BuzzH
Well-known member
Rifle season that starts at the end of October doesn't move elk onto private in September.Now do rifle. And look at the harvest stats. Good info Buzz.
Just sayin'.
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Rifle season that starts at the end of October doesn't move elk onto private in September.Now do rifle. And look at the harvest stats. Good info Buzz.
We all agreed on that when our group met. Season structure is a contributing factor though, and it was the one factor that we felt hunters had the most control over.Not every single problem with Montana elk and deer herds is due to season structures. The issues are way more complex then that.
As a guy who lives in SW MT and manages a lot of private land I can tell you wolves are a non issue. Do me a favor this September and take a drive through the gravelly/ Ruby and report back how many wolves you see (0) and how many archery camps and side by sides you see on public property (hundreds). One meadow last fall had over 40 separate camps in it within a few hundred yard stretch of the road. Are there areas such as around the park where wolves have had an impact? Sure. But this fist pounding blaming wolves across the board doesn’t hold water.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 the wolves, and since there are not these massive ranches down low, there isn't really anywhere for these elk to congregate.
Go talk to the landowners from the Dillon area, south to Lima, out through the Centennial valley, and up through the Ruby. They are front and center of this problem. These massive lower elevation ranches are were the problem is. These areas of Montana have timber at the higher elevations, but is wide open on the valley floors. Way different then NW Montana. At first, how it started, is what happened is that as soon as the first major storm hit, which is usually mid to late September to mid October, the elk would flood down to the lowlands because trying to avoid wolves in snow becomes much more difficult.....but, as time has gone on these elk have just started to figure out its safer the more time they spend down low. I am not saying that elk aren't migrating back up in elevation in SW Montana in the Spring and Summer, but, what I am saying is that are really nervous, and it doesn't take much now to drive them down. But, like I said, the "Big Change" came after wolves were reintroduced. This problem didn't exist near to the level it does now in the 70's,80's and early 90's. Unfortunately now, grizzly populations have also exploded, especially out in the Centennial valley.
I don't think wolves are solely to blame and probably do not have an effect in some areas. But I noticed a definite shift where I hunt. And the area does not get a significant amount of pressure. I can jump in the truck right now and find hundreds of low lying elk in different areas. And they never leave. mtmuleyAs a guy who lives in SW MT and manages a lot of private land I can tell you wolves are a non issue. Do me a favor this September and take a drive through the gravelly/ Ruby and report back how many wolves you see (0) and how many archery camps and side by sides you see on public property (hundreds). One meadow last fall had over 40 separate camps in it within a few hundred yard stretch of the road. Are there areas such as around the park where wolves have had an impact? Sure. But this fist pounding blaming wolves across the board doesn’t hold water.
I think in region 1 and 2 there could definitely be an argument to be made that they have changed elk behavior.I don't think wolves are solely to blame and probably do not have an effect in some areas. But I noticed a definite shift where I hunt. And the area does not get a significant amount of pressure. I can jump in the truck right now and find hundreds of low lying elk in different areas. And they never leave. mtmuley
I think in region 1 and 2 there could definitely be an argument to be made that they have changed elk behavior.
Add in 4 extra weeks on both ends to hunt and use of hounds. Might be over doing the Bear kill.Buzz, I agree with most of that. However, black bears aren’t increasing in Region 1. If anything they are decreasing due to the rise in popularity of spring bear hunting.
The Hitman. I remember those days. mtmuleySo I've seen the argument go back and forth on Wolves being the reason Elk migrated to private lands. Thought I might as well inject my .02 cents worth here.
In the infamous Hunting District 250 of the upper Bitterroot the Elk population in the early 2000's to about 2004 was at objective levels. Wolves had came over the hill from the Frank Church reintroduced area not far away, and set up camp there shortly after the 1995 transplant. I was building a cabin up the West Fork, and saw with my own eyes what transpired there.
The Department, with new orders from the legislature, was on a quest to kill off Elk and get those herds at or under Objectives by 2007. The department put a bio here in the Root as basically a hit man to follow through on that order. That's what we felt anyway, because he didn't need to push so hard to get Elk killed unless otherwise.
