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Quota cut, as officials worry about low calf numbers
Posted at 2:50 p.m. June 19
By Associated Press
GREAT FALLS - State wildlife officials have cut the hunting quota for elk in a portion of the Sun River Wildlife Management Area near Augusta, citing concerns about the low number of calves this year.
While overall herd population was strong, wildlife biologists did not find the number of elk calves they had expected, and decided to cut the hunting quota by half in the northern district as a precaution.
Biologist Quentin Kujala said officials do not know why the calf population declined this year, but they are looking at the possibility that wolves may have contributed to it.
"It behooves us to ask that question," he said.
Kujala counted 2,511 elk on the Sun River Wildlife Management Area this year. Last year, he counted 2,638.
Kujala said the biggest concern was the lower number of calves. He counted only 18 to 20 elk calves per 100 cows this year when he expected to find 30. Last year he counted 36 calves per 100 cows and the year before there were 26.
Kujala said a severe storm in June last year could have killed some of the newborn elk, and the continuing drought could have hurt the ability of elk cows to produce calves.
"We are measuring last year's calves and in June last year we had real significant snow and cold," Kujala said. "You can wonder, 'Did that take a certain percent of the calves on the ground at that time?' There are no clear answers."
But, Kujala said, "I don't think we can exclude the potential for wolves to be part of that 18 to 20."
In late winter, Kujala counted a dozen wolves at the west end of Gibson Reservoir, which is in the Sun River area. The wolves were eating a white-tailed deer, he said. He also saw wolves there last year and they were feeding on a white-tailed deer then, too.
"The wolf represents one more addition to what we consider," Kujala said.
"I bring it up because everybody brings it up to us," Kujala said. "I guess the best response is, 'that's a good question.' "
Grizzly and black bears also are known to feed on newborn elk.
In Hunting District 442, the north end of the area, the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission cut the elk quota from 400 to 200. In HD 424, the southern district, the quota was left at 50 elk.
During the 2002 hunting season, hunters checked only 130 elk through the Augusta game check station, what Kujala called a light harvest. He said that might be due to a light winter in the area. Hunters normally are more successful when there is heavy snow.
Posted at 2:50 p.m. June 19
By Associated Press
GREAT FALLS - State wildlife officials have cut the hunting quota for elk in a portion of the Sun River Wildlife Management Area near Augusta, citing concerns about the low number of calves this year.
While overall herd population was strong, wildlife biologists did not find the number of elk calves they had expected, and decided to cut the hunting quota by half in the northern district as a precaution.
Biologist Quentin Kujala said officials do not know why the calf population declined this year, but they are looking at the possibility that wolves may have contributed to it.
"It behooves us to ask that question," he said.
Kujala counted 2,511 elk on the Sun River Wildlife Management Area this year. Last year, he counted 2,638.
Kujala said the biggest concern was the lower number of calves. He counted only 18 to 20 elk calves per 100 cows this year when he expected to find 30. Last year he counted 36 calves per 100 cows and the year before there were 26.
Kujala said a severe storm in June last year could have killed some of the newborn elk, and the continuing drought could have hurt the ability of elk cows to produce calves.
"We are measuring last year's calves and in June last year we had real significant snow and cold," Kujala said. "You can wonder, 'Did that take a certain percent of the calves on the ground at that time?' There are no clear answers."
But, Kujala said, "I don't think we can exclude the potential for wolves to be part of that 18 to 20."
In late winter, Kujala counted a dozen wolves at the west end of Gibson Reservoir, which is in the Sun River area. The wolves were eating a white-tailed deer, he said. He also saw wolves there last year and they were feeding on a white-tailed deer then, too.
"The wolf represents one more addition to what we consider," Kujala said.
"I bring it up because everybody brings it up to us," Kujala said. "I guess the best response is, 'that's a good question.' "
Grizzly and black bears also are known to feed on newborn elk.
In Hunting District 442, the north end of the area, the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission cut the elk quota from 400 to 200. In HD 424, the southern district, the quota was left at 50 elk.
During the 2002 hunting season, hunters checked only 130 elk through the Augusta game check station, what Kujala called a light harvest. He said that might be due to a light winter in the area. Hunters normally are more successful when there is heavy snow.
