Frequently Banned Troll
Well-known member
Same meeting... was Pat Flowers there or did he DREAM that up? That is complete and utter BS.
Yellowstone herd numbers out
- Thread starter mdunc8
- Start date
Same meeting... was Pat Flowers there or did he DREAM that up? That is complete and utter BS.
Frequently Banned Troll
Well-known member
Nobody at that meeting "told Ault what to do." People made comments, asked quesitons, and he said... This is what we're going to do... NOTHING.. for 2 years.
T
tjones
Guest
FWP COMMISSION TO CONSIDER NEW ELK QUOTAS IN MADISON VALLEY
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will consider limiting elk hunting licenses in two Madison Valley hunting districts to address overharvest on public lands.
The proposal for hunting districts 360 and 362 is in response to elk population declines. The recent 2010 hunting season showed record high harvests in these districts, in part due to unusually severe winter weather, which resulted in a further dip in elk numbers.
The FWP Commission will consider the proposal at its Jan. 13 in Helena at FWP headquarters, 1420 East 6th Ave., beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Hunters first expressed concern about overharvest of elk on the public lands in these hunting districts in 2009 and recently urged FWP to cut back the number of antlerless elk licenses in the districts.
FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with a disability. Individuals with special needs may request arrangements by contacting FWP at 406-444-3186.
A full agenda, and background on topics, are on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov. Click "FWP Commission".
The FWP website offers live audio of the meeting, or the public may view a live television feed of the meeting at FWP regional offices.
Over harvest on public land? Who would have thunk it!
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission will consider limiting elk hunting licenses in two Madison Valley hunting districts to address overharvest on public lands.
The proposal for hunting districts 360 and 362 is in response to elk population declines. The recent 2010 hunting season showed record high harvests in these districts, in part due to unusually severe winter weather, which resulted in a further dip in elk numbers.
The FWP Commission will consider the proposal at its Jan. 13 in Helena at FWP headquarters, 1420 East 6th Ave., beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Hunters first expressed concern about overharvest of elk on the public lands in these hunting districts in 2009 and recently urged FWP to cut back the number of antlerless elk licenses in the districts.
FWP ensures its meetings are fully accessible to those with a disability. Individuals with special needs may request arrangements by contacting FWP at 406-444-3186.
A full agenda, and background on topics, are on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov. Click "FWP Commission".
The FWP website offers live audio of the meeting, or the public may view a live television feed of the meeting at FWP regional offices.
Over harvest on public land? Who would have thunk it!
shoots-straight
Well-known member
Hunters never really get involved, until they loose opportunity. By then it's way too late.
Frequently Banned Troll
Well-known member
I'm guessin that it's not done quite yet..
Let's watch FWP issue over 1000 310-50 permits this year, when the winter counts hover at a couple hundred.. cross the fingers winter doesn't hit in November again. Not to mention those 16 wolves living in the canyon.
shoots-straight
Well-known member
Next season, will have the same type of season structure for that area, that it had this year. It could happen again, and the herd would go south farther. It needs to be addressed ASAP. The season structure needs to be changed. We are doing that in the West Fork of the Bitterroot. HD250. We are looking at going to a limited entry for either sex elk (25 tags). I think 25. The comment period is over in a day I think.
Ben, you are right, they can. But, the big question is, "Will they?"
When they went to tags that allowed for either sex regulations in many units, our local club asked what they would do if a hard winter hit and people were mowing down elk in the valleys, impacting the populations.
We were assured, that those emergency powers would be implemented before drastic impacts occurred. That they could close a season with 24 hour notice.
I have yet to see a season where the impacts were as drastic as this season, and everyone knew it was coming the weekend before Thanksgiving. We already had a ton of snow, bad cold, and the forecast was for a week of the same. The forecast was correct and the snow turned red.
Given that they had already considered restrictions last February, and could see this one coming, it is very disappointing that they did not take the 24 hour action they say could protect the herds.
I agree, they do have those powers, but they are just too slow to act. And, their Helena leadership is so afraid of the political machine, that by standing pat and doing nothing, they are hoping they lessened some pressure from the political powers.
