in either season, the game would be less harassed and hunters 

 would have more pleasurable experience due to less competition. 



I welcome your archery survey. I would not be surprised if the 

 numbers of elk taken aren't higher than you think. The elk 

 populations are brought together during this time of year, and 

 the new equipment (diaphragms, grunt tubes, archery equipment and 

 hunting information) have tipped the delicate balance more in 

 favor of the early season hunter. Every fall I hear of more bull 

 elk taken during bow season than I hear of being taken during 

 rifle season. 



The last issue I would like to talk about is one aspect of the 

 general philosophy of the average hunter. That being that is OK 

 to fill someone elses tag. This abhorrent behavior goes on all 

 the time with friends and relatives of mine, and I think probably 

 yours. I was really disappointed this fall when my 14 year old 

 son told me that his friend had been in on a 5 person shoot at a 

 lone cow elk. They finally managed to blast the thing, and none 

 of them had a tag for a cow, but they knew of a friend of a 

 friend who did. These ugly stories go on and on. Two years ago 

 when my son attended the local hunter safety program little was 

 mentioned about this widespread practice, but education holds the 

 key to this problem. If we stress this issue adequately in 

 hunter safety programs and get peer pressure generated, we can 

 prevent episodes like the shooting gallery described above. 

 Annually, hundreds perhaps thousands of animals statewide are 

 killed illegally that would otherwise be available to legal 

 hunters. I really get upset thinking about this. 



Please give this letter some thought. I hope you may be able to 

 apply some of what I have to say to our future regulations . 

 Thank you for your time. 



I was only able to hunt two day ' s this year because my work took 



me out of state. 



I sure did miss my hunting. 



Please do not restrict bow hunting. The number of serious bow 

 hunters does increase yearly but is very low overall. Despite 

 hunting the Little Belts on Kings Hill I seldom saw another 

 hunter - even in driving about scouting. 



Help us unfortunate hunters find good hunting districts, were elk 

 are plentyfull, and Branch Antlered bulls are more aboundant. 

 Thank you! 



This is the 1st year I have hunted with a bow in several years . 

 I was within range of cows, calves, & bulls, 2 out of 3 days out, 

 but could not get a clear shot thru the brush. 



I appreciate your concern and attempt to improve the sport 



and 

 10 



