SUMMARY OF NARRATIVE REPORTS 1938 THROUGH 1994

RUBY LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Tbis document is a summary of records made by personnel of tbe Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge from years 1938 tbrougb 1994.

Tbe Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1938. Tbe lands acquired for tbis purpose were botb private lands purcbased and otbers witbdrawn form tbe Public Domain. Keep in mind tbat tbe area bad been settled in tbe 1860's. All of tbe land bad been grazed or farmed for some 50 years or more wben purcbased. At first and for many years after acquisition, practices sucb as livestock grazing, baying, tbe raising of grain, and predator control continued. But as time bas passed, tbese practices bave been reduced or eliminated.

Tbe first manager assigned to tbe Ruby Lake Refuge was Herb Dill. Herb and Betty Dill stayed witb my parents, Walter and Kay Gardner, tbe first year wbile a bome was being built for tbem at Cave Creek. Tbe Dills became friends of tbe Gardners, as did nearly all refuge personnel during tbe following years; tbat is until attitudes of agency personnel began to cbange in tbe late 1960's and early 70's. From tben on, it seemed tbat no mater wbat tbe private sector did, in tbe eyes of agency personnel it was adverse to wildlife; cattle were bad, recreation on tbe refuge was bad, and tbe killing of predators was bad. And so, at a gradual pace, sucb practices were reduced, discouraged or eliminated.

All of tbe above was done in tbe name of protecting wildlife. It didn't make sense to tbe sportsmen or to tbe rancbers. Common sense told us tbat tbe wildlife were not being benefited. But common sense bad no bearing on decisions made. It was tbe experts tbat bad tbe say, and tbe experts said tbat grazing and certain recreational activities were detrimental.

Unconvinced tbat sucb cbanges were beneficial to wildlife, in tbe mid ~970's I began collecting information myself. At first I took pictures and made comparisons. I ask agency personnel for copies of studies supportive of tbeir actions, but never received any of any consequence. Finally I learned to do my own researcb. It bas taken years, but I bave educated myself. Numerous studies bave been conducted dealing wi tb tbe issues at band; more tban enougb to convince me tbat we bave been rigbt all along; tbat actions taken by agency personnel over tbe last 25 years bave been detrimental to wild~ife; yet tbe agency people bave cbosen to ignore and suppress sucb information.

Recently I was given copies of all of tbe Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge "Annual Reports" dated ~938 tbrougb ~994. Tbe information contained in tbese reports reveal well tbe cbange in pbilosopby tbat bas occurred since tbe 1940's and 50's. Tbe content also reveals mucb of tbe effects tbat tbese cbanges in pbilosopby bave bad on wildlife and related resources.

It is important, I believe, tbat a condensed version of tbat information be printed and preserved in a form easily accessible for public review.

For tbis reason, I bave extracted mucb of tbe content relating to wildlife numbers, grazing management, predator control, and recreational activity. .I bave also added my own bistorical perspective and viewpoint in tbose instances wbere I bave deemed it important to do so.

Tbe result is as follows:

1

....,....

1938 QUARTERLY REPORTS

On July 12, a flock of about 1,500 pintails was noted at Franklin Lake; on August 12 several large flocks of pintails were seen on the lower end of Ruby Lake, totalling approximately 2,000 birds.

An increase in the number of waterfowl was noted about October 10 on the refuge. This influx was attributed to the fact that Franklin Lake had dried up ...

The fall migration started with the arrival of several thousand baldpates ... in the middle of October. The following summery shows the results of counts.

Mallard 3,900 Pintail 4,000 Gadwall 1,200 Baldpate 1,500 Green-winged teal 380 Shoveler 300 Ring-necked duck 1,420 Soaup (lesser) 142 Canvas-back [could not read]

2,000 waterfowl remained until January.

500 head of cattle were permitted to graze over about 2,000 acres of land on the west side of the refuge starting October 1, these animals will graze until snowfall ...

Following the hay harvest on the west side of the refuge, the mallards flocked in and apparently were feeding on the seeds shaken off the grass as a result of cutting during haying. These hay fields have been planted in timothy, clover and redtop, and have a native grass of the geus Pos.

The Gardners had purchased the hay that year from Evalyn Kelley with the understanding that the Gardners were to cut and stack it, and would be allowed to feed it in place. In those days all hay was put up lose in large hay stacks. (Evalyn Kelley was the daughter of Lue Benson. The Bensons had been the owners of the Cave Creek Ranch prior to the purchase by the government)

During October sage hens could be seen in bunches, frequenting the sage covered knolls along the road on the west side of the refuge. Earlier counts were under the present population of 120.

Coyotes took a few ducks late in September and early in October.

A total of 270 people visited the refuge during the months of June and July.

1939 QUARTERLY REPORTS

In February 3,200 snow geese were seen flying over head ...

During the fall migration of 1938 an effort was made to get a check on the total number of waterfowl using the refuge. Counts were made at what was considered the time of maximum waterfowl population. However, it appeared after this work was done that the results obtained were not truly indicative of the total number of birds using the refuge. This conclusion was formed as a result of talking with several local observers ... During the last weeks in October there were approximately 19,000 waterfowl on the refuge. It is probable that at least 50,000 ducks and 3,000 Canada geese visited the refuge during migration. Thirty seven whistling swans were present at one time During October ...

. . . morning doves are twice as abundant as last year, and sandhill cranes are more

2

numerous on the area.

Sage grouse have increased in number at least 50 percent.

A total of $251.81 was taken in from special use permits issued to local ranchers for hay-harvesting and grazing privileges.

Farming for waterfowl started this spring; 80 acres of good land in the meadows was plowed up and will be summer-followed. Next spring 40 more acres each of barley and wheat will be put in.

Six young coyotes were shot in September, 1938.

About 50 pairs of sandhill cranes are now nesting. The young have been seen in several instances and usually number one; three pairs have been seen with two young each.

Sage grouse fared very well over the winter. In November three bunches were present on and near the west boundary of the refuge that averaged 20 birds in each group.

Between six and seven hundred mule deer wintered near the south end of the refuge. Six bucks were taken from the mountains west of the refuge. The largest was a five-point that weighed 250 pounds dressed.

Predations have not been serious, tracks of three different mountain lions were observed this spring near the concentration of deer wintering at the south end of the refuge. Coyotes have taken a few grouse and one or two ducks, but we have made no observations indicating serious loses.

In a previous report, mention was made of several mountain lion frequenting the area ... one of these was bold enough to come down to the horse pasture and attack a colt.

1940 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Canvasbacks and redheads are far more numerous this spring; it is estimated that there are at least one hundred pairs of each species nesting here.

An unusually large concentration of mourning doves was noted during the nesting season of 1939 ... It is estimated that about 4,000 of these birds [were] present on the area during the seasons of 1939 and 1940.

A flock of 50 sandhill cranes was seen on March 5 which is about their usual time for arriving here ... It is believed that the sandhill cranes have increased 800 percent since the refuge was established in 1938. This is probably due to the fact that the ranchers formerly living on the area exercised control on these birds with a rifle ...

In all of my life, while hearing stories of happenings from those who had spent their entire lives in this Valley, never have I heard anyone say that sandhill cranes were a problem for ranchers or that anyone ever killed one for that reason. I can remember Oscar Knight telling me that sandhill cranes were tough eating, but it must be remembered that Oscar was one of the oldest Indians living during my adolescence; and when speaking of eating sandhill cranes, he was refurring to those times when many of the Indians were still living off the land as they had in the old days.

As reported last fall, sage grouse have made a good increase on the refuge in the past three seasons. One bunch was noted two miles north of the refuge and another of 50 three miles north of the refuge. Flocks of from 200 to 500 birds have been reported in Ruby Valley during the winter and it is thought that there

3

are probably between 1,000 and 1,500 sage grouse within 30 miles of the refuge. It will be recalled that we counted over 500 sage hens on the refuge during August.

Experience tells me that if there were 500 sage grouse on the refuge at that time, there must have been at least 5,000 to 10,000 in all of Ruby Valley; which would reflect more accurately what Frank Temoke and my Dad told of that period. Frank said that the sage hens were so thick in the 194rr's that in March near Murphy's Well, (which is 30 or more miles North of the refuge headquarters), "the country looked white with all the sage hens strutting". Dad said that there were so many sage grouse during that period, it was said that you could "kill them by the gunny sack full".

The muskrats in Ruby Lake have increased to more than double the estimated population of 5,000 in 1938 when the refuge was first placed in operation.

Last year it was estimated that there were 1,000 deer in the herd while this year there is at least 2,000. Predations on deer in this locality are fairly common from mountain lions. Two mountain lion kills have been found near the road ...

I wonder if the increases in wildlife as noted above, (i.e. double the populations in no more than 18 months), was not a case of people not noticing everything that was around them that first year.

The Division of Predatory Animal and Rodent Control has cooperated in an excellent manner by reducing the numbers of coyotes in the vicinity of the refuge. Last summer considerable loss resulted from coyotes taking "flapper" ducks. Three different trappers have been working within 20 miles of the refuge and their work should result in a much smaller number of coyotes on the area next year.

During February and March a grazing plan was worked up for the refuge. Last year grazing on the east side of the refuge was not allowed and on the west side it was cut down to a very small percent of that formerly carried on by the ranchers. No hay was cut last year; this year it is planned to cut and bunch all of the hay and to feed it out of the bunch ... The carrying capacities of the fields have all been stepped up to take care of the accumulation of grass from last year.

One hundred visitors took 207 brook trout this spring.

1941 NARRATIVE REPORTS

The behavior of Canada Geese was contrary to previous records. Normally, there are from twelve to fifteen hundred Canada geese on the salt-grass flats at the south end of the refuge from Sept. 1 thru Oct. 31 ... This year, from 1,500 to 2,000 have frequented Franklin Lake from Aug. 15 to Oct. 31, and will probably stay there until the lake freezes hard.

Snow geese did not migrate thru Ruby Valley in any numbers during the fall.

During August and the first part of September, it was estimated that there were between four and five thousand mallards on the refuge. On October 16, only three birds of this species were recorded. By October 31, large flocks appeared to feed in groups in the meadows where hay had been harvested, particularly along the west side of Franklin Lake. It was estimated that 10,000 mallards were present in the Valley on October 31, about evenly distributed between Ruby and Franklin Lake.

Gadwall is the most common species of duck nesting here. However, as in the case of the mallard, the birds leave here by October 15.

This year the fall migration of Baldpate occurred starting October 5, and reached

4

a peak October 31.

It is estimated that 20,000 baldpates were present on both lakes on October 31. And an estimated 10,000 pintails were here during the period.

Two flocks of from 200-300 Green-winged teal were noted on the east side ponds about the middle of August; an estimated 1,200 green-winged teal are present on the area now, with about the same number being recorded on Franklin Lake.

Cinnamon Teal behaved as usual ... Following an excellent nesting season ...by October 1 they had all migrated. An estimated 1,200 Cinnamon teal were present on the area on August 31.

While redhead showed an increase during the nesting season, they are definitely less abundant on the refuge in October, as compared with a year ago.

Canvas-back had a better nesting season than last year, and was generally more abundant over the area. During migration an estimated 2,000 were present on the deep ponds at the south end of the refuge ...

Sage grouse numbers remain about the same as last year, approximately 500 birds. They are most abundant on the west side of the refuge south of headquarters.

Muskrats are common ... trapping policy is being formulated.

Very few coyotes have been observed on the refuge or surrounding areas. No evidence of their predation on waterfowl has been observed ... Their scarcity on the refuge is attributed to extensive predator control operations by private and government trappers on areas surrounding the refuge.

[While turning water at Cave Creek] Six snakes were found in one pool less than 10 feet long, each with one or more trout from 5 1/2" to 7" long that had been swallowed. Two trout of this size was the most found in any snake. Eastern Brook Trout were planted by rancher prior to the establishment of the refuge .

. .. 625.000 trout were raised at the fish hatchery during the past fiscal year.

1942 NARRATIVE REPORTS

The winter population of sage grouse appear to be normal.

A recent survey of the mule deer wintering on the south west corner of the refuge and on the Forest lands shows an estimated decrease of from 15 to 20 per cent as compared to years 1938 - 1941. This decrease is attributed to an increase in the number of mountain lions frequenting this area. On January 21, one deer-kill probably made by a lion was found one mile west of the refuge ... On January 22, four more fresh kills were discovered in Fish Pond Canyon on the White Pine County Line ... All remains were fully adult deer, two of which were large bucks.

Our most common predator, the coyote, showed a definite increase. We estimate a 50 percent increase in the number of coyotes. This is attributed to the reduced operations of private trappers and the Division of Predatory Animal and Rodent Control owing to war conditions limiting personnel and travel via auto.

The ravens and magpies have shown approximately a ten percent increase over last year. While, at this time of year, these birds are not destructive, we shall recommend control measures for the coming season.

The muskrat is steadily increasing. It is estimated that there is a total population of 30,000 muskrats on the refuge.

A general increase in waterfowl (ducks and Geese) noted during the nesting season

5

was reflected in the larger concentrations observed during September and October.

The whistling swans arrived as usual about November 8 but were far more numerous this year than last. Nearly double last year'S number were present on Franklin Lake ... [there were 17 whistling swans seen on Franklin Lake in 1941]

The sage grouse had a poor nesting season followed by a two day hunting season in Elko County that resulted in a general depletion of the species throughout the County. This observation is based on reports of County officials and deer hunters ... the refuge estimates that a slight decrease in the population occurred due to the small hatch and predator pressure from owls and coyotes ...

Of particular interest was the occurrence of the Hungarian partridge on the refuge for the first time ... Eighteen birds were flushed from the sage brush along the west side of the Hagar field ... It is estimated that a total of 150 of this species were on the refuge from October 15 to December 15. Hungarian partridge was never introduced in Elko County, but got its start in southern Idaho between Mountain Home and Twin Falls and has since worked south two to three hundred miles into Nevada. From 1939 to 1941 we had several reports of Hungarian partridges near Mountain City, and generally throughout the country north of Elko. In September, 1941 a rancher living five miles west of Elko reported a small flock feeding near his yard. This fall many reports have come in of their appearance south of Elko in fairly large numbers; 200 at Lamoille, 50 at Jiggs, 150 at Pole Canyon, and 50 at the W.J. Gardner ranch in Ruby Valley. This writer saw 21 in Long Valley on November 13 ...

The hatchery located on the refuge and operated by the County of Elko is in full production.

1943 NARRATIVE REPORTS

A very decided increase was noted with the numbers of nesting birds ...

Approximately 1,000 geese were raised here. On August 2 it was estimated that approximately 6,000 Canada geese were using Franklin Lake. As we have noted before, the Canada geese nest on Ruby Lake fairly commonly, but prefer the more open shallow waters of Franklin Lake for congregating and feeding.

On April 15 four goose nests were found directly in front of the headquarters in the edge of the lake and all four were situated on muskrat houses.

In past years we have noted that the Canada geese prefer an open type pond situated near a good growth of salt grass for resting and feeding. Ponds surrounded by dense emergent vegetation are used, of course, but by far the most popular are those having no heavy vegetation, and with a gently sloping grassy bank around the edge. As an experiment, such a pond was created through placing an earth dam in one of the small spring channels. An overflow was installed to one side through a small ditch in the sod, the flow of water being small enough not to cause serious erosion. This pond was built in August of 1942 and was immediately taken over by the Canada geese. A flock of 20 stayed there until Christmas and the first spring arrivals were noted on this same pond.

Sage grouse remain as reported in August ... Predation is always heavy from coyotes, hawks and owls with this species and this factor has tended to further deplete the refuge flock.

Four pair of Hungarian Partridges were noted on the refuge during April ...

The lack of snow all winter at the lower elevations resulted in scattering the winter herd of deer. Food was abundant as there was but little snow on the winter range. Mountain lions were more numerous this winter than last and five kills were found ...

6

Every observation on does with fawns has shown twin fawns and no barren does have been seen. Forage is excellent but predator pressure from mountain lions is severe as the latter have definitely increased. The State has taken steps to harvest a part of this surplus by authorizing the killing of 1,500 does in Elko County and similar steps have been taken in all other counties but one.

Hunting pressure was heavier than in other years which is considered desirable since the herd in increasing much faster than the hunters and predators can take care of the surplus. As an indication of increased hunting, the Elko County license receipts totaled approximately $20,000 this year as compared to about $12,000 last year.

Coyotes were numerous this year due to last year's shortage of trappers .

.. . large-mouthed black bass were found to be in Ruby Lake in July. Previously they had remained undiscovered due to the lower water levels and their concentration in parts of the lake inaccessible for a boat due to rank vegetation. With the high water this year they scattered to all parts of the lake and even got into two of the spring ponds which feed into the lake. Bass fishing was excellent late in August and early in September. About 1,200 were taken from two of the small spring ponds where fishing was permitted. Average weight on 50 of these fish that were weighed was two pounds four ounces and the average length was 13 inches. According to the only record available, bass were planted in Ruby Lake in 1932 at which time 15,000 were liberated. Their presence was not detected until this year. Undoubtedly there are some very large bass somewhere in the lake.

A total of 700 fishermen visited the refuge from May through August and early September.

At the County hatchery .. .400,000 eastern brook and fall spawning rainbow in about equal numbers will be ready for planting sometime in July.

1944 NARRATIVE REPORTS

During the latter part of March the Canada goose population reached its peak. At that time there were an estimated 1,200 utilizing the refuge. An estimated 300 pairs are now nesting on the numerous small islands and muskrat houses common to the refuge.

An estimated 1,200 Mallards, 600 Canvasback, and 200 Redhead ducks wintered on the refuge.

Approximately 4,000 coots remained on the refuge throughout the quarter, [May through August] .

During the latter part of February and March, it became necessary to establish feeding stations. After the first few days of feeding, a very large attendance was noted. Approximately a ton of barley was used.

Muskrats are present in large numbers ....most of the muskrats taken ...were found to be in an emaciated condition. Trappers reported many muskrats in traps were eaten by others, both above ground and under the water. Investigation proved this to be true. On other parts of the refuge, several trappers reported finding dead muskrats on the ice and on the ground at some distance from the waters edge. Eleven permits, each carrying a quota of 1,000 muskrats, were issued.

Considerable study of predator damage has been made during the past six weeks. Approximately 90% of all active feeder houses have been torn open by the coyotes. One coyote was shot, after running a short distance, he regurgitated the masticated body of a muskrat before dying ....Coyotes are extremely numerous and as a result much damage has been done to the waterfowl population.

7

Sand-hill Cranes are quite numerous ... Although several young were observed, there appeared to be only one per brood.

During late August and September most of the geese migrated to Franklin Lake. The migration is attributed to the better feeding areas and cut over hay meadows .

. . . a freshly killed doe was found on the refuge near the Narcise Reservoir. This kill was known to have been by coyotes.

A three year Special Use Permit, allowing 2,700 animal use months from August 1 to February 28, was in effect during September and October. This permittee (Robert Duval) ran a total of 1,060 A.U.M. during this period.

A one year Special Use Permit, allowing 800 animal use months from August 1 to October 31 was in effect during September and October. This Permittee (Walter Gardner) ran a total of 562 A.U.M. during this period.

No conflict with wildlife has been noted from such utilization.

Seventeen tons of alfalfa hay were harvested on the refuge on a cash basis permit at $1,50 per ton. This permit was held by Carl Maves. Further haying operations should prove to be of a distinct benefit to wildlife.

1945 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Mule deer were abundant during February ... Three deer are known to have been killed by Mountain Lions near the west side refuge boundary and two by coyotes on the refuge.

The muskrat population as far as is known, remains as about that of last year ... heavy pressure (by coyotes] is being brought to bear on the muskrat and waterfowl population.

Control operations were conducted by the use of poison. A total of 109 coyotes were known to have been destroyed in this manner.

Ravens and magpies are quite numerous. Some duck and goose eggs are known to have been taken by these birds. A total of 38 (magpies] were taken on the refuge by trapping and shooting.

The hatch of young sage grouse was even more disappointing than that of last year.

1,705 A.U.M. were permitted to Walter Gardner for the period of August 1st to December 31st.

2,605 A.U.M. were permitted to Robert Duval for the period of August 1st to December 31st.

No conflict between grazing cattle and wildlife has been noted.

Two haying permits were issued ... Robert Duval, cutting and benching wild hay in South Cave Creek field ... Carl Maves, allowing the cutting and stacking of approximately 75 tons of wild hay.

Immediately after these meadows were cut, considerable wildlife use was noted. Many ducks and geese and a few sage hens were daily observed feeding in the cut­over areas.

No fires occurred on or near the refuge. Excellent cooperation in the prevention of fire was shown by fisherman and hunters.

8

Blue grouse are quite numerous in the high country west of the refuge.

Sage grouse are defiantly on the decrease, not only on the refuge but throughout Elko County.

Hunting pressure proved to be the heaviest in Elko County's history. Hundreds of deer were killed by out of state hunters, most of them from California. Elko County is fast becoming known as a deer hunters paradise, Which may in time cause a drastic reduction in the deer herds unless something is done to lighten the pressure from non resident hunters.

Three mountain lion kills in the Ruby Mountains were reported by hunters .... 35 deer hunters camped at the Cave Creek picnic grounds and 15 at Flynn Creek during the deer season.

1946 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Winter populations of waterfowl were normal with the exception that no Canada geese or swans wintered here this year. The first Canada geese arrived February 18 and started pairing off within two weeks. It was interesting to note that favorite feeding areas for these geese were the cut over hay lands and parts of pastures where the grass had been cropped off close. The favorite nesting sites were muskrat houses, as usual. followed by small islands in the marsh area covered with salt grass.

The spring migration of ducks was heavier than usual this year, the largest we have ever seen here. This increase was reflected chiefly in two species, green­winged teal and pintails. A large flight of both species arrived March 5 and built up to a peak concentration of 15,000 and 20,000 respectively on March 20. Other species were normal with a slight increase in redheads. Only one species shows a decrease both in number of migrants and nesting birds, the Gadwall. Ordinarily this is one of our most common nesters.

A large flight of doves appeared April 25 and were concentrated near headquarters. Over 1,000 were seen feeding on weed seeds that had blown off the parent plants near the refuge barn.

The sandhill cranes were late in arriving this year, and did not appear until March 18, nearly two weeks past their usual time. This species shows a substantial increase in the number of non-nesting birds. but is about the same on nesters, there being an estimated 55 pairs on the area.

Feed and cover conditions are good.

Volunteer barley aided by irrigation attracted 12 to 15 geese and as many as 50 sandhill cranes to the refuge grain patch. The geese fed mainly on grass in the meadows and the ducks on smartweed seeds and seeds from other emergents.

The sage grouse population in at its lowest ebb. Only nine birds were seen on the winter grounds (February 15) and only two nesting birds were found (April 18). This condition is attributed to a series of cold wet springs from 1942 yo 1945 plus heavy predation from coyotes, great-horned owls and some of the hawks.

Since the refuge was first started we have watched closely the herd of mule deer wintering on and adjacent to the west side of the refuge. This herd in 1943 had increased to about 2,100 that used the area during migrations from summer to winter range and back again. A further increase was reported in 1944 by Mr. H. E. Cherry.

The fall migration through this section last year was estimated at 5,000 by the U.S. Forest Service and this is considered a reliable figure.

9

The sections of winter range on Units 1, 2, and three and the area just west of these units showed an over-browsed condition. About 60 percent of the junipers are ringed and service berry, snowberry and the little button sage are eaten ... to the point where only the main stalks are left. This is strictly a local condition, the winter range to the north of the refuge is still in good condition. Examination of the range south of the refuge failed to turn up anything like this either. A part of the damage was probably done in the winter of 1944 when heavy snow prevailed over these parts. However, the growth for the following summer was eaten off again last winter and it is certain that there are a few to many deer in the area. This justifies our recommendation of five years ago to permit the taking of one doe along with a buck during hunting season. Following such recommendations doe hunting was permitted from 1943 to 1945 and probably averted much more serious damage to this section of range. Heavy hunting pressure this fall is expected to crop a large part of the remaining surplus of deer.

