I always see Elk 



Because It's challeng to hunt Elk during the Rut 



yes & no 

 1. I am satisified with the hunting oppertunity for elk but I am 

 disappointed in the numbers of elk in some areas. 



I am 30 years old, I have grown up in a family that almost 

 lives for the next elk season. I believe my comments are valid 

 do to experience I have in pursuing the great elk. I have hunted 

 18 yrs . and have taken as many elk, or all I admit to. My entire 

 family hunts and with a couple of hunting partners outside the 

 family we have taken a number of elk that would stagger even the 

 best guides. We are loggers which helps, we learn the country 

 and know the animal, probably better than most game biologist. 



We have just recently moved form Eastern Ore., Burns & 

 JohnDay area 1985. So I have only hunted Mont, for the last 2 

 seasons with a bow. I have not yet taken an elk with my bow in 

 Mont.. With the rifle season also available I have taken 2 elk 

 in 2 seasons. I 'am just trying to show why I think what I say is 

 important . 



In Ore., the Burns area in the sixties didn't hardly have 

 enough elk to even interest most people other than our family 

 only a few locals even hunted elk. The game managmet was for 

 deer in that area. N. Eastern Ore. was mangged for Elk. Anyway 

 Burns area was open to either sex all season. It was hard to 

 even find an elk track, my dad remembers. Things changed they 

 stopped killing cows in the area, and now in the 80 's the elk 

 numbers are unreal, the elk even inhabit the desert sage brush 

 country. Elk numbers in Ore. out number that of Mt. this is not 

 right . I know I am new to Mt . but from what I have seen in the 

 areas I have been in it is capable of many times the number of 

 elk that exist in these area. 



First the bowhunter is not hurting the elk numbers, and they 

 are not displacing the animals for the rifle hunters. If 

 anything is its the grouse hunter with his shotgun. Bowhunters 

 are silent, even when shooting at elk thay sometimes stay in the 

 same area. 



I say or suggest stop killing the cows in the area's where 

 more elk are desired, maybe a few permits for rifle season, 

 remember the bowhunter is not the cause of low elk numbers. 

 Prevent the Murphy Lake joke from happening again. I was logging 

 then and am sick about what happened to the transplants. 

 Reguardless of what F.W.R. says they were wiped out. I was there 

 and seen the elk and know what happened. The transplant was a 

 great idea for increasing numbers but they should have been 

 protected. 



I have much more to say if your interested. Please Respond. 



numerous animals & less hunters 



But I would like to see more mature bulls. 



