month was .57 inches. Warmer than normal temperatures continued with a new record high on both the 27th and 28th of 87 degrees. The low temperature was 13 degrees. A total of 1.1 inches of snow fell during the month.
May was the windiest May ever recorded with 22 days of wind over 30 mph and 11 days over 40 mph. The dry trend continued for the fifth month in a row. Much needed rain fell on May 29. Total precipitation for the month was .77 inches. The month was warmer than normal with a high temperature of 92 degrees, but also produced a new record low of 28 degrees on May 21.
June ended the 5-month dry trend. It was much wetter than normal, the wettest since 1963 and the seventh wettest June on record. During the first half of the month, 4.6 inches of rain fell with 2.13 inches on the 3rd and 4th, and 1.52 inches from June 12-14. Only .29 inch of rain fell in the second half of the month. It was the fourth year in a row that June was wetter and cooler than the normal. It was the second windiest on record. Total precipitation was 4.89 inches. The high temperature was 90 degrees and the low was 42 degrees.
July was also much wetter than normal. It was the second wettest on record at the Glasgow weather station, surpassed only by the 5.93 inches of precipitation recorded in 1993. Total precipitation was 5.29 inches. The total June and July precipitation of 10.18 inches was the second wettest on record. Temperatures were close to normal with humidity higher than normal causing frequent thunderstorms. The high temperature for the month was 98 degrees and the low was 53 degrees.
August ended the wet weather and became the driest August recorded at the Glasgow weather station. Precipitation for the month was a trace. Temperatures were warmer than normal with the high temperature at 98 degrees and the low at 53 degrees. It was the eighth straight August warmer than normal with 11 of the last 12 Augusts being hotter than July.
September was warmer and drier than normal. Thirty-five days in a row without measurable precipitation ended on September 5. This was the longest dry period for these months recorded since 1973. The total precipitation for the month was .40 inch. The high temperature for the month was 93 degrees, with the low being 41 degrees. This was the first September where the low never dipped below 40 degrees.
8 The following table lists weather data for the three CMR field stations:
Temperature F Inches Annual Year High Low Precipitation
2001 104 -16 9.96 2000 1999 103 -12 12.99 1998 103 -27 15.09 1997 -35 10.14 Sand 1996 104 -38 12.49 Creek 1995 105 -21 14.57 1994 103 -44 11.06 1993 94 -23 19.20
Temperature F Inches Annual Year High Low Precipitation
2001 2000 1999 105 -20 13.21 1998 101 -40 14.72 1997 104 -32 9.64 Jordan 1996 104 -40 15.45 1995 109 -23 9.53 1994 100 -37 11.65 1993 96 -30 21.04
Temperature F Inches Annual Year Hish Precipitation
2001 98 -21 12.70 2000 102 -24 14.21 1999 100 -14 14.28 1998 101 -32 14.82 1997 100 -28 15.61 1996 101 -34 10.00 1995 110 -14 11.19 1994 99 -29 9.30 1993 96 -25 19.31
The year began with the Fort Peck Reservoir at 2226.0 MSL. The reservoir was ice-covered in January with ice thickness up to 18 inches in depth. "Ice-out" occurred on April 13. The lake
9 level has dropped almost seven feet this year. Maximum pool was 2226.0 on January 1, with low pool at 2219.23 on Dec. 31.
C LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title
Realty finished the acquisition of the Page property in south Valley County from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The 4283 acres cost $1,476,000 or $344 an acre. This is just a minor portion of the private lands within the Executive Order boundary of the Refuge.
D. PLANNING
1. Master Plan
The Record of Decision for the 1985 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was signed in April 1986 and functions as the "Master Plan." The August 1990 U.S. District Court ruling provided an end to litigation associated with the FEIS. Implementation of the 1986 Record of Decision continues to be a primary focus. This document continues to serve CMR. Big game objectives in the FEIS were used in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, establishing big game management protocols for CMR. To provide flexibility in livestock management, AUM's were retired in several habitat units provided by the FEIS.
The Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for CMR has been scheduled for 2005.
2. Management Plans
Habitat management planning began with the CMR FEIS and the 1986 ROD, which specified a Habitat Management Plan (HMP) would be completed for each habitat unit. The last HMP was finalized in 1992 after a grueling process of 250 plus meetings with grazing permittees. The HMP process identified goals and objectives for habitat units and wildlife management units (over 65 HMPs).
Because of ranch sales, permit amendments, livestock operation changes, etc., it is very difficult to keep plans updated and many are no longer current. Habitat objectives need review, and in most cases, riparian objectives need inclusion.
The demographics of the average CMR permittee are changing. In the next five to ten years, over one-half of the grazing permittees will change due to retirement, sale or death. Almost one- half of the ranches having grazing permits are for sale, including inholdings.
to Continued ranch sales present a once in a generation opportunity to shift the current annual non- prescriptive grazing program to a prescriptive program based on wildlife habitat objectives. The Refuge continues to work toward this goal.
The Bighorn Sheep Reintroduction Plan for the Harper Ridge area in Valley County continues. The Fort Peck Wildlife Station is coordinating the effort with Region 6 of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. This effort has been ongoing for several years.
4. Compliance with Environmental and Cultural Resource Mandates
No Environmental Assessments were undertaken in 2001.
5. Research and Investigations
Special Use Permits for paleontological research and excavation were issued to: Pat Leiggi, Museum of the Rockies, Montana State University, Bozeman; Dr. Bill Clemens, UCLA, Berkely, CA; Dr. Don Lofgren, Raymond M. Alf Museum, Claremont, CA; and Dr. Richard Cifelli, Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.
Paleontological exploration is becoming a very big thing on CMR. Each year we receive more and more requests for Special Use Permits. The fossil trade is very lucrative. It's hard to say how many fossils are being dug on CMR, unknown to us, and sold on the black market. The Museum of the Rockies (Montana State University) began a five year inventory of the Refuge this year. They have discovered some very interesting specimens, one of which is the largest T. rex discovered to date.
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Refuge staff hike to a dinosaur dig site.
Paleontologists prepare fossils with plaster prior for transport. A very tedious process indeed!
12 E. ADMINISTRATION
CMR Complex Back Row L-R - Bergum, Prellwitz (BWD) Guenther, Hedrick, Durbian, Crenshaw, Harrell, Ulibarri, Matched, Henry, Front Row - Granger, Luna (BWD) Gouse (BWD), Plagenz, Lewis, Lahr, deRosier, Miller Kneeling - Russell, Pennington, Nurse, Tribby (BWD), Berg, Stevenson, Zachmeier, Ellis, Christenson
1. Personnel
Lewistown Headquarters Office Mike Hedrick Refuge Manager GS-14 EOD 11/95 PFT Bill Berg Deputy Refuge Manager GS-13 EOD 9/90 PET Mike Granger Fire Management Officer GS-12 EOD 9/91 PET Randy Matchett Wildlife Biologist GS-12 EOD 6/87 PET Steve Henry Ecologist GS-11 EOD 1/97 PET Billie Lewis Administrative Asst. GS-7 EOD 7/85 PET Sharon Lahr Office Asst. GS-5 EOD 3/88 PET Kim Pennington Office Auto. Clerk GS-5 EOD 10/95 PEE Clayton Christenson Maintenance Worker WG-8 EOD 12/84 PET
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13 Robin Stevenson Bio.Sci. Tech. GS-5 - Resigned 2/01 Craig Miller Biological Sci.Tech. GS- 6 Transferred 11/01
NO PHOTOGRAPH AVAILABLE Bill Haglan Wildlife Biologist GS-11 Transferred 1/01 Shawn Bayless Ref.Oper.Spec/Pilot GS-11 EOD 12/00 PFT Jo Ann Dullum Student Trainee GS- 5 < EOD 6/98 PPT Valerie Kopcso Biological Sci.Tech. GS- 6 EOD 1/01 PPT
Sand Creek Wildlife Station Matt de Rosier Asst. Refuge Mgr. GS-11 EOD 1/98 PFT Jody Jones Refuge Operations Spec. GS- 7 EOD 3/93 PFT Dan Harrell Range Technician GS- 6 EOD 7/98 PPT Boyd Bergum Maintenance Worker WG- 8 EOD 4/84 PFT Larry Ulibarri Refuge Operations Spec. GS- 9 Transferred 5/01 Steve Nurse Asst. Fire Mgmt. Off. GS- 9 Transferred 11/01
Summer Temporaries: Cory Mitchell Range Tech/Fire GS- 5 T Kim Machler Range Tech/Fire GS- 4 T Nathan Hawkaluk Range Tech/Fire GS- 4 T Matt Moen Range Aid/Fire GS- 2 T Newell Roche Range Aid/Fire GS- 2 T
Fort Peck Wildlife Station Everett Russell Refuge Operations Spec. GS- 11 EOD 7/88 PFT Glenn Guenther Range Technician GS- 6 EOD 7/98 PPT
NO PHOTOGRAPH AVAILABLE Clay Ronish Refuge Oper.Spec. GS- 9 EOD 6/01 PFT
Summer Temporaries: Marc Kloker Range Tech./Fire GS- 4 T Eric Jeide Range Tech/Fire GS- 3 T
Jordan Wildlife Station Drew Ellis Refuge Operations Spec. GS- 7 EOD 8/96 PFT
NO PHOTOGRAPH AVAILABLE Tim Miller Refuge Operations Spec. GS- 7 EOD 10/01 PFT Ben Pratt Range Technician GS- 6 EOD 11/01 PFT
Summer temporaries: Eric Oldenburg Range Tech./Fire GS- 4 T William Gibbs Range Tech./Fire GS- 3 T Chad Mitchell Range Aid/Fire GS- 2 T
14 Dan McMaster Range Aid/Fire GS-2 T Ron Isackson Range Aid/Fire GS-2 T Jay Garoutte Range Aid/Fire GS-2 T
Personnel actions that took place throughout the year: - Shawn Bayless transferred to CMR, Lewistown, in December 2000 from the Lander, WY Management Assistance Office. - Clay Ronish transferred to CMR, Fort Peck, in June from Ecological Services in Fort Collins - Valerie Kopcso started working for CMR in Malta, MT in January. - Tim Miller transferred to CMR in Jordan in October from the Bill Williams River NWR in Parker, AZ. - Ben Pratt started working for CMR in Jordan in November. - Bill Haglan transfered to Division of Refuges in Washington, DC. - Robin Stevenson resigned in February. - Larry Ulibarri transferred to Desert Refuge Complex/Pahranagat NWR in Alamo, NV. - Steve Nurse transferred to the Forest Service in Missouri. - Craig Miller transferred to the Bureau of Land Management in Malta, MT.
REFUGE STAFFING LEVELS FOR 2001 Permanent 22.94 FTE Temporary 4.98 FTE Total 27.92 FTE
2. Youth Programs
The Refuge's outreach programs are an important environmental education resource for area schools, community and youth groups. Our staff presented programs on a variety of topics, with hands-on demonstrations designed to foster an appreciation of wildlife and natural resources, and teach the importance of a healthy environment for humans as well as wildlife.
Though programs are presented throughout the year, the highest demand tends to come during the spring semester of the school season. A few highlights of this year's events were: Roy Public School was treated to a wildlife presentation complete with "touchable" animal exhibits and information from Matt DeRosier, Sand Creek Field Station Manager. Hobson Schools received a similar program presented by Matt Plagenz, Range Technician at Sand Creek Field Station. Fort Peck Range Technicians Glenn Guenther and Marc Kloker participated in the Valley County Field Day in May. The event gave fifth grade students from across the county an opportunity to learn about the variety of agencies and organizations that manage the land in their area. Glenn and Marc took the Fort Peck fire engine, and were a big hit with all the students. Deputy Refuge Manager Bill Berg taught fourth graders about endangered species in a special presentation on May 30. The students learned about the CMR Refuge's work with endangered and threatened species, and gained an understanding of the importance of these species' niche in a healthy, functioning ecosystem.
15 4. Volunteer Programs
CMR was fortunate to have a variety of volunteers that worked with our staff to further the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and enhance our Refuge programs. The Volunteer Program provides opportunities throughout the year for participation in every field of Refuge operations. Volunteers contributed their time and expertise in assisting with black-footed ferret recovery activities, overseeing paleontological permits, building construction, monitoring the elk viewing area, wildlife surveys, flying, and other Refuge activities. All their hard work is greatly appreciated!
5. Funding
MMS Funding received;
$ 20,000 Pickup replacement
Following is the Refuge budget for 2001:
BUDGETS BY ACCOUNT
1231 Waterfowl Survey $2,000 1261 Base $1,224,670 Volunteers $2,000 Challenge Cost Share $36,784 1262 Annual Maintenance $126,700 Equipment $20,000 1971 Piping Plover $10,000 6860 Cost of Sales $54,000 2111 Deferred Maintenance $160,405 9251 Fire $377,100 Total $2,013,659
6. Safety
Refuge staff continue with a great safety record. Two minor workmen compensation claims were filed and two vehicle/deer collision accidents occurred. Both vehicles were repaired and back on the road in short order. Unfortunately, we can't say the same for many of our Refuge recreationalists. Numerous accidents have occurred over the years with this being the worst. An individual was driving excessive speeds along Knox Hill Road, overturned on a comer, was ejected and killed. His fourteen year old son, who was buckled up, received no injuries. Matt deRosier was the first to the scene as he had just watched the individuals drive by. Alcohol was involved.
16 Speed and alcohol were involved with a fatal accident on Knox Ridge Road (deRosier)
7. Technical Assistance
As in other years, the staff at CMR invested some of their time beyond Refuge boundaries and provided assistance and expertise to local communities, other Refuges, universities, or other offices within the Service.
Bayless flew easements for Benton Lake, Bowdoin, North Dakota and South Dakota Refuges.
Matchett went to Mexico to assist the black-footed ferret recovery team in designing a black- footed ferret release. Henry assisted in rewriting the wilderness policies for the Service in Washington D.C.
CMR staff assisted Bowdoin NWR with programming their radio system, law enforcement, a youth hunt, writing a prescibed bum plan, burning 350 acres, soil removal, and grading roads.
Fire crews helped with fires on BLM, in Washington State, near Bozeman, Merritt Island NWR, and the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Staff also assisted Medicine Lake NWR with writing a prescribed bum plan.
Dullum assisted BLM in setting up and taking down electric fence for their black-footed ferret release. She also helped spotlight during their survey efforts.
17 8. Other Revenue sharing checks were distributed to the following counties: Countv FY2001 FY 2000 FY 1999 FY 1998 FY 1997 FY 1996 Fergus $ 2,970 $ 1,060 $ 2,902 $ 3,044 $ 3,605 $ 3,722 Garfield $ 6,894 $ 1,505 $ 6,545 $6,812 $ 8,075 $ 8,129 Golden Valley $ 298 $ 290 $ 330 $ 355 $ 377 $ 412 McCone $ 1,619 $ 1,090 $ 1,624 $ 1,726 $ 1,927 $ 2,085 Musselshell $ 4,956 $ 4,816 $ 5,490 $ 5,898 $ 5,862 $ 6,422 Petroleum $ 4,933 $ 2,816 $5,744 $ 5,246 $ 5,103 $ 5,243 Phillips $18,382 $ 8,678 $ 17,307 $18,217 $21,227 $21,525 Stillwater $2,012 $ 1,956 $ 2,230 $ 2,395 $ 2,545 $ 2,775 Valley $6,281 $ 830 $ 4,258 $ 4,428 $ 5,446 $5,417 Yellowstone $ 259 $ 252 $ 287 $ 308 $ 241 ' $ 264 Carbon $ 1,064 $ 857 $ 977 $ 1,049 $ 1,313 $ 1,221
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
2. Wetlands
Wetlands on CMR include Fort Peck Reservoir, the Missouri River, about 240 small reservoirs, and many small drainages with varying flows. Fort Peck Reservoir and the Missouri River are managed solely by the Corps of Engineers, primarily for flood control, power generation, and downstream navigation. The many small reservoirs scattered throughout CMR are not actively managed. Most of these were constructed by the Bureau of Land Management, during the CMR Game Range era, and are not critical to current Refuge objectives. Management of smaller drainages involves primarily water rights negotiation to protect riparian potential. Water rights are discussed elsewhere in this report. Dry conditions during spring and early summer of 2001 provided little water to local wetlands and impoundments.
