TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POACHERS. LAST AND POSSIBLY OVERALL I 

 FEEL THAT RIFLE HUNTERS ALREADY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT 

 MULEDEER IN THE BACKCOUNTRY THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE SEASON 

 WITH NO PROBLEM. ONLY WITHOUT THE CONFLICTS WITH BOWHUNTERS AND 

 GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUNT ELK. 



I FEEL THAT CROSS "BOWS" SHOULD liEYEE BE LEGALIZED FOR USE 

 DURING ARCHERY ONLY SEASONS. I DON;T CONSIDER THEM A "BOW" AT 

 ALL. I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF A BRANCH ANTLED LIMIT ON BULL ELK- 

 ARCHERY MD RIFLE. I FEEL THE NUMBER OF "SLOB ARCHERS" COULD 

 "CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON" METHOD BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE REDUCED 

 NUMBER OF ARCHERS WOULD HAVE LESS SAY OR "POWER" AND LOSE THE 

 PRIVLAGES WE NOW HAVE. I FEEL A POST SEASON HUNT MAIIN SOME AREAS 

 BENIFIT WHITAIL AND MULEDEER POPULATIONS. I ALSO FEEL GAME 

 POPULATIONS WOULD BENEFIT IF MANY OLD LOGGING ROADS WERE CLOSED 

 BEFORE THE SEASON OPENED. I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME TO SAY THAT 

 CIVILIZATION IN MONTANA HAS AFFECTED GAME POPULATIONS TO THE 

 POINT WHERE CHANGES MUST BE MADE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WILDLIFE. 

 MY THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN ABOUT ARCHERY HUNTING IN MONTANA. 



I think that you should put more Elk into to area around Townsend 

 Mt. their isnt enough to go around 



In 16 yrs of hunting I have yet to kill an elk. I just cant 

 believe the elk count can be what they say it is in this part of 

 Montana . 



I think the drawing on elk should be closed for one year to try 

 to let the elk herd repopulate. I also think their should be 

 stricter penalties to those who are caught breaking hunters laws . 

 I also think they should let out fewer B-tags and try to let the 

 deer population get back on its feet. 



Deer populations in Eastern Montana is dangerously low- this must 

 be improved . 



The early rifle season on whitetail anterless (doe). Should be 

 discontinued in 331. I seen only 10 does last year during archery 

 season in places where there used to be an acceptable population 

 of whitetails. 



Most of the hunters with whom I have talked to feel that most of 

 herds have increased in numbers in the last couple of years . 



I would like to see some areas or area in the 700 series for 

 archery only. I would also like to say this is my 1st year but do 

 feel that the hunting of all four species ask about in my opion 

 is out there in adequate #s for those who wants to hunt not ride 

 around. 



In the region I hunt the elk population seems to be fairly good. 

 But would like to see more branch antlered Bulls. I would also 

 like to seen the hunting licenses stay with in reason 



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