two weeks of the season where I found elk that were calm enough 

 to stalk them. 



I enjoy the archery season very much! I would like to see more 

 funds directed towards habitat. I don't belive either-or is the 

 answer - but I feel bowhunter education should be mandatory with 

 emphasis on short range shots - less wounding and following blood 

 trails and finding hit game. 



The current regulations seem to be good except for hunter safety 

 education for bow and arrow. I also believe that any reduction 

 of the season would be hard on those of us who generally do not 

 use vacation time away from work to hunt. 



I have lived in Montana and hunted elk for 25 years now, in that 

 time the elk population in this area (districts 100, 101, 105) 

 has increased dramatically. I don't feel that stricter 

 regulations are called for. the single thing I dislike most 

 about archery hunting is the number of inexperienced and poorly 

 equipped hunters who take unacceptable shots with inferior 

 equipment and wound and cripple big game animals . 



7(f) I am apalled at the number of game animals wounded but 

 usually then hear the hunter brag of hitting a "running shot" or 

 a "60 yard shot" and "stuck one" - One sees the same practices 

 with 500 yard rifle shots out pickup windows etc., but with fewer 

 wounded by poor practices . 



8. Bow hunters move the animals suprisingly little in most areas 



- not true of heavy impact areas like Breaks of Missouri etc. 



I strongly oppose the idea of a class being required to bow hunt 

 for a younger hunter. This is an invasion of a beginners rights 

 to enjoy a classic and very useful sport. 



Bowhunting is a challenging sport to thost who take it seriously. 

 Unfortunately there are many "bowhunters" out there who are slobs 



- those who need, not only education but the experiance that only 

 they can get from actual hunting situations. If we can educate 

 them properly then experiance will take care of itself. 



I think that the department should try to limit the amount of 

 archery hunters. Maybe try to seperate the true archery hunters 

 from those that hunt just because they can, even if they can not 

 hit the broad side of a barn with their bows. 



I submitte that some degree of regulations be intiated to assure 

 an increase in archery etticut to somehow cut down on the amount 

 of wounded animals during bow season primarily deer. Peaple just 

 don't follow up on their shots as they should. 



I think archery hunt should be continue but all archer should be 



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