The 49th Montana State Legislature authorized the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission to auction one male sheep license each year to provide for the benefit of sheep. The 50th Montana State Legislature authorized the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission to auction one male Shiras moose license each year to provide for the benefit of moose. The 58th Montana State Legislature’s provided authority for the sale of one male mule deer and one male elk auction/lottery license, and the 59th session provided authority for one mountain goat auction/lottery license.
Rules and procedures to conduct the auction have been adopted by the commission each year and have been expanded to include all five species now available. The auction/lottery license rules provide for FWP to solicit proposals to conduct the auctions (and or lottery if appropriate) from conservation organizations involved in the conservation and management of these big game species. The commission reviews the proposals and selects an organization to conduct the auctions. Organizations can submit bids to conduct more than one species auction. Organizations that have been selected to auction the various species licenses for 1986-2006 are summarized in Table 1 and include the Boone and Crocket Club, Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Montana Outfitter and Guides Association, and Skyline Sportsmen Association. Safari Club International (including the MT Chapter) has participated in the moose auction prior to 1997. The successful bidder for each of the auction licenses is allowed to hunt for a legal animal during the open season in any of the legally described species hunting districts as described in the appropriate hunting regulation.
Sheep
86
FNAWS
79,000
87
109,000
88
93,000
89
74,000
90
61,000
91
80,000
92
88,000
93
205,000
94
310,000
95
281,000
96
220,000
97
238,000
98
300,000
99
130,000
00
95,000
01
100,000
02
90,000
03
132,500
04
160,000
05
06
115,000
TOTAL
3,120,500
Moose
7,250
13,000
10,000
4,000
9,000
14,000
13,500
RMEF
17,000
MOGA
SSA
11,000
20,000
19,000
17,250
BCC
15,000
242,500
Mule Deer
MDF
6,250
6,700
29,950
Elk
23,000
36,000
Mtn
Goat
Revenues for bighorn sheep and Shiras moose auction licenses have fluctuated over time but remain very competitive with other western states, especially the bighorn sheep license. Revenues for both the mule deer and elk auction licenses increased in the most recent year and the extensive opportunity afforded to the elk license holder in particular may help further increase those revenues over time. The mountain goat license was auctioned for the first time in 2006.
As prescribed by enabling legislation, funding is to be used for the beneficial management of the identified species. Funding is typically allocated for specific survey work to deal with localized issues, capture and relocation efforts, research efforts, habitat enhancement and herd health issues or in the case of bighorn sheep, a portion of the funding is allocated to a capital account for habitat protection. For FY04–05, funding by species was allocated as follows:
FY04
FY05
Mountain Sheep Auction - Field Work
$ 79,368.99
$ 63,932.19
$ 143,301.18
Mountain Sheep Auction – Capital
$ 3,717.69
$ -
Mountain Sheep Auction – Commission
$ 16,000.00
$ 32,000.00
$ 99,086.68
$ 79,932.19
$ 179,018.87
Moose Auction - Field Work
$ 14,357.01
$ 11,102.54
$ 25,459.55
Moose Auction – Commission
$ 1,725.00
$ 1,500.00
$ 3,225.00
$ 16,082.01
$ 12,602.54
$ 28,684.55
Mule Deer Auction - Field Work
Mule Deer Auction – Commission
$ 625.00
$ 670.00
$ 1,295.00
Elk Auction - Field Work
$ 4,505.18
Elk Auction – Commission
$ 2,000.00
$ 2,300.00
$ 4,300.00
$ 6,805.18
$ 8,805.18
Field work included population monitoring, capture and relocation if necessary and collection of herd health parameters. This field work is summarized below.
A series of studies were conducted including efforts to develop preliminary health monitoring protocols that included a Ph.D candidate student (Dr. David Miller-DVM) with Colorado State University as well as examining the risk of respiratory disease transmission on the bighorn-domestic sheep interface. A retrospective analysis of existing herd health data was accomplished and data are in a structured database. A literature search and review paper was completed. Additional sampling of bighorn sheep and domestic sheep was conducted in the winters of 2004-2005.
2004: 74 sheep were captured from the Sun River population (HD 422,423,424) and relocated to Kootenai Falls (24 total), the Greenhorn Mountains (40 total) and the Bitterroot (10). An additional 12 sheep (with Brucella ovis) from the Bitterroot were shipped to Colorado as part of a bighorn sheep stress/disease study).
2005: 167 sheep were captured from the Missouri River Breaks (49), Thompson Falls -Perma area (42) and Sun River (76). Six additional sheep from the Thompson Falls area were radio-collared and released as part of a research investigation in the TF-P area. Of the 167 captured animals, 2 were released at the capture location, 1 mortality occurred and the following states received the balance of the captured sheep: Utah (52), Nebraska (49) and Idaho (62).
2004: Appraisal for Whiskey Ridge proposal. Project not pursued.
In 2004, moose in Region 1 were surveyed in HD’s 100, 105, 106, 102, 110 and 111. A total of 228 moose were observed with a ratio of 90 bulls per 100 cows and 26 calves per 100 cows. In 2005, a total of 234 moose were surveyed in HD’s 100, 105, 106 and 110 with a bull to cow ratio of 90:100 and calf to cow ratio of 32:100. Numbers and ratios were relatively consistent between years and permitted quotas were adjusted accordingly.
In Region 3, moose surveys were conducted in a variety of locations over the 2004 – 2005 period. The Centennial Valley and Gravelly Mountain Complex (HD 330, 331, 332, 333 and 334) were flown with 216 and 173 moose observed in each year respectively. Observed calf cow ratios were 21:100 and 25:100 for each year respectively. Additional work was conducted in the Big Hole Valley in 2004 with a total of 58 moose observed and a documented calf cow ratio of 30:100. A small sample of 18 moose were observed in the vicinity of the MT Haggin WMA area in 2005. Permits were adjusted accordingly.
No authorized expenditures
Elk surveys were flown in HD 590 in the Bull Mountains and Pine Ridge areas. Observed elk numbers for the Bull Mountain flights included a total of 1064 elk with 448 cows and 207 calves for recruitment ratio of 46 calves per 100 cows. In the Pine Ridge unit, a total of 319 elk were observed with 188 cows and 71 calves for a recruitment ratio of 38 calves per 100 cows. Observed bull ratios in both units were high. Permits were adjusted accordingly.
Surveys were also conducted in HD 121 along the Lower Clark Fork by helicopter. Documented numbers included 1309 total elk with 878 cows and 210 calves for a ratio of 24 calves per 100 cows. Permits were adjusted accordingly.
No authorized expenditures.