All deer observed this spring were in excellent physical condition. One bunch of 30-odd deer stayed around the headquarters buildings all winter feeding on clover in the lawn and nipped off some of our prize shrubs.

In spite of a reported increase in the number of mountain lions we failed to observe any evidence of heavy predation among deer. Five kills were found, one mountain lion, two by coyotes, and one by a bobcat; one was undetermined. The coyotes developed quite a system for killing deer. Four or five of these predators would gang up and chase a deer back and forth through the barbed wire fence until it got hung up, and then worry it to death. Near the Narcise Pond we kept finding coyote hair in the fence along one little section of 100 yards or so. We finally got to checking tracks and found two kills. In one case the carcass was still fouled in the wire. The bobcat kill was found only about 12 hours old. He jumped a good sized doe (over 100 pounds) on the bed ground, grabbed her by the throat and brought her down in 14 feet. He then ate a meal from one ham and covered the place he had eaten from and the wound on the neck with grass. The doe was in good shape when killed. A local trapper set a trap (not on the refuge) and caught the bobcat next day. It was a male about three years old and weighed 25 pounds. There were no other tracks near the kill of any other predator. The ground was muddy at the time and made checking tracks and other sign very easy. Also, the marks on the throat where the deer was bitten were easily distinguished and were spaced right for the teeth of the bobcat. This was particularly interesting to us since there has been considerable argument locally as to whether a bobcat would kill an adult deer in good condition. The mountain lion kill was typical; the neck was broken and the carcass showed unmistakable sign of having been consumed by a lion. A number of these mountain lion kills are usually found every winter.

The muskrat population was considered too low t'o permit trapping last fall. Investigations during January, 1946 established the fact that coyote predation was the main factor in the sudden decline in numbers of the muskrats 1943 to 1945. These predators were averaging two muskrats each every trip out onto the ice. Conditions favoring such hunting forays prevailed from December 1 to February 28. The coyotes caught the muskrats in the small feed houses. This fact was established by tracking 15 different coyotes from the point the entered the marsh to where they left. As a rule the entire muskrat was eaten excepting the stomach.... this winter clearly indicate that the damage to muskrats from coyotes has been greatly underestimated in the past. The number of coyotes on Ruby Lake must be kept at a minimum in future years if a large muskrat population is to be maintained. If, as we prooved last winter, a coyote averages two muskrats on every hunting trip, and he usually feeds every day, one coyote would kill a total of 180 muskrats in three months. This figure might be lowered somewhat by bad weather precluding hunting and the coyote breeding season starting in late February at which time they would not feed every day. But when you consider that 113 coyotes were killed on the refuge in the winter of 1944-45 and 38 in 1945-46, it is not at all surprising that the muskrat population fell

10

off as fast as it did. For instance, 30 coyotes would have taken a conservative 5,000 muskrats last winter. Additional investigations were made to determine the prevalence of disease as a possible factor in the rapid population decline. Fifty five adult specimens were "posted" from trapping Unit No.2, 41 males and 14 females. All were in good physical condition and showed no evidence of disease or undue amount of parasitism.

The only work done on predators was with the coyotes. A total of 35 were taken during the period of which 25 were shot from an airplane, nine were poisoned and one was trapped. This work was done in cooperation with the Division of Predatory Animal and Rodent Control who supervised closely all activities in connection with poison. We feel fairly sure that this control work was the salvation of our breeding stock of muskrats and now think we have the coyotes fairly well under control. In view of our findings as previously outlined, authority will be requested to poison and shoot coyotes next winter.

In spite of above-normal precipitation ...we had no fires during the season.

An airplane was used for making a waterfowl brood count for the first time this summer. Not only was the venture successful from the standpoint of counting waterfowl, but considerable information was obtained on over-all usage of the refuge by a number of forms of wildlife. Observations were made on muskrats and bass that would have been difficult or impossible to get otherwise. One point worthy of mention at this time is the distribution of the nesting coot population during July. They were nearly 100% in the outlets of the spring fed streams along the west side. These areas abound in aquatic vegetation such as pondweeds and are surrounded by heavy stands of bullrush. It was quite clear that the coots had exclusive rights on these areas and suggests competition for territory with certain species of ducks such as redheads, mallards, cinnamon teal and a few others known to like similar habitat. This was quite clear from the air and the area used by coots could easily have been mapped on the basis of the dominate types of vegetation.

The number of sandhill cranes present on the refuge remained about the same as in other years, but the number of nesting pairs was a great deal smaller. Only six nesting pairs were seen with one young each.

After four consecutive years of very poor reproduction the sage grouse finally showed a substantial increase in numbers as compared to last year. The present population on the refuge is estimated at 125. In 1942 we had close to 500. This increase was general throughout Elko County, in some places so marked that requests have come in for an open season in 1947. Elko County represents one of the very few localities remaining in the West where sage grouse are fairly common. Three-day seasons were permitted here from 1940-1942. However, we definitely would not recommend an open season for 1947. This species is easily taken by the hunter, and an open season coupled with a comparatively heavy loss to predators, normal with the species, would probably further deplete them to the point where they would entirely disappear. It is our observation that the greatest single factor in the perpetuation and increase of sage grouse is weather during the nesting season. On the refuge they commence nesting about April 20. Quite often we get a heavy wet snow late in April or early in May followed by freezing weather. This happened every year from 1942 - 1945. Many nests were found that had been deserted, in some cases with a full clutch of eggs remaining. It is also believed that very young sage grouse are vulnerable to cold wet weather much the same as young turkeys. Regardless of the entire accuracy of these statements, the fact remains that there have always been fewer sage grouse present on the refuge following weather of the type mentioned during the spring.

Only one brood of Hungarian Partridges was observed the first week in September. This brood contained ten birds. Two other broods were reported near the south end of the refuge. In general these birds are becoming more abundant throughout the County. We have one report from Eureka County stating that large numbers

11

have been seen on the desert in the north end of Diamond Valley. I also had a report from one of the sportsmen at Lovelock, Nevada stating that in the past year they had become fairly common in many parts of Humboldt County. Some planting have been made in that section of the State, but in general we believe that the Hungarian Partridge in Nevada moved south from Idaho gradually over a period of years.

The extensive control work on coyotes last winter paid dividends and only one coyote was seen during the period. This happened to be an old crippled bitch that denned somewhere near headquarters (we never were able to find the den) and made off with over 20 of our chickens. A drift of coyotes is expected in to the area during the fall, and we are fully prepared to continue measures if needed. [Refuge personnel were milking a cow at that time. they also kept chickens]

Extensive predation on duck nests by ravens was noted in June. After breaking up the nest these birds would carry shell fragments to some nearby land such as the main dike or the road along the west side of the refuge and there pick the shells clean. In two cases the raven was observed to do just this~ some of the other instances may have been secondary predation following a raid on the nest by a skunk or other predator but no evidence to this effect was found.

A considerable amount of work was accomplished at the Elko Co. Fish Hatchery located on the refuge.

With the reopening of the hatchery in January, following a shut down during the war, eggs were hard to get. However, in the course of the summer a good supply was accumulated. At the close of the period total stock at the hatchery was as follows: European Brown Trout, 81,060; Rainbow, 178,242; Cutthroat, (yellowstone) 363,181; Eastern Brook Trout, 205,120, for a total of 836,593. Of this the following numbers were planted in Elko County during the period; Cutthroat, 32,100; rainbow, 102,500; Eastern Brook Trout, 30,030. This was necessarily a small plant using small fish since the operations had to begin from scratch in January.

Permittee Robert E. Duval utilized 729 AUM ... during the period. Of this 476 AUM's was by steers grazed in these units in consecutive order from May - August. 253 AUM's were used during Aug., in addition to the above, by mixed cattle. This permittee cut and bunched the hay in Grazing Units 5 and 6 during August.

There was no conflict with wildlife and the two fields that were cut over were immediately used by sandhill cranes and a scattering of ducks. Cutting the hay definitely made these fields more attractive to waterfowl.

Permittee W.S. Gardner utilized 708 AUM's with steers from May thru August. In August an additional 589 AUM's were used in these units by mixed cattle. There was no conflict with wildlife.

Permittee Carl A. Maves cut and stacked 57.60 tons of wild hay on Unit 2. The crop was light and the quality of hay only fair. This hay runs largely to sedges rather than grasses. Good utilization of the cut over area was made by wildlife after the hay harvest.

The public used the refuge for recreation purposes to a greater extent this summer than ever before. The main interest was in the excellent bass fishing the area affords. An estimated 1,280 man days were devoted to fishing with the catch estimated at 5,000 bass weighing from 1/2 lb. to 5 1/4 Ibs. Average weight of the bass ran about 1 1/2 Ibs. An estimated total of 500 trout were taken with about 50% each of rainbow and eastern brook trout. Eleven brown trout were taken. In the fishing contest sponsored at Elko, all prizes for all species of trout and bass in every division were won with fish from the refuge with but one exception, the native cutthroat (this species not represented on the refuge). First prizes were awarded to fish in the following weights: Rainbow trout 9 1/4

12

lbsi Eastern Brook Trout 7 1/2 lbsi European Brown Trout 8 1/4 lbsi Large Mouth Bass 5 1/4 lbs.

The first heavy storm during the fall occurred October 3rd and extended through October 6th.... this put the mule deer on the move toward their winter range. Frequent storms during October and early November coupled with the heaviest hunting pressure we have ever had kept them moving south along the refuge (Ruby Mountains) and they were on the winter range by mid-November. During the last week of the season (October 20-26) we were over-run with the largest number of hunters we have ever seen in the vicinity of the refuge (mostly non-residents) ... hunters success percentage ran very high, about 80%, and the majority of bucks checked were large ones. A record head was taken by Mr. W.S. Gardner, a local rancher. It measured a spread of 40 1/2 inches and had eight points on one side and seven on the other exclusive of the brow tines. Our observations in November and December show a buck - doe relationship of one to four ... No evidence of predation or disease among deer was noted during the period. The deer that were checked were all in thrifty condition. Two mountain lions were killed by deer hunters in October in the vicinity of Overland Pass.

Authority was received to continue coyote control on the refuge this fall and winter and arrangements have been made to put out poison stations and hunt them with an airplane.

The end of the period closed the best year we have ever had on economic use so far as haying and grazing was concerned. Our grazing units are all in good shape with a surplus of forage left. On the areas where hay was cut and bunched and where it was stacked, good use was made of the cut over area by waterfowl. Ducks moved in shortly after the hay was cut followed by geese later in the fall. No conflict with wildlife was noted as a result of any economic use.

1947 NARRATIVE REPORTS

In view of the early growth of vegetation ... a serious fire hazard will exist both on the refuge and on adjoining Forest Service and Grazing Service lands ...

A total of 54 pairs of geese were recorded on Ruby Lake. On Franklin Lake 41 un­ma ted Canada geese were observed and 39 pairs were recorded. The general waterfowl distribution of Franklin Lake was similar to that on Ruby Lake. It is estimated that 95% of the geese on both areas were observed .

... approximately 150 Canada geese were hatched on Ruby Lake this year as compared to an estimated 555 plus last year.

Our usual light spring migration started March 15. Observations made from the Airplane on March 19 showed major concentrations at the north end, along the west side and at the south end estimated at 1,500 Canvas-back, 800 red-heads and a scattering of mallards, pintails and green-winged teal in about equal numbers totaling 4,000. The height of the migration was reached April 5 for most species. The flight of Cinnamon teal came later from April 25 to the 30th. approximately 300 ...

The sage grouse population is still was under par on the refuge ... This was estimated at one hundred and twenty five. No unusual signs of predation were seen during the period. In the northern part of Elko County a good population is reported by Game Warden Harry Elliott. There has been considerable agitation for an open hunting season on the basis of similar reports. However, it is felt that an open season is not justified.

An estimated 600 to 700 deer wintered on the west side of the refuge this year ... This is about the same number as last year. The buck-doe ratio seems about normal with an average of one buck to every three or four does.

13

One outstanding group of bucks was reported by Manager Dill and Clerk-Patrolman Wolf in a herd of twenty during late January. Eleven bucks were counted ranging from forked horns to seven or eight pointers by western count. Fully half of these were "Walking Hat-racks". and the largest spread and beam by far was carried by a forked horn buck. It was a very large buck and a careful estimate of his span was made. This span was judged to be forty inches from tip to tip.

The balance of the big bucks had proportionately large racks and would be an object of show mounted over any fire place.

The quota of 6,000 [muskrats] was filled and the quality of fur obtained was far better than any taken in the past. Our total estimated population of 20,000 as submitted last fall was therefore very nearly correct as borne out by the success of the trapping operations and estimates of the remaining muskrat population both by the trappers and refuge personnel.

Our theory that the coyote was responsible for the abrupt decline in numbers from 1944 - 1946 was entirely substantiated by the fine increase shown last summer following the taking of 164 coyotes (plus a large number poisoned and not found) ... Also, the much improved quality of the fur indicates that our population estimates since 1943 were reasonably accurate and that we were carrying a top-heavy number of rats in those years ...

...we feel that with marsh conditions as they are, from six to eight thousand muskrats should be taken annually ...

We are thoroughly convinced that the population must be kept within very definite limits for the best all around results.

Control operations continued on coyotes during the period in cooperation with the Division of Predatory Animal and Rodent Control. Three 1080 stations were put out on the east side of the refuge and an airplane was also used for hunting them. A total of 14 coyotes were shot and accounted for. The poison stations had all been visited and as estimated 20 coyotes were accounted for there according to the Division of Predatory Animal and Rodent Control. Aside from the ones that were seen and shot, only six other coyotes were noted during the period.

Of particular interest to everyone here was the remarkable growth made by the cutthroats (Montana Blackspots) in the hatchery. The eyed eggs were received in June 1946 and feeding was started in July. Fresh liver was fed for two months followed by a mixture of 70% horsemeat and 30% liver to four months. Horsemeat was fed after this with one cooked feeding per week including 10% cereal (rolled oats). In May, 1947 average size was four inches and they ran from three to eight inches in length. According to Hatchery Supt. Griffith, in most hatcheries it is found difficult to get much growth on Black-Spots over two inches. They are usually liberated at an average size of ? -miss print- inches (year old fish). This lot of fish was also found to be easily handled with a comparatively small loss while being held.

In those days, if anyone had a horse that was cranky, or was too old for use, or may have been injured, they would call the people at the fish hatchery, and within a day or two, two or three men would show up to butcher the animal. The price paid, as I remember, was 5 to 7 cents a lb. At the hatchery there was one building that acted as a locker plant. Within the building there was an area for processing the meat of course, with a large meat grinder, but most of the building acted as a cold storage area. At that time meat was the primary diet fed to fish at hatcherys.

It the mid 1940' s mountain lions became "pretty thick" in Ruby Valley. They were being seen "pretty often" which prompted Skeet Moore, who was an avid hunter, to get a dog or two and start hunting. (Skeet was working at the hatchery at that

14

time.) Skeet was so successful it wasn't long until others were joining him after work; chasing lions a "couple" of times a week. Then Skeet got the Idea that it was wasteful not to be making good use of all that lion meat, so they began makinq fish food of the lion carcasses. Not surprisingly for those who knew Skeet, it wasn't long until Skeet was cutting off a few steaks for himself. I can remember Dad coming home from a bachelor party held at the hatchery one time; the next morning Mom ask Dad what they had to eat, and Dad saying that as far as he knew it was mountain lion they ate. That was like Skeet Moore, no one ever had more fun than Skeet.

But that kind of lion huntinq didn't last lonq. The sheepmen soon had the animal damage people on the job, and the mountain lions were brought under control. It wasn't long after that, that the fisheries people began to learn how to raise fish without a lot of animal product; they began using more and more grain, until eventually they learned that they could eliminate meat from a fishes diet altogether.

Total liberations as of July 1, 1947 for the year past will run about 1,000,000 trout, all in Elko County. This spring during April 14,600 rainbow (10"), 110,000 blackspots (4") and 40,000 Eastern Brook (2") were planted in Elko County.

Fortunately we have had no fires on the refuge during the period.

On Sunday, August 10, a fire was reported on the Myers ranch. Due to the fast action of 80 men from neighboring ranches, refuge and the State Fish Hatchery, the fire was brought under control before any damage was done.

On August 20, a fire was reported on the Gardner ranch just north of the refuge. This fire was under control on arrival by refuge personnel.

Wildfires rarely burned more than a few acres during those years. Cattle grazing removed the majority of grasses that had qrown each year - eliminatinq the majority of flash fuel. In addition, the people living in the area were a qood deal better about getting on a fire at that time than they are now. I can remember it always amazed me how quickly everyone got to a fire. Bob Duval lived at the north end of the valley but it always seemed that he got to the fire just as soon or sooner than anyone. All that we had for fighting fires at that time were shovels, but because of the rapid response and season long grazing, fires rarely got out of control. I wish people were as good at fighting fire today as they were at that time. I also wish that the modern generation knew how to deal with nature as well as the old timers did.

This year, for the first time, an actual count showed five hundred white Pelicans using the area.

Food and cover conditions were excellent in the marsh and on the meadows bordering the Marsh. It is expected that the wheat and barley raised this year under cooperative agreement will provide a readily available source of food for our fall migrants.

There seems to be a general increase of [sage grouse] over last year throughout the southern part of the County, many being observed on the south fork of the Humboldt River on trips to town. Many of these birds were young showing good nesting success was had.

At that time the route to Elko was along the lower South Fork. The paved road from Elko to Jiggs was not completed until the early 1950's. The new road, which is in use today, was constructed nearer the mountain, and away from the valley bottom.

Only one flock, numbering thirteen, of Hungarian Partridge have been observed on

15

the refuge.

Raven and Magpies have been with us throughout the period ... it is thought that both species pray on both eggs and young ducklings.

The combined picnic and camp ground area, located along Cave Creek was used to the fullest extent on nearly every week-end.

Geese were here in greater numbers than in previous years.

Food and cover conditions were excellent throughout the period as attested by the fact that ducks and geese have remained much later than in previous years. There are still approximately 2,000 ducks feeding in the gain field at headquarters.

Full use has been made of the wheat and barley planted under cooperative agreement.

Of interest are two reports of sage hen in large bands, one of two hundred and the other of five hundred. These were observed in October on the Warm Springs summit which lies approximately fifty miles north of the refuge. These birds were no doubt in the process of moving to their winter range.

As it has been on open winter ... the deer are still on the lower edges of their summer range. There has been no mass exodus of deer to their winter range in he low range of mountains to the south.

Non-Resident hunters were limited to five hundred for Elko County and fifteen hundred for White Pine County ... Hunter success was high ...

Although the deer population at the present time is high in the Ruby Mountains it is not thought to have reached a point where it is necessary to control their numbers as both winter and summer range is in good condition.

1948 NARRATIVE REPORTS

There were no fires during the period.

The spring migration of both ducks and geese was somewhat later than it was last year. Most species had arrived by March 15th.

On March 21, a lone Turkey Vulture was observed on a telephone pole at the CCC Camp. By the end of the month there were about 20 utilizing the area around the source of Cave Creek as a roosting ground.

Food and cover conditions were good during the period. There was sufficient grain left in the grain fields to carry the birds until thawing conditions opened the lake and made available green forage in the meadows. The rye planted last fall has served a good purpose in furnishing green browse particularly for geese.

Mule Deer, the only species of big game animal on the area were with us in their usual numbers throughout the period. Because of the light snow falls during the winter the deer herd did not depart to their usual wintering ground among the low juniper covered hills to the south. They spent the entire period on the lower edges of their summer range.

A total of 5,040 muskrats were taken against a quota of 6000.

Average price for all furs exclusive of kits and damaged is $2.09. Including kits and damaged, the average price is $1.85.

Only a few coyote signs have been observed during the period. During the muskrat survey work, particular attention was paid to signs of predation.

16

There are two permits in effect for the grazing of cattle and horses .... The W.J. Gardner Estate calls for a maximum of 3,317 AUM's of cattle grazing.

Permit issued to Robert E. Duval calls for a maximum of 4,364 AUM's of cattle and horse grazing.

On July 11 at 2 PM a fire was started by fisherman in a sagebrush-juniper-cheat grass association just off the refuge near headquarters. In spite of immediate action by refuge personnel, fish hatchery personnel, ranchers and fisherman, the fire got out of control and burned approximately 1200 acres of Forest Service ...

I remember the fire well. Our family had been bass fishing that day. We were headed home when we saw the fire. Dad was a fire warden at that time, and I can remember him stopping people on the road and instructing them to join in fighting the fire. The evidence of the fire remained for many years. In fact you could still see its outline right up to the time of the Shanty Town fire, which passed through that same area. I disagree though, with the assessment of the size of the fire as is noted above. Instead of 1,200 acres burned, I believe it was more like 120 acres; if that large.

The geese, along with ducks, have begun feeding in the stubble of our share cropped grain fields. As many as 500 ducks and 100 geese are feeding in these fields. With the fall migration now starting many more birds will avail themselves of this feed.

Ben Swisher raised grain on the refuge for a good many years. As I remember it, the agreement was, Ben got 1/2 and left 1/2, just who bought the seed, etc. I don't know.

Nesting ducks were here in about the same numbers as in previous years.

Sage grouse showed no increase or decrease this period. They have increased generally throughout the state in their range.

Mule deer, with an excellent fawn crop this year, are still on the increase in the area to the west of the refuge.

Coyotes on the area continue to be very scarce.

Raven are scarce on the area and have been since early spring.

Fall populations of birds were higher than last year, if utilization of the refuge grain fields is an indication.

Whistling swans were first observed on October 29, 1948 ... At the present time there are about 200 whistlers on the area.

Numerous observations were made early in the period of sage hens as they made their fall migration ... These birds showed a moderate increase ...

Mule deer, our only big game animal, are still in too large numbers even with the increased take during the past hunting season. Some of these deer travel 100 miles to their winter range.

No badgers have been observed during the period, but it is assumed that they are still with us.

No coyotes have been seen and they have been heard only once during the period.

Two permits were in effect for the grazing of cattle on the refuge. Permit No. 11058, issued to Walter S. Gardner, authorized 3,317 AUM's. 2,480.36 AUM's have been utilized under this permit. Permit No. 11059, issued to Robert E. Duval,

17

authorized 4,089 AUM's of cattle use and 275 AUM's of horse use.

Hay was cut and bunched under Permit No. 11059 on two units for a total use of 976 AUM' s. This is a very effective way of cleaning up the masses of dead grass ...

There was no conflict with wildlife arising from this grazing. Geese congregate on these meadows in the fall as there is readily available young growth of the grasses.

Elko County issued 1,000 non-resident deer tags this year, a 100% increase over the 500 issued last year .... there is a very large deer population throughout Elko County.

1949 NARRATIVE REPORTS

There is a very definite increase in nesting geese this season.

Morning Dove ... are quite numerous on the area.

Sage Hens seem to have come through the winter in good shape and have been seen on numerous occasions.

As noted in previous reports, the numbers of mule deer are too great for the available winter range. This winter's bad weather has caused the deer to take the favored species of bitter brush down to a point of non-existence as regards available food. Most of the juniper in the winter area has been browsed to a point where only the larger animals can reach browse. There were very few actual losses in this area due to lack of feed, but losses will occur in the future if deer numbers are not cut down.

The winter of 1948 and 49 was talked about for many years after. Many of the deer that traditionally wintered in the foot-hills south of the Fish Hatchery became snow-bound that winter. I can remember for years after, you could see where the deer had become snow-bound south of the White Pine County Line. There were several areas that were 50 yards or so in diameter, where all the juniper trees had been "highlined" (eaten off as high as a deer could reach). (Animals become snow-bound when they trample and pack the snow down over a small area but cannot leave that area because of their tendency to flounder in the deeper unpacked snow. )

Its a myth that predators only kill the old and the weak, and that they take only what they can eat. Predators have been known to surround deer or other large game and actually select a younger or fatter animal to kill. In winter, coyotes, bobcats, and mountain lions, don't care to eat on a frozen carcass any more than you and I would. If predators can make a fresh kill every day they do it. And if they can kill more than one or two animals a day they do it. Studies have shown, when snows get deep, kills increase; simply because, deep snow makes for easy pray.