Even though the population in HD 250 was just AT objective he liberalized the season structure to that of the other famous HD in the Root HD 270. It was over objective and so there was to be a open either sex season starting the third week of hunting seasons in both HD's. Starting on a Saturday no less.
Snow came deep and weather cold, our new bio even put a add in the Missoulian newspaper that all you needed was a Elk tag and you were golden to get a Elk in the upper Root. It's mostly public lands except for one large Ranch, and smaller ones.
It was a slaughter, terrible shootouts happened in both areas. The West Fork hadn't had open cow seasons and those Elk were caught out on steep open slopes in numbers.
The Numbers of Elk crashed dramatically in both HD's BUT with wolves, bears, and lions in pretty high numbers the Elk in the West fork had to low of numbers to rebound. The Predator pit syndrome took hold because the ELk numbers were lower than what it took to feed all the mouths there.
At the same time as Wolf reintroduction was going on, there was a new machine taking hold on public lands by the American recreationists. The 4 x 4 quad runner ATV. People started hitting the hills in the summer earlier and earlier each year looking for horns, bears, fishing , you name it.
The local Bio at that time (different one from hitman) was working on studies to see what caused the big decline in Elk numbers and was monitoring collars they had on a bunch of ELk. The biggest movement by Elk to private lands occured on Labor Day Weekend. Thousands of Archers, and ATV's racing around the public lands forced Elk off the more accessible areas sooner. ATV's continue to increase and the love affair with them is just as detrimental as any predator.
Elk now race long distances to migrate (many in the night), to get to the largest ranches and settle in. The other HD 250 has marginal private lands in the very bottoms of the area but Elk congregate there because they are left alone somewhat to rut. The area have extensive 4 x 4 back trails and much of the area is open to motorized use in the summer to fall seasons.
There's no doubt that Wolves, lions and bears did a number on Elk in the upper Bitterroot but are only part of the equation why Elk move so early to private.
Back to your regularly scheduled program.
I killed a cow elk in 250 around those days. Now I feel bad.The Hitman. I remember those days. mtmuley
Looks like there are still cow elk there. Pretty good herd lives with the horses on Triple Creek. mtmuleyI killed a cow elk in 250 around those days. Now I feel bad.
Guess I was thinking more along the lines of the black bears bigger cousin, they can impact elk calves pretty significantly.Buzz, I agree with most of that. However, black bears aren’t increasing in Region 1. If anything they are decreasing due to the rise in popularity of spring bear hunting.
Even I know about that and I was just a kid. I’m no fan of wolves but FWP destroyed those units, not predators.So I've seen the argument go back and forth on Wolves being the reason Elk migrated to private lands. Thought I might as well inject my .02 cents worth here.
In the infamous Hunting District 250 of the upper Bitterroot the Elk population in the early 2000's to about 2004 was at objective levels. Wolves had came over the hill from the Frank Church reintroduced area not far away, and set up camp there shortly after the 1995 transplant. I was building a cabin up the West Fork, and saw with my own eyes what transpired there.
The Department, with new orders from the legislature, was on a quest to kill off Elk and get those herds at or under Objectives by 2007. The department put a bio here in the Root as basically a hit man to follow through on that order. That's what we felt anyway, because he didn't need to push so hard to get Elk killed unless otherwise.
Even though the population in HD 250 was just AT objective he liberalized the season structure to that of the other famous HD in the Root HD 270. It was over objective and so there was to be a open either sex season starting the third week of hunting seasons in both HD's. Starting on a Saturday no less.
Snow came deep and weather cold, our new bio even put a add in the Missoulian newspaper that all you needed was a Elk tag and you were golden to get a Elk in the upper Root. It's mostly public lands except for one large Ranch, and smaller ones.
It was a slaughter, terrible shootouts happened in both areas. The West Fork hadn't had open cow seasons and those Elk were caught out on steep open slopes in numbers.
