Cowboy Heaven Consulting, LLC
6116 Walker Road
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-587-9563
1-877-613-0404
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To that end, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks are proposing some interesting changes in elk regulations for 2002. These proposals, if they are approved by the FWP Commission (which is probable), should make it easier for folks to fill their freezers with healthy and nutritious elk steaks and burger.

Specifically; in hunting districts 311, 314, 315, 317, 360, 361 & 362 (which comprise much of the prime elk country of southwest Montana, basically nearly everything within about a hundred miles of Bozeman), the first eight days of the season would be opened to either sex hunting. Normally in those districts, you have had to draw an antlerless elk tag in order to harvest a cow (those will still be available, good for the entire season and in several cases, for two weeks beyond).  Next fall, in all likelihood you will be able to harvest a cow with just your regular elk tag during that first week. That should reduce the excess cow numbers quite effectively, with any luck. I know where my son and I were hunting in the Madison Range, harvesting a cow that first week would have been almost ridiculously easy.

In hunting districts 312 and 393 (the Bridger Mountains), holders of general season elk licenses will be able to harvest cow elk the last week of the season. This has been the case in the north half of the district for some years, but is being expanded to the entire range. In the north half, it’s been restricted to cows only that last week; meaning you can’t shoot a bull should the opportunity present itself. That will remain the case, but in the south half you’ll be able to harvest cows or bulls (as long as it’s a brow-tine bull). The north half of the district is largely private land. Most of the landowners have been accommodating about allowing the public on, but due to the oft-mentioned mild conditions, success hasn’t been that great. Most of the south half is public land, and hosts a good population of cow elk. We live adjacent to the southern west face of the Bridgers, and I see cow elk on a near-daily basis. I expect to see quite a few cows harvested due to this change. Also, the Bridgers are now being managed as a trophy mule deer area, and FWP would like to see significantly fewer elk, particularly in the southern portions. Hunting big muleys is a passion of mine, and I’m all for the proposed changes in this area.

Also in 312 and 393, as well as 317 (the upper east side of the Paradise Valley south of Livingston), holders of general season antlerless tags will be able to hunt for two weeks beyond the close of the general season. That has been the case in 314 (west Paradise Valley) for several years now.

Another most interesting proposal involves hunting districts 320, 330, 360 & 362 (the Tobacco Root, Gravelly, and Madison Ranges). This proposal comes from the Madison Valley Ranchland Group, which is an organization comprised mostly of private landowners. An unlimited number of A-7 elk licenses would be available, over the counter, to people who could produce a "permission to hunt" form from one of the landowners in the aforementioned districts. An A-7 license is for antlerless elk, and requires that the recipient give up their regular general season elk tag. Word has it that many of the ranchers in these districts will participate, and the permission forms will be issued through a central clearinghouse. As anyone who hunts those districts, or even drives through the area during the fall and winter can attest; great herds of primarily cow elk congregate on private land where they have been generally inaccessible to the public. It remains to be seen how many people will be willing to give up their regular elk tag for the A-7, but this will certainly provide a good opportunity for folks to put an elk in the freezer.

There are also expansions of A-7 and general season antlerless licenses in numerous other hunting districts, as well as a host of other minor tweaking of regulations, but in my view the above mentioned ones are the most noteworthy.

Another proposal is to increase youth hunting opportunities statewide. There are already several youth-only special elk tags available, which provide some spectacular opportunities for trophy bull elk. Those will probably be expanded, as well as antlerless hunting opportunities. The exact mechanics aren’t worked out yet, but a couple of possibilities are that youth 12-14 years old with a regular elk tag could participate in any of the antlerless hunts that are extended the two weeks beyond the general season. Another is to allow youth to harvest antlerless elk statewide (possibly only in their home regions) during the general 5-week season.

Whatever the final form of these proposals turns out to be, elk hunting opportunities are certain to be greatly liberalized for next fall. This will gladden the hearts of a lot of ranchers who are currently supporting too many elk on too little grass and hay, reduce competition for other wildlife species, and put a lot of meat in people’s freezers.

Of course, these regulations are of primary benefit to Montana residents, although a lot of non-resident hunters with dreams of trophy elk racks undoubtedly would have been much happier to take a cow elk home instead of an unused elk tag. We’ve been talking to a lot of outfitters lately, and many of them had just atrociously poor success last season. We know of several outfitters, who through no fault of their own didn’t have a single hunter take an elk during the rifle season! These are long-established operations with a great track record of success. In some areas, though, outfitters had success ranging from 50% to as high as 100%. The 100% success hunts are the top end, cost and opportunity wise, but several of our mid-priced outfitters had 50-85% success, which is outstanding given the difficult hunting conditions. So, if you’re considering a Montana elk hunt, we feel it behooves you in a major way to take advantage of our knowledge base in booking a hunt. Remember that non-resident applications need to be in by March 15, so e-mail or call 1-877-613-0404 and you’ll be on the right track toward going home with an elk.