Would you give up RIFLE hunting for 5 years to help Elk and Deer populations???

[Ross]

i will 3rd this as well. NO

 

[2ski]

So Brewer, how's that urban muley population looking in Helena? Last I heard you guys were significantly overpopulated. I do realize that there are areas of low population. Your buddies could start archery hunting in Helena. I kid, I'm pretty sure they're not allowing it.

When you change people's habits, you're only going to get a percentage of them back when you try to change their habits back. For every year you take away hunting, you're going to not get back a bigger percentage of those people. Also, keep in mind that there are a fair number of people that hunt for sustenance, and not for fun. I'm guessing that most on Rokslide aren't going to starve if they don't get an animal. I know a few people, however, that depend on the deer and elk they harvest every year to supplement what they buy at the store. They could survive, but it would come at a financial burden. I think you would see a rise in incidences of poaching as a result. I'm not saying by any means that the majority of hunters need to harvest, but I think the smaller towns in MT would see more especially. Harder to drive into Bozeman, Billings, Missoula, ect with a deer in the back of your truck, but to drive it to your buddy's garage on his ranch is different. Also, how many of those deer hunter are you going to drive to elk hunting? What will this do to the elk population?

What about game damage? I know a couple ranchers that only allow doe hunting on their property as a method of culling their overpopulated deer herds. One in fact, charges $25 to hunt his property(which I had a huge problem with until I found out the rest) but you get it back if you show up with a doe. If you shoot a buck he keeps the money.

And, lastly, I think you set a couple off because you didn't suggest to stop all hunting, just rifle. And while, yes the majority of game gets taken in rifle season, continuing to have archery would stink of elitism to a lot if people. I personally don't have an issue with Trout Unlimited, but a lot don't trust them because they see them as a group that pushes the agenda of elite, rich, fly-fisherman. For an example of what the outcry would be if you ended rifle for 5 years, but not archery, since you live in Helena, what would happen if you told everyone that they could only fly fish Canyon Ferry, Holter, and Hauser? What kind of divide would that create between boat fishermen and fly-fisherman, TU and Walleye's Unlimited? Ok, so how about all fishing on those places. All those boat dealerships that sell boats in Helena and Townsend. The little store at the silos, the Silos Bar, Kim's Marina, ect. You're potentially putting all those places out of business. Because who can handle a 5 year loss of their livelihood. And I realize that fishing is a year round pursuit on those 3, and hunting is a 3 month pursuit, but its still a loss of livelihood. You can look for another solution, but shutting down hunting completely is not feasible.

And I'm sorry some of your friends quit hunting, but to be blunt, they weren't hunting for the right reasons if they measure success by harvesting a bull or buck. I get it, it could be frustrating for them, but they need to step back and realize that success can be measured in more than just meat in the freezer.

 

[brewer427]

And I'm sorry some of your friends quit hunting, but to be blunt, they weren't hunting for the right reasons if they measure success by harvesting a bull or buck. I get it, it could be frustrating for them, but they need to step back and realize that success can be measured in more than just meat in the freezer.

They didn't quit because of not harvesting any bulls or bucks. They quit because of the lack of LEGAL animals. In most districts that is Browtine bulls only with very little to any cow tags available.

I get what everyone is saying. Overall this was something we were discussing the other day at breakfast and I figured I'd bring it up here. Didn't mean to get any one worked up at all. I also wasn't implying to stop hunting all together for 5 years, nor was I implying that Archery hunters are more elite and that should be the only form of hunting. I just feel it is our responsibility to try and increase COW/BUll numbers and BUCK/DOE numbers where it is needed, so that people who do not have the time or funds to travel across the state to hunt those HD's where game is more prevalent, could have a better shot closer to home.

I also no this wouldn't be the fastest way to increase numbers, like what was talked about earlier, ex. avoiding road kills, highway fences and better predator control. Just think it would be more feasible to suspend rifle hunting, or have a permit system for a few years, then trying to figure out how to limit road kills, installing high fences along roads and trying to get more people to predator hunt on a regular basis...

 

[GFY]

but to answer the question.

NO

 

[NEhunter]

Uh...... No.

 

[airlocksniffer]

So Brewer, how's that urban muley population looking in Helena? Last I heard you guys were significantly overpopulated. I do realize that there are areas of low population. Your buddies could start archery hunting in Helena. I kid, I'm pretty sure they're not allowing it.

If only. I had 7 bucks across the street yesterday, one pretty nice. Many mornings in the fall I could probably arrow one from my deck in my bath robe.

 

[robby denning]

You don't have to close it to improve it. Closing seasons always is risky as you may never get them open again (judges, anti-hunters, anti-hunting hunters, change in state management philosophy etc.) As some posters have said, just some more conservative management would fix many ailing herds.