Subject: Dear Mr.Zent, Re; the Jan. article in "American Hunter" Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 11:00:34 -0700 I certianly hope that next months' "NRA "American Hunter"article reflects the fact that in the Absoroka/Beartooth.....Gallatin National Forest area that 23% of Montanas' elk hunting takes place. This is the area that once was continental Americas' most productive public hunting grounds, and Montanas' most popular hunting grounds, now destroyed by wolf predation.

Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks' publicizes that elk hunting is doing great in Missoula and Kalispell or that "B" tags are being issued in places like area 5, this only serves to compound the problem and deflect attention away from the collapse of the Northern Herd. Montana FWP opted for $ 12 million in federal funds in exchange for the aforementioned public hunting grounds at the expense of a $237.6 million industry.Wolves have pushed elk to areas that once had little or no elk as the elk herds leave the mountains and seek refuge on the prarie and private land.

Public hunting has now become public wildlife for sale by private land owners. Public access to public lands in area 3 was the publics' best hope of haresting game. 2,500 late season cow permits in area 3 have been cut in half this season, and will be discontinued completely next year.The Great Northern Elk Herd was the largest migrating elk herd on earth. Yellowstone Parks' literature on the herd states that;"for thousands of years 12,000 to 15, 000 elk migrated out of Yellowstone Park in the winter"."Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation" literature cites that from 1892 to 1933 the Northern herd averaged 22,600 with wolves present.The herd is now less than 1/3 that size. Montana FWP participated for years in the total census count and cow/calf ratio count of the northern herd as part of the "Northern Range Working Group". They did not participate last year. They are fiduciaries for the public wildlife they have been entrusted to manage.Montana FWP has a responsiblity to participate not only in the above mentioned censuses,but to audit and disclose the depredation of moose, bighorn, antelope, mule deer in area 3 as well.We know that delisting wolves will take 3-5 years. We know that many wolves have not been collared for years We know that no one can acccurately say where wolves are, how many there are or what they are doing..We know that pre-introduction science and the mandates of Congress were ignored. We know that about 1,000 wolves exist in the 3 recovery areas. We know that they kill 24,000 elk per year exclusive of "surplus killing reflex" of elk calves.We know that our elk herd,a renewable resource, has not renewed its' self since 1997 and wildlife managers were accutely aware of this. We know that wolf numbers expand at a 34% annual rate. We know that 1,000 wolves will become 4,300 wolves and kill 104,000 animals by delisting in ' 08. We know that wolves will disperse and they have yet to self regulate their numbers and likely will not do so in the future, but instead expand their range. Above all we know that the destruction of area 3 will expand throughout the State by ' 08. Respectfully, Robert T. Fanning, Jr. Chmn & Founder "Friends of the Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd,Inc." P.O. Box 142 Pray, Montana 59065

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Let's all write to Bob Fanning and thank him for his diligence in accumulating this extensive data and getting it into the hands of decision makers as well as the public. Clarice

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