and we can be proud of them. I don't feel that the Indians still 

 need to hunt year round with no limits on or OFF THE 

 RESERVATIONS . 



Perhaps the most effective means of reducing hunting pressure, 

 particularily an elk, would be a significant increase in road 

 closures and restrictions on motorized vehicles, rather than a 

 shortening of archery seasons. Any shortening of seasons should 

 be done on a district - by - district basis. The same approach 

 should be applied for restrictions to branch antlered bulls, 

 except I feel all designated wilderness areas should be 

 restricted to branch antlered bulls only. These areas are 

 specially managed already in other regards (eg. vehicle 

 restrictions) and probably it would be more politically 

 acceptable to the general public. 



Regarding District 240, I feel last year's early rifle season for 

 mule deer was inappropriate and presented conflicts and increased 

 pressure on archery hunting, particularily for elk. This early 

 mule deer hunt should be discontinued. 



Would like to see no license sold after opening day of season. 

 Both guns and bows should be cased to stop road hunting. The 

 Forest Service needs to step up law enforcement on gate 

 violations by 4x4 and all terrain vehicles. Also Forest Service 

 needs to keep existing gates closed. 



State Fish and Game needs to be more aggressive in management of 

 elk herds. Bull to cow ratio in area 100 's is too low! We need 

 more law enforcement personnel both at the state and federal 

 level to stop all types of violations: example: poaching, road 

 hunting, gate violations, aircraft flying too low, etc. 



I feel ATV's should be kept on trails except for getting game 

 out. I get mad when I look for elk in areas where they stay and 

 see people driving around any time and any place on ATV ' s and 

 motorcycles . 



Recommend limiting all terrain vehicles and motorcycles to 

 establish roads during hunting season. This year for the first 

 time in 8 years I saw no ELK during 5 days of hunting in area 429 

 where as in the past I have seen many. A recently completed 

 Forest Service trail makes this area easy access to all terrain 

 vehicles and motorcycles. 



Bow hunting in Montana should stay as it is . I see two threats 

 to my continued enjoyment: 1) regulation changes brought on by 

 pressure from outfitters i.e., unlimited out of state licenses 

 and restrictive archery regulations; 2) increased use of ATV's 

 particularly the "4 wheelers", these machines go anywhere and the 

 people who ride them do not stay on the trails but instead use 

 them to gain access to areas that are legally only open to foot 



