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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
What is quite possible is that increased archery hunting could be a contributing stress factor to them since they are now under more stress due to increased predator levels. I think that is quite possible. But, as the research showed above, wolf restoration had a dramatic and very quick... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
Increasing numbers of archery hunters is not the cause.......nobody credible who understands the problem well believes that...........the primary cause is wolf restoration. Winter comes early in SW Montana.......major September snowstorms are normal......I suspect as well that elk have figured... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
Region 3 elk hunters had 335,981 hunting days in 2004; in 2022 they had 373,817 hunting days; about a 10% increase. Over a 20 yr period that is pretty minimal and I would argue almost imperceptible to elk on a year to year basis. I doubt a 10% increase in hunter days is responsible for this... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
They absolutely do........its just that the habitat of the valley floor in NW Montana is vastly different then the valley floor in SW Montana...........and.....the land ownership is much different in NW Montana then SW Montana as well. NW Montana habitat has the ability to disperse elk and... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
The habitat in NW Montana is vastly different the SW Montana; you don't have wide-open massive ranches on the valley floor; WAY more public land in NW Montana. And it is pretty much heavy timber from the valley floors and up. This helps give the elk a wider base of habitat to get away from... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
This is correct......but the pressure didn't come from hunting pressure on elk in SW Montana, it came from wolves......most of the landowners in SW Montana will tell you that is when the big shift came in elk behavior........elk have had lots of hunting pressure on them in Western Montana for... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
But, you can hunt in October right now under the current season structure?? From my experience there in November I don't disagree that some bucks are moving off of some of the rough public and onto private. I guess what I would say is if there are more bucks on the public ground in October... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
I understand exactly how they classify deer; "Buck class is determined by antler spread, Class 2 bucks = 20-25". Class 3 bucks => 25". Biologically speaking, the single highest correlation with antler size and spread, is age of the buck. Is it a perfect measure of age? No, but, it very... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
Have no problem with NR regional caps. Have no problem limiting NR to the original statutory limit. Let the “Come home to hunt” crowd duke it out in the general NR draw like all the rest of us. hmm. Not sure what you mean by “units”. Yes for sure have hunted a week in region 6 and a week in... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
Ha! Nope not an outfitter; Just a non resident that has hunted the great States of Wyoming and Montana on DIY public land hunts for 30+ years. Spend 12-14 days in each State; some years just Montana, some just Wyoming,and some both States. And yes, your outfitters are a joke, especially the... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
Little late back to the party, but I'll take this on.......I have done the research; I have been in those areas; I have hunted Eastern Montana the last 30 yrs; I understand the landscape and have talked to many biologists in other states. Have spent considerable time in Wyoming. Your... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
Because when you put forth professional proposals to the dept you cite those opinions to validate your point. -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
Because it puts you on a slippery slope. First a 31 day season in Oct. That doesn’t achieve the goals; Then it gets shortened. That doesn’t achieve your results. Then you look at things like APR’s; That doesn’t work. Then eventually your stuck with a 10-14 day October hunt with APR’s... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
"There won’t be as many deer shot in October. They are running on the shooters gonna shoot mentality. We as a group discussed that we could care less what someone fills their tag with. You will always have a last day of season and people will always fill their tag for that reason. But less deer... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
No, I did not miss that; see my quote below: The biggest change to help the number of animals on the landscape has already been made with the reduction in doe tags; your problem as Montana residents now is to never allow those kind of doe tags to be elevated again to anywhere near where they... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
I get the frustrations from the montana residents, and once again, us NR are lucky to hunt your State, and will take whatever seasons are set. But, I am still failing to understand what the goals of this proposal are??? If the goal is to increase the amount of animals on the landscape, it... -
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Montana General Season Structure Proposal
I want to commend the OP and the others that helped with the proposal, so this is in no way a criticism. In full disclosure, I am not a Montana resident, but, have hunted it extensively since the early 1980's and have been to just about every corner of the State. I do think it is up to...