You can imagine what happens when predators find animals snow bound, they kill as many as they want, any time they want. In a situation like that, until the game is gone the predators have a warm meal every time they eat. Its only when they don't have a choice that predators go back and clean up a carcass.

Many sheep herds became snowbound in central and western Nevada during the winter of 48 and 49. Some bands were completely covered by snow. Hay lifts were organized for the first time, and hay was airlifted to cattle and sheep allover the state. In Ruby Valley, military crawlers were used to open the road. When the crawlers reached us after a week or so of plowing, Mary and Dub Taylor rode into Wells with Slim and Marion Saxton to celebrate and see a "picture show". But before the show concluded, the wind came up and the roads closed again. Dub

18

was Dad's hired man and Mary was my teacher; that left me without a school teacher and Dad without a man to help in feeding the cows, and so Dad had me help. It was a week or more before Dub made it back to the ranch. Dub and Slim walked all the way home from highway 93; more than 30 miles. I was 10 years old that winter.

Without some decrease in numbers, the deer will soon eat themselves out of house and home.

No signs of badger have been noted during the period.

The coyote population is believed to be very small as it is only rarely that their tracks are seen and it has been over a year since a coyote has been observed on the area.

Ravens are few in number at this season of the year. Only an occasional bird being observed.

There were no fires on the area during the period.

Again there was an increase of nesting Canada Geese this year. An increase was noted last year and it is felt that the availability of green forage and cereal grains available for them is the reason for the increase.

There was an increase of Sage Hen on the Refuge this year. One flock of sixty being observed at the north end of the Refuge and one flock of 23 seen near the south end of the Refuge.

The problem of too many deer on the adjacent mountains is still evident. This year 1,400 non-resident tags have been issued and the take is to be either a buck or doe as it is for residents. Winter range for deer was seriously depleted during last winter's severe weather.

Coyotes on the area are non-existent. No coyotes have been seen in over a year and only an occasional track was seen in the snow last winter.

Gophers and ground squirrels are numerous on the area. A poisoning campaign was carried out on ground squirrels ...

Ravens have been scarce on the area ...

There were no fires during the period, although ... the fire hazard was high.

Food and cover conditions were good ...

Mule deer continued to use the area ... Hunter success was again high. One deer camp had ninety two hunters of which eighty nine got deer. Even with a buck or doe hunt this fall, the population of this species is still too high ...

Official figures are not available for the regular deer hunt in this area but State Game Officials estimate it to be above 78% success. In a special hunt in the north eastern part of the county, the hunter success ran 83%.

1950 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Water levels in the marsh were lower this period then same period last year. Water levels have continued downward for the last several years. Snow packs in the mountains have been above normal for the last two years but probably due to below normal ground water level, expected runoffs in the springs have not occurred.

Sage hen wintered very well, one flock of 500 being observed on the east side at

19

the North end of the Valley in January. They were observed feeding on wind swept ridges on white sage.

Mule deer are still too numerous ...

... an approved plan for the take of 3.000 rats was carried out ...

The coyote population is very small. One coyote was seen on the east side of the refuge during the aerial census ...

Very few ravens are seen at this season [January through April] but will become more numerous as the season advances.

Sixteen acres of grain land was seeded to sweet clover to give this land a rest. Twenty two acres of barley was planted for waterfowl feed. Approximately 20 acres of land will be plowed this spring for fall planting to rye.

Two permits for the grazing of cattle were in effect during the period, one issued to Robert Duval for 3,789 AUM's of cattle and horse use; the other issued to Walter and Raymond Gardner authorizes 3,317 AUM's of grazing by cattle

A lightning strike started a fire one mile west of the refuge in a tree. This was put out by station personnel before it could spread.

This nesting season, eleven species of waterfowl nested on the area, with a total production of 4,176 young produced.

Sage hen numbers on the refuge remained approximately the same this year The average brood was 4.04 in Elko County in 1950 as against 6.01 in 1949 1,529 hunters were checked through ten checking stations. They took 6,480 birds for an average of 4.8 birds per hunter. Possession limit was five birds per hunter.

Several coveys of Hungarian partridge were present on the area during the period.

There are still too many deer on the area adjacent to the refuge. Plans call for a deer of either sex season plus a pre-season archery hunt and a post-season archery hunt and a post-season hunt for does only, with 200 to be taken.

Populations of Canada Geese were up considerably this year, it being estimated there were 1,000 here at one time. This was approximately twice the number recorded last year. There appeared to be a slight increase in ducks ...

Whistling swan were first observed on December 8, 1950 when 250 were seen.

Sandhill cranes were more numerous this year than in previous years. They left the area in mid November.

Mourning dove again showed an increase this year ...

There were no white pelicans on the area during the period.

A muskrat trapping program is in effect with the approval of a plan to remove 4,000 rats by four trappers.

Three coyotes have been observed ... Their numbers are low.

Two bald eagles were seen on the area during October.

Ferruginous rough legged hawks which are normally abundant at this time of year are scarce ...

1951 NARRATIVE REPORTS

20

All species of ducks were on the area in normal numbers at the end of the period.

The mule deer herd in the area west of the refuge continues to increase in spite of heavier hunting pressure. During last fall's open season, 1,204 bucks were killed in Elko County, of which 31% plus were killed in the Rubies. 41% plus of the deer killed in the state were killed in Elko County. 14% of the deer killed in the state were killed in the Ruby district.

Many of the state wildlife officials that I have talked to have said that the greatest numbers of deer occurred in the 1980's, but people outside of government disagree. It is the general consensus of most who were familiar with rural Nevada during those years, that the deer numbers were the greatest in the 1940's, followed by the 1950's. Frank Prunty told me that, not only were there more deer in the 1940's, but they also weighed more. He said that it was not uncommon for the bucks to weigh 200 to 250 pounds with some weighing 300 pounds of more. Hughy Reed told me that he shot a deer in the Columbia Basin in the early 1940's that weighed 360 pounds. Hughy said the deer was so big, instead of putting it on a horse, they went to the ranch for a wagon to haul the deer to where they could weigh it. Slim Saxton, Walter Gardner, and others I knew, who lived and hunted a lot during that era all said the same thing; that the deer heads were the largest in the 1940's; that the bucks were larger; and that the racks were bigger.

There was adequate food and cover for deer during the period. Very little use of the winter range was made because of the mild winter.

Under an approved plan for the taking of 4,000 muskrats, trapping was carried out ...

No badger or coyotes have been seen during the period.

Both white and black-tailed jack rabbits are increasing on the area. White­tailed jackrabbits have extended their range at least twenty miles south in the last year.

For some unknown reason, each time we have a series of hard winters in Ruby Valley, white tailed jack rabbits extend their range; generally from North to South. It happened during the winters of 1948 and 49, and in 1951 and 52, then again in 1960 and 62, and again during the winter of 71 and 72. It also occurred during the hard winters of 80 and 81 and 81 and 82, and then again during the winters of 1983 and 84 and through 84 and 85. In each instance, when dryer years returned, the white tailed jacks would gradually disappear; most times from the entire length of the valley.

Very few ravens are on the area at the present.

With slightly fewer pairs of nesting ducks on the area and consequently smaller production, success ratio was good for the area. The probable reason for the slight decline in numbers of nesting ducks was the high water levels existing in Franklin Lake ... It is estimated there were 3,500 birds produced on the area of all species. This is 17% less than last year.

Canada geese brood counts showed a slight increase on the Refuge this year over last year.

Sandhill crane production on the area came up for the season ... Eleven young were hatched and two losses were known to occur. This is the greatest number of sandhills produced on the area.

Note the correlation between "very few coyotes and ravens being seen" and wildlife "being on the increase".

21

Mourning dove populations were up about 20% over last year.

White pelicans, snowy egret, black crowned night herons, white faced glossy ibis, American bitterns, and great blue herons were all present in somewhat greater numbers than last year ...

One field of sixteen acres of rye was mowed as it made such a growth that ducks and geese were not using it. Since mowing, approximately 2,000 ducks and 500 geese have been using it.

Numbers of sage grouse on the Refuge remain about the same as last year.

There was a one-day open season throughout the county on this species and an estimated 10,000 bids were killed .... average kill of 4.3 birds per person ...

Hungarian partridge have shown a slight increase this year ...

A special pre-season hunt is being held to take 500 does in the Ruby Mountains. This is designed to reduce the population but it is believed it is "too little, too late".

The State has finally realized the necessity of cutting down the deer herd ... an increase of 500 non-resident hunters has been authorized for the regular hunt to be held in October.

Coyotes have been heard on the refuge during the period but non have been seen.

One of the best migrations in years took place through the refuge this fall. Dabbling ducks, principally mallard and pintail with a good scattering of other forms were up an estimated 25% ...

Canada Geese numbers were also up for the second straight year. Percent of increase is estimated to be 20%.

At the present time the State Game Commission is compiling results of the deer kill ... Preliminary estimates indicate the hunter-kill success ratio will be about 90% success ... One group of 103 hunters that rented cabins at the mine on Harrison Pass killed 99 deer. All deer, both does and bucks examined by the writer during the open season were fat ...

There were approximately 500 hunters on the area during the year. Of this number about 200 were duck hunters. The other 300 were deer hunters who stopped at the headquarters for information.

1952 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Supplemental feeding was carried on during January, February and March for ducks, geese and swan. Supplemental feeding of grain is a bad thing as it tends to hold birds and to draw birds away from their usual migration habit ...

The above statement is indicative of a oeneral chanoe in philosophy which was to become more and more evident as the years passed.

Despite the extremely hard winter Sage Grouse wintered well. They were observed throughout the period both on their usual wintering ground on the east side and on the west side despite the deep snow.

The winter of 1951 and 1952 was very hard.

Hungarian Partridge suffered from the effects of the winter with the probable result that they were completely wiped out.

22

The winter of 1951 and 1952 was very hard. There was one group of Hungarian Partridge that came into our yard where the wind had blown the snow from a high spot. They stayed right there until the snow went off that Spring. We know that these survived, and that there must have been others; for they were in evidence during years immediately following.

Hunter success ran over 95% with about 5,500 deer killed in the county. Of this number approximately 30% were killed in the Ruby Mts.

No badger or coyotes have been seen during the period.

Canada geese production is down an estimated 50% ...

Sandhill Crane production is down this year ... Four young were produced this year.

Sage grouse were not too successful in their nesting season this year. There were two periods of cool weather during the time when the young were coming off. ..

Hungarian Partridge are at an extremely low ebb.

The winter of 1951 and 52 was long and hard. The previous summer had been dry with little run off from the mountains. The hay crop had been short. Ranchers may have come through the winter alright except that March turned out to be the worst month of all. One storm after another, as well as unusually cold weather caused hay stacks to dwindle. Many ranchers ran out of hay, and for the second time in four years, a hay lift was organized. Large numbers of new born calves died. After the storms had ceased, I can remember dad taking a team and wagon through the fields picking up the carcasses of dead calves. He had been so consumed with trying to get the cattle fed during the worst of the period that the calving had been left to me. I was 12 years old that winter.

Despite the extremely hard winter in this area deer mortality was exceedingly light. Winter loss in some areas of the county were quite heavy. Estimates range from 2,000 to 5,000 head. Actual counts along the Owyhee River in the northern part of the country were 1,500 dead deer. Non-Resident tags have been increased to 4,000 this year. In addition there are two special hunts for does in the county, of 1,000 each. One of which is in the Ruby District. There will be 1,500 permits issued for the goose creek area with two deer per permit. With the kill by resident hunters the total kill should be between 10,000 and 12,000 deer ...

There were no fires on the refuge during the period. One fire on a neighboring ranch was gone to accompanied by Mr. McDonald and Mr. Jacoby.

The migration of waterfowl this season surpassed any previous migration in the past with the biggest increase being in Green-Winged Teal ...

Canada Geese numbers were down by about 10% ... When Franklin Lake is considered it is believed that there were a normal amount of about 2000 geese ...

Morning Doves were numerous early in the period with about 20% above normal in numbers.

No coyotes have been seen during the period, only heard on rare occasions.

While observing approximately 5,000 mallard and pintail ducks grazing in a grain field it was noted that frequently 3 or 4 hundred birds would suddenly rise in the air and then settle again in another part of the grain field. This was thought to be because the birds were feeding out an area. This was found not to be the case when a large bobcat rose into the air as a group of ducks took wing

23

in an attempt to catch one. An investigation of the field was made and it was found that the bobcat had been successful on 14 occasions as that many kills were found. An attempt was made to catch him in the act while accompanied with a rifle but this was unsuccessful.

One Southern Bald Eagle one Golden Eagle on Dec. 27th near Bressman Spring-these are transients as they are not frequently noted here.

1953 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Three coyotes were seen on the area. The coyote population has been very low for several years.

The bobcat population has increased by leaps and bounds. Thirty bobcats were caught along the west boundary outside of the refuge. Pelt prices for this specie has been so low for the last several years that very few trappers have trapped for them.

Duck production was slightly better this year than last year. .. Coot numbers are down slightly from last year. Estimated production on the area of all species is 38,000.

Franklin Lake, north of the refuge, produced approximately 2,500 young composed of gadwall, cinnamon teal, and mallard in that order.

Sandhill cranes were in normal numbers on the area. Three young were seen with the possibility of a fourth being present.

Total kill last year was 10,163 deer in Elko County with 3,654 killed in the Ruby Mountains.

As an item of interest, the 10,163 deer killed in Elko County was 43.5% of the deer killed in the State. Total State kill was 23,385.

A mink has been seen on several occasions in Unit 14. This is the first time these animals have been seen.

Bobcats have been observed on several occasions and are very numerous along the lower slopes of the Rubies.

One family numbers on

of the

four area

young and one old are low.

coyote was seen on August 3... Coyote

Possibly twenty-five raven were present on the area during the season.

The migration of waterfowl this season was smaller and later than usual.

Geese were up in numbers somewhat over last year.

Sage Grouse numbers remain about the same with 200 on the area. One thousand acres of sage hen habitat was debrushed and seeded to crested wheat on an area immediately adjacent to the refuge on the west side at the north end. This area was used to some extent as a wintering area and also as a strutting ground in the spring.

Durino the late 1950's, 60's, and 70's, wildlife officials were savino that this seeding was the best deer wintering area in Elko County. Bitterbrush had become abundant all through the upper portion of the seeding as well as along the foothills themselves. There was also a scattering of juniper trees throughout the upper portion of the area; just enough so when combined with the bitterbrush it made ideal cover for deer.

24

Mule deer were plentiful.

Only 3,100 non-resident hunters were allowed in the county this year. There were no doe hunts ...

Several coyotes have been seen and it is not unusual to hear them in the morning before sunrise.

It was about this time that coyotes began to increase, not only in Ruby Valley but all across the West. Philosophies were changing. People were no longer as determined as they had been, in keeping predators at a minimum. Such is not only reflected in the refuge narratives but elsewhere as well. I have seen it reflected in studies done in relation to pronghorn, deer, and sandhill cranes production in Arizona and Oregon. I have seen it reflected in information coming out of Alaska, and I have heard it attested to by numerous persons who lived during that period. Across the board nearly all data indicates that predator populations reached their lowest ebb around 1950, but then began to steadily increase from that time forward. The same can be said about pray animals only in the reverse. Most pray species reached their greatest numbers in the 1940's; and continuing until about 1950. From then on their numbers began to steadily decline.

1954 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Mule deer wintered well and appeared in good shape at the end of the period. The spring movement north started earlier than usual this year and was well under way by mid-February. An estimate of 1,000 deer was made from headquarters north for eight miles along the road. Hunter take has not equalled the yearly increase and consequently numbers have come up.

An increase has again been noted in bobcat population. Bobca ts are seen frequently on the west side ...

Duck production was normal on the area. No geese or ducks were produced on Franklin Lake. Canada Goose production on the refuge was in normal numbers.

The mule deer population on the area is still at a high level. The Big Game Commission this year increased the numbers of tags available for non-residents and also have provided for an antlerless kill of 3,900 animals in Elko County, 1,900 of these to be taken in the Ruby Mountains. The deer kill in the county fell about 4,000 under the 23,000 kill of 1952.

Muskrats are numerous in the marsh and with low water levels trapping should be carried on this winter if it is possible to get trappers. No trapping was carried on last winter due to low fur prices.

Coyotes are more numerous than for several years past.

1955 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Total numbers of waterfowl using the area during the period was down twenty-five percent. The probable reason for the decline is the decrease of water area outside of the units due to drought conditions. There was no production on Franklin Lake as that area was completely dry.

Canada Goose numbers were also down with only 16 broods being seen by the Student Assistant.

Sandhill Crane were numbered at sixteen birds. Fifteen of these were adults with only one young being produced this year. Our average on this area is four young produced.

25

Due to low water conditions and the long, cold winter, some loss of muskrats was sustained. No numerical estimate of the loss is available but it is possible that as many as 50% were lost at the south end of the refuge.

A trapper was employed until ice conditions forced him to cease trapping. A total of 592 rats were taken.

Coyotes continued to increase slowly up to the last of the period when rather extensive control efforts by the Division of Predator and Rodent Control were undertaken on the area surrounding the refuge. It is believed that they were successful as coyotes are not now as numerous on the area.

At the time, there were still a good many sheep outfits in the State. In the 1950's I believe there were somewhere around 3 million sheep in Nevada. Most of these sheep outfits summered in Northern Elko County and wintered in the central or southern part of the state. Several of these sheep outfits trailed through Rubv Valley, qoinq north in the Spring and south in the Fall; most trailing through Secret Pass and along the east side of the valley where there is a good deal of winterfat and black sage. But there was also at least one sheep outfit that trailed down through Mound Valley and Huntington Valley (on the west side of the Ruby Mountains) that crossed over into the Southern End of Ruby Valley near Overland Pass before preceding south. In addition, the Corta family ran sheep on the Rubys adjacent to the Refuge during Summer. It was the politics of these sheep outfits that kept the predator programs in place. The sheep outfits could not survive without some form of predator control. If it hadn't been for the sheepmen, the rest of us, including the refuge would have been over-run by coyotes back at that time, just as is occurring today.

Late in the period, up to twelve sage hen have been seen on the refuge at two widely separated points so it is believe we have twenty-four birds on the area. These birds are down in numbers allover the county.

An attempt is finally being made by state game technicians to cut the deer herd down to the carrying capacity of the range. This season, two deer will be allowed for each hunters tag in Elko County. This applies to non-residents as well as residents. In addition to this, 400 additional antlerless deer tags will be issued on a damage area on the west side of the Rubies and 1,000 antlerless tags for that portion of White Pine County north of highway 50 and west of highway 93. This takes in the south end of the Rubies and all of the winter range of the Ruby deer herd. The two deer for one license is the only possible way to increase the take of deer without drastically cutting non-resident license and tag fees. There are not enough deer hunters in the state to reduce herd numbers sufficiently. It is hoped that the desired kill is attained as the deer situation was becoming critical.

One osprey was observed at Bressman spring for several days.

Numbers of sage grouse remained at a low ebb as they have been for sometime.

Eleven Hungarian Partridge were observed at headquarters during November.

Coyotes are fairly numerous on the area despite the efforts of a Predator and Rodent Control trapper who has been trapping and poisoning east and north of the refuge.

The County Fish Hatchery located on the area had on hand at the end of the period 6,000 pounds of Rainbow Trout 4 inches long, 11,000 pounds of Brook Trout 5 to 6 inches long and 3,000 pounds of Brown Trout 4 inches long. In addition they had 600,000 Rainbow eggs, 100,000 Brown Trout eggs and 325,000 Brook Trout eggs. During December 5,200 pounds of Rainbow 6 inches long were planted.

1956 NARRATIVE REPORTS

26

The only upland game birds seen during the period were eleven Hungarian partridge. No sage grouse or dusky grouse were seen. During a sage grouse count on booming grounds at the north end of the valley, five sage grouse were counted by state personnel. Several years ago five hundred sage grouse were counted on the same area. That is a decline of 99%, which, one might say, is practically all of them.

I don't believe that five hundred saoe grouse were ever counted on that particular area. There were five hundred sage grouse seen on the entire refuge in the 1940's but not in that one area.

Complete returns are not available as yet on the deer kill but incomplete returns indicate a kill of 13,000 to 15,000 in Elko County. Hunter success for non­resident hunters was 97% for the first deer and 65% for the second deer. Two deer were allowed each hunter. Resident hunter success was 76% for the first deer and 42% for the second deer.

The first bald eagle of the period was seen on March 13 ...

Canada geese production was up this year with an estimated 200 nesting pairs being present on Ruby and Franklin Lakes.

Duck production was down again on Ruby Lake this year as it was last, by about 20%. Franklin Lake with its abundant water this year produced enough ducks to make up for the shortage on Ruby Lake.

Duck production was estimated to be 1,740 on Ruby Lake and 600 on Franklin Lake.

Deer populations are high on the area west of the Refuge. Despite the take of approximately 14,000 deer out of this county last hunting season there appears to be more deer than ever now.

Special hunts were approved for the taking of an extra deer anywhere in Elko County by paying an additional $2.50. In addition to this 500 antlerless tags in Independence Valley and 250 double tags in the Goose Creek area are available. An estimated kill of 18,000 deer is believed possible. If a resident hunter secured tags for all of the special hunts he would be able to take eleven deer.

Muskrat populations are low throughout the marsh.

There are several, probably seven or eight coyotes normally on the refuge. [They are not] numerous enough to do any damage.

Two Bald Eagles were seen during the last week of the period.

1957 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Duck populations were considerably greater this year as compared to those of a year ago.

Food is scarce for wintering deer and the winter range is in poor condition from overgrazing. Browse plants are dying each year with little or no new forage able to survive.

Muskrat trapping was not carried on this year. Due to very low populations ...

Coyotes are seen occasionally. The bulk of the population tends to work to the south end of the valley where several sheep operators are located.

Bobcats are plentiful in the marshes and in the adjacent Ruby Mountains. They are a menace to our Trumpeter Swan.

27

Bald Eagles were noted occasionally throughout the period.

Golden Eagles became common during mid April.

Ravens and Magpies were present ... in their usual numbers.

Crane populations were down from those normally carried on the refuge. Ten birds were summer residents, two pairs brought off broods of one and two respectively. The Sandhill Cranes are most commonly found in our grain fields.

Sage Grouse were the only upland game birds to be observed on the refuge. They are most common from Bressmon Springs to the north. Populations are better than during the past several years, but are still short of these talked of populations of years ago.

Chukar Partridge were observed during July on Harrison Pass where the most counted was forty-eight.

Deer populations remain high throughout the Ruby Mountains to the west of the refuge. There are some indications that populations in local areas have decreased slightly ...

Bobcats remain as our worst offenders of the various predators. They are a menace to our Trumpeter Swan.

Coyotes are seen occasionally. Control activities by local sheepmen are sufficient to keep their numbers down.

Canada Geese were present in greater numbers, an increase of 24% in days use over last year.

Sage Grouse were the only upland game birds observed during the period. Several flocks used the north end of the refuge. Apparently there has been a slight increase in population over that of last year.

Hungarian Partridge were reported in two instances.

Coyotes are on the increase. To this date, little damage has been done. Bobcats are very common throughout the Ruby Mountains and the heavily vegetated tall swamp areas of the valley. Low price of fur has practically eliminated the private trapper leaving practically all control on the shoulders of the Service hunters.

1958 NARRATIVE REPORTS

An open winter permitted the Mule Deer to utilize nearly all of their winter range on the Ruby Mountains with a result of very little winter loss. This is likely due in part to the reduced vitality of the plants through consistent over use by deer for over a decade ...

There were no trapping permits issued ... An estimated 3,000 rats are using the refuge at this time.

Several mink have made their appearance at the fish hatchery causing some damage before they were trapped and removed to more appropriate climates.

Coyotes are fairly common as compared to populations of several years ago. We have not found any evidence of damage to wildlife on the refuge.

Bobcats remain our most numerous predator .

... 2 Bald Eagles wintered on the refuge.

28

Duck-use days made a substantial increase over the same period a year ago.

