Hunters report success in 1948

There were 770 elk killed in the Flathead during hunting season concluded Nov. 15, 1948. Extended season in Flathead River's Middle Fork officially showed an additional 225 elk killed. Season ended there Dec. 31, 1948.

More elk stories made headlines in following weeks.

A ski-equipped snowmobile tractor was used to make the trip to Spotted Bear in January 1949. The men counted 523 elk in bunches of three to 25 above Dry Park on the Flathead River's south fork. Snow measured 76 inches at Trout Lake and 50 inches at Spotted Bear station. It was 30 below zero.

Spotted Bear location was described as "about 10 miles above the end of the future Hungry Horse Reservoir." Men representing U.S. Forest Service, state Fish and Game, U S. Geological Survey did the survey. They were Ernie Harter, Norman Watkins, Sam Gibson and Fred Mola.

Front-page feature story describes 300 wild elk going single file across the ice near the foot of St. Mary. Herd crosses the ice to the St. Mary Flats just before dusk. They would graze all night, crossing back single file before dawn to more secluded mountain areas within Glacier National Park's east side.

Observing the elk were district ranger and Mrs. Don Barnum, ranger and Mrs. Horace Chadbourne, ranger Joe Heimes and Inwald Anderson, electrician. Site was not far from the ranger station.

Back in 1948, state Fish and Game and Flathead National Forest reported known game totals for Spotted Bear as follows: 157 bull elk, 127 cows, 37 calves, four black bear, three grizzlies, 16 mountain goat and 22 deer. There were 1,274 hunters, which was near record.

Big Prairie district, reached only by trails, had 300 hunters. Big game count showed 89 bulls, 81 cows, 27 calves, 8 goat and three deer.

There were an estimated 150 hunters in Schafer Meadows, on the Middle Fork.

Hunting results showed at 49 bulls, 33 cows, 11 calves, three black bear, two grizzlies, four goat and four deer. Coram district, with 921 hunters, with tally at 42 bull elk, 28 cows, seven calves, four grizzlies and 11 deer.

There were 225 hunters on Condon district. Success rates showed at 16 bulls, 13 cows, nine calves, two black bear, one grizzly, two goat and 18 deer. Swan Lake with 658 hunters reported the following: 20 bulls, 14 cows, 10 calves, one black bear, two grizzlies, one goat, 74 deer.

These game animals provided winter's meat for a lot of families.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.