No restrictions on Gallitin Elk hunting.

[BuzzH]

You got it...draw odds for people that were willing to forgo a chance at a bull permit for a cow permit will now be applying for both. People that used to forgo applying for a cow tag by putting in for a chance at a bull permit will be applying for both.

Dumbest F'ing thing I've seen the MTFWP adopt in a long time...

 

[Drake4]

So you are saying that FWP is looking to make more money from the additional applicants with $5 drawing fee?
I guess I hadn't thought about the bull odds being effected so much also. That is a good point.

 

[tjones]

No the drawing fee is the same for an A9 as it is for a cow permit. Were the money will come from is by replacing the cow permits with the A9/B12. A cow permit raised them $5, by replacing them with A9 will raise them the $5 plus the $25,,,see there will no longer be cow permits.

 

[BuzzH]

Yes, the added drawing fees...plus $25 will be added to every cow permit that is issued as its an additional tag.

It really screws guys that apply for and hunt cows in most areas. Their draw odds of having the opportunity to take ONE elk, an antlerless elk, have just gotten a shitload worse. Now, the FWP has decided its better to let one guy shoot a bull...and a cow...rather than spread the opportunity to those willing to shoot just a cow and be perfectly happy.

Its a friggin' mess.

I'm never surprised at the stupidity of the MTFWP and in particular the commission...I've set the bar so low on my expectations of them that I'm never upset anymore. They are masters at finding new and creative ways to screw up just about anything they try to "fix".

On a scale of 1-10 on stupid moves by the FWP...this ones a clear 9.

 

[BRI]

I really think it increases the potential number of elk to be killed. For example, the way it used to be is, my father puts in for a cow tag hoping to draw. He shoots a cow, I shoot a bull. Now if they give me the opportunity to apply for a second elk license, I likely will just to have one in my pocket. I draw, shoot two elk, he shoots a bull. I think the overall quality of elk hunting on public land in Western Montana has decreased in the last 15 years and this could continue that decrease.

At the meeting I was at, someone asked the FWP if this was strictly revenue based and they said no. Same thing was asked at the Great Falls meeting. From what I heard at our area meeting, the FWP isn't in favor of this either but it's being shoved at them from someone in the political arena.

So is this a done deal or are there any other hearings? Is there a way we can bombard someone with letters? I'm not sure?

 

[Drake4]

Gotcha..thanks tjones. I guess I never really paid attention to the cost of cow permits before. Plus, I'm an engineer so I'm not good with math and numbers.

I've always put in for an A9 tag and just figured I would keep doing so. I've haven't put in for cow permits since the late season Ennis/Gardner glory days when I was a little guy. I can see your guys' points..they make sense.

 

[tjones]

Today was the final, done, at least for 2 years. The only bright spot, and it is not very bright, is all the proposal showed a reduction in A/9 B/12's over cow permits. In other words they were not 1 for 1. Here in the Bitterroot there are only 40 total A9's in 5 HD's, where as cow permits there was 95 proposed.

 

[----]

A lot of areas they did go one for one though.
Pretty sure the spring bear extension went through, can anyone confirm?
Anyone know when they release a write-up saying what all went and what didn't?

 

[tjones]

bear went, not sure when the write up will come.

I looked at the master list and didn't see any HD's that went 1 for1 cow permits for A9's.

Archery lion, wolf and bear went.


Big changes over in the Gravelys also.

Listening to it was intresting, more restrictive big game seasons all over the state, more liberal seasons on large predators go figure!,,,ohh and turkey seasons are more liberal ,,,giddy up

 

[BRI]

I heard the youth hunt passed. Also heard they didn't square the bonus points.

 

[Drake4]

I bet there will be an article in the papers tomorrow and probably a press release on the web site. I may be the minority but I'm glad the bonus points didn't go through.

 

[BuzzH]

Another great thing getting the youth hunt passed...I guess 5 weeks just isnt enough? Oh, I know put more pressure on the deer herds that are already struggling...brilliant!

Every single one of those commissioners should be kicked in the sack....for starters.

 

[tjones]

The youth season is a bad deal also. Not the fact that it is a youth season, everyone wanys to see kids out hunting, BUT FWP just got rid of R2 OTC whitetail antlerless licenses because of dwindling deer numbers then ADD back more season, crazy!

 

[----]

I'm assuming every unit that wasn't listed will be going 1 for 1 being as there are no longer cow elk permits. So every unit that gave out cow tags last year, and isn't listed as having a reduction, will be going 1 for 1.

 

[RockyDog]

IMO one crazy decisions was to reject the proposal to square bonus points. If you look back at the minutes from an earlier meeting, the IT person who manages the lottery system indicated the point weighting had already been tested and the system could easily handle the change. Now the commissioners reject the idea as a "logistics nightmare".

 

[BuzzH]

Its pretty tough to multiple a number by itself and add one for the current years draw...wayyyyy too complicated for the FWP commission.

 

[drahthaar]

The youth season is a bad deal also. Not the fact that it is a youth season, everyone wanys to see kids out hunting, BUT FWP just got rid of R2 OTC whitetail antlerless licenses because of dwindling deer numbers then ADD back more season, crazy!

Not only this and what Buzz eluded to, but the youth hunt is abused beyond belief. Every Joe with a 12 yo is dragging/driving little Joe or Julie around the woods so he can whack a cow, get the meat, then go trophy hunt on his own tag. Every single warden knows this is going on too, why don't they speak up. You can bring all this up at the public comment meetings, but you just look like a giant pr!@# being against an "opportunity for youth hunters". I am sick of it.

 

[Lawnboy]

Any word on how the Sunday opener change went?

 

[----]

They moved it to Saturday for deer and elk, not sure about antelope.

 

[Lawnboy]

They moved it to Saturday for deer and elk, not sure about antelope.

Yah Buddy!!!