Traditional Bowhunters of Montana oppose elk shoulder seasons on public land

It has been a busy week! Traditional Bowhunters of Montana submitted the following comments to FWP today July 30th, 2021.

The Proposal

The department is seeking comments on other concepts that could increase elk harvest and assist in meeting management objectives. One specific area FWP is seeking input on is to expand shoulder seasons in the 19 hunting districts where they are considering extending the shoulder season date to Feb. 15 to also include public lands in addition to private lands. The hunting districts are: 262, 290, 298, 314, 390, 391, 393, 411, 417, 502, 510, 511, 520, 530, 540, 560, 575, 580, and 590.

Traditional Bowhunters of Montana Comments

The Traditional Bowhunters of Montana (TBM) is an organization of nearly 200 members dedicated to preserving and advancing traditional bowhunting values in Montana. TBM is opposed to the proposal to extend the elk shoulder seasons on to public lands in hunting districts 262, 290, 298, 314, 390, 391, 393, 411, 417, 502, 510, 511, 520, 530, 540, 560, 575, 580, and 590.  

When elk shoulder seasons were initially approved, the intent was to find a temporary solution on private land that was monitored and analyzed. Elk shoulder seasons had two goals: 1) to reduce herd numbers and 2) drive elk off private lands onto public lands where the tolerance is much higher than on private land. 

Including public lands in the elk shoulder season in these districts will negatively impact the hunting experience of all Montana hunters by reinforcing that the only safe place for elk is private land, making them largely inaccessible to anyone unwilling or unable to pay a landowner for access. Over 50,000 archery stamps were sold last season. Continued harboring and pressuring elk to private land reduces access and opportunity for all hunters across the state. 

How much revenue is the state willing to lose from hunters who will take their dollars to other states where finding elk to hunt is not unreasonable? This proposal is lazy and is the next step to privatizing our shared, public trust elk herd. 

Instead of increasing the pressure on public land elk during a time of year where they are under immense pressure just to survive, the FWP Commission should revise the Elk Management Plan with all Montana stakeholders in mind. The Commission should be finding ways to drive elk from private lands, solving harboring issues, and updating outdated objectives that serve a select few instead of benefitting all that stakeholders invested in the health of our elk herd.