i like to hunt elk. like to hunt deer too. hell, i like to hunt anything. couple things that yank me off about things tho. first, it really pisses me off that we have to have all these different foundations, because the stinkin' state and federal wildlife agencies are forever doing things that are anti hunter. i've never seen a state game and fish department or the usfw do one thing just for hunters or anglers. sometimes we get a little residual benefit from things they do, but you can bet that anytime there is something new done, we lose a little and the anti's gain. seems like the different organizations have to force and politic, etc. in order for outdoorsmen to make any gains. too bad too, because even more of the funds they raise could go to conservation. it's sorta like a few years back how all the kids in the country were donating there lunch money to repair and restore the statue of liberty. why the hell did it ever come to that in the first place? the amount spent on it was peanuts to the federal budget, but the public had to kick in even more to save her. same with a lot of stuff gets done for wildlife. we have agencies to take care of wildlife, but a lot of the actual work that gets done, is done by folks donating time and money to do it, over and above the taxes and license fees we pay. and the next thing, and i know this is gonna sound a little counter to what i just said, i think that elk are a little too prolific and need to be weeded out some, at least in Az. and new mex. good muley and even coues country is being ruined by elk encroachment. can't find a deer to save you in a lot of historically great deer country, and there are elk everywhere and they have the heck protected out of em. i'm all for a healthy elk herd, but lets keep the elk herd in it's historic habitat. last year while hunting muleys in the desert i saw more bull elk and rocky mt bighorn rams than i did deer. bucks and does combined. the elk herd is in a little too good o' shape i think. and the bighorns where i hunted are a damn nuisance. saw over 40 rams on one little mountain! and there are 4 permits for the area. the rmef and sheep society and different outfits have done some good things for their respective species, but i think the poor ol' muley is getting the short end in most cases. i know most of what i percieve as a problem is the "fault", if you can call it that, of the game and fish, but it sure seems to me that the deer herd is sure being encroached on by elk and bighorns.