Montana on the Upswing?

[Ben Lamb]

As @Ben Lamb would probably say, "it's the habitat, stupid."

 

[antlerradar]

I spent about 2 days in nice powder hunting elk in gallatin canyon last weekend. Saw some deer tracks and spotted a 2X2 buck, the only animal i saw in 2 days and staying in a bivy overnight in good conditions.. Got out just in time to catch the check station (guy in truck) before he left at dark. Check station used to be a nice building with coffee, maps, and staffed to weigh, age, and check all the game that came out of the canyon on 191. Thing have changed.

I pulled up and guy asked what district i was hunting, what drainage, and if I'd seen bear, wolf, or moose sign. I said I'd seen wolf tracks.

I asked if it had been slow and he said, "Yes, you're only the 23rd person in all day. Only 3 elk, 2 from the Flying D, and one from Porcupine."

I drove off wondering what they do with all that useful data.

This is why we can have fewer hunters than in the 80's and still have the eastern part of the state losing ground. Some places in the state have hit rock bottom. I wonder how may people went through that check station in the 80's.

 

[brockel]

Found this shed from last year out setting cat sets. Hope this tank made it through this fall cause I’m going to send a round ball through his pump station in a few days

#letthesmokefly

 

[300stw]

you could sell the gps data, most likely,,,,, and round ball sales are through the roof,,,, price gougers dream,,,

 

[EYJONAS!]

Found this shed from last year out setting cat sets. Hope this tank made it through this fall cause I’m going to send a round ball through his pump station in a few days

#letthesmokefly
View attachment 203857

Pfft check this honey hole out.
#coordinates4sale

 

[Schaaf]

I've now seen a few cases of people on the ole EFFbook asking for deer shoulder seasons. I have informed them that after 11 weeks of hunting, I don't think the length of the season is the issue.

 

[300stw]

can we just ear tag the rest of the mule deer bucks, and make them off limits should only take a day or two,,,
i imagine plenty of volunteers to help,,,

 

[brockel]

I've now seen a few cases of people on the ole EFFbook asking for deer shoulder seasons. I have informed them that after 11 weeks of hunting, I don't think the length of the season is the issue.

It’s CWD that’s the issues

 

[Schaaf]

The stupid is strong.

It’s CWD that’s the issues

 

[brockel]

Pfft check this honey hole out.
#coordinates4sale

View attachment 203859

#hornporn

 

[MNElkNut]

It’s CWD that’s the issues
View attachment 203863

Check out Dustin Gregor's comment. Seems all us HTers have it all wrong. Better lace those boots tighter and hike further!

 

[brockel]

Check out Dustin Gregor's comment. Seems all us HTers have it all wrong. Better lace those boots tighter and hike further!

He must hate deer even more than FWP does

 

[DFS]

Bump.

 

[huntin24/7]

Looking like it’s going to be a tuff one in NE MT this year with the weather already. My wife shot a buck yesterday and a friend shot one last weekend, both whitetails. Both were skinny and had basically no fat. We usually don’t see that even at the tail end of the rut here with all the good ag land and good feed. Really bad drought with already lower numbers could make things interesting if this weather continues through the winter.

 

[DFS]

We’ve came so far there is some solid gold in this thread. In 5 years we will still be having the same conversations.

 

[DFS]

View attachment 203813

@Ben Lamb explaining how this can all be fixed with habitat and more funding.

 

[cgasner1]

@Ben Lamb explaining how this can all be fixed with habitat and more funding.

I kinda look at it like I’d really like a brand new fully loaded duramax but that isn’t in the cards so I’m about to crawl under the truck I own and change the oil in it to help take care of it. Should I just not change the oil since it’s not a a brand new truck? Habitat and more funding would be great but why would we not wanna take better care of what we currently have?

 

[DFS]

I kinda look at it like I’d really like a brand new fully loaded duramax but that isn’t in the cards so I’m about to crawl under the truck I own and change the oil in it to help take care of it. Should I just not change the oil since it’s not a a brand new truck? Habitat and more funding would be great but why would we not wanna take better care of what we currently have?

Well step one you would get a competing survey against FWP’s. Step two budget cuts would need to be on the table. None of those are happening but we are drowning in opportunity to the detriment of public land.

 

[Ben Lamb]

@Ben Lamb explaining how this can all be fixed with habitat and more funding.

 

[DFS]

View attachment 351279

You’re a dandy.