Far too many tags. For both seasons. And I think most of the bigger bulls hit the dirt during archery. I've always thought elk hunting in the Breaks would be world class with the right management. mtmuley
Montana General Season Structure Proposal
- Thread starter Gerald Martin
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cgasner1
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It was world class. I think a lot of it was advancement in archery gear.
You're right. It was. A shame what it has come to. mtmuley
cgasner1
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Idk how anyone can say archery hasn’t had an impact on wildlife. It use to be you needed to get inside of 40 yards I know a guy that last 3 bulls up there average out to around 103 yards
I know this is about mule deer but the elk out there are taking a beating. mtmuley
Nick87
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Yah and that's bulls killed, not bulls hit.
Gerald Martin
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Wolf piss flows downstream…. Missouri River…. Duh.
Also, why salmon are threatened in the Columbia River Basin. $@8463)!%*+ wolves.
Totally made up numbers? Thoughts?
Somewhat contradictory to some of what’s being said here regarding elk
shoots-straight
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So I'm far from removed from the Breaks. Had friends hunt that area a lot and have seen big Bulls there. I've heard that same statement in recent conversations. A guess could be the weather somewhat. Poor nutrition will equate to poor horn growth, but that's just a guess.
It’s amazing even what the last 15 years has done to the breaks. 410 especially. Guess that’s what happens when your general tag could also be used on a cow if you drew the B tag. They did that for 4 years or so I think
huntin24/7
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I love being able to get a breaks archery permit every year. But 100%, the amount of archery permits and the advancement in archery gear is the main factor with fewer and smaller bulls. Even half the archery permits issued currently is probably too much there. Should probably cut rifle bull permits too. At least cow permits have been reduced the last few years.
Forkyfinder
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The crazy amount of archery tags (2000 ish for several years) and cow permits (1000+) with a double (b and gen tag) made for a lot of changes. I think they were up to 150 rifle tags at one point.
Looking at harvest stats - I think more of it has to do with less elk in general (so less bulls grow up) than it has to do with archery.
Forkyfinder
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The cow permits are down cause the population is 1/3rd of what it was.
At least its "at objective" now - im sure the little local communities up there wish they had any kind of hunters left. LE deer + Elk and few cow tags is probably 10% of what they used to see.
huntin24/7
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Yeah, that’s definitely why. I’m sure the main reason for that is the high cow tag numbers for years.
Forkyfinder
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I think it was a magnet to the deer with the elk population there. Lots of people (me included) are fine going many years without shooting a mule deer but love to eat elk.
Ive targeted areas where i can shoot an elk to also hunt deer. I suspect a lot of the fall for mule deer in parts of R4 and R5, and a lot of R 6 and R7 correlate well with trying to kill all the cow elk.
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Forkyfinder
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They did what they are required to do. Bring the population to objective. The objectives are the joke - especially with so much CMR property.
Kinda blaming the waiter for the poor job the cook did on your steak. Jmho.
TakeABreakAndTouchGrass
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Well, I'm into MT for about $1,030 for a Deer combo draw possibility and an Antelope draw possibility. Hopefully you boys can get things figured out in the next few months. . . 
For those complaining about the breaks. Was the situation we had with cow permits the best choice? Maybe l/maybe not.
Think of what the place would look like had they put them on the 004 permit. Will most of you complaining stop when they swim back across into a district from the other? This isn’t new in these districts.
Think of what the place would look like had they put them on the 004 permit. Will most of you complaining stop when they swim back across into a district from the other? This isn’t new in these districts.
Well, I'm into MT for about $1,030 for a Deer combo draw possibility and an Antelope draw possibility. Hopefully you boys can get things figured out in the next few months. . .
Well enjoy it because it’s not getting any better anytime soon
