Bbj, I think as well as you, habitat and management play an important role, but I also think we keep pushing elk, deer, ect, further back in the bush as we homestead there territory, I see evidence of it around here where some city slicker comes out here and buys property in the bush and then complains about the bears? The concret jungle is like a cancer and if you don't believe me just look at the road kills. Also look how the animals have come in and started to inhabit city areas.
I think and know the big boys are there, its just that you got to work like an sob to get em.
Bobby