Elk population in Montana has been on the steady increase over the last 10 years or so, which has put their population numbers well above the goals of Fish Wildlife and Parks. In some hunting districts, the elk population is over 200% of where FWP wants it to be. To get these populations down, FWP is proposing to lengthen the rifle season for elk hunting. The proposed extension of the season could open hunting around August 15th and close it around February 15th. As of now, the season is about five weeks, from October to Late November. The extension could have an adverse effect on other hunting seasons like bow hunting, which starts in September. Public comment is still being taken on the issue until August 10th.
Read the entire article in the Independent here (If link does not work the first time, copy and paste into your browser):
http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/missoula/shoulder-to-hunt-on/Content?oid=2355477
