Montana 2026 Elk Proposal

[PoleX]

My position on this is purely based on the condition of the resource. I've always been without hesitation in favor of eliminating B doe tags in R6 and 7 and would like to see rut hunting end for MD in MT. It's obvious to me MD are struggling throughout the west and it's wild MFWP hasn't hardly changed a regulation in decades....Comparing the two seems like apples and oranges. When it comes to elk, from what I can gather about these units, the problem isn't that the elk numbers are down rather it's their behavior and the public land hunter's experience.

I think it will help slightly with the elk moving to private early, and I think it will greatly improve the experience of the special bull permit holders (which I like the idea of). I just think there's maybe better ways to accomplish it while still allowing resident hunters the opportunity at these over objective elk on public land. For instance, make the B tag only valid for shoulder season dates. If cows aren't getting blasted all regular season archery/rifle it should just improve the experience for the public land B tag hunter and the folks hunting that unit during the general dates. Or maybe increase B tags and make them 60-40 public vs private only but give the private land B tags the more liberal season dates. IDK, something like that I'd be more inclined to support.

In all honesty, do you think making this tag private land only will open up more private land opportunities in these areas? Or do you think we'll just have an additional 1-2K elk making it through another season adding to the over objection issue?

I'll go out on a limb and make the prediction that with a change like this the elk #'s will keep growing which will cause FWP to further increase bull permits so in the end we'll just have more hunters putting even greater pressure on the same amount of public land but instead of the mix of cows/bulls it will be just bulls getting shot out.

 

[sethkuhl]

Currently in my district, a single hunter can harvest three elk legally. Private land cow tag, district wide cow permit if drawn and over the counter bull tag. If that hunter is over 75 can harvest a cow on their bull tag which would be three cows in same district. Bums me out as there are not half the elk there used to be. The good old days are gone.

 

[PoleX]

I would disagree with this statement. The problems are rooted in trying to satisfy demands for public opportunities that go back over decades.

I agree with your statement. I also think we're very generous to non-residents and Montana natives that come back home to hunt which I think has had a much greater impact on the issues this proposal aims to address.

 

[PoleX]

You can still kill a cow on public using your either-sex tag if the unit regulations allow for antlerless harvest on the either sex elk tag. You just can’t kill two or more elk on public.

I like having them two elk in the freezer every year...Buzz gets to shoot like 6 every year...I've got 3 kids and a bunch of family that enjoys it.

 

[SixPoint]

This amendment could definitely have unintended consequences, especially in regard to bull harvest. You think baby bulls get creamed now, wait until brow-tined bulls are all you can pursue on a general license on public land in some districts. Hunters will still pursue elk, the focus will just shift. I don’t foresee private land doors suddenly being flung open because that’s the only place a cow can be harvested. Thoughtful landowners that are trying to be a part of the solution are already allowing access. This could also hamstring landowners who have been working with public hunters that can show up annually with their general license and shoot a cow. These vetted hunters will then have to draw a b tag or permit. Folks who’ve made an effort to develop a relationship with a landowner may not be drawn and I could foresee cases where fewer cow elk will be getting harvested due to landowners not connecting to the hunters who have drawn the appropriate license/ permit.

I agree with the sentiment of over objective units and wanting to focus harvest on elk on private that need the reductions, but taking a broad state wide approach seems shortsighted. It is particularly frustrating that this new amendment process lacks any vetting or real public comment periods. Most hunters in our state will be clueless this is even a thing until it gets implemented and they buy their tags next fall and are going to be pissed.

Lastly, look through the regs, there are already a lot of b tags that are restricted to certain landownership’s in an effort to target the elk herds causing the issues. The department is already heading in this direction but at a unit by unit basis.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I like having them two elk in the freezer every year...Buzz gets to shoot like 6 every year...I've got 3 kids and a bunch of family that enjoys it.

Great. Shoot the second one on private.

 

[MTLabrador]

The biggest issue that this amendment fixes is for the OTC unlimited B tags, which are some of the few licenses that have no caps for nonresidents. That absolutely has an impact on hunting pressure.

There is still ample opportunity for residents to kill a cow on a general tag in many places in the state. There’s absolutely no need to move that pressure onto national forest, especially when the entire point of these B tags is to target over objective elk on private lands.

 

[Rack Daniels]

I’ll go out on a limb and sound like a sniveling b*tch....I'm probably feeling sorry for myself cause I can't fill a tag.

Montana is rapidly becoming a private land state and it’s because we are prioritizing opportunity for everyone but the public land, resident hunter.

I like the intent of this proposal but I think we are getting too comfortable asking the resident public land hunter to continue to give up opportunity rather than address the root cause of the issue which is FWP continuing to give out too many tags to NR, Come back home hunters, ect. in the name of opportunity. Also having such liberal season dates is a big factor in elk harboring on private. This seems like a band aid.

Wasnt expecting that from you lol

 

[PoleX]

Great. Shoot the second one on private.

Good luck with the proposal.