5. Grasslands
Refuge grasslands are "managed" by a variety of domestic livestock, including cattle, bison, horses and domestic sheep. Executive Order (EO) 7509 established CMR, and named sharp- tailed grouse and antelope as the primary management species. Other wildlife species are given secondary consideration. The EO also provided that forage production in excess of the needs of the primary and secondary species should be divided equally between wildlife and livestock. This allocation of forage was established by a federal court order.
Prior to the advent of Europeans, CMR was grazed by large herds of bison and elk. Deer, antelope and bighorn sheep were present. By the late 1880's, vast numbers of cattle and horses had replaced wildlife. By the early IQOO's, bison, elk and bighorn sheep were gone, and deer and antelope very uncommon. Too many people attempted to live beyond the ability of the land to produce.
18 In 1915, numbers of people and domestic animals peaked. A combination of drought, severe winters and economic recessions followed World War I and began an exodus from eastern Montana that continues today. A major readjudication of livestock numbers began in the 1950's on Federal lands.
Early Refuge files indicate from 1940 to the early 1960's, most ranches on CMR were eight- month commensurability permits, i.e., livestock would be permitted on Federal lands for eight months, and the permittee would furnish sufficient lands to provide for the other four months.
In 1954, 25,673 cattle, 3,365 sheep and 700 horses were licensed on CMR by the BLM. Wildlife estimates for the same period were 8,000 deer, 800 antelope, 140 elk and 54 bighorn sheep. Much of the four-month commensurate property was along the Missouri River, part of CMR. Further files indicate livestock wintered on the river bottoms, and the same uplands grazed in the summer. Although the BLM did not issue winter permits, "BLM was aware of the fact that it had been the practice for a number of large ranches to run cattle on the range during the winter months". After considerable haranguing by CMR, winter grazing was not eliminated, but added to the permit.
In 1953-54 the first range survey was conducted, implemented on paper and slowly changes began. Grazed AUM numbers and licensed numbers were two entirely different entities.
In 1962, 26,820 cattle, 11,481 sheep and 950 horses were licensed on CMR. The bighorn sheep herd reported in 1954 had vanished by 1962.
BLM-FWS relationships were strained and a 1962 Washington Office inspection of CMR stated "The land of the Fort Peck Game Range has literally been raped and this despoiling (sic) is accelerating." Although much of this past use came from BLM lands, probably 150,000 to 200,000 AUM's were taken annually from CMR in the \950's. One 1973 BLM allotment management plan, which included a CMR pasture, was licensed at 3,400 AUM's, the 1953-54 range survey numbers. "Flexibility" of up to 10,000 AUM's was permitted yearly without application.
Licensed AUM use in 2001 was 22, 405 AUM's: 17,000 less than the ROD level and 36,000 less than the 1976 level. A variety of reasons are responsible. Higher grazing fees and not automatically transferring permits are the major ones. Active livestock supervision and permit enforcement have ensured the actual use approach licensed today. Livestock numbers on CMR are lower than anytime in this century.
FEDERAL AUM'S PERMITTED IN EACH COUNTY IN 2001 Countv AUM's Fergus 435 Garfield 7693 Petroleum 564 Phillips 5929 McCone 2780 Valley 5069
19 The impacts of past mismanagement still impact wildlife habitat today. Most CMR riparian areas are non-functional. Stream channels are deeply incised. Woody vegetation is gone, greatly reduced or absent. Mesic coulees lack adequate amounts of rose, snowberry, chokecherry and other shrubs. Bluebunch wheatgrass should dominate more sites. Heavy grazing removed grass fuels, ending prairie grass fires and resulting in conifer encroachment of grasslands and mesic areas. Many CMR fires now crown compared to past fires that swept through the understory.
Reduction of livestock numbers, changing livestock management techniques, establishment of habitat objectives, grassland monitoring, riparian trend and health assessments, recognition of fire as a management tool and other management programs together contribute to enhanced habitat management and improved wildlife habitat on CMR. Dramatic differences have occurred since 1976.
7. Grazing
The 1986 CMR NWR FEIS ROD established livestock grazing levels. Of the 100,000 AUM's of forage available, about 40 percent are allocated to livestock on 62 different habitat units through 73 grazing permittees. Livestock allocations range from zero to 78 percent of the available forage.
FEIS livestock forage allocations are based on a 1978 range survey. All lands were stocked at the recommended SCS stocking rate. Slope and distance to water deductions were applied to FWS lands, not state or private. This resulted in a 33 percent reduction in overall livestock AUM's, an almost unprecedented action on western grazing lands. Generally, because of increased range condition classes, livestock capacity of state and private lands increased. In some pastures, like the West Indian Butte Habitat Unit, this increase totally offset the federal reduction. Typically, livestock stocking rates on the eastern parts of CMR are higher, reflecting gentle terrain and close proximity to Fort Peck Reservoir. Fergus and Petroleum Counties' livestock allocations are least by acre, McCone and Garfield the highest, and Valley and Phillips intermediate. Garfield County is stocked twice the level of Petroleum County per acre. Livestock forage allocation and wildlife habitat conflicts parallel.
State and private lands comprise 10.7 percent of the CMR acreage and contribute 20.8 percent of the livestock AUM's. These lands, stocked at SCS recommended livestock levels, receive no consideration as to whether the AUM's are available to livestock because of slope or water parameters. Politically, any changes on private land stocking rates are unrealistic. These figures demonstrate the need for an aggressive acquisition program for state and private lands. CMR has acquired several state permits, and the AUM's are reserved for wildlife. The FWS must pay the state for those AUM's. Acquisition is the long term objective.
The ROD stated "Provisions for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the HMP's," will be part of the HMP process. The completed Habitat Monitoring Handbook provides tools to assess livestock grazing impacts on wildlife habitat. The plan, recognizing staff limitations, provides for a conservative monitoring program by recommending minimal criteria on each unit. To utilize limited resources more efficiently and improve the quality of monitoring, several
20 habitat units with significant values and obvious wildlife-livestock conflicts receive priority emphasis.
Habitat has improved dramatically with the reduction of stocking levels
Staffing is inadequate to manage grazing adequately because of increased demands on the same number of resource staff. The Jordan field station (two managers), is responsible for all Refuge activities on 26 habitat units (250,000 acres).
Eighty-six percent of the forage is allocated to livestock within one-half mile of water on slopes of less than ten degrees (18 percent). Extensive water development has resulted in many upland sites, mesic areas and riparian areas being heavily impacted by livestock. Forage in riparian areas is almost exclusively allocated to livestock. As a result of slope/water factors, some habitat units along the Big Dry Arm have 50 to 78 percent of the forage allocated to livestock. In one unit, 40 percent of the livestock forage comes from 18 percent of the land; those lands within one-quarter mile of the creek. Riparian habitats reflect the livestock allocation. Field work conducted by the University of Montana in 1995/96 documented the poor state of riparian habitat on CMR.
The monitoring effort is in constant evolution. Emphasis is placed on key problem areas, especially where permit transfers are occurring. Interpretation of the existing HDP data appears to indicate residual grass obscurity cover is absent or much below the 70 percent of potential objective. Potential is determined by comparing a grazed site reading against an ungrazed, adjacent site, times 100 percent.
Grazing fees in 2001 were $11.50, a $1.00 increase from 2000. CMR should finally approach fair market value sometime in the near future. Total grazing receipts in 2001 will approximate
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21 $258,405. Although costs are not easily separated, grazing program administration costs easily exceed the program return.
Refuge permits cannot be transferred by the permittee as are BLM permits. Court decisions associated with CMR have ruled livestock grazing is a privilege issued at the discretion of the government, and grazing is a secondary use and must be compatible. The new Refuge Act certainly strengthened this position.
In 1994, all permittees of record were informed CMR grazing privileges no longer will automatically transfer with the sale of a ranch or ranch portion, nor may a permit be sold. This policy was a BLM carryover, reinforced by political appointees under the Reagan/Watt era. Consequences of this mess were discussed in the 1994 CMR Narrative Report.
Upon a change, permits are held in abeyance for at least one year while an environmental assessment is completed. Grazing privileges, if reissued, are reevaluated and may change significantly from historic use, shifting the management paradigm from livestock needs to wildlife needs.
8. Having
Two land tracts adjacent to the Fort Peck Dredge Cut Ponds produced hay for the Refuge horse at Sand Creek and the bison exhibit in Lewistown. Excess hay is used to feed the Corps of Engineers exhibit animals at Fort Peck. Tract 66D is 18 acres of COE land that is out-granted to CMR for management, and tract 68D is 38 acres of FWS land. These tracts are hayed on shares by a co-operator under special use permit. The service receives 1/3 of the hay produced. The tracts are irrigated and produce two cuttings each year. The first cutting is delayed until after June 27 to allow for nesting upland birds. The Refuge portion of the 2001 first cutting of hay was 1450 bales and 560 bales of second cutting. The Refuge horse herd was reduced from 5 to 1 in 2001. Personnel from the Fort Peck station will be meeting with the COE to determine if the 18 acre COE tract 66D will meet their requirements for hay in the future. If so, management of the 38 acre Refuge tract may be changed. Part or all of the field may be returned to native vegetation for the benefit of wildlife.
9. Fire Management
The 2001 fire season was regarded by most as average for the Northern Rockies Geographic Area. The fire season began with high fire danger indices early in the spring. Several fires were detected in May, with June and July being abnormally wet. July brought warmer temperatures and increased fire activity. The CMR suppression crew consists of thirteen range tech/firefighters. They are placed at each field station (Sand Creek 5, Jordan 6, Fort Peck 2) to provide for the best suppression capabilities possible. CMR crews also provide support to local cooperators such as BLM and the Department of State Land, and national suppression support when requested. Engines were dispatched to Washington State while miscellaneous overhead traveled nationwide. Prescribed fire activities consisted of writing bum plans for Benton Lake
22 and Bowdoin NWR's. Trips were made to Ouray NWR, Medicine Lake NWR, Clarks Fork WPA and National Elk Refuge to assist with prescribed burning.
The Joint Fire Science Project entitled "Historic Fire Regimes and Change Since European Settlement on the Northern Mixed Prairie: Effect on Ecosystem Function and Fire Behavior" continued into its second field season of research on Refuge lands and those adjacent to the Missouri River Breaks.
Steve Nurse accepted the Zone FMO position on the Mark Twain National Forest in Ava, Missouri. Ben Pratt was selected into the Jordan Supervisory Range/Tech position. Matt Plagenz was involved with the Fish and Wildlife Fire Mentoring program. Mike Granger finished the CMR Fire Management Plan. Mike was also invited to participate in the world of Type 1 Incidents as a member of the Northern Rockies National Incident Management Team.
2001 FIRE STATISTICS There were 5 fires on the Refuge totaling 355.6 acres. An additional 864 acres burned on lands that were adjacent to or within the executive boundary of the Refuge. Total for the two fires was 1219.6 acres.
Following is a table summarizing fire activity on CMR for the past ten years:
Year No. of Fires Acres Burned Range of Acres Burned 2001 9 1219.6 0.10-964.0 2000 10 1744.0 1.00-6 1999 7 111.0 1.00-50 1998 19 8148.0 0.10-3880.0 1997 12 1139.0 0.10-692 1996 15 11147.0 0.10- 10031.0 1995 8 432.0 0.10-200 1994 20 12812.0 0.50- 11067 1993 3 23 0.50-12 1992 10 1345.0 0.10-705 1991 11 1281.0 0.10-800 TOTALS 139 39421.0 0.10 -11067 10 year 12 3942.1 317.9ac Avg (Avg Fire Size)
10. Pest Control
Ecologist Henry revised the Refuge's IPM plan, wrote Pesticide Use Proposals, and completed annual IPM reports in January. Pilot/ROS Bayless and Range Tech Guenther completed Pesticide Applicator certification training in March. Ecologist Henry and Range Tech Harrell
23 represented the Refuge at numerous local coordination meetings. Harrell also attended a saltcedar workshop and range tour in Wolf Point in June.
Russian knapweed sprayed along Hell Creek in 2000 as part of a cooperative control program with Garfield County and a local inholder showed very good control. One year after the initial application many infestations were eliminated and grass was regenerating. In 2001, spot spraying was performed to eliminate small emergent infestations. Russian knapweed along Hell Creek is now under control, but will require modest annual maintenance to prevent reemergence.
A camper caught fire and burned to the ground during hunting season. No one was injured. The blaze also started a small wildfire which was quickly contained. (deRosier)
Dr. Jeff Littlefield of Montana State University (MSU) completed the second year of his research into the growth and reproductive rates of Russian knapweed. Dr. Littlefield is monitoring 20 infestations in the Refuge's river bottoms and comparing results against the plant's growth in its native habitat. Dr. Littlefield also released gall mites {Aceria malherbae) as a biocontrol agent to combat field bindweed in Bell Bottom.
A second year of Russian knapweed research in Knox Bottom was completed with Dr. Roger Sheley of MSU and Steve Laufenberg, his graduate student. This research was funded by a $32,500 Challenge Cost-Share grant. The goal of the project is to develop methods for reestablishing native plant communities in heavily infested riparian areas. In 2001, the seeding plot/functional group phase of the experiment began. Eleven different native species representing six functional groups were planted using four different seeding/seedbed preparation methods: broadcast, no-till drill, till-and-drill, and imprint. Monitoring will commence in 2002. Monitoring of herbicide test plots sprayed in 1999 and 2000 continued! Preliminary evidence
24 indicates that Curtail® is the most effective herbicide for eliminating knapweed however the resulting plant community is deficient in forbs and shrubs. Research indicates that herbicide alone is not likely to promote the reestablishment of diverse native plant communities in heavily infested areas. Steve presented the results of his research to Refuge staff at a meeting in December.
More than 300 Russian olive trees were cut and stem treated (with Arsenal®) within the Slippery Ann closed area during the summer. Leafy spurge was mapped and additional beetles (Apthona nigriscutis) released at Grand Island and Kendall Bottom. The herbicide Plateau® was used for the first time on the Refuge to treat leafy spurge along Duck Creek. Smaller infestations were also sprayed in the Fort Peck Commons and at the Lucky Hill exclosure.
Saltcedar appeared to be spreading rapidly along the south shore of the reservoir and the Big Dry Arm giving Refuge staff much cause for concern. Ecologist Henry led a work party of Montana Conservation Corps members to Doney and Cart Trail Coulees in July to map and treat saltcedar. Two large infestations were handcut and stem-painted with Arsenal®. While this appears to be an effective treatment method, it is very labor and time-intensive. It would not be practical for treating large areas. Following this trip, Henry submitted a Challenge Cost Share proposal in partnership with Conservation Biology Research to develop an effective strategy for controlling the spread of saltcedar on CMR.
Montana Conservation Corp crew and Steve Henry cutting Salt Cedar along the Big Dry Arm. (Henry)
25 Craig Roberts, Montana Department of Natural Resources, gave a presentation on leafy spurge biocontrol to CMR at a December staff meeting. The Refuge continues to contract with County Weed Departments to spray roadsides in high-traffic areas such as the Auto Tour Route.