Sage grouse were observed often during the period. The largest concentration was seen near the south-west corner of the refuge ...

Chukar partridge are increasing and seem to be moving east ... Ten were seen at the Narcise Cabin during the summer ...

Muskrats seem to be increasing slightly.

Coyotes have been seen and heard quite often during the period.

ravens are very abundant, in fact I have never seen so many ravens ...

1959 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Again this period duck use days made a substantial gain over the same period a year ago.

There were many whistling swans in the valley this winter but the only large numbers were observed on Franklin Lake.

Coot use days this period was about double that of a year ago. The coot increase is quite alarming. We feel that if we could get rid of most of the coots there would surely be a rise in use by a more desirable waterfowl species.

Early in the period large numbers of sage grouse were observed on the sage flats just west of the Narcise Cabin. County wide, sage grouse are showing big increases again this year.

One Hungarian partridge was seen just north of the Bressman Pond.

Muskrat population is slightly higher than a year ago. With an abundance of food it's hard to understand why the population hasn't mushroomed.

Coyotes are again fairly numerous. Several sight observations have been made during the period and they are often heard.

Bobcats are numerous ...

Range conditions on the refuge are good. When the cattle are gathered this fall they will show the same good gains as in the past. This is a far cry from conditions on B.L.M. and Forest Allotments this year. Drought conditions have reduced forage to the point where many allotments will be a survival proposition this year.

The summers of 1959 and 1960 were very dry. There had not been much snowfall the two previous winters. Very little haY was put up. I can remember, we had to buy quite a lot of hay; we also sold some of the late calving cows.

The shortage of water in Flynn Creek may limit the amount of native hay put up this year. We hope not as the hay meadows are very excellent goose pastures.

Total duck use days are down from a year ago.

Coot use days were about 50% of what they were a year ago.

Goose use days showed a good increase this year. This increase can be attributed to the fact that Franklin Lake dried up early forcing all the geese using that area to move south to Ruby Lake.

Duck production this year was about double that of a year ago. This can be

29

attributed to drought conditions holding more breeding birds on the area ...

Sage Grouse production was good this year. A year ago there were only two places along the west refuge boundary where the grouse were seen. This year we have observed birds all along the west side on numerous occasions. This increase is reflected in a 5 bird limit this year as compared to 3 a year ago.

Hungarian partridge observations have increased.

No chukar partridge were seen on or near the refuge during the period.

Coyotes appeared more abundant by the last of the period as the pups of the year began to show up. We see and hear coyotes very often.

Bobcats are still numerous ...

Two mountain lion observations have been made near the north west corner of the refuge.

Mink seem to be increasing.

There is no flow in Flynn Creek this year and as a result only a portion of the area normally hayed was harvested this year.

A valley quail plant is planned for the refuge this next spring.

Coyotes continue to be common. We frequently see two and three a day. Our sheep raising neighbor to the south isn't too happy as he has almost daily losses. Predator and Rodent Control personnel plan to do some aerial hunting in this area.

Both bald and golden eagles have been seen regularly.

1960 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Duck-use days this period were about a third of what they were last year. There was much less open water ... Also the general decline in waterfowl especially redheads, canvasbacks and ruddys is noticed here.

Goose-use days did show a good increase ...

We are happy to report that coot use is way down.

During the January - April report period all the upland game bird use is off the refuge. One Sage Grouse was seen near the west boundary ...

Mule deer wintered well ...

During a recent two week period Forest Service and Nevada Fish and Game personnel counted 3,000 deer crossing Overland Pass going north.

The muskrat population is higher again this spring ... They still aren't abundant enough to do the marsh management job we would like... A real population explosion with a resulting "eat out" would greatly benefit much of the marsh.

Coyotes haven't been seen very often this period. This is the whelping season and coyotes aren't seen as often as they are in late summer and fall.

Bobcats are numerous but not a problem. One was shot as it stalked a nice fat mallard.

Raven were present throughout the period. Last year they could be classed as

30

very abundant while this year they were only common.

Magpies remain abundant.

Range conditions on the refuge are good. Range conditions on adjacent public domain and forest lands are also good.

Duck-use was down about 400,000 use-days compared to last year.

Canvasbacks and redheads were again very scarce this year.

Goose-use days were about the same as a year go. Production raised from 200 a year ago to 300 this year.

The deer herds of Northeast Nevada seem to be increasing in spite of very heavy removals.

Mountain lions still remain fairly common. The lion hunter took four during the period just west of the refuge. I personally feel that these animals should be on the big game list instead of the predator list.

It was not the public, but rather the agency people who decided that mountain lions should be taken off the predator list. They wanted to make them a game animal; I suppose for reasons of increasing their income. I mention this because agency people often say that their decisions are based on public input. I don't believe this has been true since the 1960's. It is the agency people that have the authority to make final decisions; and nearly always, their decisions are made to their advantage, and not to the public'S advantage.

Black-tailed jackrabbits are very abundant. The die-off should come within a year.

Cattle movements have made the grazing management a real headache this summer. The extremely low water levels have removed water barriers that have served as fences and allowed cattle to pass freely.

Our peak duck-use was 26,770 from October 30 to November 12. Total duck-use days for the period were 1,788,780.

Chukar partridge are on the increase again this year.

The mule deer kill was again high. About the same number of animals was taken this fall as a year ago.

Mountain lions are still relatively abundant. A mule deer killed by a lion was found about 500 yards west of refuge headquarters. The Service lion hunter got one large female during the period.

Our bald eagle or eagles (we've never seen more then one at a time) are seen often in the cottonwood tree above Bressman Pond.

This past year we had four permittees that used 4989 AUM's for a revenue of $7,538.68.

1961 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Duck-use days were down again this year, being over 100,000 less use-days than a year ago.

Goose-use days made a gain of about 16,000 use-days this year. There were 78 breeding pairs this year compared to 70 last year ...

31

l­

One bright spot in the drought is the coot reduction. Coot-use days were down by 1,000,000 use-days this period. Production also dropped from 6,500 to 2,000 this year.

Driving the dikes one sees as many muskrats as last fall before 2,000 were taken.

Coyotes have been numerous this spring and are seen almost daily.

Ravens were fairly abundant all winter.

Range conditions on the refuge are generally good.

Hungarian partridge haven't been seen on or near the refuge for two years now.

Chukar partridge was good again this year.

Mountain lions are still relatively common .

.. . one bald eagle was seen near Shanty Town ...

Sage grouse season in Elko County was August 27 and 28. Birds were abundant and success was good.

The state hasn't completed their kill-data for the year but from early indications there was a record kill this fall. All deer observed are in good shape.

1962 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Duck-use days decreased again this year by 469,000 less duck-use days than there were last year for this period. The 336,048 duck-use days are the lowest number for the period since duck-use data was first tabulated in 1954.

Redheads and Canvasback are conspicuous by their absence. Only three redhead broods were seen ...

Goose-use days were down some 14,440 days, comparing one year ago ...

Coot production, amounted to but one-third that of last year.

Sage grouse production was exceptionally good this year ... No good appraisal of the grouse population is available, but an estimated 200 birds are expected through "off and on" use.

Chukar partridge populations are very high and for the first time, nonresident hunters will be allowed to hunt Chukars in Elko County.

Muskrats have been very abundant and signs of their activities are seen everYWhere.

Coyotes numbers remain high. One or more coyotes are seen nearly every time one travels through any portion of the refuge.

Bobcats remain fairly numerous.

Ravens ... are abundant year around. Flights of 250 crows and 100 ravens were not uncommon.

On March 31, Mr. James Miller of McGill, Nevada caught a 17 1/2 pound, 31 1/2 inch long German Brown. This was the largest trout ever taken in Elko County.

32

1963 NARRATIVE REPORTS

It is very encouraging to see that the total waterfowl use is again on the upswing. The all-time refuge low of 2,163,223 use days in 1962 increased by approximately 70 per cent. It is hoped that this trend will continue ...

Total production also showed considerable improvement, 3,805 in 1962 as compared to 8,863 in 1963.

1959 and 1960 had been very dry years. In 1959 we only put up three small stacks of hay; probably 60 tons total as compared to 700 ton on an average year. Franklin Lake was completely dry for a few years. I can remember rabbitbrushwas beginning to grow on the flat on the east side of Franklin Lake where I had never seen it before. There was also some rabbitbrush beginning to grow on the west side as well, just below the sand ridge at Dawley Creek. But of course, all of it died as soon as the lake filled and we began irrigating all of the ground on the west side of the lake again.

Sage Grouse production proved to be about normal with an estimated 70 young produced.

The Nevada Fish and Game Commission released 40 Valley Quail in the headquarters area February 24. Their source, from the yards and streets of residential Reno ... The introduced California Quail took hold and enjoyed a good reproductive year.

Hungarian Partridge were noted on two occasions.

The 1962-63 trapping removals had little effect on the total Muskrat population.

Coyotes were observed more frequently than last year indicating a moderate increase. The coyote is considered to be highly beneficial by both the cattle permittees and the refuge personnel.

Notice that this is the first written expression of predator acceptance made by refuge personnel. From that daY forward it has been the policy of refuge personnel that predators are a important part of the "eco system". It has only been in the last five or six years that refuge personnel have been admitting that predator problems exist.

The migratory habits of the mule deer herd that ranges on and in the vicinity of the refuge are a very interesting phenomenon. Movements to the wintering areas are very non-chalant ... About March 1 a reverse in the procedure commenced with a northward buildup in magnitude until herds of from 300 to 600 deer were noted along the western boundaries.

1964 NARRATIVE REPORTS

Annual total waterfowl use declined in 1964 from 5,106,154 to 3,939,386 days use, or approximately a 25% decrease.

1,700 to 2,000 Whistling Swans migrated through Ruby Valley December 17.

Four active grazing permits were again in effect this year; Oriel Saxton (11 horses) Walter Gardner (413 mixed cattle), Raymond Gardner (276 mixed cattle, 24 horses) and the Duval Ranching Co. with (657 mixed cattle and 4 horses).

The Duvals annually mow and buck three irrigated wild hay meadows. Small amounts of hay are stacked as security in case of early snows.

Jack Lemback, our only trapper, has removed 1,056 muskrats ... Jack is working on a quota of 3,000 muskrats ...

33

1965 NARRATIVE REPORT

Annual total waterfowl use increased in 1965 from 3,939,386 to 6,015,331 days use.

Swan and goose days decreased slightly.

Sage Grouse, Valley Quail and Chukar maintained their populations for the past three years.

Moderate hunting for Mule Deer occurred along the western refuge boundary, but success was definitely lower than previous years ...

The coyote population has increased, but is still considered moderate.

A government mountain lion hunter regularly hunts the Rubies along the west refuge boundary and usually gets one or two mountain lions annually.

Groups of 200 crows and 25 Ravens could be seen during early spring and late fall.

The muskrat population has increased rapidly in the South Sump, creating a harvestable surplus that has not been considered since 1961.

Observations and studies at Ruby indicate that an average of 2 1\2 litters [muskrat] are produced per adult female each breeding season. It is, therefore, highly recommended that densely populated areas in the marsh and areas susceptible to damage (dikes and canal systems) be heavily trapped .

... visitation increased by 4,100 visitor days ... 68,000 trout were stocked, most of catchable size, in refuge waters.

1966 NARRATIVE REPORT

Total annual waterfowl use decreased in 1966 from 6,015,331 to 5,925,668 use days, down approximately 1%.

Approximately 600 [Whistling Swans] used refuge waters throughout November.

Since introduction of the Valley Quail, dispersion has occurred. Small coveys have been observed up to 24 miles from the site of introduction.

A dike was put in on the refuge in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Coros, which divided the north end of the lake from its main portion. It wasn't until the 1950's that the rest of the diking system was put in. First a "collection ditch" was dug from the furthest spring north near the Indian Creek gravel pit south to the area that was to become the South Sump. A dike was then built across the Lake at the southern end of the collection ditch dividing the north half of the lake from the south half. The southern portion of the lake thereafter was called the South Sump.

There were also several small "Units" created by dikinq durinq this same oeriod. These Units are located just below, or east of the collection ditch. This dikinq system gave refuge staff the ability to maintain or supplement water levels on certain areas while depriving others. The primary justification for the project, as was expressed at the time of implementation, was to maintain a more consistent level of water in the southern portion of the lake, thus benefiting canvasback and redhead ducks. This was done in recognition that Ruby Lake was considered the last remaining habitat for canvasback and redhead in the western United States.

1967 NARRATIVE REPORT

34

Total annual waterfowl use increased in 1967 form 5,925,668 to 6,764,478 use days, up approximately 12%. This increase resulted from two factors: (1) migrant waterfowl remained for a longer increased number of migrant coots.

duration due to a late freeze-up (2) an

Coots ...were censused shortly before freeze-up, peeking at 28.000.

The refuge nesting flock of Canada geese, about 250, arrived in March ...

Four to six hundred deer could be seen on late afternoon drives along the western boundary during February and March.

The muskrat population was again used as a tool to control vast areas of hardstem bulrush with the opening effect beneficial to waterfowl. Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 muskrats inhabit the marsh. The annual harvest by three trappers for 1967 was 7,368 furs ...

Coyote and bobcat populations are at a moderate level. Both animals travel the frozen marsh visiting one muskrat house after another in hopes of obtaining an easy meal.

It was necessary to reduce the coyote numbers in the southern portion of the refuge where lands border sheep range. This was accomplished by the Division of Wildlife Services plane after a good snow fell in the spring of 1967.

Magpies and ravens, are seldom out of calling range.

1968 NARRATIVE REPORT

1968 was a good year for waterfowl production. A total of 15,034 young were produced for a 21% increase over 1967 ...

Last winter when deer were concentrated on their wintering range, a census to determine sex ratio was made. The buck: doe: fawn ratio was 100: 224: 212.

Such a ratio would be 1 buck for every 2.24 does. I find this hard to believe. In fact, I know its not true, for I was doing a lot of hunting at that time. I was also talking to a lot of other people, (hunters and ranchers), and everyone was pretty much in agreement that the deer herds were in decline at that time; particularly the bucks.

The state of Nevada made the Ruby Mountains a special hunt area this year and detailed hunter information was obtained from each person that hunted in the unit. The unofficial reports are that 3,100 deer were taken in the area by 9,200 hunters. Approximately 9% of the herd was harvested which means that the herd contains about 34,000 deer.

How in the world would they know that 9% of the deer were harvested?

The muskrat population has reached a high level - probably in excess of 20,000.

Magpies and Ravens are abundant on the refuge ... It is not known what amount of predator pressure these birds are putting on nests of waterfowl.

I would think that its their job to know the effects of predation.

It was at about this time that wildlife officials and many ranchers began arguing about deer numbers. State wildlife people were saying that the deer were on the increase while most of the ranching community was saying the herds were declining. I can remember several "letters to the Editor" by ranchers, which were printed in the Free Press during that period, that stated in effect that this rancher or that rancher had been riding and gathering such and such range for X

35

number of years and they had never seen so few deer. But the ranchers input never had any effect. The agency people went ahead and did as they pleased, just as they have been doing ever since.

1969 NARRATIVE REPORT

According to past records, 1969 was the poorest year for waterfowl production since 1964. A total of 9,132 waterfowl were produced for a 39% decrease from 1968 and 33% decrease from the past five year average.

The Ruby Mountains area reportedly offers the best deer hunting in Nevada. Hunters from all parts of Nevada and many other states come to this area. Hunting pressure was fairly heavy this year. Most hunters willing to hike up the mountains were successful as were a few of the many road hunters.

The muskrat population is estimated at 10,000 - 12,000 compared to the population of 20,000 estimated for last year. It appears that there was a die-off.

Coyote and bobcat populations remain at a moderate level. We feel they fit into the ecology of the refuge and help control the populations of mice, jackrabbits, cottontail and pygmy rabbi ts. Control measures will be initiated only when there is a demonstrated need. Predators are as much a part of a wildlife refuge as any other animal and should be protected so that a representative sample of native wildlife can be observed by the public.

Magpies and ravens are very abundant on the refuge and are present throughout the year. While searching for duck nests, several duck eggs were found that had been destroyed by avian predators.

1970 NARRATIVE REPORT

1970 was and exceptionally good year for waterfowl production. An estimated 17,618 waterfowl and coots were produced for a 48% increase over 1969 ...

A total of 5,977,345 waterfowl use days were recorded for a 40% increase from 1969 and an increase of 20% from the past ten year average.

The fall migration of whistling swans began in mid November when 60 were observed on the refuge.

Coot use totaled 3,626,350 use days for a 54% increase from 1969 and a 16% increase from the past five year average.

An estimated 300 sage grouse utilized the refuge.

I don't know how they came UP with a number of 300 sage grouse. I was on the refuge a lot during those years and I certainly never saw that many. In fact, during those years I don't remember ever seeing more than 12 of 14 birds on all of the East Side and North End of the refuge. I believe that the number that I was seeing, the 12 or 14 birds, were all there were summering on the refuge during those years.

Very little information is known about the population levels of predators and rodents on the refuge.

Ravens and magpies are abundant throughout the year. They are believed to be the cause of most of the predation of waterfowl eggs on this refuge.

There were seven grazing permittees during 1970. Permittees AUM's and revenue are listed below:

AUM's Revenue

36

Total 6,80l.22 $10,337.89

A grazing fee of $1.50 for cattle and $2.00 for horses was charged.

There were a total of 34,205 visits in 1970, exceeding 1969 by 14,462.

The duck hunting season opened on October 3 and closed January 3. Goose hunting was permitted from October 17 through January 17. The refuge waterfowl hunting season was in accord with State regulations.

The opening weekend should have provided an excellent hunting opportuni ty as good populations of waterfowl were present. However, there were only 35-40 hunters using the area on the opening day which was not enough to keep the birds moving.

At one time there was considerable interest in waterfowl hunting in northeastern Nevada, but the demand for this type of recreation has dropped in recent years. Some people feel that chukar hunting has taken the lead in shotgun sports resulting in less interest in waterfowl hunting.

1971 NARRATIVE REPORT

1971 was a poor year for waterfowl production. An estimated 10,598 waterfowl and coots were produced for a decrease of 40% from 1970, and 23% decrease from the past five year average.

A breeding population of 2,500 pairs was estimated, and approximately 6,739 ducklings were raised to flight state. Production was down 32% ... Censuses are not conducted for upland game birds, and population estimates are based only on casual observations. An estimated 300 sage grouse utilize the refuge. Five broods were observed, and the average brood size was 5.4. California quail are usually present around the headquarters and Cave Creek area.

The present muskrat populations is estimated ar 15,000-20,000 which is the same as in 1970. During the 1970-71 trapping season, trappers found many dead muskrats.

Very little information is known about the population levels of predators and rodents on the refuge. Population surveys are not made for this group of animals and all information is based on casual observations. Coyotes are relatively more abundant than they were in 1970. Bobcats are present but are seldom observed due to their nocturnal habits.

There was not a demonstrated need for predator control ...

Raven and magpies were abundant throughout the year. The incidence of raven predation on waterfowl eggs appeared to be more evident then in 1970. Refuge personnel working on a waterfowl nesting study made several observations of ravens flying away from duck nests with whole duck eggs in their beaks. The increased predation of duck eggs was probably due to poorer cover conditions rather than any large increase in the raven population.

It was at about this time that I first began hearing talk of how important nestinq cover was. Refuge personnel were telling us that if it wasn't for the cattle taking all the feed, there would be lot more nesting cover; and if there was more nesting cover, then the predators couldn't find the nest, and if the predators couldn't find the nest, then there would be more ducks. But when I ask them for copies of the studies which supported this assumption they never produced them. Unfortunately, it was quit a few years later before I began doing my own research. And when I did, I began to uncovered the truth. Predators actually are more successful in finding nest and wildlife in heavy stands of vegetation than they are in areas that have been grazed. Its also been found that wildlife, including waterfowl, prefer grazed areas for nesting over ungrazed

37

areas. I have also learned that many researchers have used dogs to sniff out nest when they conduct surveys. It only stands to reason, if dogs can be used to find nests, why wouldn't it be easy for coyotes and skunks to find nest?

1972 NARRATIVE REPORT

1972 was an exceptionally good year for total waterfowl maintenance and production at Ruby Lake. A total 7,136,000 waterfowl and coot use days was recorded ...

A single Canada goose was observed on the refuge on January 23. An estimated 110 breeding pairs utilized the refuge and raised 270 goslings to flight stage.

An estimated 100 sage grouse used the refuge during the year. Three broods were observed, and the average brood size was 6.0.

Very little information is known about the population levels of predators and rodents on the refuge. Coyotes were much more abundant both on the refuge and on adjacent lands than they were in 1971 ...

1973 NARRATIVE REPORT

Weather conditions were near normal with only two notable exceptions.

A dead yellow-billed cuckoo was found on the headquarters lawn ...

There were no major construction projects during the reporting period.

1974 NARRATIVE REPORT

An estimated 160 geese were produced in FY 74.

Total duck production was 8,700, which is about 1,500 above the past five year average.

Greater sandhill cranes occurred in numbers comparable to past years with a peak population of 40 ...

A higher than normal fawn loss has been detected for this herd of wintering deer by the Nevada Fish and Game Department. State technicians feel an important factor is overgrazing of critical range by cattle.

Note, it was from this time forward that we beqan to hear more and more often how overgrazing was leading to the loss of wildlife throughout the western United States.

Coyotes remain abundant on the refuge ... Several dens were located on the refuge.

Peak numbers of eagles occurred during the winter with seven golden and two bald eagles observed along the west refuge boundary.

One of the largest bass taken this year weighed a little over 6 lbs.

Four grazing permits were issued. A total of 5,277 AUM's were used. Grazing fees were $1.50/AUM for cattle and $2.00/AUM for horses. These fees will be increased in increments of $.50 thru 1976.

Wild hay was cut on about 300 acres and left in place for fall cattle feed. These hayed lands provide feed for about 200 geese through a part of the winter and spring, but of course, are valueless for nesting waterfowl.

38

The above statement is quite a change in philosophy from that that was expressed in the 1940's.

Two trappers harvested 1,200 muskrats on trapping units No.2 and 3.

Public use was 42,800 visits 4,000 less than for FY 73. Fishing visits, divided equally between warm water and cold water, numbered 38,700. Water skiing accounted for 3,700 visits, waterfowl hunting 300.

Waterskiing on the 50 acre water ski area in the marsh increased by 66% over the pervious year.

Another unfortunate trend in the boating use on the marsh is the ever-increasing number of large power boats being used ostensively for fishing but probably more realistically for boating sake.

Boat wakes from large boats cause environmental degradation and poses SAFETY hazard to small boats.

A major law enforcement effort was undertaken at the start of the 1974 recreations season. Of particular concern was the enforcement of the area within the marsh closed to motor boating until July 1. Twenty field violation reports were sent in for prosecution in Federal Court through special agent Dick Branzell. Three warnings were issued.

Fines for closed motorboating violations were $50.00. All cases have been completed but one.

1975 NARRATIVE REPORT

Production of 200 Canada geese is comparable with recent years.

Use of the refuge by this species has been steadily downward from the earlier highs of over 100,000 use days. Changes in land use on the refuge and throughout the Ruby Valley undoubtedly account for the decline.

As near as I can tell, it was about this time, in the early to mid 1970's that environmentalism really began to take hold. You could see qlimpses of it in th~

1960's, but it wasn't until the mid 1970's that the new philosophies began to be accompanied by action; and of course along with the action was the blame that is always placed on the private sector, as is expressed in the paragraph above.

Duck production was 6,350, about 1,000 below the past five year average.

Use days of 1,619,628 is down by about 400,000 from the previous year. Excellent wetland habitat at Franklin Lake attracted many of the birds that would have used the refuge during spring.

Habitat conditions on the 8,500 acre privately owned Franklin Lake marshes determines in large measure the ultimate nesting populations found on the refuge. In wet years, extensive beds of sago pondweed on Franklin Lake proved much more attractive to all but nesting redheads and canvasbacks than the deeper more stable mashes of the Ruby Lake. In addition, Franklin Lake does not have the constant disturbance from large numbers of boaters and fishermen as does the refuge.

