All the archers that would go to rifle if made to choose are 

 still hunting and killing elk even after they're fortunate enough 

 to fill archery tag. This 12 week season invites alot of greed. 



I feel there is absolutely no reason for an either or - rifle/bow 

 season, either or species hunt or to choose one hunting 

 district! ! ! 



Every other mountain road in the west has been gated for animal 

 habitat. Cut the restrictions, the game is doing just fine! 



At this time I don't think archery really has much impact on elk. 

 I have hunted when I have got within 40 yards of the same elk in 

 the same area day after day and they never went very far. In 

 Montana I don ' t think its crowded enough yet for choose either 

 rifle or archery hunt. I love to archery hunt but I don't 

 usually get an elk with a bow but almost always get one with a 

 rifle. If I was meat hungry with a bow I might take shots that I 

 wouldn' tordinarily take since I always figure, I can get one in 

 rifle season, so why take a chance wounding one with a bow. 



In part II, questions 8a, 8b, 8c, I feel hunters should pick 

 either archery or rifle for each species in any district. In 

 part III concerning questions 8, 9, 10, my answer could be taken 

 to mean that I wounded and lost an elk. But in fact I shot once 

 at a bull after my partner had made a lung shot on the same bull. 

 My partner tagged the bull since he had first killing hit on 

 Sept. 19. I then shot and tagged another bull elk on Sept. 25. 



I believe archer hitting and losing elk is one problem that we 

 as a group need to change. Non-archery hunters hold this against 

 archery seasons although more elk are wounded during rifle 

 seasons ! 



I would like to see an either archery or rifle season, not both 

 for one hunter in the same year. Also it should be illegal to 

 buy a license after the beginning of the season. Both of these 

 would keep the serious hunters in the woods and the yahoos out . 



Strongly "oppose" any idea that would force archery hunters to 

 choose between rifle or bow. In special seasons. Tags as issued 

 and used if Big Game taken can't be used for rifle anyway! 



I believe the most important thing that can be done to improve 

 archery season is to regulate as in question 8. A. 



I would only Favor a Forced choice between bow and rifle if 

 absolutely necessary. 



I would like to see elk hunting prohibited with a bow. If this 

 cannot be accomplished then the season should be shortened and a 

 hunter should be forced to choose either (Bow or Rifle) 