11. Water Rights
The CMR NWR entered the Federal Reserved Water Rights Process in 1998. The Service will be applying for and maintaining water rights for in-stream flows to preserve and maintain riparian vegetation along CMR stream channels. Since no previous data existed, the Fish and Wildlife Service contracted the US Geological Survey to install and monitor continuous-record streamflow gaging stations on four streams starting in September, 1999 for three years. Monitoring stations were set up on Rock Creek and ArmelTs Creek at the Sand Creek Field Station and Hell Creek and Nelson Creek in the Jordan unit. The second objective of this project is to correlate the three or more years of continuous-record flow data with concurrent and long- term data at USGS stations located throughout northeastern Montana in order to estimate long- term flow characteristics at the gauging sites on the Refuge. The third objective is, using the information from objective two, to develop regional regression equations relating long-term flow characteristics to basin and climatic variables, so that the regression equations can be used to estimate long-term flow characteristics at any ungaged stream on the CMR NWR. Tim Morgan, USGS, is responsible for monitoring the stream gauging stations and provided this information.
This year was a very poor year for riparian areas as it was a very dry spring. The Sand Creek Station received only 9.96 inches of rainfall during the year. It was an extremely dry spring. By the end of May most areas on the west unit hadn't even greened up. Stream flows were well below normal.
Because of the concern for riparian areas along the tributaries of the Missouri River in Phillips County, CMR has asked the Bureau of Land Management to refrain from building anymore livestock reservoirs in the area south of the Beaver Creek drainage without prior approval from the FWS.
12. Wilderness and Special Areas
Ecologist Henry continues at assist WO staff in revising the Service's national wilderness stewardship policy. The policy development team met for a week in Washington in August. The first draft of the revised policy was completed and published in the Federal Register. Over 5,000 public comments were received, the vast majority of which were strongly supportive of the proposed changes.
G. WILDLIFE
2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species
a. Least Tern and Piping Plover
26 CMR received $5200 from the Corps of Engineers (COE) to conduct productivity surveys and monitoring of the interior least terns and piping plovers on the Fort Peck Reservoir. These activities partly satisfy COE requirements to avoid a jeopardy opinion in the operation of the main-stem system of reservoirs and dams on the Missouri River. Survey efforts on Fort Peck Reservoir (Site 1 - northeast portion and Big Dry Arm) were initiated on May 7 and continued weekly until August 1, 2001.
Nesting habitat was excellent on most beach sites on May 7 when the survey effort was initiated. The reservoir elevation was 2222.97 MSL (feet above mean sea level) which was eleven feet below last year's level on this date and nearly 22 feet below maximum pool which is 2245.00 MSL. The lower lake level created an abundance of favorable nesting habitat. The spring-early summer period was moderately dry so vegetation encroachment was not significant. With the lower lake level, a large sandbar area was exposed adjacent to the face of the dam, thus enlarging the habitat on Beach 1. The first plover sighting occurred on May 18 on a stretch of shoreline that was not considered favorable nesting habitat. The second sighting occurred May 24 on Beach 1 (adjacent to the west end of the dam) where a pair later initiated a nest on about June 7. This nest was destroyed by a severe thunderstorm on July 13, just about the time it was due to hatch. On July 8 a second pair of plovers with two young were observed about one mile east of the Beach 1 site on the new habitat created as the lake level subsided. The young appeared to be about five days old.
The Adult Census survey was conducted on June 18, 19 and 24. All identified/numbered beach sites (42 total) were surveyed. Total survey effort yielded only two piping plovers and no least terns.
Adult census survey results for the last six years are presented below:
Adult Census Survey Data
Year Species Number Location 2001 Piping Plover 2 East of Beach 1 2000 Piping Plover 2 Beach 1 Least Tern 4 Beach 37 1999 Piping Plover 2 Beach 1 1998 Piping Plover 2 Beach 1 Piping Plover 2 Beach 5 Least Tern 4 Beach 37 1997 Piping Plover 2 Beach 5 Least Tern 6 Beach 37 1996 Piping Plover 0 * Least Tern 0 * * Lack of nesting habitat due to high water level on Reservoir
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27 b. Pallid Sturgeon
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) as endangered in 1990 and approved the Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Plan in 1993. CMR NWR lies within one of two Recovery-Priority Management Areas (RPMA 1) established in the plan. The primary cause for the population decline in pallid sturgeon is attributed to habitat loss. In RPMA 1, main stem dams on the upper Missouri River have created physical barriers to migration and have altered critical spawning and feeding areas. A short term goal of the pallid sturgeon recovery plan is to reintroduce pallid sturgeon back in the several reaches of the Missouri River. The upper Missouri River reach upstream of Fort Peck Reservoir is one of the better areas for restoring pallid numbers back to a healthy population. The main purpose for the reintroduction is to prevent extinction of the pallid. Past studies have shown that there has been no apparent successful reproduction for over 20 years, and because of this, there are very few old pallid sturgeon remaining (roughly, about 50 are left). It is hoped that if the numbers are boosted and migration runs are reinitiated with a return of a spring pulse flow from the upriver dams, pallid sturgeon will be able to naturally maintain their numbers.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks study area consists of a 168 mile reach of the Missouri River immediately upstream of Fort Peck Reservoir. A total of 758 yearling pallid sturgeon from the Garrison National Fish Hatchery in North Dakota were released in 1998 at three locations within this reach by the US FWS. Over the course of the four years since the release, monitoring efforts by MT FW&Ps have been ongoing. Twenty of these hatchery reared sturgeon have been recaptured while conducting survival and growth evaluation studies over the last four years. Additional pallid sturgeon releases have not occurred in the recovery area since an unknown irido virus was discovered in the pallid sturgeon hatcheries in 1999. In order to continue with the release program a streamside spawning attempt was initiated in 2001 in cooperation with the USFWS Bozeman Fish Technology Center. One female and five males were captured for propagation resulting in about 130,000 eggs. Approximately half of the progeny are being raised in the basin at the Tech Center. If all goes well, about 2000 will be released as yearlings, into the recovery area during the summer of 2002 for preservation of this gene pool and for ecological research studies. Samples of sperm from the five males were cryopreserved and added to the pallid sturgeon sperm bank for genetic preservation purposes. Note: This information was provided by William M. Gardner, MT FW&P.
c. Black-Footed Ferret
Black-footed ferret reintroductions began on UL Bend NWR in 1994, and a total of 171 captive-reared kits had been released by fall 1999. Wildbom kit production increased each year with 44 observed from 15 litters during summer 2000. Production during summer 2001 was a big disappointment.
The spring 2001 black-footed ferret spotlight survey located 27 animals, 8 males, 18 females and one unknown. At that time, we thought we were on-track for continued success with wildbom kit production and were expecting over 40 kits for the third year in a
28 row. Spotlighting fdr wildbom kits began in July, and after exhaustive searches through September, only eight females with 18 kits could be located. By mid-November the population totaled 15 ferrets. The causes for this decline are unknown. Reduced prairie dog numbers, likely because of a severe and continuing drought for the last three-four years, probably contributed. Although it hasn't gone epizootic in prairie dogs, sylvatic plague is extremely lethal to ferrets and may also have played a role.
A total of 186 wildbom kits have been observed at UL Bend through 2001. The late fall 2001 spotlight survey found only 15 ferrets, down from the 38 identified in November 2000 and down substantially from the 56 seen in November 1999. We are hoping for good over winter survival and that this population can rebound next year. The following table lists the inputs to the UL Bend population.
Black-footed ferrets released and produced at UL Bend NWR.
CAPTIVE-REARED WILDBORN
ADULT JUVENILE JUVENILE
MALE FEM TOT MALE FEM TOT MALE FEM TOT
YEAR 1994 2 3 5 22 13 35 1995 2 3 5 22 11 33 2 3 5 1996 0 4 4 22 17 39 9 7 18 1997 0 0 0 10 10 20 7 13 26 1998 0 0 0 10 11 21 15 11 34 1999 3 1 4 11 12 23 19 19 41 2000 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 18 44 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 11 18 TOT. 7 11 18 97 74 171 74 82 186
Each ferret has uniquely numbered transponder chips implanted under the skin. Most wildbom kits are caught and implanted with transponder chips. During 2001, 15 of the 18 wildbom kits seen were marked. These chips can be read with a special reader and donut antenna when the ferret passes through the ring. The trick is to find a ferret through spotlighting, and then have it pass through the ring that is placed at the burrow opening. The unique transponder readings provide for individual identification.
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29 Biologist Matchett (left) and volunteer David Jachowski implanting transponder chips, vaccinating and collecting biological samples from a wildborn black-footed ferret under isoflurane anesthesia, UL Bend NWR. The unique transponder readings provide for individual identification.
November 2001 black-footed ferret spotlight survey results
CAPTIVE-REARED WILDBORN SEX 94 95 96 97 98 99 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 TOT. MALE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 6 FEM. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 4 9 TOT. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 6 15
Working with a graduate student from the University of Washington, we attempted to detect the presence of black-footed ferrets using a dog trained to locate ferret scat and ferret scent. This approach has a great deal of international interest for assisting with ferret monitoring at other sites. We succeeded in collecting two ferret-looking scats, one of which we were successful in extracting DNA. Using PGR and micro-satellite genetic analysis processes, we confirmed the sample as coming from a black-footed ferret. Below is a summary of the trials.
Deb Smith is a graduate student at the University of Washington and we have been collaborating to develop an ability to search prairie dog colonies to determine the presence of black-footed ferrets using a scent-trained dog. Deb has been very active in dog training
30 for a variety of purposes for many years. She has recently trained and been quite successful using Rio, a three year-old German Shepard, to locate San Joaquin kit fox scat as part of her PhD research. Rio has also searched for and located numerous grizzly and black bear scats for other research studies.
We supplied Deb with scats from about 30 different black-footed ferrets that had been eating prairie dogs and were housed in field breeding pens in Colorado and Montana. Deb then layered those scents into Rio's repertoire to recognize and indicate to her. Based on Deb's experience with Rio, this was a fairly easy task as ferret scats are fairly stinky. Rio quickly learned and was able to reliably locate blindly planted ferret scat samples. Our next step was to field trial Rio from March 22-25 at UL Bend NWR where we knew wild black- footed ferrets exist.
We walked Rio through portions of Main, South Locke, Legg Well, 222, Sagebrush, North and South Hawley, Valentine, 416 and Long-X prairie dog colonies. We initially chose sites that were traditionally high use areas by black-footed ferrets based on observations during the last seven years. Our effort was as much a training/learning effort on the ability of a dog to find ferret sign as it was actually trying to confirm ferret presence. The following is a chronological synopsis of our first trial efforts.
Results We began searching near ferret camp on the Main prairie dog colony and almost immediately, Rio indicated he smelled a scent he was supposed to be rewarded for at the opening of a prairie dog burrow. We were skeptical at first as there was no physical scat obvious that was consistent with ferret, but even so, Deb rewarded Rio for the find. We refer to this as an indicated hole. We placed a transponder reader at this indicated hole, but never obtained a ferret reading. After searching for nearly two more hours, and many burrow openings later, Rio indicated a second burrow very near camp and approximately 150 m from the first hole. He was rewarded for this find and a transponder reader was placed on the burrow, but again, no reading was ever obtained. Spotlighting efforts during the next two weeks resulted in observations of five different ferrets in this immediate vicinity, two of which were observed within 20 m of the hole Rio first indicated. A known ferret scat had been planted earlier in the day near camp and Rio located it even though it was very small, dried up and moldy.
We next searched the western, and then the eastern portion, of the Legg Well prairie dog colony. These areas are typically home to several ferrets. Again, Rio indicated a single hole from among hundreds examined, but there was no direct physical evidence on which to base a reward. Nonetheless, he was rewarded for the find. A transponder reader was also placed at this burrow opening, but again no reading was obtained. During the next two weeks, three different ferrets were identified within 100 m of the burrow Rio indicated on the eastern end of Legg Well.
The next prairie dog colony searched was 222, covering nearly 30 acres. Ferret no. 222F has raised two litters here, and she, plus various offspring and fathers, have been observed there in previous years. Because this colony is somewhat isolated and fairly small, Rio was
31 transected across its entirety to attempt a full coverage of this prairie dog colony. Approximately 25 acres/hour is an initial estimate of the area we were able to search with transects approximately 50 m apart and working the wind to the dog's advantage. Rio did not indicate any scat or burrows. During spotlight efforts in the subsequent two weeks, no ferrets were observed on the 222 colony despite quite a bit of effort. Ferret no. 222F, the animal often residing on the 222 prairie dog colony, was located on the Legg Well colony. She was one of the ferrets found fairly close to the hole Rio indicated on the eastern portion of the Legg Well prairie dog colony.
The next area searched was northeastern Sagebrush colony. The weather was fairly brisk with a strong, cold northwesterly wind. Underneath a clod of dirt dug out of a prairie dog burrow by a badger, Rio indicated, and we found a scat sample that was morphologically very similar to a black-footed ferret. We continued searching more of the Sagebrush colony, but Rio did not indicate anything further. Two ferrets were observed in the northeastern portion of the Sagebrush colony during the next two weeks of spotlighting effort.
We continued working Rio on the northeastern portion of the North Hawley prairie dog colony and he indicated another scat that appeared to us morphologically similar to known black-footed ferret scat. This particular burrow had also been worked over by a badger, but was at present, plugged with dirt by prairie dogs. Badger sign and plugged burrows are commonly seen in association with areas occupied by ferrets. Both this scat sample and the one found on Sagebrush were collected.
We are working on the funding and details to attempt DNA extraction from the scat and proceed with species identification. Other possible species that have been observed on UL Bend prairie dog colonies and may have scat that could be confused with ferrets include: prairie dog, least weasel, long-tailed weasel and striped skunk.
That night, Friday, March 23, we searched for ferrets by spotlighting and located one on the western portion of Legg Well. We watched it move around and finally disappear in a burrow while Deb was getting Rio from sleeping in camp. Deb walked Rio around and he indicated on the burrow the ferret was last seen in, but none of the surrounding holes. Rio was suggestive of tracking the ferret above ground where we had watched the ferret walk 30 minutes earlier.
About 10 hours later, we worked Rio again in the area this ferret was seen the night before. He did not indicate on any burrows or sign, suggesting the previous night he was probably indicating fresh ferret scent instead of the scat scent he was trained on. Apparently, that scent is fairly ephemeral and only strong enough to cause Rio to indicate when fairly recent. The next day, March 24, Rio was worked again on the western portion of Legg Well, the southwestern portion of Valentine, 416 and most of the Long-X prairie dog colonies. Rio did not indicate any holes or indicate on any scats, except for two known ferret samples, that were placed blindly, to help with keeping Rio's interest motivated and as test samples. Subsequent spotlighting during the next two weeks located only one ferret on the northern end of Valentine and none on 416 or Long-X after 11 nights of looking.
32 We spotlighted again the night of March 24 and located two ferrets, one moving around the western portion of Legg Well colony again (no. 231M) and another on northeastern Sagebrush (no. 309F), about 200 m from where Rio located one of the scats earlier. Rio indicated instantly on both holes the ferrets were observed in within the last hour and on one hole about 60m away from where 309F was known to be.
March 25 was very windy and Deb worked Rio on both far east and west ends of the South Locke prairie dog colony and portions of South Hawley, but Rio didn't indicate any ferret sign. Three ferrets were subsequently observed on the western portion of South Locke and five on the South Hawley colony.
Summary thoughts / ideas Rio worked very well and using trained dogs to search for ferret presence can be one more tool in our toolbox. Rio indicated three burrow openings in areas later confirmed full of ferrets and he located two scats that look like ferret scats to us. It is unclear whether Rio was scenting fresh ferret scent or scat scent percolating out from the burrow system at the holes where no scat was found. We are trying to extract DNA from the scat samples and type to species to confirm they were in fact ferret scats. Rio also indicated without fail on burrows where we had watched three different ferrets disappear within the last hour, but he did not indicate on those same burrows the next day.