Or could it be that private management (i. e. grazing practices) is more beneficial to wildlife than is government management.

Greater sandhill cranes produced five young. Success is limited by the proximity of coyote dens to nesting cranes.

39

Black-crowned night herons along with great blue herons and snowy egrets are of no little concern to personnel of the fish hatchery as they constitute a significant threat to the fish in the hatchery rearing ponds. Protective screening, which is expensive, and exploders, which are not too effective, are the only means at this time for control of this problem. Killing permits are no longer issued to the hatchery, in compliance with recent policy.

Black-crowned night herons are also of interest to the state fisheries biologists as possible vectors for the transmission of whirling disease Myxosoma cerebrolis which afflict the fish in certain hatchery ponds. Incidence of this disease at the hatchery precludes planting fish in interstate waters and in effect reduces the ultimate production of the hatchery.

Deer numbers have declined considerably from the past when over 400 deer could be counted on the refuge in a morning's observation. Herd reduction is partly related to reduced and deteriorating winter range caused by overgrazing from cattle and wild horses.

TheY may have wanted to blame the reductions of deer on overgrazing, but the truth is, by then the deer herd had been steadily declining for ten years or more. The reason was two fold. First of all, the state game department had been issuing to many deer tags, but even more importantly, the agencies were discouraging predator control. From 1950, when it was a rare occasion if you even saw a coyote, to 1970, there was an unprecedented increase in coyote numbers. Many of we cattlemen (of my generation) were as much at fault as anyone. I can remember as many as seven coyotes following me acrose the field in the fall of the year. I thought it was neat, all the coyotes around, that was, until I started seeing the effects. First I began to notice the number of deer being taken by predators.

During the fall of 1971 and 1972, every time I went deer hunting I would see two or three deer carcasses, cleaned up "slick as a whistle"; not one bit of meat left on the skeletons. And then I began seeing the same thing in the fields during summer. Healthy deer, a good many does and even a healthy 4 point buck, pulled down in less than a hundred yards. But it didn't stop there; there were a lot of coyotes and they were hungry, and the next spring when calving started the coyotes started killing our calves. We found one calf that had its tongue half eaten. The calf was alive and may have survived but we had to kill i~

because it could not eat.

Needless to saY, that Fall my neighbors and I contacted the Animal Damage people and ask if they wouldn't fly our meadows and kill all the coyotes they could. The first morning they flew they killed 56 coyotes from Len Wines's to the 7H ranch; a distance of about nine miles. This new awareness for the need for predator control, coupled with a general reduction in tags allotted state wide did have its effects on deer numbers, and the deer did come back for a few years. But it didn't last long, by 1981 or 82, the agency was once again allowing large numbers of deer to be harvested. And of course, anti predator control sentiment has continued or even increased. Consequently our deer herds have declined to levels lower than I have ever seen in my lifetime. (As of December 1996.)

Before I 00 farther I want to talk some of the discrepancies that exist between the ranching community and the agency people. Along in the late 1960's, the Nevada Game Department was conducting a study involving the trapping of deer both here in Ruby Valley at Indian Creek and on Spruce Mountain. This went on for several years and During all that time officials of that department were saying that the deer herd was increasing. During those same years I was spending a lot of time on the mountain, salting and moving cattle, as well as hunting. I'd take people hunting either on foot or horse back just for the shear pleasure of being on the mountain, and I wasn't seeing the deer that the department boys were saying there were. But I wasn't the only one. Long time ranchers were writing letters to the editor, saying that they had been riding so and so country for

40

most of their lives and had never seen so few deer. To make a long story short, even though the government people were telling everyone that the deer were on the increase, all of a sudden they announced there were so few deer that there would have to be a draw, and that we were not going to be able to harvest as many deer as we had in the past. In fact, for several years thereafter, buck harvest in the western part of Nevada was restricted to 4 points or larger.

The Nevada Department of Fish and Game has responded to the lowered deer population by reducing the nonresident permits for this herd by 400 and restricting the hunt to bucks only with a limited antlerless deer quota for residents only.

The muskrat population was estimated to be 7,500. Reliable estimates are difficul t to obtain, but general observation and past trapping performance indicated a relatively low muskrat population.

Coyotes were common during the winter and spring on the refuge. Three dens were located within a mile of the refuge headquarters. Two sandhill crane nests successfully hatched wi thin 200 yards of these dens but the young birds disappeared within a month.

One osprey was observed fishing on the refuge in June.

Fifty sage grouse were found on the northwest portions of the refuge on their traditional strutting grounds in March. Estimated production was 25.

Two coveys of chukars used the refuge during late fall and winter.

Four grazing permits accounted for 5,076 AUM's on 13,381 acres.

The scheduled increase in grazing fees from $2. OO/AUM to $2. 50/AUM was not implemented in accordance wi th the Secretary's moratorium on proposed grazing fee increases. Grazing fees are slated to be increased to $3.00/AUM this year.

The 200 acre North Cave Creek grazing unit was rested this year to evaluate the effects of grazing on wildlife.

The estimated muskrat population was 7,500. The trapping quota was 3,000. Actual catch was 700.

Serious conflict is ... becoming evident among the various kinds of boating uses.

Intensive boating use by large powerboats causes constant noise pollution, and creates massive wakes that may flood overwater nests.

Even though management was ask by many of the public "to produce data showing that the wakes caused by the boats were any more severe than are those that are caused by high winds, the agency people never responded.

Speed limits were established in several critical areas of the marsh to protect the small boat fishermen.

An Environmental Assessment will be made of waterborne sports on the refuge.

1976 NARRATIVE REPORT

Four grazing permits were issued for 5,523 AUM's on 13,400 acres, about 60% of the refuge uplands. This is a reduction of 494 AUM's ...

An environmental impact assessment of grazing on the refuge is scheduled for completion in 1978. Preliminary observations coupled with recent research on the effect of grazing on waterfowl nesting indicate additional reductions may be

41

necessary.

The grazing permit belonging to Raymond Gardner was canceled in 1976. The stated reason given for the cancellation was that qrazinq oermits could not be transferred to new owners of ranching operations. Raymond had sold his ranch to Lynn Rose the previous year.

Water diversion in the spring to stabilize water levels in the South Sump during nesting created a flooded area of 3,000 acres in the North Sump. Water diversion to the North Sump was highly controversial issue among fishermen and boaters. Numerous letter were written to the Governor expressing these concerns ...

When the major part of the diking system was put in the 1950's the public was told that its primary purpose was to insure more consistent depths in the South Sumo for the benefit of canvasback and redhead ducks; stating that Ruby Lake was the last remaining natural nesting area for these species in Western America. Yet, the policy of maintaining such high levels of water in the South Sump appeared to last only until the 1970's, at the very time when refuge personnel began campaigning for reduced boating on the South Sump. From then on they began allowing more and more water into the North Sump, which is a relatively shallow marsh area. Considering evaporation factors, (data indicates evaporation very nearly equals water flows in Ruby Valley), it does concern many of us that yearly evaporation for Ruby Lake is nearly doubled when available waters are spread over two areas rather than one. In other words, it appears to us that it has been agency policy that has jeopardized redhead and canvasback habitat, not power boating. In fact, I am convinced that water levels on the South Sump have been intentionally reduced for the propose of discouraging all types of recreation on that sight.

Water levels in the South Sump dropped two feet during the summer leaving an average depth of five feet in most of the main boating areas. Units 13,14,20, and 21 were lowered during late summer to provide loafing areas for waterfowl.

A water management plan is currently being prepared in which management objectives and priorities will be identified. Wherever conflicts occur between refuge waterfowl objectives and the fisheries resource resolution will be in favor of waterfowl needs.

ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES -- One peregrine falcon was observed on the refuge early this year, and one was seen along the county road about two miles north of the refuge on Nov. 2.

The white-faced ibis is considered by some Nevada Fish and Game biologists to be a candidate for the state endangered species list. An estimated 125 pairs nested this year in Dike Unit 14. This species also made considerable use of shallow areas of the East and North Sumps.

Duck production was almost 14% below the five-year average although coots experienced above average success and overall waterfowl production increased 157% above last year. Redhead production in the South Sump was exceptionally low.

It needs to be remembered that earlier in the year water was diverted away from the South Sump in favor of filling the North Sump. This was the first time that water had been diverted to the North Sump since the collection ditch was put in the 1950's. The question needs to be ask; was it the intent of refuge personnel that the North Sump be filled in order to benefit wildlife, or was it to discourage boating on the South Sump? I would be curious as to the extent of impact. How much more water would there have been in the South Sump if the water had not been diverted to the North Sump? And what effect has all of this had on redhead and canvasback production? I do know that we can lose as much as five feet of water on Franklin Lake during one summer season. If the North Sump is as large as is the South Sump, then does it not stand to reason that as much as

42

four or five feet of water could be added to the South Sump if the North Sump is left dry on any given year? Many of us think so.

SWANS Only one cygnet was produced by three nesting trumpeter swans.

State biologists counted 820 whistling swans on Franklin Lake, which is located north of the refuge, on November 9. Twenty-six whistlers remained on open areas of the refuge at the end of the year.

Production of 175 Canada geese is down slightly from recent years.

Production of most duck species rebounded after an extremely poor year in 1975, but the 6,673 young produced was still below the five-year average ....wetland conditions at Franklin Lake were good, and many breeders and migrants that utilize the refuge during drier years no doubt took advantage of this additional habitat. As marsh vegetation becomes better established, we expect use of the North Sump as a production area to substantially increase.

The nesting population of canvasbacks and redheads was estimated at 552 and 663 pairs respectively. Based on past performance combined production should have been about 5,000 young. The number of young per breeding pair was only slightly below average for canvasbacks with 2,100 young produced. In spite of an apparent breeding population of over 20% above average, redheads produced only L 000 young; over 44% below the five-year average. Conditions imposed by the present powerboating program are considered to be major factors limiting production of these species in the preferred nesting areas of the South Sump.

Coots produced 9,000 young, over twice the five-year average.

Evidence suggests that coots are more tolerant of the present boating program in the South Sump than canvasbacks and redheads.

I believe that their assumptions concerning coot are incorrect. Related experiences, including that of Frank Temoke, indicate that because of their very nature, (being scrapers and fighters), coot tend to repel predators more readily than do ducks. In other words, whenever an area experiences reductions in duck populations while at the same time coot numbers stay constant or may even increase to some degree, such can be an indication of high levels of predation.

An estimated 200 black-crowned night herons staked out the state fish hatchery this spring and created a problem for hatchery personnel.

More bald eagles used the refuge than in past years. Five were countea during a December aerial waterfowl survey. Two to four golden eagles were normally present.

A 1976-77 helicopter deer survey conducted by the Nevada Department of Fish and Game indicated a buck:doe:fawn ratio for the area of approximately 22:100:115 compared to a ratio of 22:100:52 for 1975-76.

Fall muskrat population was estimated at 5,800 ...

About 25 sage grouse were recorded on the refuge this spring. The population has exhibited a downward trend over the past few years.

Over 60 news articles were generated in the Elko Daily Free Press over the controversial environmental impact assessment of boating on the management of the refuge.

A major effort was put forth to correct long-standing conflicts associated with boating ...

43

On April 24 a meeting was called by the Nevada Board of Fish and Game Commissioners in Elko to discuss possible changes in boating regulations on the refuge which might be proposed by the Service as a result of the assessment. All of the Nevada congressional delegation and over 500 local residents were in attendance ... Also present was a proposal by the Elko Committee to increase not only wildlife but recreational uses of the refuge .

...public hearing were held in Reno, Elko, Ely, and Las Vegas in late September. A total of 105 statements were received for the record. Changes in the boating regulations proposed by the Service were supported by 44 statements, opposed by 57 statements, and 4 indicated no position.

Regional Director Martinson's decision was made public the first of the year:

During 1977 the boating regulations will be the same as in 1976. Year-round boating without motors is permitted on the South Sump. Powerboating with no horsepower restrictions is allowed year-round on a designated area of the South Sump, and after June 30 on all areas of the South Sump. Waterskiing is allowed on a designated area only. No boating of any kind is permitted on the North Sump.

During 1978 the boating regulations will be changed as follows: Year-round boating without motors will be permitted on designated areas only in the South Sump. Boats with electric motors will also be permitted in these areas. Boats without motors and boats with motors no larger than 10 h.p. will be allowed on the entire South Sump from August 1 to the end of waterfowl hunting season.

For many who opposed changes (large powerboaters and waterskiers) these regulations are totally unacceptable.

In the meantime public use in 1976 increased to 49,705 visits - 9% above 1975. At this level the proposed boating changes are expected to reduce use by approximately 10,000 visits.

1977 NARRATIVE REPORT

Four permittees were allowed about 5,500 AUM's of grazing on nearly 13,700 acres. About 10,000 acres have been rested from one to nine years.

Bob Howard completed the water management plan this summer. It outlined the desired operating levels for all the units for each season, yet was flexible enough to allow for abnormal water conditions. It also provided a schedule for drawdown of all units. We have been following this plan since its completion.

Unit 13 and the East Sump were drawn down after the nesting season. We plan to keep these units dry next summer and to burn them next fall.

Water management plan proved to be nearly as controversial as our proposed boating regulations. Boaters and various political groups claimed that any water diverted to the North was "wasted". The North Sump is an important nesting, loafing, molting and feeding area for waterfowl. It also attracts large numbers of shorebirds and wadeing birds. It is an important feeding area for snowy egrets and white-faced ibis.

Prescribed burns were made around parts of Unit 21 and on several islands in the South Sump to remove matted vegetation. These areas should provide good nesting cover next spring.

ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES -- Peregrine falcons usually are seen each fall,

44

however, non were observed this year.

Overall waterfowl production increased slightly over 1976.

About 500 coots died in the north end of the South Sump from 15 February to 31 March. One specimen was diagnosed as fowl cholera by the National Fish and Wildlife Health Laboratory. No specimens contained significant amount of lead.

From mid-August through mid-October we picked up over 50 dead birds. The National Fish and Wildlife Health Laboratory identified botulism as the cause of death in several specimens. We estimated that 100-150 birds died over the course of the outbreak.

Dead birds were found in the collection ditch from the fish hatchery to the South Sump. The western part of Unit 21 and the Northwestern part of the South Sump were also involved. The die-off stopped after the first few cold nights in October.

A similar die-off accursed in 1973 at the same season and location. Ninety-seven ducks were picked up in that outbreak.

Canada goose production was way down this year. We estimated that only 80 birds were produced from 80 nesting pairs. We have no explanation for this low production.

Even though water conditions were less then optimum duck production increased to 7,230 from 6,670 last year.

Canvasback and redhead breeding pairs were estimated at 447 and 684 respectively. This was 105 fewer breeding pairs of canvasbacks than last year and canvasback production dropped from 2,100 to 1,400.

Coots produced 7,500 young this year. Although this was a decline of 1,500 from 1976 it is still above normal.

We plan to start a Christmas Bird Count in 1978.

Bobcats were common ... Coyote use of the refuge was quite high especially during hunting and trapping season.

We estimated about 10,000 muskrats in the marsh. Three trapping permits were issued by lottery with a quota of 3,000 muskrats.

Sage grouse occur on the refuge in small scattered groups. Sage grouse have not been adequately surveyed but casual observations suggest a minimum of 20-25 birds.

OTHER ANIMAL LIFE -- The most important species in this group are large-mouth bass, and rainbow, brown and brook trout. The abundance of these species makes for good fishing which in turn results in greater demands for boating.

Our water management policy and proposed boating regulations generated about 50 editorials and articles in local newspapers; some of these articles were little more than character assassination of former manager Ron Papike.

Fishing was the major wildlife oriented recreation on the refuge. Relatively little time was spent solely for waterfowl hunting, wildlife observation or photography. Fishing pressure was largely concentrated from May through mid­September (169,000 of 182,000 fishing activity hours).

This concentration of fishing falls within the nesting season. Most fishing was from boats many of which had large (100 horsepower) motors. Boating has caused

45

disruption of nesting waterfowl and other birds.

Camping outside the refuge boundaries but adjacent to the refuge has caused problems. The refuge was frequently used as a garbage pit by these campers. We should be able to reduce some of these problems by rerouting the west boundary fence in several locations.

The moving of the fence (which occurred along the entire western boundary of the refuge) did accomplish what refuge personnel wanted. It did force recreationist to abandon traditional camping spots. But in terms of benefiting wildlife, it is doubtful that there was such a benefit. Knowing the refuge people as I did at that time, I am convinced that the new fence was put in to discourage recreation. It was the unwritten policy of refuge personnel during those years, to discourage recreation in every way they could. And it worked, there was a steady decline in refuge recreation for many years thereafter.

1978 NARRATIVE REPORT

We are beginning to rehabilitate some of the springs abused by cattle use. Narcise Spring was cleaned and fenced off to keep cattle out. Water was piped outside the fence to a tank to allow cattle access to water.

In April of 1993, I took pictures of the area mentioned above. Within the fenced exclosure at Narcise Spring (which by then had been rested for fifteen years) I could find only three plant species other then sage and rabbit brush, whereas on the outside of the exclosure, there were dozens of different grass and forb species; all green and growing like a thick lawn.

There has been some discussion of drawing down the South Sump (7,000 + acres) in 1979. This was met with an immediate outcry because it supports all boating and most of the fishing on the refuge. In early September we invited several experts on wetland ecology to Ruby Valley National Wildlife Refuge to review the situation. The committee recommended that the South Sump be drawn down but baseline information should be gathered first.

Pursuant 'of the above recommendation, a baseline study was completed by staff biologist, Steve Bouffard in 1979 and 80. Interestingly, in the "Conclusions" of the study, it is stated, "There was no difference in flushing distances between canvasbacks and redheads nor was there any difference in flushing distances from boats propelled by gasoline powered engines and electrical motors."

In addition to the above study, refuge staff conducted a study during 1969, 1970 and 1971 which purpose was to "determine the effects of recreational use on waterfowl production at Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge". They state in summary that the study was inconclusive. But in reviewing the data myself, I found there was no difference in nesting or survival rates of canvasback and redheads in control areas to those areas where boating was allowed. In my view, this was another instance where agency personnel implemented a reduction in public use without conclusive evidence indicating that their actions would benefit wildlife.

ENDANGERED \ THREATENED SPECIES -- Prior to the marsh becoming a wildlife refuge it harbored an endemic species of fish, the relic dace. The fish was abundant in the early thirties. It began to decline after largemouth bass, various species of trout and speckled dace were introduced ... The status of the species is under review and will probably be listed as threatened.

They have no proof that relic dace were abundant prior to, or during the 1930's. In fact, I don't believe they know anything at all about the fish. I say this because I have been an observer of these fish for most of my life; and yes, dace can be abundant in certain places for short periods, but only on rare occasions. The first time I remember seeing dace was in the 1940's when I was seven or eight

46

years old. My two best friends, Hubert and Harvey Knight and I would catch them in tin cans in the ponds and creeks below our barnyard. Since that time there have been periods when we would not see the fish at all for ten or fifteen years at a time, and then all of a sudden we would see them again.

Durino the hioh water years of 1984 and 1985 was when dace were the most numerous. I remember well, there were two, (man made), ponds in the Dawley Field that were about fifty feet long by ten feet wide where the dace were so thick it was if there were more fish then water. My two sons, Walt and Charley had a contest to see who could catch the most dace in one handful. They would reach into the water and pull the fish toward the bank and by collecting mud in their fist when their hand reached the bank, they were able to make the fish immobile. And in their hand they would have as many as ten or twelve fish.

The birds in the area, (Ibis and egrets mostly), took great advantage of the situation, concentrating on those ponds in such numbers there was hardly room for them all. Eventually the birds did eat all of the fish in the two ponds, but it took them a month or more. There were also a lot of dace in most of the other ponds and ditches that year, but they were not nearly as numerous elsewhere as in those two ponds that I described.

There were a lot o·f dace in Franklin Lake at that time as well. I can remember seeing them in schools along the lake's edge both in 1984 and 1985. There were also a lot of pelicans during those years, feeding near the islands in the lake itself; as well as ten or twelve giant egrets on our part of Franklin Lake. I can remember counting over 200 pelicans flying near us one morning in a large V. It appeared that they were no more than 70 or 80 feet off the ground.

I can remember one Spring in the 1980's, in March I believe it was, I was riding across the Scovile Field when I noticed quite a number of dace in a small pool of water that was no more than one or two inches deep and about three or four feet in diameter. What interested me, was the fact that there had been no water at all in this area the previous summer and fall, and that there was no live water within a half mile of that pool. In addition, I knew from experience that the pool was there only because of ongoing snow melt, and would be gone within a few days.

This experience made me think of what my Dad had told me. He said that he had seen "minnows", once in a water trough, a long way from other water and wondered how they had gotten there.

It was durino this period, 1984 or 1984, that I ask Sara Brown, who was servino as the bioligest from the refuge at that time, to come down and identify the fish for us. I wanted to make certain we were identifying the fish correctly. I also wanted to know more about them. But as it turned out, Sara didn't seem to know much about them either. In fact I don't think there is anyone who knows much about these fish. I say this because I have ask several fisheries people to explain the reproductive cycle of this fish to me; why they were seen in a water trough a long way from any other source of water, and why they were seen in shallow snow-water pools, but never has anyone been able to tell 'me anything about them. It makes me wonder how these people can go on year after year, listing fish and other species as being endangered when they know very little about them.

Regardless, it is my guess that the relic dace will be listed before long, even though very little is known about the fish, or whether implemented "protection" will be harmful or helpful. And as so often happens, the listing will probably do more harm then good, but that's the way government operates. Thev don't seem to care so much weather or not they help a species, just so they gain more control over resources, and the Endangered Species Act Act is an almost perfect tool for accomplishing that goal.

47

Waterfowl production decreased slightly from last year. Most of this decline can be attributed to a large decline in the number of young coots produced.

About 12 pairs of trumpeter swans were observed on Ruby Lake and Franklin Lake ... Eight cygnets were observed early in the summer but only two are known to have survived to the flight stage.

About half of the 45 or so birds in the population apparently nest away from the refuge. We don't know where but they return in the fall with cygnets.

This year Canada goose production was up to 220 from 80 in 1977. We saw only one snow goose this year.

Generally production of most species of ducks increased. However, production of canvasbacks declined from 1977.

In December the Nevada Fish and Game Department counted about 1,500 deer in about 12 miles along the refuge boundary.

Coyotes were abundant on the refuge and bobcats are quite common also.

Four trapping permits were issued ... Total quota was 3,000 animals.

Activity hours of waterskiing and pleasure boating were drastically reduced this year. Boats with motors were not allowed until July 1st. On June 30th, a federal court in Washington, D.C. issued an injunction against the use of motors larger than 10 HP.

The above described action effectively eliminated all waterskiing on the refuge.

With the new boat regulations, safety hazards to the public have decreased. The ten horsepower limit on motors will reduce the danger of collisions and swamping. The June 15th opening date for motorless boats will reduce other dangers.

Early summer storms arrive with little warning and severe conditions. It is impossible to row or paddle a boat against the wind and people can become stranded. Last summer we rescued four people in one severe snow squall in early June. One of the persons involved was in the early stages of hypothermia.

The above two paragraphs are a contradiction I would say.

Camping adjacent to the refuge boundary is still a problem. The campers keep wildlife away from the springholes and keep ospreys from using the only potential nest site on the refuge. Many of the campers also dump their garbage over the fence on the refuge property. We plan to solve some of these problems by rerouting the west boundary fence in some locations.

1979 NARRATIVE REPORT

On January 11 we received 2.60 inches of rain in 24 hours on 6 inches of snow over frozen ground. Refuge and county roads washed out in numerous places; some washouts were several feet deep.

In the area of our ranch, during this same period, between the Jasper Ranch and Dawley Creek, there were 9 washouts in the road, a distance of 2 1/2 miles, many of them 3 to 3 1/2 feet deep. There was so much water on the meadows that it was almost impossible to find a place to feed our cattle. We just dropped bails whole on the highest spots for the cows to eat.

