Billings Gazette Article

[Point Creep]

Back to the article, the lease violation of killing more than ten turkeys was funny.

I wasn’t aware that place went all “commercial” - I’d imagine the big elk bring higher incentive to over kill. Is there a fee per volume of prairie dogs too? Those poor “clients”.

 

[El Jason]

Is there a fee per volume of prairie dogs too?

Page 48, section 12.2, subsection G

 

[Gerald Martin]

I wonder what market value for hunting ground squirrels with an air rifle on 2 1/2 acres in Bozeman would be? Asking for a friend…..

It’s got great location and a limited population so trophy quality should be top notch.

 

[mtmuley]

I wonder what market value for hunting ground squirrels with an air rifle on 2 1/2 acres in Bozeman would be? Asking for a friend…..

It’s got great location and a limited population so trophy quality should be top notch.

Shit. I got 5 acres of awesome whitey doe hunting. Multiple weapons. Food but no lodging. mtmuley

 

[Forkyfinder]

I think the main issue really is that people get envious and butthurt that they can’t hunt these areas like they used to be able to.

I think thats got a lot to do with the NR envy often seen here. Always from the cheesey part of the world for some reason.

 

[Point Creep]

Good for them.

That arrangement is much more in-line with the democratic allocation of resources than you guys trying to hoard everything for yourselves.

I think the main issue really is that people get envious and butthurt that they can’t hunt these areas like they used to be able to. That really has nothing to do with PTD or the NAM, but that doesn’t stop people from connecting them.

I could be wrong, but my understanding of that particular ranch is that it's never really been a pay by the head place, and rarely open to anybody to hunt - much less a group here that "used to be able to" and want to "hoard" everything. A big spread like that that's historically highly restricted hunting offers payouts to anybody along the edges, whether it be neighbors or the public. I wouldn't expect that tripling or quadrupling the killing of top end animals by paid clients isn't something any normal person who appreciates the area would be all excited about.

 

[antlerradar]

I could be wrong, but my understanding of that particular ranch is that it's never really been a pay by the head place, and rarely open to anybody to hunt - much less a group here that "used to be able to" and want to "hoard" everything. A big spread like that that's historically highly restricted hunting offers payouts to anybody along the edges, whether it be neighbors or the public. I wouldn't expect that tripling or quadrupling the killing of top end animals by paid clients isn't something any normal person who appreciates the area would be all excited about.

Perhaps the biggest bull I have ever seen was in the middle the Diamond Cross in September and taken miles away on a ranch that does not boarder Diamond Cross by a friend of the rancher on opening day of rifle season.

 

[antlerradar]

My biggest take away from the article is that more tags in limited entry units does not always benefit the outfitter. Sams was a big proponent of the recent tag increases in 702 and 799. Not saying the tag increase is why the Watts bought the Diamond Cross, but the increase didn't hurt. When you make tags easy to obtain, People like the Watts will lease or buy the best properties and leave the outfitters out.

 

[antlerradar]

Back to the article, the lease violation of killing more than ten turkeys was funny.

Per animal leases happen all the time, but I was under the understanding that you could not lease property on a per animal deal, but instead had to be on a per acre deal. Maybe I was wrong. Not the first outfitter to fudge a bit on the number of animals taken, will not be the last.

 

[Forkyfinder]

My biggest take away from the article is that more tags in limited entry units does not always benefit the outfitter.

Not always - but it generally does - or sam wouldnt have whined to commissioner lane and got those permits (and extra unit) in the first place. Killed his own business with greed (and inept contracts) - forgive me for seeming spiteful but i only see the humor and irony here.

Not the first outfitter to fudge a bit on the number of animals taken, will not be the last.

Ive heard that as well. More than once. And it wasnt just turkeys.

Outfitters are fond of saying hunters earn their reputation, and while its painfully true - its also true that outfitters earn theirs.

 

[antlerradar]

Good article. It’s hard to believe there was a time when folks would let hunters who drew a permit hunt for free.

While the days of a complete stranger showing up opening day and getting permission are for the most part over, there are still many places where if you put in a little time to get to know the landowner you can gain permission for a bull elk. Ranches that are owned by out of state interests are not among these places.

 

[El Jason]

While the days of a complete stranger showing up opening day and getting permission are for the most part over, there are still many places where if you put in a little time to get to know the landowner you can gain permission for a bull elk. Ranches that are owned by out of state interests are not among these places.

Good to hear. Man there are/were some good folks on that corner of the world.

One year a friend from Miles City had a bull permit and I had a cow permit. We found very good access to hunt. Such good access, we even had permission to drive to our kills instead of backpacking them.

 

[Badlandcat]

Perhaps the biggest bull I have ever seen was in the middle the Diamond Cross in September and taken miles away on a ranch that does not boarder Diamond Cross by a friend of the rancher on opening day of rifle season.

That was the biggest bull Ive ever had the chance to hunt, he was lucky and I was unlucky I never got to fling an arrow at him. He sure put some miles on after rut.