In searching dispersal areas or following up on reported sightings, indication of ferret presence by a suitably trained dog could mean everything. Follow-up spotlighting could then be directed to the area. If the dog doesn't indicate ferret presence, then like snow tracking, you still aren't sure and there could still be ferrets present, just undetected. On several occasions, ferret snow tracks could not be found in areas known to be typically occupied by certain ferrets. In later spotlight surveys, those animals were observed in that area. Some ferrets may remain underground after a snow and not venture above ground until snow conditions no longer allow detection.
Our initial idea was to use ferret scat as it was simplest to train on and provides physical evidence from which DNA can be extracted, and it provides physical evidence on which to base the reward for the dog (in Rio's case his reward is to get to play with a rubber "kong" toy). A concern we had was the frequency at which ferrets defecate above ground, or to what extent ferret scat scent from deep in a prairie dog burrow might drift through the tunnels and be available above ground for a dog to detect.
Craig Knowles and others recall finding several ferret scats above ground during snow- tracking surveys at Meeteetse. We don't know of any ferret scats that have been observed during snow-tracking surveys in Montana, but several people have observed places where ferrets urinated in snow. Any additional information/observations on above ground ferret defecation rates in a free-ranging situation would be helpful. A dog can't find a ferret scat if its not above ground to be found. Given the amount of ferret occupied area Rio was
33 searched across, and his demonstrated ability to locate blindly planted ferret scat samples, it could be that there isn't a whole lot of ferret scat to be found above ground.
Our next likely step is to arrange for Rio to at some point search on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland in South Dakota where there are more than 100 ferrets in the wild. This would be more of a training/reinforcement exercise for Rio where there would be much more opportunity to find scat or ferret scent and be positively rewarded for it. Searching here with many more ferrets may also give us more of an indication of the frequency which ferrets defecate above ground. Assuming those exercises were successful, the Deb/Rio team would be well suited to begin searching dispersal areas around reintroduction sites that don't get much spotlighting time. Additionally, they might be able to assist monitoring efforts at other reintroduction sites that have had difficulty locating ferrets after release.
d. Other
The mountain plover, a Category I Candidate Species under the Endangered Species Act, is closely associated with prairie dog towns of the shortgrass prairie ecosystem of the Northern Great Plains. With less than two percent of pre-settlement prairie dog complexes remaining and much of the shortgrass prairie turned up-side-down with agricultural uses, the long term survival of this species is questionable. Current estimates put the continental population at less than 10,000 breeding birds. About 2,800 plovers are thought to nest in Montana. CMR Refuge and adjoining BLM lands in Southern Phillips County account for a significant portion of the Montana habitat.
NERC (now NBS) established a mountain plover trend survey in Phillips County on CMR and adjoining BLM lands in 1991, and data has been collected annually with the exception of 1994. Each nest location was recorded with a portable GPS unit. Nest survey data results for the last five years are presented below:
NEST DATA YEAR NO. OF NESTS 2001 69 2000 136 1999 134 1998 117 1997 92
A total of 69 nests were found during the 2001 field season (May 20 - July 25). Nest hatching success was found to be 69 percent, somewhat above the ten year average of 61 percent. For the first time during the ten year study, no nests were found on the Refuge portion of the study area. On the Northern Great Plains the fate of the mountain plover is closely and ultimately tied to the fate of the prairie dog.
34 3. Waterfowl
Prime nesting waterfowl habitat is limited and widely scattered on CMR Refuge. Waterfowl objectives are not a high priority. Incidental observations indicate that good to fair numbers of waterfowl are produced in certain areas of the Refuge. No management activities are waterfowl specific except for the co-operative mid-winter waterfowl survey at Fort Peck. The survey was conducted on January 10, 2002 with good weather conditions (clear and sunny, 40-45 degrees F, and less than 5 mph wind). The following table shows totals for ten years of survey effort:
Year Total Ducks Total Geese
2001 3,650 7,000 2000 905 2 1999 600 250 1998 537 -0- 1997 967 -0- 1996 2430 650 1995 2986 1075 1994 1700 164 1993 1762 215 1992 1695 1500
4. Marsh and Water Birds
Few management activities, including survey efforts, are conducted with this group of birds. The Refuge does, however, provide habitat for a wide variety of species within this group.
Double-crested cormorants are frequently seen on the Fort Peck Reservoir but no nesting has been observed since 1994. Historically they nested in colonies located in clumps of tree snags over water in the upper reaches of the Big Dry Arm; however, most snags have since fallen over, and there are no younger generation of trees to provide such sites. White pelican and great blue heron are common during the summer on the Missouri River portions of the Refuge. A small colony of great blue herons nested on Prairie Dog Island in the few small cottonwoods remaining there. Cottonwoods are declining in most areas around Fort Peck Reservoir for a variety of factors such as lake level fluctuations, cattle grazing and beaver activity.
Common loons and western grebes were seen on the Reservoir throughout the summer in small numbers, but become more numerous during migration. Sandhill cranes migrate through the area in the Fall in large numbers, but rarely stop over.
5. Shorebirds, Gulls. Terns, and Allied Species
A moderate number of species within this category make seasonal and/or migratory use of the Refuge. Breeding and nesting species include: least tern and piping plover (addressed under Section G.2.a.), killdeer, mountain plover (addressed under Section G.2.d), common snipe.
35 spotted sandpiper, willet, American avocet, Wilson's phalarope, California gull, ring-billed gull, Forster's tern, common tern and Caspian tern. Declining prairie species such as long-billed curlew and upland sandpiper nest and rear young on Refuge uplands, but to what extent, we don't know.
6. Raptors
Ten adult and one immature bald eagle were counted in the Fort Peck vicinity during the mid winter bald eagle survey on January 11, 2001. The survey area included nine miles of the Missouri River below the Fort Peck Dam. The birds concentrate in this area because waterfowl are congregated on the open water of the river and also because the hydroelectric facility's turbines provide a source of mangled fish which both the ducks and eagles feed on.
One month later, Chuck Carlson, a birder of local/regional fame, conducted another bald eagle survey in the same area and counted 42 adult birds and 44 immatures- undoubtedly a new record number of wintering eagles for this area.
Osprey are becoming quite common on the eastern half of the Fort Peck Reservoir. Of the known nests in 2001, seven occurred on platforms erected through a combined effort of Refuge, COE, and WAPA (Western Area Power Admin.) personnel. One non-platform nest site was located on a high pinnacle adjacent to the Reservoir on the west side of the Big Dry Arm.
Other raptors observed during 2001 included; Northern goshawk, sharp-shinned hawk. Cooper's hawk, Swainson's hawk, rough-legged hawk, ferruginous hawk, northern harrier, prairie falcon, peregrine falcon, merlin, American kestrel, great homed owl, burrowing owl, and short-eared owl. Several snowy owls were observed at year's end near the Fort Peck town site.
7. Other Migratory Birds
Passerine species are commonly found on the Charles M. Russell NWR and provide a unique bird watching opportunity. They can range from the abundant Montana State Bird the Western Meadowlark to the less noticeable Willow Flycatcher and everything in between. Seasonal distribution can vary from year to year.
CMR staff assisted with a Mourning Dove Call Count Survey in 2001.
CMR staff assisted with a Burrowing Owl Survey on prairie dog towns located on the Refuge in 2001.
8. Game Animals
a. Elk
There are more than 5,000 elk in the Missouri River Breaks elk population and it is one of the premier herds in Montana. Densities vary by area as do conflicts with adjacent
36 landowners. The herd is generally managed for more mature bulls than most other areas in the state and the population appears fairly stable.
Elk were counted and classified during mule deer surveys conducted post-2000 and 2001 hunting seasons by Biologist Matchett. These survey blocks cover about 25% of the Refuge. Elk abundance was down slightly during the post-2001 season survey at an overall density of 2.2 elk/mi2 compared to the 2.5 elk/mr estimated for 2000. CMR's management objectives call for 2.5 elk/mi2 and 28 brow-tined bulls/100 cows post-season.
A total of 871 elk was observed during the 2001 survey compared to 1,036 seen in 2000. Survey time during 2000 was almost 38 hours with an observation rate of 27.3 elk observed/hour compared to 35.2 hours and 24.7 elk observed/hour in 2001. Observed elk densities ranged from a high of 5.3/square mile in Fergus,/Petroleum Counties to a low of 0.1 in Garfield County. The largest between year difference in observed elk density was in Phillips County; 3.8 elk/square mile in 2000 and 2.9 in 2001.
Total counts and sex/age classifications of elk running into trees from a SuperCub can be difficult (Matchett).
37 Over half the elk were not classified during the 2001 survey; the vast majority of which were cow/calf groups that were difficult to classify because of large group size and/or location in trees. Most of the bulls in such groups were categorized. Given this differential classification, and the relatively large number of unclassified elk, estimating bull:cow or calfxow ratios is not appropriate. A total of 103 bulls (2.9/hour) were observed in 2001 compared to 169 (4.5/hour) seen in 2000. Bull elk with 6 x 6 or better antlers totaled 31 in 2001 and 44 last year.
Elk observations during aerial mule deer surveys, post-2001 hunting season. COUNTY TOTAL BULLS/ BROW- 6+ POINT NO. OF ELK SURV AREA NO. OF 100 COWS TINED BULLS/ OBSERVED/ EY ELK BULLS/ 100 COWS SQUARE TIME OBSER 100 COWS MILE (hours VED )
FERGUS 428 N.A. N.A. N.A. 5.3 6.4 PHILLIPS 316 33.8 25.6 15.8 2.9 11.3 VALLEY 109 N.A. N.A. N.A. 1.5 6.8 GARFIELD 18 N.A. N.A. N.A. 0.1 10.7 TOTAL 871 N.A. N.A. N.A. 2.2 35.2
b. Mule Deer
Mule deer populations have begun rebounding in much of Montana, but portions of the Missouri River Breaks seem to be lagging behind and are still depressed. The trend appears to be increasing with many hunters and staff reporting observations of more deer and larger bucks than in recent years. The mule deer population objectives for CMR call for a minimum of 10 deer/square mile in suitable habitat and a minimum of 20 mature bucks/100 does post-season. A mature buck has a minimum of 4 points (excluding brow tine) on at least one antler.
For the fourth year, CMR continued a 3 week season for most of CMR in 2001 for buck only mule deer hunting, closing 2 weeks earlier than in adjacent areas. The traditional 5- week season runs through the Thanksgiving Day weekend and into the rut. The intent of the early closure is to reduce mule deer mortality, especially on mature bucks that are more vulnerable to harvest in late November. Two exceptions to this shortened season are HD 700 in Garfield County where buck only harvest was allowed for the full 5 weeks and in HD 652 in McCone County where buck harvest is by permit only. No antlerless mule deer harvest was permitted on the Refuge.
38 Mule deer observations from aerial surveys, post-2001 hunting season County Area TOTAL BUCKS / MATURE FAWNS / MULE SURVEY MULE 100 DOES BUCKS / 100 DEER TIME DEER 100 DOES DOES SEEN/ (hours) SEEN SQUARE MILE FERGUS 102 39.6 18.9 50.9 1.3 6.4 PHILLIPS 395 59.9 22.0 56.5 3.6 11.3 VALLEY 366 31.3 8.8 63.2 4.9 6.9 MCCONE 208 12.4 3.9 46.5 5.4 3.3 GARFIELD 349 29.0 4.8 49.5 2.6 10.8 TOTAL/A VG. 1,420 34.9 10.9 54.2 3.2 38.5
Mule deer data has been collected for several decades in the 106 mi2 Sand Creek study area on the southwestern portion of CMR. Number of mule deer in the Sand Creek Study Area were among the highest on record during 1993 and 1994 with more than 1,400 observed, but dropped substantially by March, 1995. MFWP survey data indicate the population has remained low with less than 400 deer counted during every post-season survey from 1997- 2001. It will take several years for any substantial increases in mule deer to occur and it is hoped the more conservative harvest regulations implemented by the Refuge will help speed population recovery.
The Refuge initiated more comprehensive collection of mule deer survey data last year to provide additional information on which to base management. This survey effort was the most intensive and extensive survey work done on the Refuge on big game and was repeated again in 2001. Twenty-nine random survey blocks were established covering about 400 square miles of the 1,600 square miles comprising the Refuge Breaks habitat. It took about 65 hours of super-cub time for local pilot Charles Rogers, Refuge pilot Shawn Bayless and Biologist Matchett to cover all the units between December 4, 2001 and January 3, 2002. The table above summarizes the mule deer survey results.
c. White-tailed deer
White-tailed deer occur predominantly along the Missouri and Mussellshell Rivers from UL Bend NWR upstream. No surveys are conducted specifically for white-tails. A total of 21 white-tailed deer were observed during the mule deer survey compared to 15 observed during the 2000 survey effort. That survey is designed for mule deer and white-tail observations are purely incidental. Little is known of population densities or fluctuations and a major factor affecting populations is epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD).
39 d. Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep occupy the Mickey and Brandon Butte areas, Herman Point, and many portions of the Larb Hills and Ironstake Ridge. A remnant group of bighorns is sometimes present in the Two Calf Creek area and west of CMR's western boundary on the south side of the Missouri River.
Poor lamb production/survival was a concern in 1999, especially in the Mickey/Brandon Butte area. There were only 16 ewes and 3 lambs observed during the December 1999 survey there and 14 ewes and 3 lambs observed during the December 2000 survey.
In an effort to monitor lamb production/survival in the Mickey/Brandon Butte area, summer ground surveys have been conducted. Refuge Operations Specialist Jody Jones at Sand Creek coordinates these efforts and reported:
On Thursday, June 21, 2001 Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and CMR personnel conducted a survey of bighorn sheep on Mickey and Brandon Buttes on the Refuge in hunting district 622. No lambs were found and the ewes did not look to be in good shape. They had not completely shed their winter coats and looked rough.
A total of 19 ewes were seen on Brandon Butte, and 19 rams were counted, 11 on Brandon and 8 on Mickey Butte. Eight of the rams were 3/4 or better and 11 were Vz- 3/4 curl. One sheep was unclassified for a total of 39 sheep. Thirteen fecal samples were collected and sent to the wildlife lab in Bozeman for fecal examination for lungworm larvae.
Survey participants were Steve Jones and Rick Northrup, FW&P, and Dan Harrell, Jody Jones, Kim Machler, and Matt Plagenz, CMR.
Interest is being rekindled to expand CMR's bighorn sheep population into habitat east of Timber Creek Bay. Hopefully, progress in translocating bighorn sheep into this area can be made in the next few years. There have been a few observations of sheep there in the past and another surfaced during fall 2001. ROS Russell reported on October 14, 2001:
Jeff Bense from Glasgow was scouting for elk several days before the archery season opened when he observed two young rams near the trail going down to the Bone Trail Rec. Area. Don Burke told me today the he saw what was probably the same two rams when he was harvesting his milo field about a month ago. He said they followed him to the ranch house, but his dog chased them off. Don said it was the first sheep he has seen on or near the Refuge.
CMR, MFWP and other personnel conducted a ground count on December 6, 2001 and observed 117 sheep, up from 96 last year. A total of 17 lambs were seen and 48 ewes compared to 18 lambs and 35 ewes last year. Only 15 ewes and 2 lambs were observed in the Mickey/Brandon Butte area.