Because of the scanty precipitation during the summer months the fire danger was extreme all summer. This year was the worst fire season ever recorded in the Ruby Mountains; in all, 4 fires burned about 15,000 acres. The biggest fire was

48

8,500 acres in size and involved the refuge.

The fire began just before noon at the BLM campground about 1 1/2 miles south of the refuge headquarters. A careless camper allowed sparks to blow from his fire into some dried cheatgrass. The humidity was 10% or less; the temperature was around 90 degrees F and the wind was steady out of the south at 40 mph Needless to say, the fire moved extremely fast.

The above described fire, later referred to as the Shanty Town fire, was the largest to ever occur in the recorded history of the valley. It burned from the camp ground south of the Hatchery to Harrison Pass, a distance of 7 miles, in about 6 hours. The lower portion of the mountain had been covered with thick stands of Pinion and Juniper trees. These all burned as did the sage and bitterbrush on the lower slops. The burning of this area literality destroyed the area as a deer wintering ground. The Nevada Department of Wildlife did plant some bitterbrush seed that Fall and they did plant bitterbrush seedlings the following year, but neither effort was successful.

Fortunately the area was seeded to created wheat qrass immediately following the fire, and the qrass did became well established. (Unfortunately, it is now the policy of the Forest Service to not seed areas that have been burned to crested wheat. )

The upper portion of the "Gardner seeding", which was seeded in 1953 also burned during the Shanty Town Fire, but interestingly, when burning over the crested wheat area, it burned cool enough that much of the bitterbrush survived. In addition, much of the seeded area, (which was above, or west of the road), did not burn at all; thus indicating that crested wheat grass is a good fire retardant.

It is also interesting to note, that after the seedinq was planted in 1953, bitterbrush sprouted abundantly: to such a extent, that during the 1960's and 70' s the area became known as the best deer wintering area on the Ruby Mountains. In fact, it was at the very time that wildlife officials were saying that crested wheat seedings were bad, that they were saying that the Indian Creek area, (the Gardner Seeding), was the best deer winter range in the Rubys.

The reason that the Gardner Seedinq was such a qood winter ranqe was because of the bitterbrush which had become prevalent throughout the seeding. This phenomenon has also occurred elsewhere on the Ruby Mountains. It seems that bitterbrush comes back sooner and in qreater abundance in areas that are seeded to crested wheat then on areas that are not seeded to Crested Wheat, at least in areas along the southern portion of the Ruby Mountains anyway.

Game officials also claim that crested wheat seedinqs destroy sage grouse struttinq qrounds. For years NDOW officials have opposed every seedinq that is within one mile of a know sage grouse strutting ground. Their criticism has put a stop to hundreds of seeding projects across the West. But never have. I been furnished evidence that supports that assumption. To my knowledge there have been no conclusive studies completed that demonstrate that sage grouse leave an area once it is seeded to crested wheat grass. In fact the opposite appears to be true, and again, the 1953 seeding is an example. Today, the only known place where sage grouse s trut on or near the re fuge is on the 1953 seeding. Considering the fact that at one time, (in the 1940's), there were sage grouse strutting grounds all through South Ruby Valley, why is it that the birds chose the crested wheat seeding as the area they prefer today. If crested wheat seedings are so bad, why is it that the birds prefer that area to all the others that are being "protected" by refuge designation?

Incidentally, the deer no longer stop along the foothill between Indian Creek and Harrison Pass in November and December as they did prior to the fire. Instead they hurry right on through to areas where there has been no fire.

49

Seventy to 80 whistling swans used Franklin Lake during October and November. Thirty-five of those moved to the refuge after Franklin Lake froze and remained for the winter.

Canada goose production dropped from 200 to 185 this year ...

We had one goose depredation complaint in a hayfield in Lamoille. Forest, Steve, and 2 Nevada Department of Wildlife biologists investigated the complaint. We arrived at the peak of the sunset and the sight and sound of all the birds was really fantastic. There were several hundred geese in flocks on the ground and silhouetted against the red sky. Large flocks of mallards were flying back and forth and in the distance we could hear several sandhill cranes calling. We all thought we were in paradise except the rancher who was totally oblivious to the beauty of the situation. One of the state biologists jokingly said that "this ought to be part of the refuge." The rancher did not appreciate that either. We set both our zon guns out, but the field was so big the geese just moved to a different part of the field. We kept moving the guns and set out two more, but that did not help either. The geese finally left on their own accord just before hunting season.

Canvasback and redheads had larger broods than last year.

Coot production has declined for the third consecutive year.

Coyote are abundant and bobcats are common ... trapping pressure outside the refuge is quite high.

We counted 30 plus [sage grouse] cocks in the strutting ground 1/2 mile north of the Indian Creek gravel pit; we saw only 11 cocks there last year.

Several flocks of chukers watered at the refuge springs ...

We have evidence that Ruby Marsh is not canvasback and redheads are laying fewer

as productive as eggs and raising

other marshes. smaller broods.

The We

have hypothesized that the macroinvertebrate food supply may be low as a result of predation by fish. Since there are no forage fish in the marsh the fish must feed on macroinvertebrates. The bass are stunted and overpopulated and are probably competing with waterfowl for macroinvertebrates.

The Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center is coordinating several field studies to determine if there is a need ... for a drawdown ...

The refuge staff is monitoring productivity of diving ducks as part of this study. The refuge conducted an additional study entitled "The Effects of Recreation on Wildlife Production at Ruby Lake NWR". This study was ordered by someone in Washington, D. C. The objectives of this directive were rather vague ...

The Duruose of a study entitled "The Effects of Recreation on Wildlife Production at Ruby Lake NWR" does not seem vague to me.

1980 NARRATIVE REPORT

Four permittees harvested 5,083 AUM's on about 10,360 acres of grasslands. Approximately 2,340 acres of the east side of the refuge between the Brown Dike and CCC Dike were rested this year along with 10,000 acres on the north end which have not been grazed for eight years.

When the Habitat Management Plan was implemented we received a 50% reduction in grazing; rather than being allowed 1,600 A.U.M.s use, after 1978 we were only allowed an average of 800 A.U.M.s use. The 10,000 acres that they mention as being rested for 8 years came about because of the cancellation of Raymond

50

Gardner's permit. It was because of these reductions in use that dead and decadent feed began to build up over so much of the refuge.

Approximately 35 acres of grassland were control burned this year to promote new growth and remove excessive litter layer.

We plan to begin a drawdown of Unit 10 in 1981. The drawdown was originally scheduled for 1980, but was postponed to maintain good water levels in the North Sump. This summer a new water control structure was installed to take water from the Collection Di tch directly to the North Sump wi thou t passing through any other dike units. The general public dislikes having water put in the North Sump because it is "lost" to their recreational use; they want water in the South Sump where they can boat on it. Consequently, this new structure generated its share of outcries, congressional inquiries, etc.

We had problems in the Collection Ditch because of last summer's fire. Several thunder storms in the Ruby Mountains caused flash floods. These floods silted in about 1/2 mile of the ditch and part of Unit 10.

The flooding that occurred in 1980 was the result of the Shanty Town fire of the previous year. Without vegetation to hold the moisture, the water simply ran off the mountain in great quantity, taking soil and rock with it. There were places near Bressmen Cabin and "Jog in the Fence" where there was over 2 feet to topsoil deposited below the road. It's always amazed me how agency personnel, weather they work for the Forest Service, the BLM, or the Fish and Wildlife Service, always seem to avoid saying anything negative about the erosion that is caused by wildfire while they don't hesitate a bit in telling the public how bad cattle are, and how overgrazing causes erosion. In my own experience and estimation, I don't believe a thousand years of grazing could cause as much erosion as occurred that first year following the Shanty Town fire.

We have found that after removal of emergent cover by fire it took two years of growth to accumulate enough dead bulrush stems to attract nesting diving ducks.

[Public] Presentations this year mainly involved visiting various groups and explaining why we wanted to drawdown the South Sump. Most people assumed that it was to kill off all the fish so we could eliminate boating entirely. After we explained marsh management, most people could see that our reasoning was biological and not sociopolitical, but many still did not favor the proposed drawdown.

ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES -- Several bald eagles were seen on the refuge in January, February, and December. No peregrine falcons have been seen on the refuge since 1976.

Coot production increased this year from last year's low.

It was an excellent year for Canada geese. We had twice as many breeding pairs (320) as last year ...

Things looked excellent for waterfowl production this year. In the first two weeks of May, we had daily rain and snow squalls and hailstorms. The most damaging storm was a three day snowstorm on the 23-25th. Minimum temperatures were also below normal. Nest success of canvasback and redheads dropped to less than 30% from the normal of over 80%.

Notice, they are blaming reductions in redhead and canvasback production on the weather. I wonder, could it be caused bv reductions of water levels, because so much of the water was diverted to the North Sump?

Mule deer were common during the year ... It is not uncommon to see 50 to 100 deer per mile in early morning during the winter.

51

Coyotes are abundant and bobcats are common in the area. Neither can be hunted or trapped on the refuge ...

There are several flocks of sage grouse on the refuge totalling 70-120 birds. We counted 24 cocks, down from 30 in 1979, on the strutting ground near the Indian Creek gravel pit.

OTHER ANIMAL LIFE -- The most popular species in this group is the largemouth bass. It is the root of most of our recreation problems.

A March tour of the refuge and nearby areas was given to Dr. Lee Eddleman and eight of his range students from the University of Montana. Involved in the tour were Cameron, Bouffard and Johnson, who was then employed by BLM, Ely, Nevada.

Cameron and Johnson were included in an hour long documentary on the Sagebrush Rebellion produced by KUED TV, Salt Lake City. Bouffard was filmed for a newscast feature story by KTVN TV, Reno. Cameron was questioned for a feature article on the Sagebrush Rebellion that appeared in the October issue of New West magazine.

Forest Cameron was refuge manager, Steve Bouffard was the refuge biologist and Dan Johnson was assistant manager.

Refuge visits made a dermatic increase over all previous years. The six traffic counters installed in mid 1979 recorded 54,401 visits for 1980.

Waterfowl hunting on the refuge's south end was once only taken seriously by resident hatchery and refuge employees, but this year with more fall fishing more sportsmen are also discovering the hunting opportunities that exist. Hunting increases have had their impact. With late season shooting limited to jump­shooting on springheads, it does not take many visits to educate the flushed birds to not return to open hunting areas.

With the prohibition of powerboating and waterskiing since 1978, no non wildlife recreation now occurs at Ruby Lake other than occasional unauthorized swimming and ice skating.

1981 NARRATIVE REPORT

The Habitat Management Plan for Ruby Lake was completed this year, after review by livestock permittees and interested public. The 191 page document proviae in depth information about 34 different habitat management units.

I was a permittee on the refuge at that time and I do not remember being given a chance to review or comment on the Habitat Management Plan. I only saw the plan after it had been adopted.

About eight and a half miles of boundary fence was rebuilt along the southwest side of the refuge. This new fence will minimize the livestock trespass problems experienced in the past few years.

Two new water gaps were constructed in the boundary fence at County Line and Ramirez Spring to alleviate springhead trampling.

ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES -- No peregrine falcon sightings were made this year.

Overall 1981 was a good year for waterfowl production at Ruby Lake NWR.

Goose production remained about the same as last year ...

Six snow geese were seen this year.

52

...,...

Duck use days increased in 1981 largely because of the good production of young.

Pronghorn use of the North Sump has increased.

Mule deer were very abundant on the refuge during the winter ... The deep snow and cold in late December 1981 drove the deer further south. Over 2,800 were observed from the Refuge ...

Coyotes, bobcats and mountain lion frequently use the refuge.

upland game birds did quite well in 1981 until the late December cold and snow. One flock of over 200 chukars dwindled down to less than 10. One chukar was caught by hand; it was too weak to fly or run to escape capture.

Public use increased 12% over 1980.

Fishing has been excellent during the motorless boating season ...

Teachers and students from the Ruby Valley elementary school were taken on a tour of the refuge for environmental education ...

Only waterfowl hunting is allowed on Ruby Lake NWR. Hunting pressure was light except for the opening weekend.

Wildlife observation and photography increased in visits and in percentage of visits. While these visits represent a small portion of our total visits they are increasing ... We welcome increases in this type of use as these visitors are generally very supportive of refuge programs.

1982 NARRATIVE REPORT

Even with above normal snowpack in the mountains, water levels in the marsh units ware lower than normal until late summer because of the drought in 1981.

The Habitat Management Plan was approved on March 1 by Regional Director Myshak. The plan which was already being used as a guide was officially enacted on 15 April when the 1982 grazing season began.

On page 14 of the 1982 Narrative report is a picture of a several turkey vultures around a dead cow. Beneath the picture, the caption reads:

"When properly used, livestock have been shown to benefit wildlife. This cow was observed directly benefitting about 10 turkey vultures."

This addition to the 1982 Narrative Report illustrates well the attitudes of agency personnel at that time.

Four special use permits were issued for grazing in 1982, a decrease of 1 since last year.

Andy Anderson's permit was canceled for non compliance.

The haying program for 1982 was nonexistent.

One wildfire occurred on the Refuge on 13 July. It was a lightning strike on an island in the marsh. Two active ruddy duck nests were burned and 3 other diving duck (canvasback or redhead) nests had hatched prior to the fire.

Pete Morros made the decision that water adjudication proceedings would begin in Ruby Valley in 1983.

53

....,....

The first confirmed peregrine falcon sighting on the Refuge since 1976 occurred during the Christmas Bird Count ...

... 2 adult bald eagles used the refuge during January and February.

Goose breeding pairs and production declined from 1981.

Duck breeding populations, use days and production declined from 1981. Canvasback and redhead production also declined. The reduction in breeding population sizes may have been due to lower spring water levels in all units.

Above, note decline in canvasback and redhead production.

Coot breeding populations, use days and production increased from 1981.

Sandhill crane reproduction was good to fair, but not as high as last year. Crane breeding pair use and production on the Refuge needs better monitoring. We plan to increase our census efforts on cranes in 1983.

The winter of 1981-82 was very severe, with long periods of deep snow. Heavy morality of mule deer, which winter on the west edge of the Refuge was noted. Bone marrow checks of these deer showed severe fat depletion.

Pronghorn use of the refuge has continued to increase especially on the north end. Herds of 10-15 were frequently seen. One pronghorn was seen on the south east side of the refuge; this is the first observation of pronghorn in that area that anyone can remember.

Pronghorn were planted near the south-eastern end of the refuge in 1982.

Coyote, bobcat, and mountain lion are found on the Refuge; of the 3, coyote is the most abundant.

The severe weather and deep snow caused sever morality to chukar, gray partridge and sage grouse. Black- tailed jack rabbi ts were at a population peak. This peak coupled with deep snows forced rabbits by the thousands to feed on haystacks. Ranchers killed thousands of rabbits to protect their hay.

The above statement is true. Steve Wright bought 22 bullets by the case and made them available to all the young men of the valley with the understanding that they were to shoot all the rabbits they could near Steve's stack-yards. 4 They shot rabbits for weeks. At one time there were so many dead rabbits at Steve's Road Canyon stack-yard, that you could have walked in any direction from the stackyard for 75 yards and never put a foot on the ground. There was not more than a two feet distance between any of the dead rabbits. A few days after the shooting began, there must have been 400 ravens feeding on the carcasses. I have often wondered how all the ravens learned of the dead rabbits. They must have come from 50 miles in all directions.

In spite of the fact that 1982 was abnormally cold, windy and wet, public use increased about 6% over last year's level. An additional 321 hunting visits were also recorded.

Muskrat trapping is permitted on the refuge as a method of control and is not intended to be a recreational program. Muskrat harvest in 1981-82 was 5,068.

1983 NARRATIVE REPORT

Grasslands have been managed for 3 years now as called for in the Habitat Management Plan and the improvement in range condition has been outstanding. Residual cover for early nesting waterfowl will be available on much of the refuge where traditional grazing patterns formerly removed it all.

54

Later in the report it is stated:

Few legumes were observed, matted litter was hindering vigor of grasses and only 1 pintail nest was found.

Dan Johnson was servina as assistant manaaer of the refuge at that time. He had been hired specifically because of his background in range management to develop the Habitat Management Plan for the refuge. I believe it was Dan that entered the above statement into the narrative report. Because of this statement, I am also convinced that Dan was becoming aware of the adverse effects of reduced grazing .

... it was decided to raise the 1984 grazing rates by $1.00 per AUM from $3.00 to $4.00 for cattle and $3.50 to $4.50 for horses. Permittees were notified by mail and the new rate will become effective in April 1984.

Little prescribed burning was done in 1983 because of weather and staff restraints. Firelines for 1 unit were burned in fall 1983. No spring burns were done in 1983.

The refuge Habitat Management Plan emphasizes species diversity. Management practices on different units emphasize a wide variety of species such as sandhill cranes, sage grouse, long-billed curlews, pronghorn and other as well as waterfowl.

Interestingly, prior to implementina the Habitat Manaaement Plan we would often see Sandhill Cranes and Curlew with their young on the east side of the refuge. There was also a group of about 10 or 12 sage grouse that fed on the lake's edge just north of the east end of the CCC during mid summer. But after the plan was put into effect, and so much dead feed began to accumulate, we no longer noticed those species in those areas.

These 10 or 12 sage grouse were the only saae arouse I was see ina on the refuge at that time, (in the 1970's). This was during the same period when refuge personnel were claimina that there were 300 sage grouse using the refuge during different times of the year.

Duck breeding populations, use days and production for most species increased from 1982.

Most nests were in baltic rush (43%) and rubber rabbitbrush (20%)

Pronghorns were seen frequently on the north end of the refuge.

Cold weather and deep snow caused high mortality to chukar, gray partridge and sage grouse .

...public use increased by 11% over last year's level.

Muskrat harvest in 1982-83, totaled 1,908.

1984 narrative report

With so much water, few options for control were available to us in 1984. Most boards were pulled from structures to facilitate flows and minimize flooding. Even so, high water covered old gauges and safety gratings, and flooded dikes and roads. Water levels in the South Sump were the highest ever recorded.

Water levels in Ruby Lake in 1984 and 1985 were so great, many of the dikes were submerged.

It is interesting that Ruby Lake, Franklin Lake and The Great Salt Lake all rose

55

to levels in 1985 and 1985 that had not been equaled since 1869 and 70.

Probably the most significant effect of record water levels in terms of wildlife was the creation of productive feeding areas on the east, north, and south side of the refuge. Expansive alkaline flats, flooded season-long, were extremely attractive to broods, swans, and migrating and resident waterfowl. As many as 15,000 ducks and coots were estimated to be present in a single concentration east of the South Sump in August of 1984. Even larger concentrations, of mostly puddle ducks, were observed in the flooded perimeters of Franklin Lake during spring and early fall aerial waterfowl counts.

The 1984 grazing season represented the fourth year of implementation of the refuge Habitat Management Plan. The plan was formally initiated on April 15 of 1982, although it has served as a guide for grazing management since 1981.

Even a few years of rest have allowed for reestablishment of native grasses in previously denuded stands of rubber rabbitbrush and big sagebrush.

The die off of Rabbitbrush was caused by high water levels not rest; as will be acknowledged by refuge staff later in this text.

Vast stands of Rabbitbrush, Ryegrass and Greasewood that existed on the valley floor east of both Franklin Lake and Ruby Lake were killed by the flooding of 1984 and 85. It was quite interesting to notice the rapid change that occurred in vegetative composition during those years. When the water rose, it spread across the valley floor, miles beyond its traditional shorelines. And as brush died from too much water it was replaced almost immediately with other types of vegetation. In many instances, within a year after flooding, the brush would be dead and in its place there would be bluestem grass two feet high. In other places bullrush and cattails began to grow. And then, as soon as the water receded, almost immediately, there was the rabbitbrush and greasewood and Great Basin Rye starting to grow again. Which raises a lot of questions about the validity of the argument concerning overgrazing. If overgrazing is such a factor, why is it then, that an alkali flat that produces nothing but brush and rye grass can become a wetland producing native wheatgrass two feet tall within a year or two. The same thing can be said about our western rangelands. If they are so overgrazed, why is it then, that they can go for years without producing but scant grass, but then when the rains come right, produce, (as has been recorded), up to 4,000 pounds of vegetation (grass) per acre.

In an attempt to increase use of baltic rush by cattle, too units were b~rned prior to grazing in the spring of 1984. Cattle seem to use baltic rush only as a last resort, although it is the dominate vegetation type in many of the refuge grazing units.

The above statement is correct, cattle do avoid baltic rush. But again, it is important to understand that it has been the lack of qrazing impact that has led to the present situation whereby baltic rush is now the dominate plant species on much of the refuge. If these native meadow lands were grazed on a regular basis as they once were, they would produces a verity of grasses and forbs.

Several years of rest have resulted in decadence and matting of herbaceous vegetation ...

In 1984, special use permits were issued to Duval Ranching Company, Cliff Gardner, and Slim Saxton for grazing privileges on the refuge .... resulting in the removal of about 3915.6 AUM's of forage. This marked the first year grazing fees were at $4.00 per AUM for cattle and $4.50 per AUM for horses, an increase of $1.00 per AUM from last year .

... the Habitat Management Plan, calls for the units to be hayed and bunch-raked in late August/early September ...

56

Approximately 176 acres were included in prescribed burns in 1984, although burns were originally scheduled on 374 acres. Although the intent of burning Unit I-C was to remove cow manure concentrations to reduce the risk of aspergillosis in cranes, plans for burning the unit were cancelled.

Sage grouse seem conspicuously absent from the sage brush foothills surrounding the refuge. In general, sage grouse populations appear to be decreasing throughout the west for unknown reasons.

The above statement indicating that they do not know the reason for declining numbers of sage grouse is hogwash! There are a dozen different studies that show that whenever predator control is reduced or eliminated from areas there is a corresponding decline in sage grouse numbers.

No depredation complaints were received in 1984 by neighboring ranchers. The muskrat trapping program is aimed at controlling numbers in areas where they do damage to dikes .

... 44,685 visitors used the refuge in 1984 ...

Results of the 1983-84 trapping program ...were disappointing as only 600 muskrats were reported taken out of the 5,000 quota established.

1985 NARRATIVE REPORT

Record high water levels were again the rule in spring and early summer of 1985. The water level in the South Sump peaked at 5967.70' in early April, which was three feet above the objective level and about 10 inches higher than the summer peak in 1984.

For the second consecutive year, expansive alkaline flats on the east, north, and south sides of the refuge were flooded throughout most of the season.

Ordinarily there is a natural meadow that varies from 80 to 300 yards wide that extends from north to south along the east side of Ruby Lake. The meadow exist because of subbing from the lake itself. The remainder of the "flat" to the east is mostly covered with Rabbitbrush, Greasewood and Great Basin Rye. When the water was at its highest in 1984 and 85, not only did it cover the natural meadow lands of which I speak, but also a great deal of the area that is generally covered with Rabbitbrush and Great Basin Rye.

Interestingly, even though the water stayed on these land for two years or more it did not kill the native grasses as a person might expect. Only the Rabbitbrush, Greasewood and Great Basin Rye died. As soon as the waters receded, the grasses (mostly salt grass and blue stem), (and baltic rush, unfortunately), were there as they had been previously. We have seen the same occur on the east side of Franklin Lake. The lands can be covered with as much as 3 feet of water for three or four years but as soon as the water recedes, the plants grow as they did prior to flooding, which contradicts what the refuge personnel say. They contend that the high waters of 1984 and 1985 caused baltic rush to invade the areas to which we speak. But such in not true at all. The reason for the invasion of Baltic Rush was because of lack of grazing impact. When grasslands of this type are not grazed on a regular basis, sun light, or solar reception is restricted to those plants that are smaller in stature. Consequently, such plants lose their competitiveness and soon die, and before long only one or two species remain. In this particular situation, involving the natural meadows that exist at Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, the dominate plant that has taken over has been Baltic Rush. Of course, the frustrating thing for us has been the continuing refusal by refuge personnel to recognize the truth. They have gone on for over twenty years now, perusing an agenda that is destructive to the health and vigor of wildlife habitat with the evidence right before their eyes that what they are doing is wrong yet they refuse to recognize it.

