CHARLES M. RUSSELL NARRATIVE REPORT January-December 1966 CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE Narrative Report January - December 1966 PERSONNEL General Schedule *Staunton, Frederic T, Refuge Manager Burkholder, Bob L. Wildlife Biologist-Pilot ***DeGraw, Burton W. Administrative Assistant Gibbons, Charles W. Assistant Refuge Manager **'vHarper, LaDonna L. Clerk-Stenographer Kaschke, Marvin R. Wildlife Biologist (Mgt.) Peck, Charles S. Assistant Refuge Manager Plenert, Marvin L. Wildlife Biologist (Mgt.) Ramelli, Lloyd R. Recreation Specialist Wicks, Linda H. Clerk-Stenographer Wage Board Emery, Floyd L, Maintenanceman (WAE) French, Frank V, Maintenanceman (WAE) Gilbert, Dean A. Shop Foreman Jones, Harold H, Maintenance Foreman Kilby, Lynes D. Maintenanceman (WAE) Kombol, John Operator General--Light (WAE) Kombol, Joseph J. Maintenanceman (WAE) ***Kozeliski, Julius J. Maintenanceman (WAE) Oset, Frank, Jr. Carpenter (WAE) "^Phillips, Jimmie L. Operator General--Heavy (WAE) Sage, Samuel A. Maintenanceman Sullisan, Gerald A. Mechanic--Heavy Duty >Wr*Thompson, Glen T. Operator General—Heavy (WAE) **'-Warneke, Norman J. Maintenanceman (WAE) Zupec, Joe F. Maintenanceman (WAE) Temporary ''^Anderson, Lorn 0. Laborer **Cimrhakl, Daniel G. Operator General--Heavy **Davis, William F. Operator General—Heavy **Grovom, Walter W. Laborer -"'-Jellar, Pete, Jr. Laborer **Laugeman, Fuller K. Laborer **Morton, Craig L. Laborer **Schoonen, Thomas E. Operator General--Light **Sellers, Richard A. Biological Aid **Waite, Robert E. Laborer -Retired ^Terminated — "Transferred TABLE OF CONTENTS I. General A. Weather Conditions 1 B. Habitat Conditions 2 II. Wildlife A. Migratory Birds 3 B. Upland Game Birds 6 C. Big Game Animals 7 D. Fur Animals, Predators, Rodents and other Mammals.,.. 11 E. Hawks, Eagles, Owls, Crows, Ravens, and Magpies 13 F. Other Birds 14 G. Fish 14 H. Reptiles 15 I. Disease 16 III. Refuge Development and Maintenance A. Physical Development 16 B. Plantings 18 C. Collections and Receipts 19 D. Control of Vegetation ,, 19 E. Planned Burning 20 F. Fires 20 IV. Resource Management A. Grazing 21 B. Haying 22 C. Fur Harvest 22 D. Timber Removal 23 E. Commercial Fishing 23 F. Other Uses 23 V. Field Investigation or Applied Research A. Progress Report 24 VI. Public Relations A. Recreational Uses 28 B. Game Range Visitors 28 C. Refuge Participation 33 D. Hunting 37 E. Violations o 42 F. Safety 43 VII. Other Items. A. Items of Interest 43 B. Photographs 45 C. Signatures 45 CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE RANGE Lewistown, Montana NARRATIVE REPORT January - December 1966 I. GENERAL A, Weather Conditions Above average temperatures and below average rainfall during late spring and early summer resulted in generally low production of forage. Many stockwater reservoirs in the area dried up or became un­ usable in late summer because of stagnating water and a problem of livestock bogging along the water's edge. Below average snow in the mountains in western Montana pro­ duced little water during the spring thaw and resulted in the level of the Missouri River above Fort Peck Reservoir being at its lowest point for many years. River ice rotted away very slowly and no damage due to flooding or ice jams was sustained. The ice "went out" on March 29 without incident. Low water levels and low temperatures during early November caused the river to freeze solid about a month earlier than last year. Despite the early freezeup of the river, the lake itself remained ice free. During the last week in December, the narrow portion of the lake from Devil's Greek east to Timber Creek became icebound but the major portion of the reservoir was open except for small bays and inlets. A 20 mile stretch of river below the confluence of the Judith River remained open as well as a few stretches up to 300 yards in length at Rocky Point and Slippery Ann. Listed below are observations made on the west end of the Slippery Ann Game Station, ^mK*mmmmmm00mmi^^^^^^^^^mi^^^^^^mmmmmmtf Snowfall Precipitation Temp srature 1966 1964 1965 1966 Max. Min. January 7,0 .20 .86 .40 28 -32 February 8.0 ,05 ,35 .55 49 -18 March 7.0 .50 ,33 .40 77 -18 April - 2.32 ,99 .64 71 12 May - 3.57 1,89 1.30 95 24 June _ 2.70 2,60 1.10 101 35 July - ,77 .88 2.08 104 48 August - 2.03 1.14 .73 102 35 September - .63 .78 .36 99 31 October - .17 T .68 85 18 November 20.0 ,67 .72 1.98 52 -16 December 11.0 1.45 .10 .50 50 -24 TOTALS 53.0 15.06 10.64 10.72 104 -32 The following weather table depicts the weather conditions on the east end of the game range. The data was taken from the weather station maintained by the Corps of Engineers at Fort Peck. Precipitati on Temp erature 1964 1965 1966 Max. Min. January .21 .50 .39 42 -26 February .34 .14 .07 38 -15 March .77 .42 .05 72 - 8 April .47 .90 .73 65 13 May 3.07 5.27 1.67 89 31 June 5.12 4.48 1.56 98 37 July 1.00 3.54 2.91 104 44 August 1.78 4.34 4.35 97 39 September .11 1.44 .44 91 35 October .13 T .82 79 25 Novemb er .61 T .27 53 - 1 December .34 .07 .23 50 -17 TOTALS 13.95 21.10 13.49 104 -26 B. Habitat Conditions 1. Water FORT PECK RESERVOIR WATER LEVELS 1964 1965 1966 Jan 1 2214.8 2234.3 2242.1 Feb 1 2213.2 2233.3 2241.0 Mar 1 2212.2 2233.0 2239.6 Apr 1 2213.3 2233.2 2240.2 May 1 2214.4 2236.4 2239.7 Jun 1 2219.3 2239.7 2239.0 Jul 1 2231.8 2243.9 2239.0 Aug 1 2234.8 2245.6 2239.3 Sep 1 2235.7 2244.4 2239.0 Oct 1 2235.4 2243.6 2238.5 Nov 1 2235.3 2243.9 2238.3 Dec 1 2235.7 2243.4 2237.0 It has been Corps policy this year to hold the reservoir level as consistent as possible. Corps officials have repeatedly stated they intend to hold the level as high as possible and perhaps even reach the 2250 level if moisture should become available. As the table illustrates, 2242.1 was the highest level reached during 1966 as compared to 2245.6 in 1965. This level attained in 1965 is the highest the Fort Peck Reser­ voir has ever been. 2 , Food and Cover It appeared on the east end that moisture was sufficient during the growing season to provide good plant growth. Most hay crops in the Fort Peck area were considered fair or at least normal but below the 1965 yield. Farming efforts on the refuge lands produced good barley crops. Heavy use of the fields after harvest by the wintering mallards has nearly depleted the loose and available grain. Moisture conditions during the fall months were such that volunteer barley attained heights of 8" to 10". Ducks were observed to make light use of this barley and goose use was even lighter. Generally, the effects on food and cover by this year's lack of moisture are perhaps delayed due to a high precipitation cycle the past several years. White-tailed deer habitat inundated by the Fort Peck Reservoir remains a loss that cannot be mitigated by further up­ stream development. Prime big game habitat located in areas isolated from heavy livestock use is adequate only because deer and elk popu­ lations are low. The crops of barley, millet, and corn grown at Slip­ pery Ann were 90% utilized at the end of the year. The 20 acre cornfield proved to be very attractive to elk. So much so, in fact, that the ears of corn were nipped prior to their maturing and few, if any, ears de­ veloped as a result. Results were most graphic at the year's end since only an occasional shattered stalk remained of the original luxuriant cornfield. II. WILDLIFE A. Migratory Birds 1. Waterfowl Census figures indicate a normal number, except for unseasonal lows in September and a peak in November, of the various species of ducks, coots, and grebes on the Missouri River and Fort Peck Reservoir. However, populations on the stockwater ponds and marsh habitat elsewhere on the game range were less than last year due to a lack of sufficient precipita­ tion. All stockponds were critically low and many dried up completely during the nesting season. A winter population of 15,000 mallards remained at Fort Peck during the critical months of January and February. A decrease to 10,000 occurred February 27, and only 2,500 remained on March 7. Mortality was held to a minimum and a total of 3,000 bu. of grain was fed out during this period. Mallard weights were sampled in order to gage the winter feeding program at Fort Peck. STATISTICS CONCERNING MALLARD WEIGHTS TAKEN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH 1966 East Unit - Fort Peck Sample No. in Average Weight Total Date Sample Male Female Average Jan 12 4 3 lb 1 oz 3 lb 1 oz Jan 18 6 2 lb llh oz 2 lb 11% oz Jan 27 10 2 lb 5 oz 2 lb 2 oz 2 lb 3^ oz Feb 3 10 2 lb 5 oz 1 lb 15 oz 2 lb 2 oz Feb 8 10 2 lb 3 oz 2 lb oz 2 lb 2% oz Feb 15 9 2 lb 2 oz 2 lb 1 oz 2 lb 2 oz Feb 16 10 2 lb 3 oz 1 lb 15 oz 2 lb 2 oz Feb 18 10 2 lb 5h oz 2 lb 2 oz 2 lb 5 oz Feb 28 4 2 lb 2% oz 2 lb 2k oz Mar 1 10 2 lb 8 oz 2 lb 4 oz 2 lb 6 oz Mar 10 10 2 lb 11 oz 2 lb 3 oz 2 lb 6 oz Fall migration patterns were quite erratic.