Access is great, don't need a horse, but in some areas they are definately a huge help. The elk numbers here are up pretty good and the quality of the bulls is excellent. We had several bulls last year that were taken that were in excess of 350 and few even got near the 385-400 range.

Dude, of course a limited entry area is gonna produce better bulls. I just moved back to my native Pa after several years in Mt. I filled my Elk tag EVERY year onpublic land. It all depends on how much effort you put in. I also have spots on private ground that i secured for my father (non res) without knowing the owner. All by knocking on doors and research. If you dont kill an Elk in Mt, perhaps you shouldnt blame it on anything or anyone but yourself.

You can kill 300"+ bulls on nearly ever unit of public land in Montana. Great mule deer and river bottom whitetails as well.

So true! If you put in the effort you will get what your looking for (if you have reasonable expectations). As far as public land elk hunting goes its hard to beat MT in my opinion. Let me put it this way... if I was a non-res. I would fork out $900 for a tag instantly.

Do you always let yourself be ripped off? Whether you can afford it or not has nothing to do with it. What makes an elk licence worth $900 this year over what it cost last year?

I do think it is rediculous that they raised the cost of tags as much as they did. Hunting used to be something that we did for our winters meat or to spend time with family and friends. But in the last several years it seems that hunting has become just another big business monster. I guess that they figure that the guy who only gets 2 weeks vacation and wants to spend it with his kids to try to pass on this great heritage doesn't need to come to Montana, only those that have very deep pockets should come here because only they are worthy of hunting our animals.

Just goes to show you that not all the idiots were elected and sent of to Washington D.C., some of them were sent to Helena too.

Actually, it was the citizens of Montana, not the legislators, that passed this law via the inituitive process.

Hold on a minute here. Montana elk/deer combo includes upland bird and fishing for 912.00. Colorado elk/deer is 888.00. Montana seasons are a lot longer, less hunting pressure and better quality bulls. I am not in support of high NR fees, but Colorado certainly is not better.

How much for just a bull elk licence in Montana?

That is true, Thanks for pointing that out. i sometimes let my emotions get the best of me......lol