feasibility first, then popularity and practical reasons. It's 

 too bad also that we can't make education of all bowhunters 

 mandatory and find a way for landowners to know how to recognize 

 what makes a competent bowhunter. This would go a long way in 

 policing the ranks, the same applies to rifle hunting. PS, I'm a 

 gunsmith's son who loves archery too. 



Feel very strongly that there should be a proficiency test 

 required, prior to obtaining an archery license - too many 

 hunters can't shoot. 



I would favor stricter standards for archery hunters, ie. being 

 able to hit a designated target at 30 yards as a requirement. 

 Archery hunting education may also be needed. 



Require all hunters to put name and address on ones arrows! 

 Archery hunter should have to pass a test with the equipment they 

 will be using. 



Hunter education should be emphasized more. Hunters should be 

 better prepared for this type of hunting. 



Bowhunting has increased dramatically in the past 5 years. But 

 if you spend the time and hunt serious there is still good game 

 in Montana, There is one main thing that interests me. One has 

 become more evident in the past two years. There is to many 

 bowhunters out there today who don't know what there doing. I 

 watched five bowhunters on the first day of the season in 87 

 shoot at elk more than 70 yards away as they came out of a 

 stubble field. I couldn't believe it. I didn't see any hit, but 

 a six point bull was found two weeks later across the coulee with 

 an arrow in it. The bull probably wasn't even followed up. Alot 

 of these people are just out to fling an few aroows, drink beer 

 and have a good time, they don't give a darn about what happens 

 to the wildlife. And it sure makes it hard on other bowhunters. 

 I think every year a person bowhunts they should have to complete 

 a bow course before receiving a bow permit. 



The most important improvement would be to eliminate the use of 

 bull or cow calls. There are a number of mediocre hunters that 

 are good callers. Without calling any animal obtained would 

 require exceptional hunting skill and not deception. In addition 

 the elimination of non-serious hunters would improve the sport. 

 These hunters wound game (they shoot when they shouldn't) and 

 push animals out of areas, 



I like archery hunting as well as rifle hunting. In my opinion 

 Fish and Game should devise a way to keep those people who do not 

 practice shooting there bows out of the woods. 



The bull-cow ratio is a problem, but I don't know what the 

 solution should be, mayber close it to branch antler only. 



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