practices of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The emphasis more and 

 more is to manage sportsmen and his pocketbook rather than fish 

 and game. The killing of cows and calves (elk) must be 

 terminated, or on a permit basis. There is an abundance of 

 suitable habitat and browse - no game. 



I live up against Forest Service land and feed elk in the winter. 

 Their are fewer elk every year for the past 5 years, but I have 

 been told that the F & G has less to do with fewer animals and 

 they seem to be on the right track. 



Archery hunting since I began hunting with a bow. The increase 

 in bow hunters and fee hunting I feel are too detrimental to the 

 bowhunting experience. I feel the Fish and Game should be 

 working to improve landowner hunter relations and also improving 

 habitat by supporting the preservation of roadless area and 

 aquiring more winter range. To these end I support increased bow 

 hunting stamp fee but absolutley do not want to see an either or 

 hunting season or a reduction in bowhunting opportunity by a 

 reduction in the season. 



In the past I've had quite a problem with the bear counts in my 

 hunting areas. On four different ocassions I've had good bulls 

 located the week before season was to open, only to have the 

 chopper buss around for a couple of days and it doesn't take long 

 for the elk to move out of those high basins. I can't help but 

 think that if they wouldn't have been disturbed that they would 

 have still been using the area. I realize that early Sept. is 

 probably the best time to count bears, especially before the 

 opening of the general season, but it seems that there should be 

 a happy medium. Areas: Cabinet Mts and Scothsmans Crossark 

 Area. 



It may sound like I am not very good at what I do but there is 

 nothing as exciting as bugling in a bull elk to 30 yards and 

 nothing more frustrating as not being able to get a good shot but 

 some day it will happen. I get the feeling someone is out to get 

 bowhunters and it's not right if we opt to spend the extra money 

 for equipment, license, etc., hundreds of dollars we should have 

 a choice. It's still Montana you know! 



Question 13. I felt Region F & G had problems working with 

 ranchers in the Nlack Food - Ovando Area . 



Some people in the Dept . and several commissioners feel archers 

 are killing too many mature bulls. My experience says someone is 

 juggling statistics to arrive at whay they want to see. Archery 

 has been and still is a low impact high recreation hour hunt 1 

 Under current guidelines for the Dept. to maximize recreation 

 hours - they should be anxious to encourage more archery hunters 

 to go afield, rather than entertain proposals to restrict 