If this agency doesn't get some leadership in Helena, and start supporting much of the recommendations they get from the Regions, hunting in Montana will continue on a slide. Public hearings are quickly becoming a formality to comply with MEPA, and in many instances, the political pressures negate anything that us serfs comment on.
Too bad, and I am afraid, too late.
No argument from me Randy.
Commission meets tomorrow morning in Helena. I'll ask the question, and report back on the answer. Political speak and all.
Bambistew
Well-known member
Ok sure there are only 37 wolves in the park. There are probably 370 in the areas where these elk are wintering right now. They'll follow the remaining elk back in the spring and the park count will go up...
I'm just glad I got to experience the good ol days, because I doubt I'll ever see them again in MT.
I'm just glad I got to experience the good ol days, because I doubt I'll ever see them again in MT.
echo7
New member
Although I may be talking about something without having actual facts, however, some years ago, about 6 I talked with a college student who was doing an Elk count in the North Fork of the Flathead
River in Northwest Montana. In that conversation the student said that the elk herd in that area would travel between Canada and the US several times during a calender year and that the counts taken did not reflect near the actual number of animals?
River in Northwest Montana. In that conversation the student said that the elk herd in that area would travel between Canada and the US several times during a calender year and that the counts taken did not reflect near the actual number of animals?
mdunc8
Well-known member
I guess ignorance is bliss. I never got to hunt the wolf free Montana so I don't know what is used to be like. I can't imagine having a much better time than I've had the last two years, but I'm sure I would feel differently if I had been here for the last twenty years.
Its quite amazing how many elk that winter south of Ennis spend part of the year in Idaho where the regulations are quite different. The Idaho units I'm most familiar with only allow a spike rifle season (controlled any bull) or spike/cow muzzleloader hunt while at the same time if they wander over the border the branch bulls and cows may be fair game on a general tag. Good luck to you guys up there.
angels2011
New member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2010
- Messages
- 145
Ah, those good ol' days hunting the northern herd.
Trying to find somewhere to park in the parking lot at Deckard Flats, syncing your watch with the wardens, finding a rock to hide behind in the dark and then at 8AM, not a second earlier, watching the carnage all the way to the secondary firing line at Bear Creek and then back....haha. Everyone had to do it once, didn't they?
Those were the days!
Seriously though, it's easy to blame the FWP (I do it all the time) but someone hit the nail on the head earlier when they observed we as hunters don't get near as involved as we should until it's too late. We need to join sportsman's clubs in big numbers and let our voices be heard loud and clear.
Trying to find somewhere to park in the parking lot at Deckard Flats, syncing your watch with the wardens, finding a rock to hide behind in the dark and then at 8AM, not a second earlier, watching the carnage all the way to the secondary firing line at Bear Creek and then back....haha. Everyone had to do it once, didn't they?
Those were the days!
Seriously though, it's easy to blame the FWP (I do it all the time) but someone hit the nail on the head earlier when they observed we as hunters don't get near as involved as we should until it's too late. We need to join sportsman's clubs in big numbers and let our voices be heard loud and clear.
They really expect us to believe that?? What a joke..
If there are only 35 wolves in the park, then I've seen damn near every one of them.
mdunc8
Well-known member
That's the estimate of adults in the northern section. Quite a few pups though.
http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/wolves.htm
http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/wolves.htm
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Frequently Banned Troll
Well-known member
Hey, how long have you lived around here? You think the Taylor's Fork has moose? Holy hell you should have seen that place in the early 90s. It was the best moose area in the state. I found an old thread that is painful to look at, in light of all this.. and a post I made there.. 6 years ago.
Frequently Banned Troll
Well-known member
Here's the original post. Nobody's "blaming" the FWP for wolves, but if the predators are hamstringing the wildlife, don't let the hunters finish off every animal that escapes them.
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=222921
http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?t=222921
mdunc8
Well-known member
20 permits!?!?! Holy @$%!. Do you know what the draw odds were back then?
Holy @$%!. Do you know what the draw odds were back then?
