The way outfitters are taking over private property, and all the 

 horseback hunting pressure, I don't think Fish and Game needs to 

 start picking on archeory hunters . It seems our gcune comes in 

 second, to the all mighty dollar. If you think I'm wrong, just 

 try to hunt on private property for free or try the Powder River 

 country for spring turkeys. In hunting district 455, the bear 

 tooth game, which I have hunted since 1973, used to be a great 

 place to hunt. Both during archery, and rifle season. Now 

 archery season is still good, but during the general season, 

 there are so many horseback hunters the elk stay, for the most 

 part on private property, as soon as they enter the game range, 

 the horse hunters drive them back. It's getting so bad, that 

 people on foot are being forced to hunt elsewhere if they hope to 

 see any game. 



I fill that out of state licenses should be increased 300%. I 

 fill that there should be some sort of finatial insentive to 

 private landowners to allow access. I fill that outfitters 

 leasing public lands for private gain, and denying access is a 

 outrage, and should be outlawed. 



I think quality of elk archery is excellent and I pass up many 

 spikes and rag horns. If you have to restrict or manage tighter, 

 my suggestion would be higher fees and choosing archery or rifle 

 as only restriction other than restricting outfitters in this 

 state and making sure the 17,00 non-resident quota stays. Its 

 time you do something about the ridiculous number of outfitters 

 in Montana. 



I have hurd roomers that out fitters chase everything back up 

 into the hills up around the Kings Hill area just before season 

 opens. I have never seen this, but when woodcutters tell me 

 about the elk they see and I go out on opening day and don ' t see 

 a deer I wonder if there couldn't be something too it. 



Because of economics, the resident hunter is suffering due to 

 outfitters leasing land to satisfy non-resident demands. I think 

 the whole outfitter business needs to be looked at closer and 

 more restrictions placed on the industry in order to benifit the 

 resident. We have surpassed the saturation point. 



Too many ATV's and outfitters 4x4 's on closed logging roads 

 during season. If the roads are closed and posted as such, no. 

 vehicles should be allowed past the closure. the landowners, 

 outfitter and whatever he calls himself, who lives on the Taylor 

 Fork should be fined and put out of business for breaking every 

 Fish and Game access law on the books. He has a key for the 

 locked gates on all the Forest Service roads and he uses him for 

 himself and his clients. The outfitters in this state are 

 cutting the throats of the other resident hunters. Before the 

 seasons begin, they are bidding against each other for the 