40 Mickey/Brandon Butte and Larb Hills area bighorn sheep surveys (HD 622) expressed as percentages of observations. V
to g OF OF OF OF 100 100 Year % % % Survey RAMS EWES EWES EWES SHEEP Method RAMS/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL LAMBS TOTAL NO. MONTH LAMBS/ APR 1986 HELL 39 29 56 15 51 27 91 MAR 1988 S. CUB unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. 52 MAR 1988 HELL 19 35 47 18 74 37 74 OCT 1988 HELL 12 44 38 14 113 37 78 MAR 1989 HELL 40 26 63 11 42 17 38 OCT 1989 HELL 4 41 25 34 165 135 93 MAR 1990 S. CUB unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. 16 DEC 1990 172 unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. 77 DEC 1990 172 unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. 104 DEC 1990 GRD-11 19 32 43 25 73 57 119 DEC 1991 GRD-21 14 35 53 11 67 21 79 DEC 1991 S. CUB unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. unk. 52 DEC 1992 S. CUB 21 36 42 4 56 10 67 DEC 1992 GRD-15 16 38 45 10 84 21 84 DEC 1993 GRD-19 26 30 50 20 59 39 91 AUG 1994 HELL 67 24 54 22 45 41 123 AUG 1995 HELL 35 22 52 26 42 51 118 DEC 1996 HELL 31 41 36 20 113 56 128 JAN 1998 HELL 28 38 44 17 87 39 104 DEC 1998 GRD-16 30 41 45 14 90 31 115 NOV 1999 GRD-18 28 56 33 7 169 22 96 DEC 2000 GRD-20 50 44 36 19 120 51 96 DEC 2001 GRD-23 55 44 41 15 106 35 117
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41 OMR BIGHORN - HD 622
i \ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 86 88 88 89 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 YEAR The social system and mating behavior in bighorn sheep is complex with larger and older rams playing a key role. As the graph below based on 8 years of ground surveys indicates, the greater the ratio of 3/4+ curl rams to ewes in December, the greater the lamb production the following year. This data suggests that to produce a ratio of 40+ lambs/100 ewes observed in December, harvest should be managed to maintain a ratio of at least 45 3/4+ curl rams/100 ewes. Other factors also influence lamb production and survival, but ram harvest is one aspect that can be managed.
CMR BIGHORNS - HD 622 3/4+ RAMS:100 EWES VS. NEXT YEAR'S LAMB:100 EWE RATIO
60 *
52 50 .
m 40 • o - ° 30 cn 03 20 A * A 3 10 GROUND SURVEYS, 1990-2001 (R2 = 0.43, P = 0.08) , r r T 1— 1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 3/4+ RAMS:100 EWES
42 e. Pronghom
Pronghom habitat is limited on the Refuge. Western portions of the Refuge contain patches of pronghom habitat and there are larger areas at UL Bend that are used regularly. Pronghoms regularly move on and off CMR as the Refuge is not large enough to contain complete herd units. Field observations and conversations with hunters indicated pronghom populations are increasing slowly in Phillips and Valley Counties. No pronghom-specific surveys are conducted on CMR.
10. Other Resident Wildlife
The ponderosa/juniper breaks of the Refuge are ideal habitat for bobcats, although sightings of this illusive predator are rare, but increasing. Mountain lions have been observed by big game hunters and staff, either residing or making temporary use of the rugged terrain of the Refuge. Hunting of mountain lions and bobcats is restricted on the Refuge, however, bordering lands receive fair amounts of harvesting pressure. No population estimates have been conducted on the Refuge for 2001.
On warm days in the Spring and Summer months on the Refuge prairie rattlesnakes can be seen basking in the sun. The upland and bad land habitats provide ideal conditions, and prey for the prairie rattlesnake. No population estimates are available for Refuge rattlesnakes, however, their population tends to ebb and flow with the rodent densities.
Ring-necked pheasants continue to inhabit drainages, and bottomlands of the Refuge. Pheasants are readily seen on the Refuge gorging themselves on numerous grasshoppers in and around water courses. Gray partridge can be observed occupying a few isolated sites on the Refuge, with their highest concentrations on the west and northeastern portions. Ring-necked pheasant and gray partridge numbers state-wide were lower this year due to drought conditions in the spring and summer months. Sightings of wild turkey have been increasingly more frequent on the Refuge in 2001. Wild turkey populations in Garfield County have been increasing due to excellent winter survival and supplemental feeding on adjacent ranches. Most wild turkey sightings on the Refuge occur during the fall, spring and summer months. During the winter wild turkeys migrate off the Refuge to bordering ranches to seek haven in hay bales.
The Refuge continues to monitor and inventory spring breeding grouse by conducting 26 survey routes annually. Surveys are performed at the peak of sage and sharp-tailed grouse lekking seasons. Survey routes are completed on two separate days during the season. Methods for the survey include listening at established stations approximately, one mile apart, for sage and sharp- tailed grouse vocalizations.
At the commencement of the survey season, data from both survey days are combined and considered as one survey. For example, if one survey recorded grouse at five stations and the second recorded grouse at only three stations, the final result would be grouse at eight stations.
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43 This culmination of data measures the greatest possible grouse presence based on our surveys. To facilitate the development of a year to year index, an Excel spreadsheet is used and grouse populations are charted by the percentage of the total positive stations surveyed for grouse annually. The following charts illustrate these comparisons for sharptailed and sage grouse, respectively.
As with most surveys, significant margins of error exist, which is greatly dependant on survey effort. With 300 stations surveyed this margin of error is reduced. This method also provides for broad indexing of Refuge grouse populations, as opposed to counts on only a select few leks. In the 2001 grouse survey season only 33% of the survey stations were completed twice, due to weather and time constraints. For this reason only speculative estimates can be made from the data above. Drought conditions have, and will play an important role in grouse densities in this region, therefore, further research is needed to determine the long range effects.
PhD. Graduate Student Brendan Moynahan, began sage grouse research in 2001, in the UL Bend NWR. The title of his project is "Greater Sage Grouse Population- Habitat Interactions". This study is attempting to quantify the effect of habitat quality on sage grouse population dynamics. Researchers will be studying lekking areas, feeding and nesting areas, and grouse movement.
11. Fisheries Resources
Sport fishing in the Fort Peck Reservoir is becoming a popular attraction for the Refuge. Stocking efforts coupled with the introduction of bait fish have developed this fishery into a anglers delight boasting large catches of walleye, sauger, saugeye, Northern Pike, lake trout, smallmouth bass and Chinook salmon. Each year more and more anglers discover ice fishing on the frigid Fort Peck Reservoir. Ice anglers have discovered large catches of ling (burbot), walleye, sauger. Northern pike, and lake trout from this reservoir. Several ice fishing tournaments are sponsored by surrounding communities throughout the winter months.
The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has continued its effort to collect eggs from spawning walleye, Northern pike, and sauger on Fort Peck Reservoir. The eggs are then transported to a warm water fish hatchery in Miles City, Montana. The fish used for milking and spawning were collected from traps and nets in the Big Dry Arm of the reservoir near Nelson Creek. Staff from the Jordan station provided assistance to the state in this effort.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission requires anglers to purchase a warm water fishing stamp to fish for warm water species in the state. This stamp is $5 for both resident and non-residents, with the proceeds going to fund an new hatchery at Fort Peck. This hatchery is planned for operation in 2005. A facility this close to Fort Peck Lake should facilitate egg production and stocking efforts, not to mention saving gas and money.
In 2001, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks continued stocking Fort Peck Reservoir within the borders of the Refuge. The following is a summary of their stocking efforts:
44 2001 Stocking Report for Fort Peck Lake from the Montana Department Fish Wildlife and Parks
Walleye April 30- May 7, 2001 25,300,000 (fry) Northern Pike May 31, 2001 87,289 (fingerling) Walleye June 5- June 22,2001 1,750,989 (fingerling) Smallmouth Bass July 31, 2001 34,500 (size 2.0) Chinook Salmon April 24, 2001 119,565 (size 3.7)
12. Wildlife Propagation and Stocking
Efforts continued in 2001 to transplant bighorn sheep in the Timber Creek portion of the Refuge. Plans and logistics are ongoing with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department for surplus animals for relocation.
Pallid Sturgeon have been stocked into the Missouri River portions of the Refuge. See Endangered and Threatened Species.
The number of prairie dogs and prairie dog colony acreage declined between 1992-1996 in Phillips County on the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge (CMR). Circumstantial evidence suggests sylvatic plague, an exotic disease, was the likely cause of those declines. Many wildlife species depended on those prairie dogs and associated habitat, especially endangered black-footed ferrets and mountain plovers. Prairie dog recolonization in areas thought eliminated by plague in recent years has been very slow or non-existent. These areas are part of a non-essential, experimental release area designated for black-footed ferrets, but currently do not provide suitable ferret habitat. These colonies will provide prey and habitat for a variety of wildlife, including the potential for black-footed ferrets. Jo Ann Dullum completed her Master's study on the efficacy of translocating of black-tailed prairie dogs. Translocation of 1097 prairie dogs from 1997 - 2000 effectively established 182 acres of prairie dogs.
45 Estimated area of active prairie dog colonies on CMR in Phillips County from 1979-2000. Translocations occurred in 1997 (330 prairie dogs), 1998 (223), and 1999 (544, USFWS-CMR unpublished, Dullum & Durbian 1997).
46 Table 1. Release site, sex, and age class of prairie dogs translocated in the initial translocation experiments on the CMR in 1997 and 1998 (Dullum and Durbian 1997, Dullum 1998).
Adult Juvenile Release site Female Male Female Male Total Manning Corral -- NW Wing Site3'0 19 10 19 22 70 Manning Corral -- SE Wing Site3'0 11 10 11 21 53 Manning Corral -- SW Wire Siteb'0 12 10 16 20 58 Manning Corral -- NE Wire Siteb'0 30 10 40 20 100 Antelope0 23 22 3 1 49 Manning Corral -- NNW Wire Site3'd 8 10 13 14 45 Manning Corral -- Center Wing Siteb'd 5 7 11 7 30 Anteloped 26 41 39 42 148 Total 134 120 152 147 553
aChicken wire site - 25 augered holes, surrounded by 0.91m x 10.7m x 10.7m square chicken wire enclosure. bAugered hole site - 25 augered holes with no enclosure. c1997 releases. d1998 releases.
Table 2. Total number of prairie dogs released on nine experimental colonies in 1999.
Male Female Distance Historic (km) (1988) 1999a to nearest Initial Colony area Colony area active Colony Total Size (ha) (ha) colonyb name Released Juvenile Adult Juvenile Adult Inactive 24.8 0 1.0 Agate 0 0 0 0 0 21.0 0 2.0 Taint 60 16 10 14 20 146.3 0 1.0 Big Snowy 120 24 20 36 40 Small 127.0 1.1 1.0 N. Manning 0 0 0 0 0 35.3 1.4 3.0 E. Robinson 64 17 10 16 21 37.2 0.3 2.0 S. Buckskin 121 27 21 33 40 Large 147.0 6.6 0.5 S. Manning 0 0 0 0 0 32.3 2.6 2.0 N. 60 14 10 16 20 Buckskin 25.7 3.5 3.5 S Dead Calf 119 34 20 25 40 Totals 544 132 91 140 181 aBefore translocation. bDistance by road used to establish potential for natural recolonization.
47 Table 3. Total prairie dogs released in the initial translocation experimental releases in 1997 and 1998 and minimum population size of release sites in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Visual Counts June 1998 June 1999 June 2000 Release Site Released Adults Juveniles Total Adults Juveniles Unk.a Total Adults Juveniles Unk.d Total NW wing/ (70NW = 58SW) SW wirea 128b 18 5 23 26 21 0 47 35 28 7 70 NE Wire 100b 14 9 23 3 8 1 12 7 12 0 19 53b SE Wing 5 0 5 13 12 0 25 11 22 0 33
NNW 45c - -- 8 5 0 13 4 0 0 4 Wire Center 30c 4 1 0 5 5 10 0 15 Wing Antelope 49" 6 6 12 25 8 0 33 9 32 0 41 148c Total 553 43 20 63 79 55 1 135 71 104 7 182
aNW and SW sites have grown together. b1998 releases. c1997 releases d
About 200 of the 544 prairie dogs translocated in 1999 to 6 CMR colonies extirpated by plague.
48 13. Surplus Animal Dispbsal
This spring our bull calf was transferred to the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation and in June, a heifer calf was bom to Monte and Cinnamom. The calf was named Jewel in the "Name the Buffalo Contest".
Julie Spika and Serena Girod were winners of Name the Buffalo Contest. Julie named the new buffalo cow Cinnamom and Serena named the calf Jewel. We get a lot of participation in this annual contest with the winners chosen by a pool of "qualified professionals" (CMR Staff).
14. Scientific Collections
Brendan Moynahan continued his study on the effects of habitat quality on Greater Sage-Grouse population dynamics. Brendan is a PhD candidate from the University of Montana. Funding for this study was provided by a Challenge Cost Share Agreement with the USFWS, University of Montana, Boone & Crockett Club, Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. He and his crew fitted 66 females with radio collars and banded 90 males. They were able to track 55 of the radio collared birds and out of 39 individual nesting attempts, 28% survived to hatching, 59% were destroyed by predators, mostly avian, and 13% were abandoned. Severe spring drought is thought to be the cause of low nest success and chick survival. Vegetation plots (540) were established and vegetation measured to describe relationships between year-to-year differences in survival and reproduction and year-to-year differences in habitat conditions at each of the sites.
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49 15. Animal Control
Scot Dahms was issued a Special Use Permit to trap nuisance beaver.
17. Disease Prevention and Control
Brian Holmes, a masters student from the University of Montana, began his graduate study on plague and the vectors of plague. He trapped small mammals and collected fleas on and off prairie dog colonies.
Refuge Biologist Randy Matchett harvested carnivores from various locations on the Refuge for disease prevention and control. Results for 2000 showed that of the 14 animals collected, 29% tested plague positive and 15% were positive for canine distemper. In 2001, 24% of the 13 animals collected were plague positive and 0 were positive for canine distemper.
All fifteen black footed ferret kits at UL Bend tested negative for plague and canine distemper.
A Montana State study on hantivirus continues in the area east of Sand Creek within Refuge boundaries, as well as off. Once a month from May to October, three grids are trapped (16, 17 and 18, with 16 as the control grid). On Grid 17, only deer mice were captured. On Grid 18, deer mice, olive-backed pocket mice, woodrats, least (or yellow-pine) chipmunks, and red-pine squirrels are captured. The majority of seropositive samples came from deer mice. Of the blood samples submitted, the percent that are seropositive (by month) are: May (0%), June (50%), July (34%), August (11%), September (0%) and October (0%). The study is expected to continue through 2005.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
CMR is a "destination" for outdoor activities in Montana. Over 200,000 visitors come to the Refuge each year to view wildlife, hunt, fish, hike, camp and experience the rugged landscape preserved within the CMR boundaries.
Expanding human population, and the upcoming Lewis and Clark Bicentennial (eight million visitors expected in Montana in 2005) will continue to increase visitation to the Refuge. Meeting the demand for visitor services while maintaining the biological integrity of the habitat, is a complex and time-consuming endeavor. In order to provide the public with opportunities for compatible wildlife-oriented activities while promoting environmental stewardship, CMR devotes significant time to environmental education and Refuge awareness programs. The Refuge's presence in local schools and communities continues to grow, with outreach programs, classes, and media contacts throughout the year.
50 CMR receives numerous tequests for information, especially during hunting and fishing seasons. The Sand Creek Unit, in particular, is inundated with phone calls and office visits throughout the spring and fall.
Summer weekends and holidays, such as Memorial Day, bring large numbers of visitors to the Refuge, with campgrounds frequently filled to capacity. Refuge law enforcement officers are kept particularly busy during these times, maintaining visitor contacts to ensure regulations are followed and that problems are prevented.
Future outreach plans include a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in constructing and staffing a 16,500 sq. ft. interpretive center filled with natural history exhibits. The center is expected to be an outstanding resource for environmental education, and a tourism showcase for the biological and cultural diversity of eastern Montana. Additional planning details on the center can be found in subsection 6 - Interpretive Exhibits.
2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students
CMR is a haven for biological diversity, and many classes visit the Refuge for self-guided field trips, as well as staff-conducted programs.
April saw students from a University of Montana Wildlife Ecology class visit the Refuge. Matt DeRosier and Randy Matchett taught the class about riparian systems and values, and gave the students an overview of the CMR management history.
