Brett French reports: Elk damage hunts begin as judge shoots more holes in property owners’ lawsuit

Despite the fact it’s August and still hitting 90 degrees, elk damage hunts have begun across Montana. The hunts are a way for agricultural producers to push elk off irrigated hay fields and other crops. Some of these have been going on for years, others are sought depending on whether elk are present or not. The hunts aren’t limited to elk. A landowner in southeastern Montana sought a hunt to remove whitetail deer from a hay field. The hunts are only authorized on properties where landowners allow public hunting. That’s one of the issues at the center of a lawsuit filed by the United Property Owners of Montana. The group sued the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission and Fish, Wildlife & Parks two years ago seeking to compel larger reductions in the state’s elk herds where populations are over objective. A district court judge recently issued another order that further whittled away at UPOM’s claims in the lawsuit, arguing the group provided no landowners or list of damages caused by elk. To learn more, check out my story at https://billingsgazette.com/outdoors/elk-hunting-fwp-united-property-owners-of-montana-lawsuit/article_f86ed98e-5e72-11ef-9122-6b780e6518e8.html.

Written by Brett French | Outdoors Editor for the Billings Gazette