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HELENA - There is an increasing need to boost Montana's elk harvest, and game managers say one way would be to implement a two-elk quota for some hunters, especially in western and southwestern areas of the state.

"We need to reduce the elk population numbers and we prefer doing it during the regular season," Jeff Herbert told the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Commission on Thursday.

The goal is to use a combination of over-the-counter licenses for a second elk and changes in antlerless elk permits to result in a larger kill during the five-week season, generally from the last week of October through the Sunday following Thanksgiving Day.

In one scenario, a person who purchases a $16 general elk tag could purchase a second for another $16 and legally kill two elk, with certain restrictions.

Herbert, assistant administrator of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks' wildlife division, said there also would be an emphasis on expanding additional either-sex elk hunting in many districts at the start of the general season.

Among other things, Herbert said the proposed changes might increase the success percentage of elk hunters and provide greater flexibility for landowners. He told commissioners the current antlerless elk permit system is "not being as effective as expected."

In some cases, permits in various hunting districts might be cut back and then offset with what might be called an "elk B tag," similar to the "B" tags issued for a second deer.

"The intent is to make the elk harvest go up," Herbert said, acknowledging there are still areas of uncertainty in the plan.

Commission Chairman Dan Walker of Billings said he was concerned about the cost of the second elk tag, at $16 for residents, compared with the $3 fee people now pay to enter the drawing for elk permits.

"I don't want to be inundated by people complaining about the extra $16," he said.

Herbert said he was uncomfortable drawing parallels, but many surrounding states charge as much or more for a single elk tag as Montana would for two.

Walker also said he was concerned about the perception the change to a two-elk system might lessen interest in applying for special elk permits through a drawing. Herbert said the drawing system would generally remain in place.

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