This was my first season for archery, and I enjoyed it 

 tremendously. But as a beginner, I still feel the need for other 

 sportsmen to be able tc hunt during archery a rifle. If Montana 

 had this restriction, I may not have taken up the sport of 

 archery. 



Would strongly support an Either/or Archery-Gun hunting season if 

 prime Elk hunting areas were set aside for Archery Hunting only 

 from September to December. I feel this would greatly Decrease 

 the number of Archery hunters and increase Big Game populations 

 that would benifit all Hunters. 



I think the Idea of hunting with bow or with rifle is very good. 

 I don't think you should get to hunt in both seasons. Would make 

 for better Bow hunting ! 



I would like to see people have to decide between rifle & bow to 

 cut down on non-serious archers whom lower the hunting quality 

 for serious archers. To many people use bow season just as an 

 excuse to increase there hunting days afield knowing they can 

 pick up there rifle in a few weeks and hunt. 



Please don't shorten the season, require either gun or archery or 

 allow cross bows. 



I would strongly support an effort to make archery an alternative 

 to gun hunting rather than let people hunt during both season. A 

 lot of archers a simply taking up the sport to lengthen the 

 hunting season. The result in a very large increase in archery 

 hunters over the last ten years. 



Over the years I have seen a increase in bow hunters . But I hope 

 and pray it has not come down to a choice of archery or guns or 

 archery drawing. There are still lots of game if you want to 

 work for them. Archery hunting is hard at it's best and there's 

 few who want to spend the time and sweat to enjoy it's challenge. 

 Others just ! ! 



Because of other conflicts I archery hunted very little in 1987. 

 Although I have seen relatively unsuccessful in killing elk in 

 the past I enjoy archery hunting more than rifle hunting but 

 would choose rifle hunting if I had to make a choice. 

 Archery hunting has very little impact on the total harvest of 

 elk in my hunting districts and I oppose any restictions as a 

 reduciton of a recreational opportunity. 



in Missouri River Breaks Districts a hunter should not have to 

 choose between archery & rifle hunting - should be able to do 

 both. 



This was only my second year of Bowhunting, but I really enjoy 

 it. I've had fair success on elk with a rifle, and I've yet to 



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