Area deer survival best in six years
<p>This herd of elk in the Spotted Bear area was photographed during the annual aerial game survey conducted by state wildlife officials.</p>
Spring big-game surveys in Northwest Montana indicate a promising upward trend, with the highest ratios of deer and elk offspring in years.
The surveys were conducted in April by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologists using spotting scopes or counting animals from helicopters. The spring “green-up” draws out deer and elk into more open areas to feed, making them easier to count.
But the surveys are not about counting animals for population estimates. They are intended as a consistent method for measuring trends in reproduction and offspring survival.
Out of 5,652 whitetail deer that were observed across Northwest Montana’s Region One, there was an average of 44 yearlings per 100 adults.
“For whitetail deer, it’s the best we’ve had for six years,” said Jim Williams, regional wildlife manager. “Actually, it’s the second highest in the last 10 years.”
That is a welcome turnaround after recent years of surveys showing low fawn “recruitment.” The fawns that make it through the winter with pressure from predators are better equipped to survive into the fall hunting season as 1 1/2-year-olds.
“We anticipate a jump in the number of yearling bucks that are available” this fall, Williams said.
Mule deer surveys across the region came in with an average of about 32 yearlings per 100 adults, a ratio that is “fairly stable to slightly increasing” compared to recent years, Williams said.
Elk surveys also have shown stronger recruitment trends.
Out of 3,500 elk that were observed, the average across the region was 28 calves per 100 adults.
“The elk herds are stable to increasing in terms of recruitment,” Williams said.
While the lowest ratio was 12 calves per 100 adults in the Spotted Bear area, some of the highest ratios were farther south in South Fork Flathead drainage, with 38 calves per 100 adults.
“In the Bob Marshall, recruitment was fantastic,” Williams said.
Biologist John Vore noted that the South Fork survey was the best since 1988.
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by email at jmann@dailyinterlake.com.