the montana FWP site has information about hunter success rates in every region- That would be a good source of info
I live in the Helena area and within a 75 mile radius of where I live when the elk are on their winter range I can see somwwhere around 5-6000 head of elk, even more if I go farther. I believe I saw more elk this winter than ever, but there are for sure some areas where the numbers are down.