The Numbers of Elk crashed dramatically in both HD's BUT with wolves, bears, and lions in pretty high numbers the Elk in the West fork had to low of numbers to rebound. The Predator pit syndrome took hold because the ELk numbers were lower than what it took to feed all the mouths there.
At the same time as Wolf reintroduction was going on, there was a new machine taking hold on public lands by the American recreationists. The 4 x 4 quad runner ATV. People started hitting the hills in the summer earlier and earlier each year looking for horns, bears, fishing , you name it.
The local Bio at that time (different one from hitman) was working on studies to see what caused the big decline in Elk numbers and was monitoring collars they had on a bunch of ELk. The biggest movement by Elk to private lands occured on Labor Day Weekend. Thousands of Archers, and ATV's racing around the public lands forced Elk off the more accessible areas sooner. ATV's continue to increase and the love affair with them is just as detrimental as any predator.
Elk now race long distances to migrate (many in the night), to get to the largest ranches and settle in. The other HD 250 has marginal private lands in the very bottoms of the area but Elk congregate there because they are left alone somewhat to rut. The area have extensive 4 x 4 back trails and much of the area is open to motorized use in the summer to fall seasons.
There's no doubt that Wolves, lions and bears did a number on Elk in the upper Bitterroot but are only part of the equation why Elk move so early to private.
Back to your regularly scheduled program.
Not to steer attention away from the sw side but what happened to the breaks? Bull quality has nose dived I wonder why? No wolves or big bears to be had. Use to be a general archery hunt now it’s a draw.So I've seen the argument go back and forth on Wolves being the reason Elk migrated to private lands. Thought I might as well inject my .02 cents worth here.
In the infamous Hunting District 250 of the upper Bitterroot the Elk population in the early 2000's to about 2004 was at objective levels. Wolves had came over the hill from the Frank Church reintroduced area not far away, and set up camp there shortly after the 1995 transplant. I was building a cabin up the West Fork, and saw with my own eyes what transpired there.
The Department, with new orders from the legislature, was on a quest to kill off Elk and get those herds at or under Objectives by 2007. The department put a bio here in the Root as basically a hit man to follow through on that order. That's what we felt anyway, because he didn't need to push so hard to get Elk killed unless otherwise.
Even though the population in HD 250 was just AT objective he liberalized the season structure to that of the other famous HD in the Root HD 270. It was over objective and so there was to be a open either sex season starting the third week of hunting seasons in both HD's. Starting on a Saturday no less.
Snow came deep and weather cold, our new bio even put a add in the Missoulian newspaper that all you needed was a Elk tag and you were golden to get a Elk in the upper Root. It's mostly public lands except for one large Ranch, and smaller ones.
It was a slaughter, terrible shootouts happened in both areas. The West Fork hadn't had open cow seasons and those Elk were caught out on steep open slopes in numbers.
The Numbers of Elk crashed dramatically in both HD's BUT with wolves, bears, and lions in pretty high numbers the Elk in the West fork had to low of numbers to rebound. The Predator pit syndrome took hold because the ELk numbers were lower than what it took to feed all the mouths there.
At the same time as Wolf reintroduction was going on, there was a new machine taking hold on public lands by the American recreationists. The 4 x 4 quad runner ATV. People started hitting the hills in the summer earlier and earlier each year looking for horns, bears, fishing , you name it.
The local Bio at that time (different one from hitman) was working on studies to see what caused the big decline in Elk numbers and was monitoring collars they had on a bunch of ELk. The biggest movement by Elk to private lands occured on Labor Day Weekend. Thousands of Archers, and ATV's racing around the public lands forced Elk off the more accessible areas sooner. ATV's continue to increase and the love affair with them is just as detrimental as any predator.
Elk now race long distances to migrate (many in the night), to get to the largest ranches and settle in. The other HD 250 has marginal private lands in the very bottoms of the area but Elk congregate there because they are left alone somewhat to rut. The area have extensive 4 x 4 back trails and much of the area is open to motorized use in the summer to fall seasons.
There's no doubt that Wolves, lions and bears did a number on Elk in the upper Bitterroot but are only part of the equation why Elk move so early to private.
Back to your regularly scheduled program.