Are you referring to this article?
http://fwp.mt.gov/mtoutdoors/pdf/2014/BitterrootElk.pdfCurious where you get the 70% number for unknown predation?
36% due to lion predation
24% unknown causes
14% unknown predation
11% bear predation
8% natural, non-predation causes
5% wolf predation
2% human-related causes (such as hunting and fence entanglement)
It's a good article IMO, and a damned important study. Kudos to those groups that opened up their wallets. Also, glad it mentions this, but most will gloss over it. Statute? Legislators, and their emotions determining wildlife decisions? Sounds like California.
Required by state statutes to lower elk numbers to more closely meet objectives outlined in the state�s elk management
plan, FWP responded by increasing cow harvest quotas.
