Elk arrived!!

[shortgrass]

Sounds like elk season needs to be not as long as it has been and more wildlife enforcement keeping an eye out. I realize this is a very large area, but there is such a thing as aerial patrols. Unfortunately, much of the abuse of our wild game has been brought about by the up-serge in LR shooting. Not everyone has morals. JMO on this. I am in rural, open country also. I see State Game Rangers around quit often, but we have the same problem with "road hunters" and the "horn hunters" around here. Those caught should face stiff fines, loss of hunting privileges, forfeiture of firearms used/possessed involving the commission of the crime, forfeiture of vehicles used during the commission of the crime. That's pretty much the way it is here! But the problem persists... JMV

 

[26Reload]

ATV and utv are happening everywhere....one of my first forays into an area I starting hunting caught two guys in an ATV chasing down a herd of elk.....idiots....i knew exactly what they were doing...tried fo stop and act like they didn't see the elk....but they were busting down thru the mountain awfully fast....and i just happened to be parked along side the road watching the first herd of elk I had seen in Idaho.....all those elk had their tongues hanging out.....they been pushed hard....

 

[joseph singleton]

Listening to all this is GUT turning,CHANGE NEED to HAPPEN Hopefully SOOOOONN...

 

[blackbrush1]

If you want the truth about elk numbers, go talk to the pros (biologists) at the DOW. Amateur speculation is just that. If you aren't happy with law enforcement, maybe you should vote differently at the polls.

 

[joseph singleton]

If you want the truth about elk numbers, go talk to the pros (biologists) at the DOW. Amateur speculation is just that. If you aren't happy with law enforcement, maybe you should vote differently at the polls.

????Is that like saying there isn't global warming,,,BUT,,,all the ice is melting and the seas are rising...Are we going to wait till it touches the level of our chin and look around AND GO(HOUSTON WE MIGHT GOT A PROBLEM)lets not wait that LONGGGGGGGGGG......................................

 

[joseph singleton]

How about them awesome PRO''''S we got in GOVERMENT.......(WOW) THAT a mouth full of------.

 

[Pinoniper]

In Colorado, Parks and Wildlife biologists have documented a steep decline in elk numbers. They tie it directly to increased human incursion into habitat. ATVs are an especially egregious example, but even multiple contacts with hikers can cause cows to abort. We are loving our wildlife to death.

 

[Ace Quackhunter]

I wait every year for the elk herds to show up on the winter range behind my house, they showed up this morning. When the snow gets deeper and the winds pick up it bears all the ridges of behind my house, used to be several thousand head, last year there was 110 with 6 brow tine bulls, this year this is all that showed up, 45 and one spike bull. View attachment 176053

Wow, what a great view. You are blessed have elk wander into your place. I must travel 1500 miles to chase elk, but I think it worth the effort.
Ace

 

[Peddler 76]

Where do you think the others are going?

in Wolve's bellies!

 

[blackbrush1]

in Wolve's bellies!

Aren't you keeping up? It's global warming!

 

[5.56×250]

Anyone stop to think that maybe all the snobby, game running poachers of elk are just another cog in the wheel of the anti gun operatives that are working to take huntjng off the table as a " need " for firearms ? The same operatives that are pushing wolf introduction ? If you think about it, snob poaching does two things to further their cause......direct herd reduction and giving hunters a bad rep in the public eye.
Imo, the first thing we should do is no longer call utv/atv game runners HUNTERS ! They are using tactics that are normally used to wipe out invasive species . Those are not your average outdoorsmen . No true outdoorsman would be a party to running and gunning such an iconic game animal as an elk !

 

[wapitiaddict]

I think wolves are a huge impact. But I also agree that illegal hunting practices need to be cracked down on with harsher penalties. It's amazing how easy poachers and other illegal hunters get off. Here in Idaho illegal hunting with ATVs is prevalent and party hunting is out of control. People buying tags under their name and giving them to others. Multiple shooters using a single tag. It's sickening. I'm so sick of idiot hunters. I've called the fish and game and their response is lack of staff to properly patrol. I don't know if there is a mismanagement of funds or lack of funds. Either way something needsi to change.

On another note, you can thank onx maps, gohunt, and popular YouTube and media talking heads for increasing out of state hunters. They sell hunting information at the click off a button, which only used to be obtain by years of scouting, hunting, and many many miles of boot leather. But I guess that's just progress and evolution.

 

[35 Whelen]

Yes slob hunters is and all ways has been a problem. Many farms and ranches that use to let people hunt no longer allow hunting at all. This has forced many to look for other places to hunt and is causing public lands to get more crowded and in some areas over crowded. There is some public land that has ben closed off with know access, this all so creates problems. All public land needs to be accessible but respected too. A prober balance needs to be found, many people hate it when ATV's and UTV's get restricted, they think they should be allowed to go any where they wont and even claim they do less damage than horses. It's a mess and the worst problem is get every one to use commonsense and making the right choses.

 

[Sledhead406]

If you want the truth about elk numbers, go talk to the pros (biologists) at the DOW. Amateur speculation is just that. If you aren't happy with law enforcement, maybe you should vote differently at the polls.

Ha! "were from the government, and here to help!" The biologists ARE the problem. They get a degree somewhere and come here to sit behind a desk until I force them to actually come look at animals. Local game wardens cant stand them as they know nothing, yet hold all the power. Nothing like an arrogant person arriving at my ranch, at my request, to condescendingly tell me that the XXXX problem right in front of our eyes, does not exist.

Examples:

20 years ago I had a wildlife biologist come to my place due to incredible over population of mule deer. He told me there are only 50 mule deer between Great Falls and Helena MT... and right out my truck window were over 300 decimating a hay stack. I drove him around to count over 2000 in just a half hour around the local ranches' hay stacks. What a Pro!

20 years later, the mulies have tanked. Terrible game management policy and depredation have changed that (Who is in charge of game and predator management? Hint: the "pros"). Speaking of wolves, had an all knowing and wise wildlife biologist just a year ago tell me there are no wolves in my area, and I was literally pointing at wolf tracks in the snow (from the wolf I saw earlier that day) as he said it.