Establishing Credibility Through Biological Professionalism Presented by Rob Arnaud Montana Hunting Company

Fall Surveys

Fall Surveys Continued

Why Women Drink…..

Hunting Season Data Collection Boone and Crockett Score Front Tooth for cementum analysis A GOOD photo Harvest Weight

Scoring and Incisor Teeth

Poor Photos 339 2/8 B&C 8.5 years 339 B&C 7.5 years

Good Photos 324 B&C 8.5 years 341 6/8 B&C 9.5 years

Cementum Ages

Age Classes of Elk 3.5 years 254 7/8 B&C 2.5 years 220 B&C

Age Classes of Elk 5.5 years 296 B&C 4.5 years 270 B&C

Age Classes of Elk 6.5 years 327B&C 7.5 years 358 B&C

Age Classes of Elk 9.5 years 362 7/8 B&C 8.5 years 346 3/8 B&C

Harvest Management Strategies What does your data say? How old are your elk? Mature bull elk = 7 years of age What’s their gross Boone and Crockett scores? Scores peak at 8.5 years of age Are you harvesting the appropriate age of elk? Are you over harvesting? Would you be better off cutting back on numbers of hunters, increasing Boone and Crockett scores and charging more? Meld this information with your ground and flight data Do you have enough bulls/elk to achieve goals? Do you have to many cows? – reducing cow elk can narrow bull/cow ratios and increase fecundity Are you priced equitably with other outfitters in the West? Are you selling a $5,000 hunt when it should be an $7,500 hunt?

Harvest Management Strategies

Habitat Management Strategies Continued Balance your harvest management with your habitat management Hunting needs to pay for the AUM’s used by elk Land owner’s tolerance for game increases when they are paying their way Convert elk to AUM’s multiply by numbers on ranch and convert to dollar amount 3 Elk = 1 AUM 1 AUM = $20-$35 per month Example: 100 Elk = 33 AUM’s x 12 months = 396 AUM x $20 = $7,920 That is the forage consumed by elk herd and they should pay for their own feed.

Habitat Management Strategies Continued Geographic Size and Location of Property (Limitations) Ranch is too small to affect ages of harvested elk Can you take more elk or should you take less? Landowner and neighbor consideration of quality Habitat Enhancement Strategies Consider leaving second crop alfalfa for food source for elk Consider leaving sanctuary areas on the ranch for elk security and/or road management Work with landowner on cattle rotation Work with silviculturalists on timber management

Winter Surveys

Estimated Population

Winter Surveys Continued Best survey helicopter Second best survey fixed wing Third best ground census You need to balance survey method with budget. On smaller properties, a ground census may be adequate. Get flight data from FWP. Be consistent with methods and time and fashion.

Keeping accurate records and data will pay dividends! Conclusions Keeping accurate records and data will pay dividends! Land owner appreciation – usually translates into long term leases Scientific analysis helps make good decision Helps educate guides on age class of animal to be targeted for hunting Clients can make informed decisions = happy hunters

Conclusions