Drew Ellis gave a presentation during the Jordan Range Tour in June, to help illustrate CMR's grasslands management techniques to the participants.
In September - Jody Jones gave a Refuge overview to students from Montana State University/Billings. Mike Hedrick conducted an elk ecology presentation for a science class from Grass Range, Montana.
Hunter Education
Hunter Education classes are a cooperative effort between federal, state and local agencies, along with private conservation and hunting groups. The classes cover topics such as hunting ethics, firearm safety, wildlife identification and basic wildlife population management. Through educating the participants on the hunter's responsibilities, the courses help to alleviate many potential conflicts between individual hunters, landowners, outdoor recreationists, and wildlife managers.
Everett Russell, Bill Berg and Mike Hedrick each served as instructors for several Hunter Education classes this year, with courses conducted in the Lewistown and Fort Peck/Glasgow areas.
51 ir
5. Interpretive Tour Route
The 20-mile tour route at Sand Creek follows a graveled road on the west end of the Refuge and has 13 designated stops. It receives a great deal of public use during the spring, as the dirt roads are impassable when wet. Tourists in larger vehicles such as motor homes, which are not suited to the dirt roads even when they are dry, use it extensively. Last year a local contractor re- graveled 3 miles of the tour route. This summer they finished the tour route and started towards Rock Creek boat ramp before funding ran out. The gravel meant for the job has been cached at the old Slippery Ann administrative site. In addition, guard rails and posts were installed. The Federal Highways Administration administered the contract.
A pullout on the tour route in the process of being completed.
6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations
Montana Outdoor Recreation Expo
Bill Berg, Mike Granger, Jody Jones and Larry Ulibarri staffed the Refuge display at the Montana Outdoor Recreation Expo (M.O.R.E.) Show in Billings in March. The Refuge participates in the M.O.R.E. show every year, to promote Refuge awareness in Montana. The show presents an excellent opportunity for public contacts and outreach, with large numbers of people visiting the three-day event.
The CMR exhibit was designed to educate young people about natural resource conservation and stewardship. Free prizes and wildlife literature were distributed to visitors, and staff provided information and answered questions throughout the event.
52 Bill Berg gives hints to a young girl on what kind of skin she's holding. The Children's Touch Table is a big hit every year.
Fort Peck Interpretive Center
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Fort Peck Interpretive Center were conducted on August 20, with over 400 people in attendance. U.S. Senator Max Baucus was on hand for the ceremony and spoke to the crowd about the opportunity the center represents for eastern Montana. The Senator was instrumental in securing financing for the project from the federal highway fund When completed, the six million dollar, 16,500 square foot facility will feature exhibits from the three partners involved in the project; the CMR Refuge, the Fort Peck Paleontology Center, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The center will be the primary interpretive/education facility for the entire Refuge, with CMR's exhibits covering the ecology and wildlife (both past and present) of eastern Montana and the Northern Great Plains Ecosystem.
CMR staff and management continue meeting with Split Rock Studios to provide feedback, information and ideas for the exhibit designs. The staff also provides narrative and editorial work for the exhibit text.
7. Other Interpretive Programs
Media Outreach
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53 Montana Public Land Access Guide - Bill Berg and Billie Lewis attended the Interagency Public Land Access Group meeting in Lewistown in May. CMR Refuge is a member of this working group, and provides a "voice" for Refuges and wildlife habitat on public land issues and access.
CMR Historical Series - Bill Berg worked with the Lewistown News Argus, to present a series of articles covering the biological and cultural history of the CMR. The articles generated a good bit of interest and positive comments in the area communities.
Missouri River Island Protection - A July news release was sent out to area newspapers concerning island camping restrictions. The Refuge is eliminating camping on all Missouri River islands, to protect these fragile habitats from excessive human use. Just last year, the "Charmin Fire" burned an entire island (303 acres) when a careless camper let their burned toilet paper "escape containment." No adverse public comment was received even though the news release was widely published. The islands remain open to day use but "no camping" signs have been placed on each island.
8. Hunting
CMR is open to hunting in accordance with FWS and MFWP regulations for big game, upland and migratory game birds, and coyotes. Hunting is the primary recreation activity on the Refuge. The big game archery season and upland bird seasons open during the first week of September. In most of Montana the traditional five-week rifle season ends on Thanksgiving weekend, but was shortened for mule deer by closing the season two weeks early on the Refuge (except in HD 700 and the permit only area in HD 652). This is the fourth year of the shortened season and is designed to move the population toward established objectives. The number of white-tailed deer and pronghom harvested on CMR is generally unknown. Reports suggest some improvement, but numbers of both species remain relatively low.
Sharp-tailed grouse populations appear to have declined sharply along with a dip in sage grouse populations resulting primarily from an extreme drought during 2001, especially on the western half of CMR. Much of the grouse harvest occurs as incidental take during big game hunting. Waterfowl harvest is considered minor and mourning dove hunting is generally spotty, depending on location and the timing of cold fronts in late August and early September. Upland birds can be hunted until mid-December. Coyote hunting is permitted beginning with the opening of the pronghom rifle season in mid-October until March 1.
54 Elk hunting is extremely popular on CMR. This bull was taken during the rifle season and scored 345 Boone and Crockett points. An average sized bull by CMR standards!
a. Archery big game hunting (elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep and pronehorn)
Elk are the major attraction for bowhunters on CMR, but deer and pronghoms are also hunted. Archery elk hunters and harvest have increased steadily over the years and overcrowding has become a common complaint among participants. There were over 3,300 archery elk hunters in HDs on CMR during 1998 and they harvested over 350 elk, of which over 250 were bulls (success averages around 11%).
In a first step to address overcrowding, bowhunters had to apply for a special archery permit, issued by MFWP, during 1999 in HD 410. This permit could be their first, second or third choice on the application. This same permitting system was used for HD 410 in 2001, but bowhunters seeking a permit had to make it their first and only choice. No permit for archery elk hunting was required for HD 700 in 1999 or 2000, but in 2001, bowhunters had to apply for a special permit. HD 410, applicants could apply as their first, second or third choice to bowhunt for elk in HD 700 during 2001.
The permit system for archery elk hunting on the north side of the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir has remained constant for many years with unlimited archery permits in
55 HDs 621, 622 and 623, but the applicant must apply as first and only choice. Limited permits for HDs 631 (200 permits) and 632 (100 permits) have become tradition and were also maintained. The changes in permits on the south side did not substantially reduce the number of bowhunters during the 2000 season. Some 3,200 archers hunted elk in the Breaks during 2000 and they took almost 400 elk, nearly 300 of which were bulls.
During 2000, 26% of the total archery elk harvest in Montana occurred in the Missouri River Breaks (MFWP phone survey data, 2000). Clearly, conflicts and competition are headed for an intolerable level. There is an eminent need for creative solutions to help manage both recreationists, and the elk population, while maintaining the quality and priorities mandated for National Wildlife Refuges.
BULL ELK HARVEST IN THE MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS
600 Q -•-ARCHERY m 500 - RIFLE
•^1 NO DATA 1996-1998
YEAR
56 MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS ELK HUNTERS
3500 • BOWHUNTERS ^ § 3000 55 05 RIFLE PERMITS - 2500 Sh- W
)k LJ- Rs 1000 0z o o 500
n- N-
57 Attributes of Missouri River Breaks archery elk hunting (largely from MFWP phone harvest survey data). ISSUED 623 DAYS ISSUED HUNTERS HDs 410 & 700 HDs 631 & 632 HDs 621, 622, ESTIMATED HARVEST TOTAL NO. OF IN ESTIMATED NO. OF ESTIMATED NO. OF RECREATION YEAR PERMITS NO. OF PERMITS NO. OF PERMITS ISSUED IN NO. OF PERMITS ISSUED IN 1982 365 250 730 1,445 1,084 5,512 54 1983 310 350 695 1,355 1,142 6,504 72 1984 500? 350 932 1,782 1,509 7,913 88 1985 500? 350 1,150 2,039 1,615 8,002 104 19861 9892 250 7002 1,939 1,2573 6,4363 653 19874 1,357 250 845 2,452 1,329 8,475 141 1988 O5 340 792 1,132 1,440 8,715 1096 1989 0 276 688 964 1,517 9,320 154 1990 0 247 784 1,031 1,545 10,390 159 1991 0 300 792 1,092 1,710 10,898 171 1992 0 300 901 1,201 1,769 11,909 203 1993 0 300 918 1,218 2,159 13,189 228 1994 0 300 1,087 1,387 2,373 14,550 280 1995 0 300 1,271 1,571 2,621 16,993 304 1996 0 300 1,241 1,541 no data no data no data 1997 0 300 1,214 1,514 no data no data no data 1998 0 300 1,236 1,536 3,326 no data no data 1999 2,3 ll7 300 1,015 3,626 2,812 19,530 313 2000 2,9498 300 1,216 4,465 3.194 21,657 376
1 First year of permit system in Phillips County (HDs 621, 622, 623) where bowhunters had to apply for the unlimited number of permits prior to June 1 as their first and only choice.
58 2 Estimated permit dislribution - total permits issued, number of hunters, and number of recreation days is accurate. 3 The archery season was accompanied by heavy rains, dampening hunter effort and making travel impossible. 4 Beginning in 1987, all data was derived from MFWP phone surveys. 5 Free archery permits were no longer issued for Fergus, Petroleum, and Garfield Counties (HDs 410, 417, and 700). Unlimited archery hunting was permitted. 6 Due to extremely dry conditions, the season was postponed (7-10 days?) until rain reduced the fire danger. Postponement of the opening week may have had an influence on estimated number of hunters, recreation days, and harvest. 7 Special permit required for HD 410, must apply by June 1 as 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice. No permit required in HD 700. 8 Special permit required for HDs 410 and 700, must apply by June 1 as 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice.
Of an estimated 3,905 mule deer harvested in HDs associated with CMR during 2000, 39 (1.0%)were harvested with a bow (excludes HD 417, MFWP phone survey results, 2000). Of those 3,900+ mule deer, 2,721 (70%) were antlered bucks. Of the estimated 2,857 mule deer harvested in HD 700, much of which is south of CMR, 21 (0.7%) were taken with a bow. In all other CMR-associated HDs combined (excluding HD 417), some 1,048 mule deer were harvested, 18 (1.8%) with a bow.
The 2000 total estimate of white-tailed deer harvested in CMR-associated HDs was 1,017 (170 in HD 410, 697 in HD 700 and 150 in the remaining HDs combined). A total of 42 (4.1%) were harvested with a bow. Less than half of the 2000 total harvest were antlered white-tailed bucks (419, 41%). The number of hunters, effort expended, and harvest by bowhunters for bighorn sheep and pronghom is unknown.
b. Rifle Big Game (elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghom)
The number of elk rifle permits fluctuate in an attempt to stabilize permit and population levels, balancing Refuge objectives with MFWP objectives, adjacent landowner tolerance, quality of the herd and recreational opportunities. An estimated 705 elk (204 bulls) were taken by rifle hunters during 2000 and another 376 (292 bulls) by bowhunters for a total of 1,081 harvested elk during the 2000 season.
Rifle licenses to hunt Missouri River Breaks elk, especially bulls, are highly sought. The average odds of drawing a permit to hunt either-sex elk with a rifle in the Breaks were 31:1 in 2000 (8,874 1st choice applicants for 290 permits). In 1990, the odds were 42:1 and reached a low of 20:1 in 1996 and 1997 when permit levels were quite high. Odds for drawing an antlerless elk permit during 2000 was the same as in 1999 at 2.9:1, compared to 1997 and 1998 at 3.5:1 The following figures and table, based largely on MFWP harvest phone surveys, lists various attributes of rifle elk hunting in the Breaks.
59 ELK HARVESTED IN THE MISSOURI RIVER BREAKS
O-^ rS^ c& rOs N# ^ ^ Nc? Ncp N# Ncp ^0° YEAR
EITHER-SEX RIFLE ELK PERMITS
• 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 11996 • 1997 11998 • 1999 •2000
GROUPED HUNTING DISTRICTS (COUNTIES)
60 ANTLERLESS RIFLE ELK PERMITS
• 1990 11991 •1992 • 1993 11994 • 1995 11996 • 1997 11998 • 1999 •2000
GROUPED HUNTING DISTRICTS (COUNTIES)
2000 BULL ELK HARVEST BY WEAPON TYPE
350 •ARCHERY 300 • RIFLE
100
FERG./PET. PHILLIPS VALLEY GARFIELD TOTAL COUNTY AREA
61 2000 ANTLERLESS ELK HARVEST BY WEAPON TYPE
600 •ARCHERY 501 j 500 LU C/) • RIFLE £3 400 -i QC ^ 300 248 H Z < 200 LL 135 O 84 6 100 75 z 33 32 43 11 8
FERG./PET. PHILLIPS VALLEY GARFIELD TOTAL COUNTY AREA
Attributes of Missouri River Breaks rifle elk hunting (largely from MFWP phone harvest survey data). OR OF OF ISSUED OF SUCCESS NO. NO. OF ISSUED NO. EITHER-SEX ANTLERLESS (HARVEST/NO. ELK HARVESTED ESTIMATED HUNTING SEASON TYPE/LENGTH TOTAL PERMITS) PERMITS ISSUED RECREATION DAYS ESTIMATED % ESTIMATED PERMITS BULL PERMITS YEAR NO. OF NO. OF 1980 901 601 3452 1,3463 502 1722 1, 9-day hunt 1981 145 295 440 1,7163 70 308 1, 23-day hunt 1982 1454 2154 1402 5463 702 982 2, 8-day hunts 1983 855 355 3702 8432 812 3012 2, 11-day hunts 1984 105 185 290 819 77 222 2, 15-day hunts
62 19856 105 185 290 830 " 667 1927 2, 15-day hunts 1986 90 95 1852 5672 752 1382 2, 15-day hunts 19878 110 105 215 774 70 150 2, 15-day hunts 1988 125 215 340 1,153 77 263 2, 15-day hunts 19899 155 280 435 1,528 79 343 2, 15-day hunts 1990 125 270 395 1,604 83 331 1, 5-week hunt 1991 130 320 450 1,565 77 346 1, 5-week hunt 1992 155 540 695 2,946 71 494 1, 5-week hunt 1993 180 650 830 3,470 65 541 1, 5-week hunt 1994 235 700 935 3,803 72 670 1, 5-week hunt 1995 277 1,040 1,315 6,046 66 876 1, 5-week hunt no split - 2 week / 1996 405 1,400 1,805 no data no data data 3 week hunts no split - 2 week / 1997 363 795 1,158 no data no data data 3 week hunts no 1998 283 750 1,033 no data no data data 1, 5-week hunt 1999 255 890 1,145 4.934 63 724 1, 5-week hunt 2000 290 1,005 1,295 4,544 54 705 1, 5-week hunt
1 Data from MFWP tentative hunting regulations issued in the spring and which evidently were modified during the summer. The 1980 narrative reports a total of 345 rifle permits. 2 Data from CMR narratives in which the original data source may be unclear and approximations or errors may be included. 3 Average ratio of recreation days per permit was about 3.9 days and was applied to derive these recreation day estimates. 4 Data from MFWP tentative hunting regulations issued in the spring and which evidently were modified during the summer. The 1982 narrative reports a total of 140 rifle permits. 5 Data from MFWP tentative hunting regulations issued in the spring and which evidently were modified during the summer. The 1983 narrative reports a total of 370 rifle permits. 6 First year rifle permits were valid in Garfield County (HD 700). 7 The lower than typical success rate and harvest resulted from heavy snows, sub-zero temperatures and high winds which made much of the Refuge inaccessible during the second period of the elk season. 8 Beginning in 1987, all data was derived from MFWP phone surveys, 9 Prior to 1989, licenses were issued for bulls only. Beginning in 1989, "bull tags" were issued as either-sex tags.
