In today's FWP commission meeting they talked about moving to a three week mule deer season, and potential avoiding November all together. I was wondering what everyone thought of this. I know Randy has always critisized the state for how hard and liberal we hunt mule deer. I also understand long term population models depict that the species is unsteady and even going down.
3 Week season for Mule Deer
- Thread starter madplume
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Art Vandeley
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I'm in favor of this idea.
Nick87
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Can you imagine the results of that even after just a couple short years.
Some units have been this way for years. It makes a difference.
8andcounting
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Only in region 2
Stone_Ice_1
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I started listening about halfway through the deer part. Did they confirm actual changes to a 3 week season or did they just open up the possibility of doing it? Was a little confusing for the part I heard.
I am for this and think it would help get more older mature bucks although I think poaching while people are out hunting elk will be on a significant rise.
I am for this and think it would help get more older mature bucks although I think poaching while people are out hunting elk will be on a significant rise.
8andcounting
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For region 2 yes . For the rest it’s business as usual
MTHunter1321
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For select districts in region 2, not the entire region
8andcounting
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Yes your correct
Nick87
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Huge difference I would imagine.
Carnage2011
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Depends on the unit. 320 was this way for years and quality was no different. It actually may have been worse.
Nick87
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Wonder why?
stealthy_bowman
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Would love to see a 3 week season for R7 limited to October.
Too bad that will likely not be a reality in foreseeable future.
Too bad that will likely not be a reality in foreseeable future.
MTLabrador
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In my opinion the Breaks certainly went downhill when the CMR opened mule deer hunting in November.
I’m all about a shorter October only season for the entire state.
I’m all about a shorter October only season for the entire state.
Carnage2011
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That unit is thick timber and steep. When it was only 3 weeks, I think a lot of young bucks were killed right off the roads because hunters were killing the first buck they could. Just my observations, but I can find a better buck in there now than I could 8 years ago. It’s not good by any means but I think we killed the vast majority of bucks when they were yearlings back then.
huntin24/7
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It would make a big difference everywhere in the state. I know it would be a tuff sell though. I know a lot of guys get bent out of shape about it because it gets turned into a perceived “trophy hunter” idea, and to some degree that’s true. However, I think it’s hard to argue against the fact that anyone who wants to just kill any buck in MT couldn’t do that with a little bit of effort in 3 weeks in October also. It would just be harder than blasting that same buck from the road around thanksgiving when it doesn’t care about your truck.
rogerthat
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Yeah the word Trophy is a giant turnoff in hunting. It's all about age class. Just trying to keep some semblance of a healthy age class on the landscape.
rogerthat
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The idea of a 3 week season? Or the idea of a season to minimize the rut? Please expand
