Why in the panhandle area is it just unit 4 for muzzleloader?

The muzzle-loader only hunt for elk in the Panhandle is only for Unit 4 because other units (1, 2, 3, 4A, 5, 6) have an any-weapon general deer season during that time.  When this hunt was set up it was the desire of the muzzloader hunters to have a season where there was no competition with modern firearms for any species.  The original hunt included Units 7 and 9.  When elk populations decreased in these 2 units they were removed from the hunt, leaving only Unit 4. We are starting to see a recovery in the elk population in Units 7 and 9.  If this continues, Units 7 and 9 will be added into the hunt during the next round of regulation changes.