Nemont,
Not wanting to pick on you, but you're flat assed wrong on many counts here.
I was like you for a long time in regard to TEI and types like them. That is until you see the truth.
For starters, check out the hunting regs, you'll notice that TEI allows a couple bull tags to disabled or youth on the flying D. I grant you that isnt much, but its more than they are required to do...which is nothing. Also, if you look closer, there are lots of late cow tags given out for the flying D to anyone that cares to apply.
I also know that the other ranches TEI has, allow antlerless WT hunting to the public and at least one of the ranches also allows youth hunters to harvest smaller WT bucks. The problem is though, most dont even bother to ask, and you'd have to shoot a doe on your A-tag. But, if you wanted a great experience for a young hunter, you'd be hard pressed to find an area any better.
The other part you're not taking into account is the fact that the bigger bulls and bucks leave TEI property and stray onto public land. The public lands surrounding these areas are good hunting for the hunters willing to put forth the effort and time.
The problem is, you're short sighted and since you can't drive down a TEI ranch road and dust a big 6-point out of the truck, they're bastards for charging and not letting you hunt for free. How many other ranchers, guides, etc. charge people to hunt in MT? I guess TEI is the only one?
On that land swap....
The State of Montana got a 2-1 deal on that. The State gained 2 sections adjoining the Robb/Ledford WMA for the one section in the middle of the Flying D. Not a bad swap, as the public does have access to the 2 sections, but would have never had access to the one section on the D. A little research on that, and I guarantee there are some good whitetail bucks to be had on those state sections...I've seen some dandies...during hunting season. Plus, adding 2 sections to winter range can hardly be seen by anyone who cares about wildlife as a bad deal.
If you want to talk about denying access to inholdings...again, there are plenty of welfare ranchers throughout the West doing the same thing...in fact, I ran into a couple this weekend in Wyoming. You may want to check into Denny Rehbergs background in that department as well...I recently read about a shady-assed deal he did to deny access to state land. Great people you have representing your right to access public lands.
Whether or not you like TEI and others like them, there is no denying the quality of the wildlife and the wildlife management on those ranches. They do good things for wildlife...from big-game to fish to predators to endangered species. Theres a lot worse things that TEI could be doing with their money.
I figure them caring about wildlife may offset the dozens of welfare ranchers who would rather see every piece of wildlife gone from their property and their federal and state leases.
I think you may need to meet up with Paul and I so you get the facts straight...
