Cows need be put on general season, set quotas/target number to be harvested, mandatory reporting on harvest, when number is hit end season. If number isn’t hit before November 30, extend season thru December 30. If object numbers are not met within 2 yrs, cow only
I think that would make the public land be piss pounded even harder than it is now and would just make the problem worse of elk hanging out on private causing problems. The southeast part of the state is already general for cow on private land and there’s still problems. Having everyone and their dog on the public chasing them isn’t going to help at all
This is not enforceable. It’s private land and they can charge “trespass fees” No matter what.
I know; just posting dumb stuff to show how ridiculous things can be.
I have been on way too many of these hand holding hunts. They can put grey hair on you head. There are reasons people jump on these types of hunts. Can't walk ten steps with out sounding like a herd of cows, Can't spot game unless it is close and in the open, any distance or cover, not a chance, Can't get their act together when they do by lucky chance see something, can't shoot when they do finally get ready, Can't track even with snow when they make a poor shot, if they do get something on the ground, just hand them a chain saw, sure to be quicker and likely less mess. The list goes on. More than a few times I have thought. " You expect to kill an older buck on public land, You have turned a hayfield doe hunt in to an ordeal."
I have made the same point many times. There is a reason these elk are on private, and it isn't just hunter numbers. I don't think BLM allows the idea, but you probably could on state land. Then it becomes a question of what would have the best $ return to the state, the grazing rights or some allocation of hunter's $s.
Already happens. Ranch hand drives the hunter out, they walk a couple of hundred yards and hand tells the hunter to "shoot that one". Hunter shoots and hit elk stumbles over the ridge. They drive over and can't find the elk with minimal effort, so he ranch hand says, "forget it, we will go to the other side of the ranch and shoot a different one."
Proof? mtmuley
This is the f-*king internet, so I don't need to give you any proof. But I'm pretty sure the elk I ate was enough for me and the fact that it wasn't a story someone brags about. Even if I had a video and recording you would believe it because it came from me, so I'm not biting on your BS past this response. It happened and you can guess the ranch. Like I said, I would guess a lot of ranches are not the same as this one (being as infamous as it is), just like not all hunters are complete slobs. This is the downside of the 454 program and trying to get elk down to objective. The landowner gets bull tags and the measurement of success is "public" hunters killing cow elk. I doubt there is any way to eliminate it completely, I just hope that new programs don't encourage more of it. I'm not sure the "turkey" shoot described by Ben in post #53 are any better or worse. That is for the hunters of Montana to decide. For those that want to eliminate the $$$ from the sport and hope everything goes back to the glory days, they need to recognize it is ALL about the money and that isn't changing. While MT R hunters try to figure out how to negotiate more access, they can start by paying more than $20 for a tag.
I was in a hurry, make the cow license/UL permit for private land only
I think it’s a reasonable idea.
I’ve never shot a cow in my life, but I’d be all for cow only in chronically over objective units. Everyone’s true colors would show in a hurry.
It would be a fun game of chicken to watch. Fwp would have to have the balls to do it though.
I’d kill cows every year
Same.
