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Written by Michael K., Billings, MT
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"My 1st hunting trip upon my retirement from the Navy after 29 years in Montana in 2006. I had been looking forward to this for years needless to say. I obtained my license and permission slip to hunt Elk on the Bair Ranch east of Checkerboard. I left camp at 0330 and drove to a parking spot and walked back approximately 5 miles and set myself up. 10 minutes prior to legal shooting time 4 hunters on ATVs started driving through the woods following the game trail I had just traversed. I watched for an hour with disgust as these "hunters" drove aimlessly through the woods hollering at each other over the roar of their engines commenting on the absence of any game. The absent game [4 bulls and 7 cows] had hightailed it over the top at the 1st sound of their engines. Knowing my chances of a shot in this area was doomed I left my spot and walked back down the trail after 5 minutes one of them finally spotted me and drove up to ask if I had seen any "sign." I looked at this "Hunter" and told him to look at the ground, there's signs all over trodden over by him and his partners' tracks. I ran into this same bunch every day doing the same thing for a week trying to get a shot from the back of their ATVs. They had no concept of walking in to a spot as this was how they "were taught" to hunt from their fathers. It's sad to see but Hunting is a lost art form in Montana, if the "hunters can't get a shot from their 4x4 or ATV they are not going to get one. ATV's should be banned except for possibly the post harvesting of game and for the handicaped. Otherwise shanksmare is the only acceptable form of hunting transportation.
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