Re: Wolf's Success Ignites New Debate

"Tom Beno" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> Gray wolf's success ignites new debate
>
> By Candus Thomson - Baltimore Sun
> November 26, 2003
> ...........
> Warren Johnson, a sports outfitter from just outside Yellowstone, said he had
> waited patiently for a balance between the wolves and the region's elk herd,
> "but there is no balance. Wolves are decimating our wildlife."
>-----------

Hunting success highest in years in western Montana

By the Associated Press
December 2, 2003

KALISPELL (AP) - Montana's just-ended big game hunting season ranks as one of
the best in years with 50-year-old records shattered in some places, wildlife
officials said Tuesday.

The general season ended Sunday evening.

In some cases, there were fewer hunters but they took more game. In the
Missoula region, elk kill records dating back to the 1950s were broken.

"Hunting conditions were ideal, probably the best in 10 years," said Bruce
Sterling of Kalispell, a regional biologist with the Department of Fish,
Wildlife and Parks.

"This was an excellent hunting season. There's a lot of satisfied hunters out
there," Sterling said.

"Between the snow and rain, we had good conditions for hunting for most of the
five-week season," said Jim Williams, regional wildlife manager.

Ron Aasheim at the agency's headquarters in Helena said the number of elk
checked through three game stations in the Missoula region was the highest
since the Anaconda station was established in 1979.

He said the number of elk checked through the Darby station, at 727, was the
highest since the station was established in 1953.

Overall, Aasheim said the number of hunters through the Missoula region's
stations was up 12 percent, the elk harvest was up 128 percent at 1,013
animals, mule deer up 48 percent at 567, whitetail deer up 44 percent at 977.

At the seven check stations in northwestern Montana, Williams said 23,737
hunters checked through 1,893 whitetail deer, 329 mule deer and 204 elk for a
10.2 percent rate of hunters with game.

The 1,272 whitetail bucks was the largest number since the permanent check
stations were established, and two-thirds of them were four-points or better,
Williams said. The numbers of mule deer bucks and elk checked were also the
highest recorded.

Williams said the high game populations may allow more harvest opportunities
next year, possibly with more antlerless whitetail hunting, youth opportunities
for deer and elk and more elk hunting in certain areas.

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2003/12/03/mtracker/news/26hunt.txt