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Today, October 19, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission will be taking public comment on a measure of critical importance to all hunters in the state. A proposal to require all of the state’s big game hunters to choose between either a bow or a firearm for the entire hunting season will be taken up during an afternoon Work Session. To be clear, this will mean that hunters will no longer have the option of pursuing big game with both a bow and a rifle during the same calendar year.
It is critical that your voice be heard! Big game hunters should continue to have the freedom to choose to hunt with a bow and a firearm during the appropriate seasons. Contrary to the claims of some advocates of this proposed restriction, sportsmen are easily capable of becoming proficient in the use of both a bow and a firearm for big game. Sportsmen need more hunting opportunities, not fewer!
The Commission Meeting will be held at:
Fort Keogh Research Station
243 Fort Keogh Road
Miles City, MT
If you are unable to attend the meeting, please express your opposition to this “single implement for big game” proposal by calling the Commission Director’s Office at (406) 444-3186. Also, please call or write the commissioner who represents your area of the state. For more information on your commissioner and how to contact him, please go to http://fwp.mt.gov/insidefwp/department/commission/default.html.
-------------------- TGMM Family of the Bow For hunting to have a future, we must invest ourselves in future hunters.
posted
Hmmm...Wish they'd do that in my home state of Ohio, might lighten up the xgun pressure during our so-called archery season.
Posts: 825 | From: Tuscarawas County, Ohio | Registered: Apr 2003
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I already started informing others. Some like it but most of us DON'T!. It will do nothing to cut back on the crowding over the long term. Just makes things harder to manage and more paper work for Helena. Don't kid youurselves. Many who want it would like all hunting to be with bows and rifle hunters left out. We have a great thing right now and has passed the test of time. Lets not screw it up!
“Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.”-Will Rogers Posts: 532 | From: Darby, MT | Registered: Nov 2004
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Odds are the bowhunter numbers would be greatly diminished and we can't afford to be a bigger minority than we already are. License sales and numbers help give us a voice in legislatures and DNRs.
-------------------- TGMM Family of the Bow For hunting to have a future, we must invest ourselves in future hunters.
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That is another excellent point. We have an archery area called Teton Springs. Only reason we still have it is because we have many so many archery voices that spoke out to keep the FW&P from eliminating it. MBA fought hard and won. We need those numbers to help steer the legislature to keep what has been earned.
“Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.”-Will Rogers Posts: 532 | From: Darby, MT | Registered: Nov 2004
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What possible reason could they have for such an idiotic idea? What's up with WY and MT making bad sportsman laws lately?
-------------------- "Being there was good enough..." Charlie Lamb reflecting on a hunt TGMM Brotherhood of the Bow Posts: 9537 | From: Ranger, GA | Registered: Mar 2003
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I do believe it is politicaly motivated. More money for MT FW&P along with more jobs in the Helena field etc., etc., etc.. Here is a link to an article in the Billings Gazette about the meeting in Miles City. Way to go Gary! He traveled from Wetsern MT to be at this meeting. I wonder if the thrust of this came from the many bowyers we have in the state? Several belong to the TBM who would love to see this come about.
“Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.”-Will Rogers Posts: 532 | From: Darby, MT | Registered: Nov 2004
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“Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock.”-Will Rogers Posts: 532 | From: Darby, MT | Registered: Nov 2004
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Now why would a bowyer want this? I would think, when push comes to shove, most guys would choose a rifle....decreasing the customer base those bowyers might tap into if the hunter got to freely choose his weapon. Doesn't make any sense to my why anyone but the antis would want legislation like this.
-------------------- "Being there was good enough..." Charlie Lamb reflecting on a hunt TGMM Brotherhood of the Bow Posts: 9537 | From: Ranger, GA | Registered: Mar 2003
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BTW, if you think about it, Colorado is basically already this way (or used to be, I should say). If you applied and received an archery elk or deer tag, you couldn’t apply for, or hunt rifle season. That's the way it used to be, but haven’t been there in a few years. They may allow a cow tag later for rifle in some areas, not sure, haven’t read the regs for a couple years.
Posts: 825 | From: Tuscarawas County, Ohio | Registered: Apr 2003
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You're telling me this year in CO, that if I drew or purchased a bull elk archery tag and didn't fill it, then I could go ahead and rifle hunt for a bull in one of the rifle seasons?
Guess I'm going to have to read more recent regulations.
Posts: 825 | From: Tuscarawas County, Ohio | Registered: Apr 2003
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The way it used to be, you could choose either archery season, rifle 1 season, rifle 2, or rifle 3 season, you could not mix them.
Posts: 825 | From: Tuscarawas County, Ohio | Registered: Apr 2003
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