THE RUT WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. 



Because the number of archery hunters has increased so 

 substantially, elk bugling and archery - only district hunting 

 has been negativily affected, there have also been too many 

 wounded animals, too many bowhunters are simply gun hunters who 

 are extending their season. A lot of problems would be solved if 

 hunters had to choose gun orbows, with the exception that both gun 

 and bow hunters could hunt during a 2 week extended season with a 

 bow. that way gun hunters who own bows would still have a chance 

 to use them and sporting goods stores would not lose so much 

 income. Al I bowhunter s should prove their proficiency. 



If temperature is too hot during opening of bow season, should be 

 closed until it gets colder. In my opoion most bows hunters 

 should hold a shot if unsure of hit and wound the animal and 

 doesn't find it. 



I have 1 1/2 days per week to hunt, it is spoiled by people who 

 don't know how to hunt or areas that we cannot hunt, game reserve 

 in stevensville for deer, that they never come out into hunting 

 areas 



I appreciate your efforts & concern about archery. I feel the 

 sport is inundated by people who are well-intentioned but poorly 

 skilled, the critical factor is after-the shot tracking skills, 

 caring for the meat, etc. I don't know how to regulate ignorance. 



I think all new comurses to archery hunting should have to take a 

 course too learn the killing ability of a bow and what yardage is 

 accepitable (not 100 yards) type B.S. and safety with a bow and 

 arrow ' s 



I feel that a competency test is necessary for archery hunters . 



Each year I see lots of people new to the sport pick-up a 

 bow & a dozen arrows & hunt with out ever becoming a desent shot . 

 That leads to crippled game ! ! 



I think a lot of these questions are strongly anti-archery as the 

 F & G Commission has been known to be. I think they are trying to 

 do away with archery hunting as they see fit or to their 

 advantage. They think the good bow hunters who kill an elk, 

 mostly branch bulls, is taking away from the rifle hunters quota, 

 but those same hunters would take an elk with a rifle. The 

 problem goes beyond archers or rifle hunters, it is a result of 

 all hunter pressure, and other than 1987, several back to back 

 years of great hunting weather resulting in high hunter sucess on 

 elk. good bow hunters like good rifle hunters don't lose animals 

 its the slob hunter oiboth types that ruins it for everyone. Bow 

 hunter education would certainly help our sport a lot of 

 incompetant people are out there making a bad name for us . 



45 



