Changing limited either sex permits to unlimited permits will do nothing to reduce elk populations. This is not only a smoke screen to try and justify this, but it is hypocrisy.
Montana FWP Director and Commission are serving outfitters and wealthy non resident land owners, NOT Montana residents. Outfitters will be able to guarantee a trophy archery elk hunt to anyone that can afford it. The republican legislature passed the FWP bill that overturned I-161 and gave back...
Hank said it all "unlimited tags are a shot over nonresident's bow". The legislature, Hank and the Commission, both appointed by the governor), have been serving outfitters and nonresidents. They are implementing the agendas of UPOM, PERC, SFW, MOGA and FOAM.
Why elk shoulder seasons
The reason we have elk shoulder seasons in Montana is because some ranchers in central Montana threatened to sue FWP for not meeting elk population objectives. They have a good case because of Debbie Barrett's HB 42 that mandates FWP to get elk, deer and antelope...
What needs to be known is what is behind the elk shoulder seasons. A group of ranchers from central Montana have threatened to sue Montana FWP for not meeting elk population objectives. They have a strong case beacuse of Debbie Barrett's HB 42 mandating FWP to get elk, deer and antelope...