57

Franklin Lake levels again supported record water levels for the second year in a row. An estimated 50,000 acres in the Franklin basin were covered by water including approximately 5,700 of private lands on the west side. The flooding attracted record numbers of waterfowl including an estimated 62,000 ducks, geese, and swans in September.

Record water levels were detrimental to nesting canvasbacks and redheads. Bulrush cover normally used for nesting was flooded in April and May.

Three to five years of monitoring of most grazing units have shown several important trends. Vigor of herbaceous species on the more xeric or shrub dominated uplands has improved, with a reduction in grazing pressure. However, the more productive mesic sites, typically the wet meadows, light grazing is resulting in a heavy accumulation of plant growth and litter. As plant material continues to build in these areas, they become more and more unpalatable to cattle. Additionally, plants lose their vertical structure and annual production becomes limited by a decadent overstory.

Studies at Ruby Lake and other areas show dabbling ducks prefer to nest in cover which is tall and dense rather than matted. Additionally, observations of feeding cranes, geese, and ibis indicate these species tend to utilize the more open areas. On the basis of this kind of information and the results of monitoring, it may be time to redefine specific objectives of the refuge habitat management program, particularly in relation to grazing.

The above two oaragraohs needs to be read carefully. Obviously Dan Johnson was recognizing that the new grazing program was doing more damage then it was doing good, and was suggesting that there be a reassessment of the grazing policy, yet nothing was ever done. Apparently politics overrode common sense.

The recent wet regime which began in 1982 and continued through 1984 has also been an important influence on upland habitat at Ruby Lake. Changes in vegetation types are occurring in some areas as a result of several years of high water. Particularly on the east side, hardstem bulrush and cattail are becoming established in areas of dead rabbitbrush and greasewood.

Special use permits were issued to Duval Ranching Company for grazing cattle and Slim Saxton for grazing horses on the refuge in 1985. Grazing fees are $4.00 for cattle and $4.50 for horses.

Also, through a mutually reached decision, the third refuge permittee, Cliff Gardner of Dawley Creek Ranch, was not issued a special use permit because extensive acreage of the pastures allotted to him were flooded. As a result of all the scheduled changes and deletions, the 2,653 AUM's removed in 1985 was the lowest total since 1945.

In 1983, the special use permit normally issued to Andy Anderson of For Ruby Ranch for grazing cattle on Unit IV was cancelled because of permit violations.

No wildfires occurred at Ruby Lake NWR ...

Prescribed burns were completed on approximately 152 acres, although burns were initially scheduled on 468 acres. It was felt burning was unnecessary on several units, while others held standing water throughout spring and fall.

In the past years, most of our prescribed burning was done in the spring, but this year, we discovered additional benefits can be derived from fall burning. Observations on a small portion of Unit I-E which had been burned in December of 1984 showed the area greened up very early in the spring and was especially desirable for wildlife ... Not only does the burned area provide earlier browse for geese, but the soil in these areas warms up rapidly, stimulating invertebrate

58

activity.

Refuge studies completed in 1984 showed that where ducks nested in meadows, they tend to prefer more diverse communities rather than vegetative monotypes.

Webster's New World Dictionary defines monotypes as lithe only type of its group. as a single species constituting a genus, a single genus constituting a family, etc.

An April burn in the tall wheatgrass type of Unite V-D DNC resulted in an explosive release of thistle.

Limited numbers of pronghorn antelope also occasionally occur in the alkaline flats on the refuge's north end.

Although the winter of 1983-84 was exceptionally severe, the winter of 1984-85 was milder than normal. Deer were able to remain largely on the exposed south slopes of Ruby Mountains throughout most of the winter months.

No wild chukar were observed on or near the refuge in 1985, although a small flock was released near the headquarters by a sportsmen's group referred to as Chukar Unlimited. The semi-tame birds were seen for only a short period before they disappeared entirely.

Sage grouse, although believed to be historically abundant in Ruby Valley and throughout northeastern Nevada, are not only rarely seen on the refuge. A maximum of 13 males were recorded at the Indian Creek strutting ground in April of 1984 ...

...muskrat trapping season was November 1, 1984 to April 7, 1985.

Three individuals submitted applications. Only one of the applicants trapped taking 120 muskrats in 38 hours of trapping.

1986 NARRATIVE REPORT

For the third consecutive year, water levels were higher than objective levels throughout the year in most management units.

In the shrub zone along the east side of the marsh, rabbitbrush has been killed and replaced with herbaceous vegetation.

The Refuge Habitat Management Plan was put into effect in April 1982 ser~ing as a guide for the grazing and habitat monitoring programs. Because of the high water levels the past several years, adjustments to the plan were made. Increased moisture in the pastures that border the marsh has promoted the growth of baltic rush. This vegetation has become less attractive to grazing cattle, resulting in dense, matted areas that are used little by any type of wildlife. Through burning, it has been shown that utilization by ducks, geese, sandhill cranes and white-face ibis can be improved with these areas.

A total of 11,196 acres was grazed, resulting in the removal of about 3,485 AUM's of forage.

Cattle were on the meadows from 28 October through 22 December, resulting in the removal of about 268 AUM's of forage. Because the meadows were hayed so late, cattle found most hay to be unpalatable.

The above statement is true. The later grasses are cut in season, the less nutritious they are. There is also another disadvantage to cutting meadows late. The earlier meadows are hayed the more regrowth there is. If meadows are cut in July, clover, dandelion, and a variety of grasses send up new growth, whereas if

59

meadows are cut in mid August, very little new growth appears. Not only do cattle prefer early cut meadow lands, but so do wildlife. Sage grouse, geese, ducks and a variety of other wildlife will use new growth meadows extensively, "right up until the time the snow flies", particularly when there is a lot of dandelion and clover in evidence.

Prescribed burning was used on 269.5 acres during 1986 ... Fire is used primarily as a means to eliminate dead, matted stands of baltic rush that restrict new vegetation growth. All but one burn conducted in March were on units not traditionally established as sandhill crane territories; however, all these units ware utilized by cranes during the spring. It has been found that feeding areas for the above mentioned bird species can be maintained for a longer time by placing cattle on a unit three to four weeks after it is burned.

The four main noxious weed species at Ruby Lake NWR are Scotch thistle, Canada thistle, whitetop and Russian knapweed. Of the four, Canada thistle poses the most serious problem because of the number of sites and acreage involved.

In 1986, sage grouse were often seen at the north and south ends of the refuge ... Recently, two active leks have been identified on the refuge.

Advance publicity began during the 1985-86 season when refuge hunters were notified that steel shot may be required beginning with the 1986-87 season.

Four of the five trappers selected for the 1985-86 program participated, the take was 1,474 muskrats.

Sightings of double-crested cormorants in the area have also increased and become more regular.

I don't believe that cormorants were ever seen in Ruby Valley prior to the 1980's.

Ruth Nissen, biological technician, conducted the 1986 sandhill crane breeding pair census and observed 55 cranes on the refuge, including 25 breeding pairs. No nests were located; however, three chicks were observed. None of these survived with the last seen on 23 June. The major cause of chick mortality is thought to be coyote predation.

Note, theY mention in the above oaraqraoh that there were no sandhill cranes raised on the refuge in 1986. You will see, as you read this transcript, that this situation continued through 1993.

1987 NARRATIVE REPORT

After five years of high water, objective levels were once again reached in most units during late summer.

With a dry growing season in 1987, permittees were more persistent in using their allotted refuge AUM's. Because the U.S. Forest Service is reducing the number of AUM's over the next four years on Duval's allotments adjacent to the refuge, more pressure will be placed on refuge lands.

This year, Units I-D, I-E and I-F were hayed during the week of August 17. Approximately 150 acres out of a total of 255 acres were cut. Cutting earlier than the last few years resulted in higher palatability of the hay and better utilization.

Prescribed burning was used to improve habitat conditions on 318 acres during 1987. Spring burning encompassed 240.5 acres... Recently, fire has been primarily used as a means of rejuvenating areas covered by dense matted baltic rush that has restricted new vegetation growth.

60

Canada goose production was down to 119 pairs producing 160 goslings during 1987.

Productivity of canvasbacks and redheads in 1987 increased over 1986's figure, but was low compared to the 10-year average ...

All upland nesting species produced less than the 10-year average with only cinnamon teal production increasing over 1986's figure.

Sandhill cranes returned to the refuge 3 March. Throughout the spring, 15 pairs were periodically surveyed. The first chick was observed on 12 May. One additional chick was observed, but neither are believed to have made it to fledgling stage.

Note, again there was no sandhill crane production.

Mule deer are frequently seen during the winter ... During February and March, they concentrated heavily along the base of the Ruby Mountains.

Pronghorn antelope were occasionally seen at the north and south ends of the refuge ...

One sage grouse 1ek on the refuge was surveyed during spring 1987. Seven sage grouse were present on the 1ek by 21 March.... two sage grouse were observed using the upland area southeast of Unit 21.

A blue grouse, normally staying higher on the slopes, took up residence around Cave Creek and refuge headquarter's lawns through the fall.

Despite many road closures due to construction projects in 1987, refuge use increased to an estimated 70,547 visits ...

There were five parties needing assistance during the motor1ess and electric motor boat season who became disoriented in the marsh or could not maneuver their boat in strong winds. Four of these rescues involving 10 individuals occurred during the first week of boating. The fifth party, after an unsuccessful search, spent the night on the marsh.

Only muskrat trapping is permitted at Ruby Lake NWR. A quota of 750 muskrats was set for each unit. All five units were trapped during varying lengths of time with a total of 3,116 muskrats taken. Generally, pelts sold between $2.25 and $4.00

1988 NARRATIVE REPORT

Ruby Lake experienced a water shortage during 1988. Water levels dropped rapidly during the hot, dry summer and not all marsh units could be maintained at objective levels.

Franklin Lake, north of the refuge, to many people's surprise, dried completely. Traditionally it was a seasonal wetland providing additional habitat for birds who would travel between it and the refuge. It has remained full for the last four years and some people believed it would remain that way for several more years. However, by mid-July, it was dry except for three potholes associated with a well or spring. As a result, more birds congregated on the refuge.

Rejuvenating areas covered by dense mats of baltic rush is an ongoing project. Prescribed burning is used.

Each year, three out of four established hay units are cut and bunch-raked under Duval Ranching Company's grazing permit. Haying is usually done from mid-August through September. This hay is utilized in November and December. The unit not hayed is generally burned.

61

Plans were to use prescribed burning on 197 acres during the spring of 1988. Only 42 acres of this area were burned. An additional 415 acres were burned on 7 April ...

Like most areas this year, overall duck production was extremely poor. At Ruby Lake, pairs were 38% lower than in 1987 with production 16% lower than 1987.

Pronghorn antelope are seen primarily on the north and south ends of the refuge. During dry years, the refuge is their main source of water. To augment the antelope population in the valley, 48 antelope (7 bucks, 32 does and 9 kids) were released just south of the refuge by the Nevada Department of Wildlife on 16 January.

Total visitation in 1988 decreased from the last two years to 54,002.

Total muskrats trapped in 1988 was, 6,562.

Sandhill cranes returned to the refuge on 25 February. Fourteen to fifteen pairs established territories but no young were observed.

Note, once more there was no crane production on the refuge.

1989 NARRATIVE REPORT

Ruby Lake continued to experience a water shortage during 1989. Water levels dropped rapidly during the hot, dry summer and not all marsh units could be maintained at objective levels.

Total annual precipitation the last five years (1985-89) has been below the 12.85 inch 49-year average. During 1988 and 1989, only 9.26 and 9.36 inches of precipitation were received. During 1958 and 1959, only 7.70 and 9.76 inches of total precipitation were received. Despite an above average precipitation year in 1960, the South Sump reached its lowest level during the summer of 1961. Precipitation received from November through February during the winters of 1956­57 to 1960-61 (four years) were below the 5.14 inch average.

Grazing and burning have been used to improve vegetation conditions in these areas; however, some areas that are extremely costly to burn still are in need of improvement to eliminate the accumulation of dead material.

Plans were to use prescribed burning on 3,778 acres during FY-89. Only a portion of one unit was burned, encompassing 50 acres.

Sandhill cranes returned to the refuge on 28 February. Twelve pairs were observed on territories. Five young were sighted. However, none of these are believed to have made it to fledgling stage. Coyotes are considered to contribute to the low success of young survival.

Note again, there was no crane production on the refuge .

. . . [deer] migration south along the slopes of the mountains was not as noticeable during the fall of 1989. A large group concentrated in the Harrison Pass area, north of the refuge, during the winter.

Periodically throughout the year, eleven sage grouse were seen on the refuge along the entrance road to the north end of the Collection Ditch.

Biologist Brown traveled to Spring Creek Elementary School and participated in a week-long ecology program. Kids love to play with water and it is especially fun to "flood out" the town which had drained all its surrounding wetlands. A lesson some adults could stand to learn!

62

»

... there was no trapping program on the refuge for the 1989-90 season. Hopefully, prices will rise enough in the coming year so in 1990-91 trappers will again be interested.

1990 NARRATIVE REPORT

For the fourth year, Ruby Lake experienced a water shortage. Greatest evaporation occurred in July and August. Due to decreased water inflows, very little water was allowed to flow through the diked units into the North and South Sumps.

One of the refuge's longtime permittees had his grazing permit revoked on the grounds of non-use. Cliff Gardner, who has held a grazing permit since 1970, decided it was no longer profitable for him to utilize the refuge in his ranching operations. For the past several years, Gardner has complained about the quality of feed on the refuge. He continued to put his cattle on later and take them off earlier, allowing them to take only the best vegetation. This practice caused a significant increase in Baltic rush and other less desirable plants. Eventually, Gardner's grazing units became decadent. On 6 June Gardner placed 179 head on his assigned unit but pulled them off 15 June. He told the refuge manager that he "quit" and was not going to graze the refuge anymore because there was nothing for the cattle to eat.

There had been disaqreement over qrazinq practices for several years. At first it was mv belief, that in time, if various new grazing practices were proven unsuccessful they would be modified; that solutions could by found. But by 1986 it had become obvious that was not likely to happen. On many occasions I had pointed out to refuge personnel the obvious; that in the areas where grazing reductions had been made, were the same areas where we were no longer seeing as much wildlife use as we once were; where once it had not been uncommon to see sandhill cranes and curlew with their young on the east side of the refuge, they were no longer present. I al"so pointed out that it appeared the plant communities were changing; that we were losing plant diversity. I ask refuge personnel if they had any studies which were supportive of what they were doing. I even suggested that they conduct their own surveys to determine if there was more nesting activity in non grazed areas then grazed areas. But none of my concerns or suggestions were taken seriously. They just went on with their agendas.

Also, during this same period, refuge personnel were talkinq about raisinq grazing fees. I explained to them that I had looked into the question of what was fair or not fair as it related to fees charged by the BLM and Forest Service, and the fact that existing studies indicated that anything over $1.80 per animal unit month was too high when considering all non-fee cost. I even gave Dan Pennigton a copy of a study that had been completed by the Department of Interior which showed that when all non-fee costs were taken into consideration, that we should not be paying more than $1.80 per a.u.m. But they raised the grazing fees anyway.

By then the fields were becominq even more conqested. Along the edge of the lake on the east side, there were hundreds of acres of dead matted grass from six to 10 inches deep. It was obvious, the plants were not healthy. In many areas, there would be only a few live stems of grass extending above the dead vegetation.

As the fields became worse, I began removinq my cattle earlier. Sure, the cattle could be forced to feed in the areas for longer periods, but after a while, after the best feed was used, in each mouthful of feed taken, there was more dead grass than new grass. Sure, the cattle could be left longer, but they would only lose weight.

Finally I told Sara Brown and Dan Penniqton, (Sara was over the qrazinq proqram at that time), that I really didn't have a choice; that if they were to force me

63

to leave my cattle in each grazing unit until all the feed was gone, that I would be forced to abandon my permit.

When I told them that, it was as though a light went on for them. Immediately they made it very clear to me, that if I didn't leave my cattle in each pasture until every bit of the feed allotted to me was gone, that they would cancel my permit.

I told them then, that if they were to burn the fields before my cattle were to ao in; so that there wouldn't be so much dead feed left, that it would be a different situation. I suggested that they burn the fields so as to remove all the old decadent vegetation and then allow grazing at least three out of four years so as to improve plant diversity. I explained that it was my belief that such a practice would benefit both my cattle and wildlife. It was then that Sara Brown told me that they didn't have enough money in their budget to burn on the east side of the refuge. It was as if they had finally found a way to force one more permittee to abandon his permit.

The following spring, when I put my cattle on the east side of the refuge, (in a pasture that had not been grazed for three or four years), they would not stay where we put them. Even though there was good water where they were, they left the area and trailed across to the west side where very little water was available to them. We moved them back across to the east side twice, but the cattle wouldn't stay, the feed was just to unpalatable for them. I appealed to the management of the refuge for reconsideration; that we be allowed the option of putting our cattle into other units where the feed was more palatable, but to no avail. I was informed that there was to be no flexibility in the grazing program. It was a dry year. I really had no where else to go with the cattle, but I moved them anyway; for as it was, the cattle were losing weight, and I knew that if I left them there, not only would they bring in stunted calves that fall, but they would not breed back as they should. That was the last year we ran cattle on the refuge.

After several discussions between the refuge manager and Gardner, it became evident that Gardner did not really want to give up his grazing privileges. He only wanted to quit grazing until the refuge staff conducted prescribed burns on this grazing units. It was explained to Gardner that the refuge did not have the resources to conduct prescribed burning on the east side of the refuge. Each year it is rare that all planned burning can be completed on the west side of the refuge. The west side is a higher priority area for burning because of its high wildlife value. It was explained that burning for the sole purpose to improve grazing habitat for cattle was low priority.

Gardner refused to abide by the conditions of his gazing permit unless his units were burned. Therefore, he was notified of the proposal to revoke his permit and informed of his appeal rights. He initiated an appeal, but later withdrew it.

Fire has been used primarily as a means of rejuvenating upland areas covered by dense, matted baltic rush that has restricted new vegetation growth.

On 19 March, after a ten month drawdown of Unit 14, 50 acres of dense hardstem bulrush were burned. By burning, it was hoped that there would remain good interspersion of open water and emergent vegetation once the unit was flooded. The result was three to four inch stubble that was immediately flooded. Over the following month, water levels rose 19.8 inches in the unit and two months later 20-25 inches covered the stubble. This quick flooding inhibited the return of hardstem bulrush. This area provided good feeding areas for waterfowl. Floating leaf pondweed covered the area in late summer. It is expected that the bulrush will establish itself once again over the next few years ...

The uplands of Unit 21 are small parcels of land that have become decadent because grazing is not feasible in this area. Damage to banks along with people­

64

cattle conflicts in this high public use area were likely. So every four years these areas need burning.

Until the 1970's cattle were run in these areas with no problem that I was aware of.

Over the past year, there has been considerable talk about our management of the refuge's east side upland units. Burning would eliminate the decadent vegetation remaining from the high water of 1984-1986. However, the feasibility of burning is questionable due to low staff numbers, lack of fire barriers and expense of creating barriers.

Overall duck production of 5,812 was greater than the past four years but less than the 6,892 ten-year average production figure.

Ruby Lake has provided excellent nesting habitat for diving ducks in the past, especially redheads and canvasbacks. Nest searching efforts at the end of May and beginning of June revealed very few nest. Steve Bouffard, biologist at Southeast Idaho Refuge Complex and former biologist at Ruby Lake NWR, brought Mike Fisher (Bear Lake) and Dick Sjostrom (Grays Lake) to Ruby for a day of nest searching (primarily to show them good redhead and canvasback nesting habitat) . A few nest were found but not with the ease Steve Bouffard once experienced at Ruby.

Again, there was poor redhead and canvasback production in the South Sump.

First sandhill crane sightings of the year were on 1 March. By the end of March, ten pairs were observed on territories. No young were observed during the year.

Again, no young sandhill cranes were raised on the refuge.

Mule deer, frequently seen during the winter and early spring, are the most common big game species on the refuge. For the second year, their distinct migration south along the mountain slopes has not existed, due to mild winters .

. . . eleven sage grouse were observed periodically on the refuge along the entranced road to the north end of the Collection Ditch. Seven were also seen at the south end of the refuge in Unit I-O during August.

Coyote scat transect were again conducted for the second year with the help of the YCC crew.... there appeared to be more activity this year on six transects ...

...we were unable to interest any trappers due to low fur prices.

If populations increase to a critical level and fur prices remain low, it may become necessary to pay a trapper to remove the surplus muskrats.

1991 NARRATIVE REPORT

The drought continues to impact refuge wetlands. For a fifth consecutive year, Ruby Lake experienced a water shortage.

Narcise Boat Landing was dry by July and only small boats with electric motors could maneuver along the boat channel from the MEL by the end of August. The impact of the loss of wetlands to waterfowl is difficult to access ...

The Franklin Lake basin was virtually dry for the second consecutive year.

It is anticipated that our prescribed fire program will be implemented more vigorously than in past years in meadows which remain covered with dense matted baltic rush litter.

65

The Upland Habitat Management Plan implemented in 1982 received a major revision in 1991. Overall, the plan eliminated livestock use on 1,610 additional acres where annual grazing could not be shown to benefit wildlife ...

In past years, livestock use was allowed on 96% of the upland areas. With the revision of the Upland Habitat Management Plan, livestock use is now allowed on 40 percent of the uplands ...

Winter grazing was allowed in two units on the east side of the refuge in 1991. However, winter grazing has not been utilized more extensively in the past because of normally heavy snow. While the objectives for this use were achieved, the benefit to wildlife was questionable. The east side is mostly low production shrub type habitat and because of past abuses (overgrazing) a significant stand of Douglas rabbitbrush has become established. Much of the desired native vegetation has been displaced. With the revision of the Upland Habitat Management Plan it was decided that areas with high rabbitbrush density would be rested until the habitat if fully recovered.

The above statement contradicts that made in the 1984 Narrative Report, which stated that rest from grazing was causing rabbitbrush to decline in favor of increasing native grass.

Special Use Permits for livestock use were issued to two long-time permittees during 1991.

The Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nevada, Reno, prepared a new Grazing Rate Survey Report for Ruby Lake NWR at a cost of $2,500. Grazing rates for the refuge will be $4.39 per AUM in formula.

Refuge staff were extremely dismayed when it was discovered that one of the target pest plants had been previously mis-identified. Because of the mis­identification, control efforts were not expended and Canada thistle was allowed to expand throughout the refuge for nearly 5 years. What was previously thought to be bull thistle has now pioneered in many meadows and has exponentially expanded along the dike roads.

This is auite a statement, claiming that there had been no knowledge of canada thistle on the refuge. It was in about 1970 that I first saw canadian thistle on the refuge. The patch of thistle was about 15 feet by 3 feet and was located about two thirds of the way down the CCC dike. That same day I went to the refuge headquarters and reported what I had seen. Don Lewis was the manager at the time. I tried to explain the impotence of getting right on the weed before it spread, but they just looked at me like I lacked common sense. Later in 1980, after a tremendous amount of effort had been exerted on my part, by furnishing my own sprayer, and by contributing a lot of my own time, I was able to get the refuge personnel to commit to a weed control program involving scotch thistle, whitetop, and Russian knappweed, but to my knowledge they never did consider control of canada thistle until 1991. By than canada thistle has spread over a major portion of the refuge.

Loss of wetlands and the decline of upland habitat quality due to the drought continues to affect nesting waterfowl. The number of breeding pairs declined by 34% from the 10 year average ... Total waterfowl production for 1991 was 3,850, 46% below the 10 year average.

Canada geese are the only goose species utilizing the refuge year-long. During most years a small number of greater white-fronted geese migrate through Ruby Valley and only occasionally has a snow goose been observed.

Although the refuge grazing program is utilized to provide short grass foraging areas, a majority of the families [geese} leave the refuge during summer.

66

I would think that it would become obvious after a while, why the majority of geese leave the refuge in mid summer. Why would they stay on an area that is covered with dead decedent grasses when there is an abundance of cut over and grazed meadows available elsewhere in the valley.

