Too many elk means a new can of worms

It’s hard to believe there are too many elk.

Hunters certainly aren’t complaining.

Landowners, however, are.

As a result, the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks is considering expanding opportunities for hunters to kill elk. FWP proposes adding shoulder seasons before and after the current five-week general big game season. The extensions could begin as early as Aug. 15 and run no later than Feb. 15.

The shoulder season would target antlerless elk on private land in an effort to reduce populations that are above FWP’s objectives.

There were an estimated 136,000 elk in...