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63 Mule deer and white-tailed deer rifle hunting
Deer harvest varies with deer abundance. The actual number of mule deer harvested on CMR is difficult to track from MFWP phone surveys because hunting districts include areas outside the Refuge. The number of hunters and deer harvested increased steadily in hunting districts on and adjacent to CMR to a peak of nearly 8,000 mule deer taken in 1994. Mule deer harvest declined substantially since then with less than 3,000 harvested annually from 1996-1998. Mule deer populations have slowly increased since the 1995-96 crash and harvest has also slowly inched up to almost 4,000 taken during the 2000 season.
Deer hunting prior to 1998 on CMR was geared toward maximum harvest. Harvest of both bucks and antlerless mule deer, fairly liberal at times, was allowed on the Refuge through 1995. Survey data, observations and field reports indicated a substantial decline in mule deer populations in the Breaks, and throughout much of Montana, beginning in 1995.
Harvest of antlerless mule deer was minimized during 1996 and was eliminated in all areas of the Refuge during 1997, except in HD 700. Rifle hunting for mule deer was limited by MFWP to bucks only during 1998 for 5 weeks, except in HD 700 were either sex take of mule deer continued to be allowed.
Reports from staff, hunters and survey data from MFWP indicated mule deer populations in the Breaks declined substantially from 1994 through 1996 and remained depressed during 1997 and 1998. After lengthy discussion, the Refuge closed the 1998 mule deer hunting season on much of CMR two weeks prior to the end of the general firearms season authorized by MFWP in the surrounding area (except in HD 700 that remained bucks only for 5 weeks and in HD 652 where a special permit has been required to hunt mule deer bucks for many years). The intent of the more restrictive season was to reduce harvest, especially during the rut when mule deer buck vulnerability to harvest is higher, and to help speed population recovery.
64 MULE DEER HARVEST
• 1987 • 1988 •1989 •1990 •1991 HDs 621,622, 623 •1992 •1993 •1994 •1995 •1996 •1997 •1998 •1999 •2000
FERGUS/PETROLEUM PHILLIPS COUNTY AREA
MULE DEER HARVEST
•1987 •1988 •1989 y 1000 •1990 Q •1991 LU •1992 J •1993 3 s •1994 LL —, •1995 O L •1996 d — •1997 • •1998 |•1999 • •2000 VALLEY MCCONE (650&652) COUNTY AREA
65 Bighorn sheep hunting
Three either-sex bighorn licenses were again issued for CMR (HD 622) in 2001 and 683 people applied (1:228 odds). The permit quota has been 3 either-sex tags since 1999. The 3 rams harvested during 2001 averaged 6.0 years old and the 3 harvested in 2000 also averaged 6.0 years old. The average age of harvested rams continues to be below the Refuge objective of 7.5 years. Hunter effort during the 2001 season was about average at 3.7 days/sheep harvested, less than the 4.7 days for the 3 rams harvested in 2000.
CMR objectives for bighorn sheep call for 160 observed bighorns post-season and an average harvested ram age of 7.5 years old. With only 35 ewes observed during the early winter ground count in December 2000, attainment of the population objective will take time. There were 48 ewes observed during the December 2001 ground survey. Such an increase is encouraging and with 17-18 lambs observed each year during the last 2 years the population should increase.
66 Bighorn sheep ram harvests on CMR (Data from MFWP bighorn sheep transportation tags - HD 622, Mickey/Brandon Butte and Larb Hills areas). OF DATA HARVESTED EITHER-SEX SOME CIRCUMFERANCE (years) SHEEP OF TAGS ISSUED YEAR AVERAGE RAM AGE AVERAGE HORN BASE AVERAGE NO. DAYS HUNTED PER NO. NO. OF TAGS WITH 1987 2 1 5.5 14.5 4.0 1988 5 3 6.2 15.3 3.0 1989 5 4 8.0 16.0 1.2 1990 5 4 7.8 15.6 2.0 1991 5 4 5.5 15.6 4.3 1992 5 4 5.2 15.5 2.8 1993 5 5 6.5 16.1 1.4 1994 5 5 6.3 15.9 2.0 1995 5 5 6.1 15.6 4.0 1996 i 7 7 7.4 15.5 3.3 1997 2 5 5 4.9 15.1 4.2 1998 3 4 4 6.5 15.6 3.8 1999 3 3 6.2 15.2 3.0 2000 3 3 6.0 15.1 4.7 2001 3 3 6.0 16.2 3.7
1 4/5 ewe tags were filled, but no data is available 2 3/3? ewe tags were filled, but no data is available 3 1/1? ewe tag was filled, but no data is available
67 Pronghorn hunting
Anecdotal reports suggest pronghorn populations are rebounding, but remain depressed in many areas. As an indicator of population levels, hunting permits for HD 620, either-sex antelope licenses totaled 2,500 plus unlimited over-the-counter doe/fawn tags in 1995. Permits were reduced to 1,000 in 1996 and further reduced to 700 in 1997 and 1998. Permit quotas totaled 850 during 1999, but were reduced back to 700 for the 2000 season. There were 850 either-sex permits issued in HD 620 during 2001. There were 1,468 people that applied as their 1st choice for the 700 permits issued in 2000 (odds = 1:2.1).
Either-sex antelope licenses were reduced from 800 (plus doe-fawn tags) in HD 630 during 1995 to 300 either-sex and 50 doe/fawn tags in 1996 to 100 either-sex in 1997 and 1998. Either-sex permits totaled 150 in 1999, 200 in 2000 and 200 again in 2001.
There were 2,000 either-sex licenses were issued in HD 481 alone in 1987. There were only 500 either-sex licenses issued in HD 481 in 1995 and they were further reduced to 50 either-sex and 50 doe/fawn tags in 1996 and even further reduced to 25 either-sex and 5 doe/fawn tags in 1997. There were 50 either-sex and 50 doe/fawn tags in 1998 and 1999. Apparently the population is increasing as there were 175 either-sex permits and 125 doe- fawn permits issued in HD 481 during 2000. This level was increased in 2001 to 175 either-sex permits and 175 doe-fawn permits. There were 546 1st choice applicants for the either-sex permits (odds = 1:3.1) and only 10 1st choice applicants for the 175 doe-fawn permits. Pronghorn harvest on CMR is unknown.
c. Upland game (sharp-tailed grouse, sage grouse, ring-necked pheasant. Gray partridge, and turkey
Field observations indicated sharp-tailed grouse declined during 2001, likely because of continued drought that was especially bad during 2001. Sage grouse populations appear to be weathering the drought better, but at best have remained stable. This was the fourth year of drought in some areas with the western portions of CMR experiencing the worst. Like last year, the Fort Peck area received more rain and upland bird production seems to have been better there. If hunters are willing to put in some miles with a good dog, there were still opportunities for hunting prairie grouse in 2001.
Ring-necked pheasants can be found in riparian areas along the Missouri and Mussellshell Rivers and below Fort Peck dam, but densities are not high enough to attract many hunters, but it appears populations are increasing. Harvest levels of game birds on CMR are unknown.
d. Other (waterfowl dove, and coyote)
Mourning dove hunting on the Refuge is often spotty, depending on weather patterns. Hunters waiting much past the second week of September to pursue doves find most of them have migrated. Waterfowl hunting is also relatively minor, except for some who
68 enjoy Canada gooserhunting along the Missouri River. Jump shooting on small creeks and reservoirs occurs and mallard and goose hunting is enjoyed by some below Fort Peck dam and on livestock reservoirs.
Many of the coyotes killed on CMR are taken as the opportunity arises while big game hunting. Some people actively call and hunt coyotes during the winter months.
9. Fishing
One of the largest public use programs on the Refuge is fishing in Fort Peck Lake and the Missouri River. Whether it's casting from a boat, snagging paddlefish from the shore or jigging through a hole in the ice, almost every month of the year one will find people fishing on the Refuge. Angling on these waters are managed primarily by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks department. Thousands of angling hours are logged on the 250,000 acre Fort Peck Lake, and up-stream Missouri River. Actual acreage of Fort Peck Lake has decreased in the past several years due to poor winter snow pack and drought conditions. These conditions have forced the Corps of Engineers to begin extending boat ramps at recreation areas around the Lake.
Fort Peck Lake encompassed within the Refuge provides some of the best walleye fishing in the Western U.S. Numerous walleye tournaments promoted by the local communities boast catches of trophy walleye and sauger. Excellent stocking programs used by the State have bolstered this fishery to its' status as one of the best. Walleye is not the only species that attracts anglers to Fort Peck. Large Northern pike, lake trout, smallmouth bass, sauger, saugeye and Chinook salmon also attract anglers to these waters. Each year more anglers discover the excellent ice fishing opportunities at Fort Peck Lake. Ice anglers, using tip-ups, rods and reels enjoy large catches of ling (burbot), Northern Pike, walleye, sauger, and lake trout.
Upstream from the Fort Peck Reservoir, the Missouri River provides fishing opportunities for paddlefish, channel catfish, walleye, sauger, and ling. Slippery Ann, James Kipp Recreation Area and the Fred Robinson bridge are paddlefish hot spots from April through June, luring numerous people, in pursuit of this prehistoric fish. In fact the state record paddlefish was snagged at James Kipp Recreation Area. An estimated 3800 anglers crowded the shores of this stretch of the river in 2001 attempting to snag a paddlefish (from the Fred Robinson Bridge east to Peggy's Bottom). In this stretch of the river anglers can purchase two tags for paddlefish. Some anglers in this area catch and release the larger spawning females and keep the smaller males for consumption. Ideal conditions for the spring paddlefish run require river flows of about 14,000 cfs.
For the younger crowd, the annual Jordan Kids Fishing Day was held at Hell Creek Bay, in August. This event was co-sponsored by: Walleyes Unlimited (Jordan Chapter), Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, CMR, and Montana Game Wardens Association. Sixty children attended the event and received t-shirts, tackle, rod/reel combos and bait. Walleyes Unlimited members used their boats to take the children to the best spots. At noon a fish-fry and
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69 community pot-luck welcomed the young anglers in from the lake. After lunch, awards were presented for biggest fish in all categories, including "rough fish".
11. Wildlife Observations
Each fall, elk congregate in the Slippery Ann Habitat Unit. This unit is closed to hunting and has become a haven for approximately 250-300 elk during the breeding season. Mature bull elk can be seen bugling and defending their harem against other bulls. The site attracts many visitors during the peak of the rut. Viewing opportunities abound due to vehicle pull-offs constructed along the all season auto tour route. The Refuge co-produced a video (released in 1999) highlighting this magnificent viewing opportunity.
During winter, bald eagles are attracted to the area below Fort Peck Dam to feed on fish that are killed as they pass through the hydro-turbines. Seasonal use by waterfowl in mild winters can also attract a number of the eagles to the area. This concentration of eagles has become somewhat of a local attraction for wildlife viewers.
Elk viewing on CMR is becoming quite popular.
70 12. Other Wildlife Orientied Recreation
Bird watching is another recreational activity offered on the Charles M. Russell NWR. A bird list of the 240 different species found on the Refuge is available for public use at the CMR office or field stations. Wildlife viewing and photography is another possibility for public recreation found on the CMR.
15. Off-Road Vehicles
Off-road vehicles continue to be a problem on CMR. The increase in off-road travel that occurred following the 1998 closure of approximately 90 miles of roads was generally not as prevalent in 1999 and even less so in 2000. As time has passed, the closures have become more accepted. Now more positive comments are received than negative. However, overall problems continue as well as certain expressions of disapproval from a select few in the form of sign vandalism and gate removal.
CMR continues to focus on problems with regular patrols during high use periods, increased signing, continued gate and barrier implementation, and consideration for alternate means of enforcement such as increased flights and possible utilization of remote sensing equipment. Within an oversight area of more than one million acres, the issue is likely to always persist. However, through acclamation and increased enforcement, the problem decreases over time and is expected to continue as such.
17. Law Enforcement
Violations are increasing as recreational activities increase on the Refuge. All weekends during the ten week hunting season and most weekends during the busy paddlefish season were covered by Refuge Officers. During the year, five Refuge Officers issued twenty-three violation notices. These included:
Violation Number Traveling on other designated route with a motor vehicle (off-road) 10 Unlicensed motorized vehicle 6 Hunting in closed area 2 No bow and arrow stamp 2 Refusal to return to kill site 1 Use of uncertified weed free hay 2
Approximately fifteen tickets were issued by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Wardens during hunting and paddlefish season on the Refuge. In October, Refuge Officer Berg initiated an off- Refuge case involving archery hunters who attempted to take elk with the aid of a motorized vehicle. Both individuals were found guilty in Petroleum County Justice of the Peace Court.
71 19. Concessions (Outfitters)
In 2001, 15 permitted hunting/fishing outfitters operated on the Refuge. In addition, two permits were issued to Aspen Youth Alternatives, a private youth disciplining agency, to conduct back country camping/hiking trips during the year. Hunting and fishing outfitters are issued annual permits for the cost of $250.00 and the youth group provided in kind services such as litter pickup or tree removal along Refuge roads.
I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
1. New Construction
Three new travel trailers were acquired by the Refuge this year for use at the field camp located on the old Locke Ranch headquarters. The camp (known locally as Ferret Camp) provides support for numerous research and monitoring efforts both by Refuge staff and university entities throughout the year. The new trailers were custom made for the Refuge and provide for overnight accommodation for up to four people in each trailer. A specially designed air exchange system was part of the design and provides for complete exchange of internal air in a matter of minutes to ventilate the trailers. An important feature when considering the extreme temperatures that can be experienced during the summer months at ferret camp. A marked improvement to existing trailers that have been pieced together, patched and repaired for years to support resource work in the UL Bend portion of the complex.
The Refuge was fortunate once again, to receive assistance from volunteer Clarence Ellsworth to spearhead planning of much needed office renovation work at the Ft. Peck Field Office Headquarters. Clarence is a retired Architectural Mill Worker and master carpenter and provided great expertise on the Sand Creek Field Office in previous years. This year, plans were drafted for framing in additional office space and providing for a visitor contact area to better accommodate drop in visits by the public and others. Fingers are crossed in anticipation of receiving additional funding next year to get underway with actual work.
Seasonally closed roads were finally gated in several locations across the Refuge. Compliance with road closures has always been a reoccurring problem on CMR. Maintenance worker Clayton Christiansen fabricated and constructed the gates, and the field staff assisted with installation. Having a solid physical barrier to vehicle travel has obviously helped with compliance on these seasonally closed roads.
72 Seasonal road closures assist tremendously with harvest management.
2. Rehabilitation
All field stations and the headquarters did some "house cleaning" this year, and held a consolidated small lot sale to remove old material and equipment no longer suitable for field operations. Items varied from used fencing material to old windows to outdated electronic equipment. Total proceeds from sales amounted to $1,800.00.
The Jordon Field Office made use of local staff expertise and labor to construct a large deck on the station's bunkhouse located adjacent to the field office. The bunkhouse provides accommodations to the static'ns fire crew as well as some additional intermittent field staff.
A significant rehabilitation project this year was the resurfacing of the CMR Auto-Tour Route. This was a Federal Highways funded project and consisted of resurfacing a total of 12 Miles of road with four to six inches of gravel. The cost of this project, funded through The Federal Highway Administration, was just under $700,000. Refuge equipment operator Boyd Bergum and the Sand Creek fire crew spent several weeks prior to the project doing "prep work" including bringing the roadway to grade, cleaning out borrow ditches and removing some trees that had encroached into the roadway. The improvements are not vastly visible to the eye, but are very apparent when traveling behind the wheel. The improvements have provided for a safer and more maintainable auto-tour route.
