Milder winter means more promise for elk, deer
A group of elk munch on green grasses in Mineral County. (Liz Bradley/Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks)
Just because the 2020 U.S. Census was on ice waiting out the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order doesn’t mean ‘individuals’ are not being counted.
Ungulates such as deer and elk living in our area are coming off a pretty easy winter and as the elk antlers are dropping, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Liz Bradley has been out checking their conditions and population as the calving season is around the corner.
Bradley has been with FWP for 15 years, first as the Wolf Management Specialist for this area and now as the Wildlife Biologist for Mineral and parts of Missoula County the last 5 years.
“This was definitely a much milder winter for all the critters which was good. Last year was a hard winter and we saw fewer calves, but this year was better. Overall, the last five years our elk numbers have actually been trending upward in a few places. We have seen slower growth in Hunting District 200 near St. Regis and in Fish Creek so those are places that I’m keeping a closer eye on.”
The annual spring count is done at the same time each year for a reliable comparison of the other years, but 2020 was different.
“Our aerial surveys were cancelled this year due to concerns about COVID and social distancing, but I was able to get good counts on many of the bigger herds even from the ground”.
Mineral County has been referred to as ‘Young Man’s Hunting Country’ referring to the pitch of the mountains and thick forest with underbrush. However, more than 90% is public land so there is no shortage of places to “blow out a lung” while attempting to fill the freezer.
“The local FWP Game Warden, Alex Mattson, has helped with the elk survey and I have a student that has been helping me in the Missoula Valley. I’ve also gotten help from landowners that have passed along sightings on their property,” Bradley said.
She stated that she would like to hear from people who feel that they have had a good count of elk this year, especially in the Camp Four and Shyrock area.
“There are still lots of wolves in Mineral County. We did see a good harvest year on wolves this past winter,” she said.
Bradley reminds sportsmen and women that the 2020 licenses are available online with application deadlines for moose, sheep and mountain goats on May 1. For deer B (doe) and elk B (cow) licenses deadline is June 1.