Your PSA for hunting responsibly in Montana

Hunting game is multifaceted. There's laws you must abide by, but also moral/ethical standards.

Responsible hunters take the animal with a well-placed shot in a vital area to avoid wounding it, which allows for a humane kill.

Ensure well-placed shots by knowing the maximum range for accurate shot placement for each animal you're hunting and stay within that range.

From what I have read, you should limit shots on big game to less than 50 yards, which will increase your accuracy to hit a vital area. Ideally, take your shots at 15-20 yards for a clean kill.

In the case of this poor bull, he was shot in the rear end & the arrow is sticking out his side. The trail we found shows he wandered over 300 yards onto our property + however much more he treked from where he was actually shot on adjacent land, with minimal blood trail.

If you're also going to hunt, you might want to work on your tracking game. Apparently, an avid game hunter couldn't find the bull over a 24-hour period, yet we did in 15 minutes.

We notified the hunters we located their kill, and yet the bull lies wasted because the shot wasn't clean, and the bull wasn't found soon enough.

We aren't hunters, but I do respect those who hunt responsibly. I didn't grow up in that way, but I also understand others do. I'm all for it for you if that's your fancy, even though it isn't mine.

It brings me immense joy hearing the bugle of the elk on our land and seeing them graze on our grass. To me, elk are majestic animals, and I couldn't imagine extinguishing that life.

I have an appreciation for those who enjoy hunting and provide for their family with the meat that comes from their kill.

I'll be the first to admit I don't know everything there is to know about hunting or MT laws/regs surrounding it.

That being said, it breaks my heart this bull died the way he did, he wasn't harvested, didn't serve his purpose the way he was meant to, and that this hunter gets to use his tag another day to kill again this season. Hopefully next time he'll make a clean kill.

The local wildlife are enjoying a feast, so the bull's death isn't completely in vain.

For information about Montana hunting regulations, click here.

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