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73 The project also provided for guard rails along hazardous comers of the auto-tour and bollard posts used to prevent vehicle travel beyond the roadway, and pull-out areas
3. Major Maintenance
Several significant fencing projects were completed during the year. The pasture division fence for the Seven Point Pasture located in the East Unit of the Refuge was repaired / reconstructed. The work included removal of a number of old dilapidated structures and installing new. Work was completed by field staff from the Ft. Peck and Jordon Field Offices. The buffalo exhibition
74 pasture located at the LeWistown Headquarters underwent extensive repairs this year. Work began on the corrals as well, to replace failing wood posts and rails with welded pipe.
CMR firefighters help out with the Buffalo corral construction. 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement
Several pieces of equipment were acquired this year. A Bobcat skid loader with various attachments was purchased and will be stationed at the Lewistown office where it will be transported to the field for projects as needed.
The Jordon Field Station received a new type 6 fire engine.
The Sand Creek Field Station ordered a new wire roller to be used in fence removal projects. The hydraulic roller was fabricated in Great Falls, MT and replaces an underpowered electric roller that ran off of a vehicle battery. By year's end, many miles of barbed wire had been neatly rolled and will be sold in the next small lot sale.
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75 Clayton Christensen comes to the rescue after FMO Granger hit a deer along Highway 200. Clayton drives thousands of miles in the Transport for CMR as well as other Refuges in Region 6. Mike was on his way to an Incident Briefing for a large wildfire adjacent to CMR. Clayton was good enough to haul him on in to the Incident Command Post. It was quiet a sight! 5. Communication Systems
Our narrow band radio system continues to function just fine albeit annual maintenance is around five thousand dollars. The BLM is in the process of converting to narrow band and will one day be able to talk to us on our frequency. The conversion to narrowband by cooperating agencies has been painfully slow. CMR took the bull by the horns in the early 90's and was the first DOI facility to convert. As of this writing, none of our cooperators have. Basically, we're in a vacuum and the only way to talk with other agencies is to switch to their high band frequency. When the other agencies finally convert, it will be time for us to get a new system. Our handheld radios are already obsolete. Motorola decided not to produce clam shell battery packs powered with AA batteries. This basically makes the radio a "brick" on fires once the battery is depleted. To rectify this problem, Racal handheld radios are being purchased as funds are available.
6. Computer Systems
A department-wide internet lock-out was enforced during the last few months of 2001. The shutdown was related to a BIA lawsuit concerning access to Indian Trust records. The loss of internet access was a significant inconvenience and greatly complicated routine office functions such as payroll and uniform ordering. Thankfully, e-mail was not affepted by the lock-out. The
76 Service purchased an enterprise license for antivirus software and Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition was installed on all computers in the Complex. E-mail was upgraded to Lotus Notes version 5. An 80GB network-attached storage device was installed on the Lewistown LAN.
8. Other
Aircraft
Flight duties by CMR's pilot are provided to CMR as well as other Refuges and FWS programs in Montana, North and South Dakota and Wyoming as time allows.
Total flight time for 2001 was 345.8 hours. Aircraft utilized included a Cessna 172 (N9905Q), a Piper PA-18 (N8907Y), a Cessna 182, a Cessna 177 RG, and a Baron C24R.
Flights conducted on CMR NWR included law enforcement (livestock trespass and public use), wildlife surveys (post season mule deer classifications and black-footed ferret snow track surveys), personnel transport, totaling 265.8 hours. Sixty-four percent of which was required training for pilot Shawn Bayless to meet proficiency requirements.
The balance of flight time for 2001 (80 hours) was dedicated to supporting other Refuges and FWS programs (ES, FWMAO) and included law enforcement (easement monitoring), personnel transport and aerial photography.
J. OTHER
4. Credits
A Decade is a long time by most accounts. This is Mike Granger's tenth year as Editor and chief motivator. Sharon Lahr has been proofing for ten years as well. Does this mean we're getting old?
This report reflects a significant contribution by the Refuge staff. Contributors were Mike Hedrick, Bill Berg, Mike Granger, Billie Lewis, Randy Matchett, Steve Henry, Everett Russell, Glenn Guenther, Matt deRosier, Jody Jones, Paul Pallas, Ben Pratt, Nathan Hawkaluk, Tammy James, Jo Ann Dullum, Tim Miller, Bob Skinner, and Shawn Bayless.
K. FEEDBACK
In 1997, we made the decision to increase the quality and quantity of biological information on various wildlife populations within CMR and to become more active in population management.
In 2001, we had the opportunity to assess our progress and more accurately define the impediments to achieving the established wildlife objectives. Mule deer populations are starting to rebound from the lows of the late 90's, and elk numbers remain strong. The composition objectives (male/female ratios) are close to being met on elk and have been met on mule deer in
77 two areas of the Refuge. Other areas remain below objectives for both species, and the main cause appears to be lack of security cover. On OMR, security cover is most impacted by road densities.
The intensive mule deer surveys initiated in 2000 gave us statistically valid information for refuge populations that were previously available from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. It also presents a dilemma for the Refuge and state on how to cooperatively manage big game populations. OMR and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks are in two different philosophical camps regarding big game management.
On one hand, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, in part because they are mostly funded by license revenue, wants to manage refuge wildlife under a maximum sustained yield harvest strategy, undifferentiated from other public lands. This desire is exacerbated on private lands in Montana as these lands are leased by hunting guides and outfitters.
On the other hand, OMR strives to manage for a wider variety of recreational uses of big game populations in coalition with the direction provided by the Refuge Administration Act and Service policy. This management direction yields relatively natural age and sex ratios and densities even after the hunting seasons, at the expense of maximum male harvest on species like deer, elk and bighorn sheep.
To us, this defines part of the difference between National Wildlife Refuges and other multiple- use public lands. It is strongly supported by our using public, including hunters, partly because we have still been able to meet or exceed Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks objectives regarding hunter use days on CMR.
Unfortunately, our success at achieving refuge population objectives through management actions such as decreased livestock grazing, shorter hunting seasons and increasing security cover through vehicle management, has tended to put us at odds with our sister state agency.
It now appears our biggest challenge to continue achieving our wildlife objectives in the future is to convince our state partners that legally and ethically, CMR needs to be managed differently in both habitat and wildlife population aspects, than adjacent multiple-use public lands.
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CHARLES M. RUSSELL WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Satellite Refuges: Lake Mason War Horse Halfbreed Hailstone
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 2001
U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System A. HIGHLIGHTS ,, 4 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 4 C. LAND ACQUISITION 4 1. Fee Title 4 D. PLANNING 4 2. Management plans 4 5. Research and investigations 5 6. Other 5 E. ADMINISTRATION 5 1. Personnel 5 5. Funding 5 F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 5 2. Wetlands 5 7. Grazing 5 10. Pest Control 5 11. Water Rights 6 G. WILDLIFE 6 1. Wildlife Diversity 6 2. Endangered and Threatened Species 6 3. Waterfowl 6 4. Marsh and Water Birds 6 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 7 6. Raptors 7 8. Game Mammals 7 10. Other Resident Wildlife 7 H. PUBLIC USE 7 1. General 7 8. Hunting 7 11. Wildlife Observation 7 17. Law Enforcement 8 18. Cooperating Associations 8 I. Equipment and facilities 8 2. Rehabilitation 8 J. Other 8 K. Feedback 8 L. Information packet 8
> 2 INTRODUCTION
The Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District (District) includes eight counties in south- central and south-eastern Montana. The District lies within the Northern Great Plains Joint Venture (NGPJV) boundary and contains four National Wildlife Refuges (NWR), three Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) and four easement properties. Since 1988, the WMD workload has included occasional projects coordinated under the Partners For Fish and Wildlife (PFFW)program. Food Security Act activities, CFS (formerly FmHA) conservation easement/fee title inspections, and other Department of Agriculture activities. This report will only detail activities conducted on satellite refuges.
War Horse NWR consists of three separate upland units: War Horse Unit (1,152 acres); Wild Horse Unit (440 acres); and Yellow Water Unit (1.640 acres). These units consist of scattered FWS land holdings adjacent to a natural lake basin (Wild Horse) or reservoirs (War Horse and Yellow Water) constructed for the purpose of irrigation. These lands were transferred to the FWS in 1958 under provisions of the Coordination and Conservation Act of 1934 for the management of migratory birds. Water levels in the lakes and reservoirs are dependent on annual precipitation and, when full, provide habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.
Uplands consist of sagebrush/shortgrass prairie complexes interspersed with ponderosa pine/western wheatgrass complexes. Refuge properties are not fenced and are within BLM grazing allotments, and thus, are heavily grazed.
Take Mason NWR is located eight miles northwest of Roundup. Montana, and is similarly divided into three units: Lake Mason Unit, Willow Creek Unit, and the North Unit. The Refuge includes 16,786 acres; 11,284 acres in fee title and 5,502 acres in Refuge easements.
Flowage easements on Willow Creek were acquired in 1937-38. Executive Order 8770 established the Lake Mason Unit as a NWR in 1941 with the objective of providing breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife. In 1959, scattered Bankhead-Jones Land Use parcels were acquired. Land consolidation beginning in 1980 resulted in boundary changes which made Lake Mason, Willow Creek and North Units much more manageable.
Lake Mason proper is a 1300 acre enhanced type 3 wetland surrounded by rolling short-grass prairie hills. Wheat cultivation occurs to the north and east and oil development to the south and west.
The narrative reports for Hailstone and Halfbreed Lake NWR's are combined together in this document. The Refuges are part of the Big Lake Complex, a large drainage area beginning with Hailstone to the northwest and ending at the state-owned and managed Big Lake to the southeast. When wet, this complex is one of the most productive areas in central Montana for migratory waterfowl. Both areas were established by Executive Order as Refuges and breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife.
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J Hailstone NWR is located five miles northeast of Rapelje, Montana. FWS ownership is complex, with 160 acres of fee title Refuge, 760 acres of Refuge easement, and 1,828 acres of Waterfowl Production Area (WPA). Hailstone Lake is a 650-acre artificial reservoir centrally located on the Refuge. Historically the area surrounding this Refuge was short-grass prairie, but over the years it has been plowed and planted to small grains. Hailstone NWR was managed as a no-hunting Refuge easement from the mid-lOSO's until 1980 when the WPA was acquired.
Halfbreed Lake NWR, located six miles east of Rapelje, Montana, was initially managed as a tlowage and no-hunting Refuge easement. In 1987, 3,246 acres were purchased in fee title, which included most of the original easement. The Refuge now includes 3,246 acres in fee title, 640 acres of state land where FWS has acquired the grazing lease, and 400 acres of private land that is still covered by the original Refuge easement.
A. HIGHLIGHTS
-Signs replaced/updated on all satellites. -Cattle guards and boundary fence installed on Lake Mason-North Unit. -Resuscitated Yellow Water NWR exchange. -Water adjudication ongoing for Hailstone and Halfbreed NWR's. -Bird observation data sparse due to lack of water. Bill Rooney continued as volunteer and made several trips to the District. Other than a few waterfowl observations early in the season, most avifauna recorded consisted of neotropical migrants and upland game birds.
B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Billings described 2001 as drier and warmer than normal. Precipitation total for the year was 10.99", 3.55" below normal and the average daily temperature was 48.7 degrees (F), 1.6 degrees above normal.
C. LAND ACQUISITION
1. Fee Title
Revenue Sharing Payments were delivered to County Commissioners in Stillwater, Golden Valley, Yellowstone and Musselshell.
D. PLANNING
2. Management plans
Existing management plans for all refuges were reviewed, updated and approved (copies attached).
4 5. Research and investigations
Assessment of water quality on Hailstone and Halfbreed NWRfs has been questionable, particularly during years when existing pools of water apparently concentrate certain chemicals toxic to wildlife. Karen Nelson (ES-Helena) began a toxicology study on these refuges to determine extent of selenium concentrations. Personnel from Montana Tech (Billings) were contracted to install ground water monitoring wells within the basin on refuge lands. Karen also employed a floating data recorder on Hailstone which recorded salinity levels continuously. She also began collecting biota samples of healthy and dead water birds. Results are not available.
6. Other
The Annual Water Use Reports, Integrated Pest Management Plans, and Pesticide Use Proposals were completed and submitted to the Regional Office. Other reports were submitted as needed.
E. ADMINISTRATION
1. Personnel
This was the first full year the District has been staffed by a manager since Mike Getman transferred to Kodiak, Alaska. The incumbent manager functions alone, with the exception of assistance from other refuge staff as time allows.
5. Funding
WMD expenses were provided through the OMR NWR budget.
F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
2. Wetlands
All wetland basins remained dry throughout the reporting period.
7. Grazing
Grazing management plans were reviewed and updated, where appropriate. Deferred rotation grazing on Lake Mason-North Unit was instituted after boundary fence was completed.
10. Pest Control
5 Leafy spurge infestation inspected periodically on Lake Mason-North.
Pesticide Applicator Training was attended. Certificates for cropland pest and aquatic pest applications were received.
11. Water Riuhts
Readjudication continued on basins serving Halfbreed and Hailstone NWR. Objections by the Service and others were reviewed and inspected by Jana Varner and ROS Bayless.
G. WILDLIFE
1. Wildlife Diversity The arid south-central and south-eastern portions of Montana provide critical habitats for a wide variety of wildlife. However, diversity on Service properties in the WMD is directly dependent on wetland conditions. FWS lands without access to water are generally depauperate of wildlife during years of low precipitation.
2. Endangered and Threatened Species
Peregrine falcons have been observed nesting north of Hailstone. Bald eagles are common during the winter. Extensive black-tailed prairie dog towns occur on all satellite refuges.
Category 2 species that have been confirmed present are the ferruginous hawk, long-billed curlew, black tern, and white-faced ibis. Category 2 species suspected to be present, but not confirmed are the mountain plover, swift fox, Baird's sparrow, and loggerhead shrike.
In 1997, Partners in Flight established a list of high priority bird species for Montana. At least 17 species on this list have been documented on the WPA's. This list includes: bald eagle, black tern. Brewer's sparrow, burrowing owl, chestnut-collared longspur, ferruginous hawk. Forster's tern. Franklin's gull, grasshopper sparrow, lark bunting, loggerhead shrike, long-billed curlew, McCown's longspur, peregrine falcon, sage grouse, trumpeter swan, and white-faced ibis.
3. Waterfowl
Waterfowl observation are available only for Hailstone NWR; all other satellite refuges were dry.
4. Marsh and Water Birds
Same as above.
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6 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species
Shorebird use was similar to use of marsh and water birds described above. Wetland conditions were ideal during both spring and fall migrations which allowed abundant bird use of these areas.
6. Raptors
Numerous species of raptors common to south-central Montana are observed throughout the year. Nesting species on the satellites include Northern harriers and red-tailed hawks.
8. Game Mammals
Pronghorn and mule deer are common on all satellite refuges. However, there are no population estimates for game mammals.
10. Other Resident Wildlife
Gray partridge, mourning dove, sharp-tailed grouse, and sage grouse inhabit the satellite refuges. A large rattlesnake denning site occurs on Hailstone NWR. also.
Smaller mammals include coyote, red fox, badger, raccoon, jackrabbit, cottontail, and Richardson's ground squirrel.
H. PUBLIC USE
1. General
Visitor use opportunities on the WPA's include: hunting, wildlife observation, photography, fishing, trapping, and hiking.
8. Hunting
Upland game bird, waterfowl and big game hunting occurs on all the refuges except Halfbreed (closed to public presence). Success-and harvest data are unknown.
11. Wildlife Observation
When wet, all the refuges provide ample opportunities for wildlife observation
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7 17. Law Enforcement
Periodic inspections for livestock trespass were performed. No violations were noted. Vandalism to refuge signs continues to be a problem.
18. Cooperating Associations
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana Tech (Billings) and the Yellowstone Audubon Society continue to provide invaluable assistance.
I. Equipment and facilities
2. Rehabilitation
A proposal to rehabilitate the weir at Halfbreed and flood the southwest arm were submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Ducks Unlimited.
J. Other
K. Feedback
L. Information packet
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