Production by most duck species during 1991 remained well below the 10 year mean. Ringneck ducks were the only diver with production levels above the 10 year mean. Low waterfowl populations nation-wide in addition to drought-stressed wetlands likely contributed to low production on the refuge. Although sufficient quantitative data are not available, it is likely that mammalian predators (i.e. coyotes, we don't have gray foxes and the mustelid populations are very low) are having a major impact on duck production.

Loss of suitable shallowly flooded bulrush nesting habitat (primarily located along the marsh edge) and less difficult predator access to crane nests and young due to the drought has likely been the cause of zero crane production observed for the past six years. Due to lack of support for predator management, and the potential for long term drought conditions, we may be forced to accept this undesirable outcome.

Again, there was no known crane production on the refuge.

Mule deer are the most abundant big game mammal species on the refuge ... Because of another mild winter, the usual large herds were not observed during 1991.

Pronghorn antelope were released near the southeast side of the refuge in 1988 by the Nevada Dept. of Wildlife ...

On the east side, near the Maverick Mountains 11 and 13 were observed in September. At the south end of the refuge, 12 were observed during June, 14 were observed during July, and 20 were observed in September and October.

During 1991, 9 separate observations were made of sage grouse on the refuge or at the 1ek site with the number of birds observed ranging from 2 to 45.

The muskrat population during 1991 was at a low enough level that trapping was not warranted or needed.

Low water has made launching boats difficult and extensive fishing pressure over the past five years has caused both a reduction in fish size and their population.

Total visitation in 1991 was estimated at 10,839.

1992 NARRATIVE REPORT

During fall 1992, wetland acreage in the South Sump decreased to its lowest amount in 31 years due to low initial wetland acreage and low spring flows ...

Franklin Lake remained virtually dry for a fifth consecutive year.

It was estimated that wetland habitat in the South Sump dwindled to approximately 1,200 acres during late September through mid-November. The average amount of wetlands in the South Sump is approximately 7,000 acres.

Over the past few years there has been a decline in the number of diving ducks nesting in the South Sump; an area once noted for having the highest density of nesting canvasbacks in North America.

The trout and bass fishery has been impacted greatly. Of the few fish that survived the low water level during 1992, most were likely killed during the

67

winter of 1992-93. The combination of thick ice covered by deep snow severely limits oxygen exchange between the water and atmosphere.

Could much of the problem for diving ducks and the fish have been alleviated if the refuge personnel had diverted more water to the South Sump rather than the North Sump? Many of the public believe so.

Following the high water during 1984 through 1986 vegetation composition in the meadows was altered. Baltic rush invaded and displaced a large percentage of the native grasses and forbs present prior to the flooding. Due to high baltic rush production the meadows became rank in 2 to 3 years and the wildlife value of these meadows was subsequently reduced.

Again, they are blaming flooding for the invasion of baltic rush, where we argue it is a result of non-use by livestock. But at least they are admitting that such is detrimental to wildlife values.

Prescribed fire was implemented more vigorously than in past years to enhance meadows that remain covered with dense matted baltic rush litter.

Again, how long will it take management to realize that fire will never restore the diversity of plants to meadow lands. The only way of increasing plant diversity within wet meadow areas is by removing vegetation during the growing season. If you wait until after the plants are mature, its too late. Most meadows will not burn until they have matured. When wet land vegetation is removed early in season, all plants have an equal chance at receiving available sunlight. Therein lays the deference. In addition, when wet meadow grasses are cropped at an early date, they than freshen. New leaves are formed that are tender and nutritious. In addition, these same meadows which have now been made more attractive because of fresh new growth also produce more insects, which attract even more birds.

The Upland Habitat Management Plan implemented in 1982 received a major revision in 1991. The plan serves as a guide for treatment and monitoring of grassland habitats. Overall, the plan eliminated livestock use on 9,968 additional acres where annual grazing could not be shown to benefit wildlife ...

The draft plan also recommended several addi tional spring and pond fencing projects to protect water quality and riparian habitat as well as recommendations for control of green rabbitbrush.

The hayed units are managed to provide short grass foraging areas for Canada geese and a variety of other wildlife. However, by placing livestock in the hayed units during early spring, wildlife were forced to compete with the cattle or utilize lower quality habitat at other locations. For future spring grazing, livestock will be placed in non-hayed units that contain residual vegetation and allowed to graze for 30 days.

In other words, the permittee will be reQUired to out his cattle in one of the fields where there is nothing but matted vegetation left from the previous year or two; which situation is just as unpalatable to cattle as it is for wildlife.

Such policy also contradicts earlier findings which show that whenever livestock were left in fields for extended periods it also extended use by waterfowl.

Fire has been used primarily as a means of rejuvenating upland areas covered by dense, matted baltic rush which restricts and retards new vegetation growth. Additionally, fire enhances the establishment of forbs and grasses by recycling nutrients. Burning also facilitates a more even distribution of cattle throughout the unit by opening densely mated areas.

The above statement is faltse. Again, the only way in which a diversified plant

68

community can be restored is by impacting the vegetation early in the growing season either by grazing or haying. Burning cannot work, simply because the feed is to green to burn early in season.

Dry wetlands, matted vegetation in the meadows caused by high water during 1983­85 and poor upland habi tat quality due to the drought continued to affect nesting waterfowl. The number of breeding pairs was 34% below the 10 year average with a total of 2,575 pairs.

In this instance, they are at least recognizing that matted vegetation is continuing to adversely effect nesting water fowl.

Trumpeter swans were originally transplanted to the refuge from Red Rock Lakes NWR in southwestern Montana between 1947-58. A successful population was established. During 1992, 5 pairs initiated nesting; 1 pair each in marsh Units 10 and 14 and 3 pair in the South Sump. The three pairs in the South Sump and the pair in Unit 14 either abandoned or lost their nests from predation. The pair in Unit 10 hatched 1 cygnet and it appeared to have fledged. During the summer, the cygnet in Unit 10 was frequently observed with only one adult swan. The location of the other mate was a mystery until a carcass of a swan was found in August. Presumably, the carcass was the mate that was not observed with the adult swan and cygnet. The loss of the mate may have a major negative impact on swan production because this pair has been responsible for 100 percent of the refuge swan production during the past few years.

Fortunately, off refuge swan production has been ongoing since the 1950's.

White pelicans are infrequently observed on the refuge. In 1992 less than 10 birds were observed.

The coot population declined for a second consecutive year. During 1992, coot use days were 58 percent below use days in 1991 and 56 percent below the Ip year use day average.

In contrast to past mild winters, the usual large migrant herds [of deer] were again observed during the 1992-93 winter.

During 1991, 15 separate observations were made of sage grouse on the refuge or at the lek site with the number of birds observed ranging from 1 to 70. During 1991, 45 birds in one flock were observed in the same area.

Refuge personnel failed to mention the heavy snows that occurred in this part of Nevada during the winter of 1992 and 1993. I don't believe there was a lot of deer mortality that winter; not in our part of the County anyway. Several mountain lion hunters stopped at our place during the winter. They said they had seen some winter kill; a few fawns that were curled up like they were'laying there asleep, but were dead. But I didn't get the impression that they were seeing a lot of dead deer. But there evidently was a large loss of both deer and antelope in the northern and western part of the county; particularly around Elberz and Star Valley. A large number of the animals that wintered in that area did die that winter. ­

In our area it was the mustanqs that were hurt the most. From talkinq to lonq time residents of Eureka County, White Pine County and Elko County, I learned that most estimates for northern Eureka and White Pine Counties, and eastern Elko County, were that 50% of the mustangs starved to death that winter. At a meeting held in Elko the following year, BLM, Wells Resource Area Manager Bill Baker confirmed that their counts indicated there was 47% fewer horses in Eastern E1ko County in the spring of 1993 than there had been the fall before. He would not acknowledge that there had been a winter kill. He only said that there was an apparent reduction of 47%.

69

F

Mountain lions hunting continues to be a popular sport at this time. Like all the other states in the West, mountain lion populations are high. Probably as high as they were in the 1940's or higher. Most of the lions being taken are males, a good many weighing between 140 to 150 lbs. Several young males and females have been seen starving. There are fewer deer now than I have ever seen in my lifetime, partly due to too many hunters, but mostly due to too many predators, including coyotes and mountain lions. When Walt and I attended the County Advisory Board Meeting for tag recommendations last winter, we ask specifically that there be no does killed in Unit 10 this year. The only thing said by the NDOW officials was that they were required to set a season even if the quota was only for one animal. Predictably, when quotas were published we found that NDOW had issued 1,400 doe tags for the Rubys. Its crazy, but there is nothing we can do about it with government controlling the politics of our state as they are.

1993 NARRATIVE REPORT

Although precipitation received during 1993 was well above average, total wetland acreage remained below average, as has been the situation since 1987.

Flynn and Hager spring, located near the County line and which has been dry for many years, flowed during June and July. Flynn Spring, located above Shantytown, produced very high flows during June and July and did not stop flowing until mid­August which is later than normal.

To maintain sufficient dissolved oxygen concentrations for fish in the diked marsh units when they were ice-covered, water was supplied from the Collection Ditch and flows were adjusted to pass from Unit 20, north through the other diked marsh units and emptied into the North Sump.

After nearly drying up in 1992, the South Sump filled rapidly between November 1992 and June 1993, although it remained below normal elevation throughout the year.

The positive effect of the natural draw-down in 1992 was the extensive production of sago pondweed in the South Sump in 1993.

Exclosures around Cow Camp Pond, North County Line Pond, and Willow Pond were needed to protect water quality in the ponds and to prevent further levee destruction. When grazed during summer and fall, livestock concentrate at the ponds which results in over-utilization of the surrounding areas.

This is interesting. In 1942 refuge manager Herb Dill put in the levee that created Cow Camp Pond. I can remember my Dad talking about it. In his 1943 report Herb Dill wrote:

In past years we have noted that the Canada geese prefer an open type pond ... Ponds surrounded by dense emergent vegetation are used, of 'Course, but by far the most popular are those having no heavy vegetation, and with a gently sloping grassy bank around the edge. As an experiment, such a pond was created through placing an earth dam in one of the small spring channels. This pond was built in August of 1942 and was immediately taken over by the Canada geese. A flock of 20 stayed there until Christmas and the first spring arrivals were noted on this same pond.

Its interesting to me as well, that refuge personnel are saying that there was a need to "prevent further levee destruction". In all of the years of my association with the refuge, I never saw a need for, or heard anyone talk of a need to rebuild any levees. To our knowledge, the levees were well sodded and free of erosion. Above normal runoff from the north half of the Ruby Mountains flooded approximately 4,000-5,000 acres of Franklin Lake which has been dry since 1988.

70

Although normally a seasonal wetland, Franklin Lake contained approxi~ately 600­700 acres of shallow water at freeze-up.

One Special Use Permit for livestock use was issued to Duval Ranching Company ... Grazing was allowed on 6,710 acres in 1993 at a level of 2,424 AUM's.

During 1993, six prescribed fires were conducted ... We experienced over­achievements on two fires; 12 acres of grassland burned during the Unit III-E fire and 626 acres of meadow and bulrush burned in the Unit I-O/South Sump wildfire. The over-achievement in Unit III-E was caused by small glowing particles of dead Baltic rush which blew across the line into dry vegetation.

Because of the perimeter size of the 1,965 acre East Sump/Unit III-E prescribed fire, assistance from the Elko and Ely BLM District Offices was requested and received. The BLM supplied five engines and crews which provided a total of seven engines and 14 personnel.

Vegetation conditions on and off-refuge during 1993 were prime for wildfires, however, because the number of summer and fall lightening storms was below normal, very few fires occurred. The first lightening-ignited wildfire on the refuge occurred 20 May, burned 1.5 acres of meadow and was apparently extinguished by rain associated with the storm.

Seasonal wildfires have been increasinq in the Western United States both in size and frequency since the late 1970's. The reason is the new philosophy that is prevalent among agency personnel. They want all livestock off the lands, and they have been steadily accomplishing their goal. As an example, the Forest Service permittees that have traditionally run cattle on the Ruby Mountains directly adjacent to the refuge, have had their use cut by more than 50%. To the south on BLM lands permittees have been cut 70%. And to the North on Forest Service Lands, there have been complete cancellations. Needless to say there is a tremendous amount of feed left on nearly all of the range each year now. What is occurring across the West, if defined correctly, is the replacement of one industry, (the livestock industry), with another industry, (fire suppression). Just where it will stop I do not know; I do know though that now days when refuge personnel are burning, the valley is filled with smoke. If it were someone in the private sector that was causing such a situation I can just imagine the outcry that would come from persons in the government, but since it is they that are causing the pollution, apparently its 0 K.

ENDANGERED/THREATENED SPECIES Following a peregrine falcon introduction program on the refuge from 1984 to 1989, falcons were observed annually until 1991. No sightings of peregrine falcons have occurred during the past three years.

In 1993, the spring waterfowl population including migrating and breeding birds) peaked in May at 10,269 birds which was 24 percent higher than the peak spring population in 1992. Fall populations in 1993 peaked at 17,449 in Nove~er; 23 percent higher than 1992.

Goose production was relatively stable between 1989-1991 but sharply declined in 1993 .... the number of geese produced was 39 percent below 1992 production and 68 percent below the 10 year mean.

In contrast to the 1992-93 winter and past normal winters, the large migrant [deer] herds were not observed during the 1993-94 winter.

No striped skunks were observed during 1993.

From the time I first began noticing what was qoinq on about me until the early 1970's I never saw a striped skunk anywhere in Ruby Valley or anywhere else in Elko County. There were quit a few civet cats (small spotted skunks) but no

71

F

striped skunks. I often heard my parents talk of striped skunks as though they were the only kind that were around during their early years. I have often wondered if their demise wasn't due to the predator control programs that were initiated in the mid 1930's. There was a lot of strychnine used during that period and from what I have been able to determine from the interviews and research I have done, there was a general reduction of all predators during that period; whereas after 1080 came into use, with the exception of coyotes, many predator species began to increase. Compound 1080 could be used very selectively in targeting coyotes.

From listening to those older than myself, I am convinced that there were no raccoons in this region until sometime in the 1960's. When I was going to High School in Elko in the 1950's I heard tell of there being one or two raccoons at the Petan Ranch, west of the Owyhee Indian reservation. But it was not until the mid 1960's that we began seeing raccoons at night in Secret Pass. It wasn't until the 1970's that we began seeing them in South Ruby Valley.

I have noticed that Brook Trout production has been very minimal since raccoons have arrived in South Ruby Valley.

During the drought years that occurred between 1986 and 1991 we lost a lot of the raccoon population in South Ruby.

I saw a raccoon on the road riqht at Cave Creek just two weeks ago (Sept. 1996). I mention this because, while visiting with refuge manager Kim Hanson last week, he mentioned to me that to his knowledge, raccoon had never been seen on the refuge.

A total of 118,185 fish were stocked on the refuge during 1993. Trout fry accounted for 49,052 of the total number of fish planted in the South Sump. These fry were excess fish from the hatchery and were placed in the South Sump mainly to provide a forage item for larger fish. Bass fry accounted for 15,000 of the total number of bass planted in the South Sump.

The muskrat population during 1993 was at a low enough level that trapping was not warranted ...

1994 NARRATIVE REPORT

For the tenth consecutive year refuge wetlands continued to be negatively impacted by water shortage.

During winter when the small marsh units were ice-covered, water was diverted from the Collection Ditch and routed to the North Sump through Units 20, 14, 13, and 10, in that order, to maintain sufficient dissolved oxygen concentrations for fish.

The southern one-third of the North Sump was flooded during spring from wa~er diverted from the small marsh units.

Although the South Sump water elevation made significant recovery in 1994 from the drought, the recovery was not sustained during 1994 because of poor winter snow pack. The low water elevation in the South Sump during late summer and fall limited boat access to canoes, with difficulty. Narcise Boat Landing was dry by 1 September.

Much of the open water in the southwest side of the South Sump has become overgrown by bulrush, resulting in the significant loss of waterfowl habitat. When the area contained more open water it was used by waterfowl, especially canvasback, redhead and ruddy ducks, for nesting and brood rearing.

Loss of open water on the west side of the South Sump has negatively impacted

72

nesting diving ducks and may be involved in the decline of canvasback breeding populations on the refuge.

The above comments confirm what many of us have been saying for vears. When water levels are lost within the South Sump it does effect canvasback and redhead ducks in a negative manner. Refuge personnel have said that the sportsmen's only interest in wanting additional water diverted to the South Sump rather than the North Sump was because they wanted more water for skiing and fishing, but such is a misrepresentation. What the sportsmen have been saying is, that a program that diverts water from the South Sump to the North Sump is ridiculous because it hurts wildlife as well as recreation.

Surveys conducted during 1992-94 showed an increase in the numbers of Canada geese and in the duration of use of the meadows by adult and young geese when cattle grazing was not implemented until after 15 May.

We received assistance from fire crews from the Sheldon and Hart Mountain NWRs and the Ely District Bureau of Land Management, on five prescribed fires. The ELM crews provided one light and two heavy engines. The support provided by the crews was critical to executing the fires.

Northern Nevada was no exception to the high wildfire activity that occurred in the western United States. Refuge staff responded to a record number 11 reports of lightening-ignited wildfires ...

... one management-caused wildfire did occur on the refuge in November when high winds (with peak gusts to 60 mph) caused smoldering peat in a fire break to ignite a 200-acre fire in the North Sump.

Estimated waterfowl production in 1994 was three percent above estimated production in 1993 and 17 percent below the 10-year mean. Although estimated production in 1994 was the highest since 1990, production remains below objective.

At the end of March, 21 crane pairs were counted on the refuge. Fifteen pairs observed on nesting territories in early May. The number of colts observed on the refuge increased significantly this year, however, only two of the sixteen colts survived to fledgling age. This is the first successful production of colts in the past nine years. It is believed that extremely high predator pressure resulted in zero crane production the previous eight years.

Soon after takinq UP residence at Shanty Town in 1986 Richard "Doc" Quinn beqan shooting coyotes near and around the Ruby Lake Refuge on a routine basis. Doc said that from 1986 through 1993 he killed between 60 and 70 coyotes a year.

In 1994 Doc and Walt, my oldest son, decided that they would have a contest to see who could kill the most coyotes. As a result, Doc, who was hunting almost every day during the winter, killed 105 coyotes that year. On our Ranch alone, Doc killed 38, Walt killed 26 and 13 were killed by others who were visitin~ or helping us on the ranch. In 1995, Doc killed 75 coyotes in the valley, Walt killed 22, Ben Pratt, a friend of Walt's killed 3, and Charley, my second son killed 8. 90% of these coyotes taken were killed either near the refuge or on our ranch. This number of coyotes killed is far below the number we think should be taken, but did result in fewer sightings of coyotes in south Ruby Valley during 1994, 1995 and 1996, and has, we believe, resulted in a definite increase in sandhill crane production, at least it has on our ranch. For the first time in many years we did raise two crane colts this year, (1996), and one colt last year. I suspect that this same effort was responsible for the two crane colts being raised on the refuge last year.

Over the years I have been an interested observer of the demise of the sheep industry. Reductions in the demand for wool have played a large part in the

73

decline of sheep industry here in the West, but sheepmen have had other problems as well. Beginning in the 1950's there began a campaign in this country to eliminate bounty programs. This accomplished, animal rights groups then began campaigning against the use of toxins; more recently it has been trapping. Even when the "anties" could not accomplish complete elimination of predator programs they were able to secure reductions in funding. They have also been successful in reducing or eliminating predator control on wilderness areas, refuges, Forest Service lands and even BLM lands.

Many sheepmen may have withstood depressed markets, but when such problems coincided with reductions in predator control, few survived. The Sorensons were one outfit that hung on longer than most. Loyd and his wife Alta had started with no more than 50 head of sheep in the 1930's. By 1955, they were running 15,000 sheep in Elko County. In the 1970's the Sorensons converted much of their operation to cattle but continued to run sheep on their most rugged and less assessable range. But in 1988 a large portion of their Range was designated as Wilderness. During the campaign for wilderness designation in Elko County, citizens were assured that there would be no change in grazing practices because of wilderness designation, but in 1990, when the Sorensons made application for control of predators on newly created Wilderness lands, the application was never processed. Knowing that there was no future for them in the sheep business if they could not control predators, the Sorensons sold the last of their sheep the following spring.

I had witnessed the demise of sage grouse production in south Ruby Valley in the mid 1970's. During the 1940's, sage grouse would come into the meadows soon after the hay was put up, concentrating along the edges, close to sage brush. In the 1960's few remained. On our ranch there was one bunch of 10 or 12 birds that came in on the meadows below the Jasper Place each Fall and another bunch of about 6 or 8 that came in on the sand ridge below Dawley Creek. But those the bunch I remember the most were those that came in below the barn yard. The last year I saw them, there were 11 birds, an old hen with 10 chicks. There were a lot of coyotes on the ranch at that time. We would see one or two within 4 or 5 hundred yards of the barn every time we would ride out to do cow work. It was when I was riding in the Well Field that I first noticed a pile of sage grouse feathers, first one and then two, and then three. By the end of the fall there were only two birds left, the old hen and one chick. That was the last year we saw sage grouse in any number on the ranch. Once in a great while there will be 3 or 4 come in on the sand ridge, but very rarely.

And so, when I learned that there would be no more predator control on the East Humboldt Range, and that the Sorensons were going out of the sheep business, I predicted that there would be a rapid decline in sage grouse numbers in North Ruby Valley within a few short years. And sure enough, by 1993 the cattle ranchers in North Ruby were complaining of coyotes killing calves during calving season. And as predicted, sage grouse are now scarce in North Ruby Valley, just as they have been in South Ruby Valley since the early 1970's.

Gilbert Temoke was witness to the rapid increase in coyote numbers in North Ruby Valley. Gilbert, who has worked as the gunner for the Animal Damage Control Department for many years, told me that the most coyotes ever gotten by them, (pilot and gunner), in one day was there in North Ruby Valley two years ago. He said that they killed 107 coyotes in no more than three hours and could have killed more if they hadn't run out of shot gun shells.

Another area of interest has been Butte Valley. Until recently, the Beltron Paris family ran sheep over most of that area. When Gorden Healy and his family moved there in the late 1960's there were sage grouse galore. Garden said that in late summer and fall there were sage grouse allover their meadows. Butte Valley had become a favorite hunting area for Doc Quinn after he moved back to Elko County in 1986. Each Fall he would go to Butte Valley for his limit of sage grouse. And of course Doc always came home with great tails of all the sage

74

grouse they had seen.� But, three years ago there was a major change in Butte Valley, the Paris Family� sold their sheep and went out of the sheep business. It seems that the Paris� family, like so many other ranching families, were experiencing great difficulty� working with the government. Anyway, to make a long story short, this fall I� mentioned to Doc that since the Paris family had been forced out of the sheep� business, it probably would not be long until he was going to see a vast� reduction in sage grouse production in Butte Valley; and Doc said, "Its already� happening. "We only saw 1.0 or so birds this year, and most of them were old hens� and roosters."�

Coot production in 1994 was 17 percent lower than in 1993 and 58 percent below� the 10-year mean.�

Mule deer ... are frequently observed throughout the year.�

During 1.994, at least four different herds of pronghorn were observed in the� North Sump and adjacent meadows, and in meadows to the South Sump. At least� seven young were observed on the refuge in 1994.�

During 1994, 19 separate observations were made of sage grouse on the refuge or at the lek site with the number of birds observed ranging from 1 to 14.

Striped skunks were first documented in south Ruby Valley during 1992. During 1994 four skunks were removed from the hatchery, four from Cave Creek, and two from the dump located just north of the refuge headquarters.

Poor habitat conditions prevailed during 1992 and 1993 as the South Sump was mostly dry, and few bass survived the harsh winter. A total of 2,001 breeding age bass were planted in the South Sump in an effort to rebuild their population rapidly. Bass are not normally planted on the refuge because they reproduce successfully in the marsh.

Public use for 1994 was estimated at 13,202; a 27 percent increase over 1993. Wildlife observers, including photographers, accounted for an estimated 25 percent of the visitors using the refuge in 1994.

75