Get yer elk yet? FWP holds hearing on elk B tags

By SCOTT McMILLION, Chronicle Staff Writer

The idea of granting second elk tags to many Montana hunters met with broad if not unanimous approval at a Bozeman meeting Tuesday.

In hunting districts covering about one third of the state, the elk population is above the objectives set by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

For example, elk numbers in the Bridger Mountains are 1,500 over objective. In the Gravelly Mountains, they're 2,000 over. In the east half of the Gallatin Range, they're 1,000 over, regional wildlife manager Kurt Alt told about 85 people gathered at the Holiday Inn.

To address that situation, biologists are proposing to offer "B tags" for cow elk through special drawings in many parts of the state, including most of region three in southwest Montana.

In addition, most of the districts would be open to either-sex elk hunting during the first eight days and the last nine days of the rifle season.

The two measures "are designed to increase our elk harvest," Alt said.

Vito Quartraro, of Bozeman, said he prefers to extend the either-sex harvest to the full five-week general hunting season. That way, hunters will be less congested, he said, especially since many elk are living on private land where access "is shrinking each year."

Alt agreed that access to private land is a problem, because of leasing and changing land ownership.

In areas with too many elk "a lot of that is due to access problems," Alt said. "It is a reality that we live with."

A couple people said that, given time, wolves might take care of the excess elk.

"Maybe we're jumping the gun here by giving all these extra tags," said Mark Murphy, of Bozeman. "I mean, we're going to need some wolf food."

Ed Brainerd, who ranches north of Bozeman, also recommended opening the general season to either-sex hunting, and limiting it to cows only during the last week.

"We need to get some elk killed out in that country," he said.

Jim Boorman, of Belgrade, endorsed the idea of issuing second elk tags. He said it gives people an opportunity to shoot a more easily obtainable cow early in the season, fill the freezer, then concentrate on hunting a trophy bull if they choose to.

The meeting was one of a series held round the state to gather public comment. The Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will decide during its February meeting whether to make permanent the B tags and expanded either-sex opportunities.

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