Originally Posted by shrapnel
So when people complain about shoulder seasons and blame ranchers for screwing up the hunting season, it isn't really a complete picture of the elk or elk management practices...


I never said ranchers/farmers were the entirety of the reason for the shoulder season, but they are the primary reason. They wield the most power and influence.

Originally Posted by shrapnel

So you need science to qualify as a correct model for game management.


YES... unless you live in the middle ages.

Originally Posted by shrapnel
I shoot gophers on plenty of ranches that don't summer cattle on public ground. I have spent days rebuilding fences that elk have knocked down on those ranches and FWP isn't funding or sending anyone there to help.


You ranch in elk country, that's what you get. News Flash: Elk create incredible value for those ranches, and give them a value far beyond ag prices. Most of those ranchers beoching about elk are multi-millionaires (at least on paper) because of those elk.

“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery