Too many elk in Montana?

Joined
Aug 17, 2024
Messages
9
Location
Montana
UPOM doesn't want to kill more elk, they want to control bull permit allocation. By state statute, if bull permits are limited, non-residents only get 10%. Years ago, when FWP put archery bull hunting on a limited draw permit - for lots of reasons mostly related to overcrowded archery seasons - all the private landowners with huge herds of elk could no longer hunt them on a general license. Those same landowners were happy to have the largest herds of elk in the state, but they lost their golden goose (first blow was when they lost their guaranteed outfitter-sponsored licenses). UPOM attempts to make the argument that the state is failing to manage elk, so give them back the control to manage elk. Our obvious solutions to too many elk are aimed at a problem they don't actually want to solve. They need the state to fail to attempt to take the reins.
 

Benet30

FNG
Joined
Mar 26, 2024
Messages
11
We hunted Montana last week and within 3 days of opener the elk cleared out of the mnts and were on two huge private ranches with out of state owners. Two separate herds of 200 elk only about 15 miles from each other. They sure figured out where to go for safety fast
 

Superx3

FNG
Joined
Sep 10, 2023
Messages
64
Location
Tx panhandle
Landowners don't need any favors when it comes to hunting. We let friends and family hunt. And a lot of landowners are willing to make new friends (this is the big tip of the day). So if you want to hunt private make a friend. But don't ask to do them a favor.
^^^ this 1000%

We farm and ranch and live in the Texas panhandle. Back when we had a nice huntable population of pheasant and quail (prior to 2011 drought) we let a select few family friends hunt. They were respectful, and would always call before just showing up. Always just shot a few birds, and we saved the days around the holidays for us and family. Now we lost a few friends over pulling up to a nice honey hole and a so called friend was climbing into his pickup with him and uncle Fred and Jim and Paul all limited out on pheasant on days we had reserved for our family on our own land! Now it’s just a very very select few special people get the opportunity to hunt anything. It’s just easier. If I really want a deer culled I’ll call around to a local kid, or cull it myself and call a needy family to come get the meat. Flame me if you want to but some people ruin it for the masses. That’s just how the cookie crumbles.
 

WRC

FNG
Joined
Dec 11, 2024
Messages
3
^^^ this 1000%

We farm and ranch and live in the Texas panhandle. Back when we had a nice huntable population of pheasant and quail (prior to 2011 drought) we let a select few family friends hunt. They were respectful, and would always call before just showing up. Always just shot a few birds, and we saved the days around the holidays for us and family. Now we lost a few friends over pulling up to a nice honey hole and a so called friend was climbing into his pickup with him and uncle Fred and Jim and Paul all limited out on pheasant on days we had reserved for our family on our own land! Now it’s just a very very select few special people get the opportunity to hunt anything. It’s just easier. If I really want a deer culled I’ll call around to a local kid, or cull it myself and call a needy family to come get the meat. Flame me if you want to but some people ruin it for the masses. That’s just how the cookie crumbles.
No flames here! If you look at how public land gets treated by some “sportsmen”, the lack of respect is incredible. Last hunt we extinguished two unattended fires in abandoned camps. Was so pissed.
 
Joined
Jan 23, 2013
Messages
918
The legit farmers and ranchers are in a tough spot, the big money ranches harbor the elk and the small ranches pay the price. But this is all UPOM. They're running the show now - politically - we have to keep them honest.
 
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