Headin to Montana this weekend... for deer or elk. Not sure why they want to manage to harvest so much for elk . Alot are on private land where they can't be killed... why manage public lands the same. Let private lands have too many and let them keep them, (tough) they will spill over, block management will take care of it if they choose to incorporate it. This just whacks more public land elk.
Leasing it out?, TOUGH, you have too many elk on your land now, quit complaining and open it up to block management.
Montana has really been the place to go for big bulls over the last 5 years, but it has been progressively worse each year. More leases, more private land bought up, etc. Expect alot of giant bulls to be whacked in the last week... Maybe thats good, The general public will actually have a chance at big bulls.
In the breaks I've seen less and less giant bulls over the last 5 years. Sounds like Montana (ranchers) doesn't want them on public land. Too bad... counts should be made on huntable lands. The cow permits right now are outofhand, and have no consideration of whats on public land (huntable) vs. private.