blake
Life Member
NEWS!
Bitterroot Elk Population Dwindling
6/16/2009
The Bitterroot, Mont. elk population is dwindling in numbers, according to biologists studying hunting district numbers.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Craig Jourdonnais told the Ravalli Republic that the department does not know why the elk herds are dipping in numbers, but speculate last year’s cold, wet spring may have had something to do with it.
Each year, Bitterroot FWP officials fly over elk ranges to count the population. After this year’s count and field studies, the biologists cannot single out one reason that would result in this year’s low elk numbers.
“We’re losing calves early to something,” Jourdonnais said. “We know we have bears, lions and wolves working on these elk. If there is no foreseeable change in their numbers, we can’t expect the trend in elk numbers to change either. We need to look at making some adjustments. Otherwise, we’ll end up like the Gallatin where there was a long, slow bleed. We kept expecting the calf numbers to pop and they never did there.”
The overall elk count for the spring is 6,163; the five-year average is 7,201.
“The general feeling is that we are going to need to tighten our belts,” Jourdonnais said. “People should be prepared for considerably less antlerless opportunity this coming fall compared to years past.”
Bitterroot Elk Population Dwindling
6/16/2009
The Bitterroot, Mont. elk population is dwindling in numbers, according to biologists studying hunting district numbers.
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Craig Jourdonnais told the Ravalli Republic that the department does not know why the elk herds are dipping in numbers, but speculate last year’s cold, wet spring may have had something to do with it.
Each year, Bitterroot FWP officials fly over elk ranges to count the population. After this year’s count and field studies, the biologists cannot single out one reason that would result in this year’s low elk numbers.
“We’re losing calves early to something,” Jourdonnais said. “We know we have bears, lions and wolves working on these elk. If there is no foreseeable change in their numbers, we can’t expect the trend in elk numbers to change either. We need to look at making some adjustments. Otherwise, we’ll end up like the Gallatin where there was a long, slow bleed. We kept expecting the calf numbers to pop and they never did there.”
The overall elk count for the spring is 6,163; the five-year average is 7,201.
“The general feeling is that we are going to need to tighten our belts,” Jourdonnais said. “People should be prepared for considerably less antlerless opportunity this coming fall compared to years past.”