summitdawg, you're wondering why there are only three rifle permits and it's not getting any better? My guess is the indians are killing too many elk out of that area in the winter. It's pretty tough for the state to manage our elk herds when the indians can go out and kill as many as they want, and many times just for the heads so they can be sold. So don't blame the state, blame the federal government for allowing the indians to do all the things that we can't.