The wolf quota in this area during the hunt was 18 (I think). I don't recall whether the quota was filled. It will be interesting to watch how calf recruitment rates fluctuate in the East and West Fork as additional hunting/trapping pressure is put on the wolves there during the next couple of seasons.
"Elk calves show high survival rate in Bitterroot"
RAVALLI COUNTY
http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/Elk-calves-show-high-survival-rate-in-Bitterroot/-/14594602/16083014/-/pl4tvf/-/index.htmlHAMILTON, Mont. - Montana wildlife officials say the elk herd in the East Fork of the Bitterroot Valley could be rebounding.
Craig Jourdonnais of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says he counted 56 elk calves per 100 cows during an aerial flight in July.
He says that 1976 was the last time elk calf numbers were that high.
Jourdonnais says a mild winter combined with last summer's lush vegetation is likely why more elk calves survived. The ratio between elk calves and cows at one point in recent years dropped into the teens.
An elk study has found that 17 elk calves have died since June, and of those six were killed by mountain lions and four by black bears. Two deaths were human related and it's unclear how the other five died.
