Where have all the elk gone? article

[browtinebull]

This ones a keeper.............

Where Have All the Elk Gone?

Elk hunting in Montana isn’t what it used to be—between predators, pressure, private lands, and changing times, opportunities for the average hunter are fading fast..

www.montanaoutdoor.com

 

[AntelopeEater]

The harsh reality of our human population growth and ever increasing development of lands that used to be wilderness means that hunting opportunities are going to presumably continue to be on a downward trend, just as they have been overall for all of human history, with rare temporary exceptions.

Can you imagine how awesome hunting would have been in the Americas back in the Ice Age, especially with a modern rifle and ammo?

But all we can do is enjoy whatever opportunities we currently have while we can.

 

[S.Clancy]

I read that article this morning, I honestly couldn't tell if it was an "Onion" type article or not. I guess not.

Growing up in MT, I think the best elk hunting (if you want to kill an elk) is right now. Sure, some places are worse than 30 years ago, but a lot of places have tons of elk. I think our statewide population has 2x+ since the early 90's.

 

[alexnelon]

The way the human brain processes memories puts a major priority on positive experience.

The notion that you only remember the good times has a lot of merit.

The numbers just don't support the whole "back in my day I had the whole mountain to myself and every bull bugled all day and no one has shot an elk in the last 30 years" sentiment. There are more elk than ever.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Changes I have seen in the west relate largely to the bark beetle and the collapse of the entire stands of trees that changed the travel and migration patterns.

The other issue has been a focus on trophies as opposed to meat. I haven't seen a bull older than 5 in over 25 years. Some of that may be related to the tremendous pressure during archery season and modern equipment.

Locally the calf crops have been steady and the survival rates have been consistant. However the over population of mtn lions have completely obliterated the mule deer.

I have seen the elk herds get larger and fewer individual or family units and that can be survival from the wolf packs. Another issue may be a tendancy for them to feed at night to avoid the pressure from the endless roving packs of rzrs.

Just a few observations of a rancher.

 

[Packer9037]

I couldn't agree with the author of this article more...he's spot on. Elk hunting in Montana and all the western states is brutal...I suggest to anyone on the fence don't start and to everyone else to quit immediately. It's a terrible hobby. I've stated before I'll keep going just to make sure it still sucks and I commit to letting you all know once it's better and you can start going again.

 

[IdahoElk]

In my area (Sun Valley, Idaho) F&G has basically wiped out the Elk herd due to paying out damage claims to farmers for winter crop damage and also Elk/vehicle accidents in the valley, What few Elk are left hang out in residential areas to get away from the wolves, I always thought F&G managed based on biology, In my area they manage on insurance claims.

 

[Customweld]

In my area (Sun Valley, Idaho) F&G has basically wiped out the Elk herd due to paying out damage claims to farmers for winter crop damage and also Elk/vehicle accidents in the valley, What few Elk are left hang out in residential areas to get away from the wolves, I always thought F&G managed based on biology, In my area they manage on insurance claims.

IFG is legislatively mandated to minimize crop damage. I'm not saying its right, but that's what they have to work with.

 

[IdahoElk]

IFG is legislatively mandated to minimize crop damage. I'm not saying its right, but that's what they have to work with.

I understand that But they have basically wiped out the Elk herd the last 5yrs by giving out a crazy amount of cow tags and even aerial shooting them.
I've hunted this area for 35yrs and have seen a drastic reduction in Elk numbers recently, To me this culling was a knee jerk reaction solely based on economics and not biology.
They continue to sell Non res tags to people who put their hard earned cash down to fulfill a dream knowing damn well the resource isn't there, That is a crime.

 

[jjordan355]

I’m not sure there’s a lot of merit to be had in this article. Clearly from the beginning you can pick out that the guy is sour about his recent hunt.

I just got back from a 19 day hunt and I can tell you there are PLENTY of elk in the unit I was in. I live in and hunt in Montana. There were several bulls over the 5-7 year age. However, I did have to play the boundaries of private/public and still didn’t arrow a mature bull. Had several raghorns and spikes under 60 yards, just not what I was looking for this year in this particular unit.

Yeah there’s more hunters than ever but there’s also more elk than ever in our current generations lifetime. Which means more opportunities. Elk hunting isn’t easy or for the feint of heart unless you have deep pockets and can pay to hunt private land where elk act more naturally. Also elk are pretty smart and knowing where to stay safe. That’s common knowledge. That’s why they bed where the wind swirls and won’t cross certain fence lines.

Also going to a spot there were elk a couple years ago as he states in the beginning doesn’t seem illogical to me, but betting on this spot that there’s still elk there and someone else hasn’t found that spot is kinda crazy. Elk are nomadic animals and may be in the same general area but never the same spot.

 

[Customweld]

I understand that But they have basically wiped out the Elk herd the last 5yrs by giving out a crazy amount of cow tags and even aerial shooting them.
I've hunted this area for 35yrs and have seen a drastic reduction in Elk numbers recently, To me this culling was a knee jerk reaction solely based on economics and not biology.
They continue to sell Non res tags to people who put their hard earned cash down to fulfill a dream knowing damn well the resource isn't there, That is a crime.

I don't disagree. It isn't going to change until you get legislators in there that aren't in Farm Bureau's back pocket.

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

That article read like a pile of mushy oatmeal...

 

[bigsky2]

I agree that there's not a lot of merit to that article. It sounds like the author is mostly referring to western MT elk hunting, which I cant speak on since I haven't hunted elk in the Gravellies since 2008. I will agree on the hunter crowding aspect of it though, at least for the areas around where I live in central MT. We have more elk than ever but probably less access than ever and more hunting pressure than ever, which can make it very tough to be into elk every day. When I hunted the areas the author hunts back in 2007 and 2008, I could be into elk every day. It's actually more difficult to stay on elk in the limited draw areas around where I live now because the elk are getting pushed around by hunters so much. The loss of access and the increased number of private land sanctuaries has really changed things.

 

[D_wit22]

We have these types of hunters in the Whitetail woods back east as well. “I returned to the spot that I have always hunted my entire life and I don’t see any deer. That means there are no deer anymore!” How about thinking that the Elk have adapted to pressure and are no longer in the same spots??? Don’t make an excuse for being a poor hunter! Go find them.

 

[svivian]

I couldn't agree with the author of this article more...he's spot on. Elk hunting in Montana and all the western states is brutal...I suggest to anyone on the fence don't start and to everyone else to quit immediately. It's a terrible hobby. I've stated before I'll keep going just to make sure it still sucks and I commit to letting you all know once it's better and you can start going again.

Thank you for your service