MTELKHUNTER
New member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2012
- Messages
- 59
Facts as I see them:
1) Archery Hunting is still a growing sport in the US. Bird hunting is down.
2) Interest in hunting elk in Eastern MT, via archery is still very high (Residents and Non-residents).
3) 30-40 years ago, non-residents with elk tags mainly hunted western MT with rifles, but now a large portion of them are completely happy hunting eastern MT, via archery. The dynamic has changed.
4) Non-residents with elk tags and “UNLIMITED” archery permits or no permit needed hunting districts provide opportunity for outfitters to lock up private land and put more pressure on our public land.
5) Also, non-residents can lease private lands and lock them up for themselves and all they would need is an elk tag and archery license to hunt.
6) Wolves are changing elk hunting in Western Montana. More pressure on Eastern MT?
7) Reducing the archery permits in the breaks districts put more pressure on other eastern MT elk hunting districts. This is a fact as I personally saw it happen in region 7.
8) The Elk Working Group which I believe had two or more MBA members on it came up with a resolution on this issue that would had benefited “Commercial” hunting of elk in Eastern MT again. NOTE: I realize that there may have been some things going on behind the scenes with this group that made it difficult for all and I’ll leave it at that, but the bottom line is, sometimes you just need to stand your ground. Also, the commission rejected their recommendation, thankfully in my opinion. Not throwing out harsh criticism here to anyone, I know how difficult the last 4 years have been.
9) Finally, some MBA members have been very vocal about “Disliking the permit system for the now bundled districts” but they love it for the breaks districts. My impression on this was that the ones speaking the loudest were Board or Ranking Members of the MBA, but I may be wrong. It’s not that important.
Anyway, no one will ever convince me that a archery permit system is not good for the bundled archery districts and for MT sportsman. I and others have worked hard to make it happen and every year since, someone has been trying to undue it. Well if it happens ladies and gentleman, you can kiss goodbye any chance of ever accessing private land in Eastern MT for elk and you can again enjoy more non-resident pressure on YOUR elk found on public land. Do you enjoy more pressure?
Thanks for your time. Many of us will continue to work for you and by you, I mean Montana Sportsman and your right to access and hunt your wildlife lawfully. Good luck to everyone in the legislature.
Lennie Buhmann
Havre, MT
1) Archery Hunting is still a growing sport in the US. Bird hunting is down.
2) Interest in hunting elk in Eastern MT, via archery is still very high (Residents and Non-residents).
3) 30-40 years ago, non-residents with elk tags mainly hunted western MT with rifles, but now a large portion of them are completely happy hunting eastern MT, via archery. The dynamic has changed.
4) Non-residents with elk tags and “UNLIMITED” archery permits or no permit needed hunting districts provide opportunity for outfitters to lock up private land and put more pressure on our public land.
5) Also, non-residents can lease private lands and lock them up for themselves and all they would need is an elk tag and archery license to hunt.
6) Wolves are changing elk hunting in Western Montana. More pressure on Eastern MT?
7) Reducing the archery permits in the breaks districts put more pressure on other eastern MT elk hunting districts. This is a fact as I personally saw it happen in region 7.
8) The Elk Working Group which I believe had two or more MBA members on it came up with a resolution on this issue that would had benefited “Commercial” hunting of elk in Eastern MT again. NOTE: I realize that there may have been some things going on behind the scenes with this group that made it difficult for all and I’ll leave it at that, but the bottom line is, sometimes you just need to stand your ground. Also, the commission rejected their recommendation, thankfully in my opinion. Not throwing out harsh criticism here to anyone, I know how difficult the last 4 years have been.
9) Finally, some MBA members have been very vocal about “Disliking the permit system for the now bundled districts” but they love it for the breaks districts. My impression on this was that the ones speaking the loudest were Board or Ranking Members of the MBA, but I may be wrong. It’s not that important.
Anyway, no one will ever convince me that a archery permit system is not good for the bundled archery districts and for MT sportsman. I and others have worked hard to make it happen and every year since, someone has been trying to undue it. Well if it happens ladies and gentleman, you can kiss goodbye any chance of ever accessing private land in Eastern MT for elk and you can again enjoy more non-resident pressure on YOUR elk found on public land. Do you enjoy more pressure?
Thanks for your time. Many of us will continue to work for you and by you, I mean Montana Sportsman and your right to access and hunt your wildlife lawfully. Good luck to everyone in the legislature.
Lennie Buhmann
Havre, MT
