Harsh winter depletes antelope numbers

The June 1 deadline for deer and pronghorn antelope license drawing is fast approaching, but this year hunters should expect slimmer pickings due to high mortality from a brutal winter in Eastern Montana.

Jim Williams, Region One wildlife manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said hunters in Northwest Montana will be affected by winter impacts on the other side of the state that will substantially reduce the number of permits that will be drawn.

“Half this valley goes out to Region Six for mule deer and antelope,” he said.

The Glasgow area was pounded by a record total snowfall of 108 inches — the previous high was 70 inches — with devastating effects on mule deer and antelope.

Spring survey flights confirmed that about 1,000 antelope, crowded along railroad tracks, were killed by trains over the winter. More were killed on rural roads and many succumbed to the deep snow, unable to find forage.

“Antelope began relying on haystacks but they suffered high rates of mortality there, in part because they’re not adapted to that kind of food,” said Kevin Johnson, a Region Six wildlife biologist.

An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 antelope migrated south across the ice on Fort Peck Reservoir, and now they are stranded n the reservoir’s remote southern shoreline, unable to return to their traditional summer range now that the ice has melted.

For Glasgow-area hunting districts, “we’re looking at some pretty substantial decreases in mule deer doe tags and antelope licenses,” said Mark Sullivan, the Region Six wildlife manager.

Exact reductions in permits won’t be determined until after population surveys are conducted in July. The drawing date for antelope is July 15.

The Malta area also was hit hard, particularly to the north. Permits for mule deer “B” and antelope will be cut back substantially, Sullivan said.

Winter conditions were not as extreme in the Havre area, Sullivan said, “so we are looking at moderate decreases [in permits] north of Havre and minor decreases south of Havre.”

“Not all is lost, however,” Johnson said. “In 2010, we had some of the best habitat conditions ever recorded in the summer and fall, and our antelope went into winter in the best body conditions possible. For the pronghorn that survived the past winter and soon will be dropping their fawns, there should be plenty of good habitat to live in again this summer. The record snowfall and persistent spring rains have made forage abundant almost everywhere.”

Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.