Montana Mule Deer Mismanagement

[FREAK]

Has he been making big jumps is size, This may be all the bigger he is going to get.

This was him last year, pretty good jump. He won’t ever score well with his crazy right side but I think another year he could be a next level buck in terms of antler mass and a couple more inches in width. I’m trying to hold out for the #30inchtall unicorn.

 

[Kneetopia]

Only years I've shot an elk the last week of November were 2005 (Gallatin) and 2011 (Custer). In other words, the years I've hunted elk the last week in November are pretty much the years I did not get one. 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021..

I smell some solid hunt journaling right thur. I pride myself of the notes and journal's I take each year. The notes are telling me this next 5 days should be good for me.

 

[antlerradar]

This was him last year, pretty good jump. He won’t ever score well with his crazy right side but I think another year he could be a next level buck in terms of antler mass and a couple more inches in width. I’m trying to hold out for the #30inchtall unicorn.

You never know what the next year will bring, but it does look like he took a big jump so there is a good chance you are right.
As for 30 tall, the only way you are getting one of those is to do strange things with the tape.

 

[Eric Albus]

This was him last year, pretty good jump. He won’t ever score well with his crazy right side but I think another year he could be a next level buck in terms of antler mass and a couple more inches in width. I’m trying to hold out for the #30inchtall unicorn.

Hope he does. Good luck

 

[brockel]

Nothing will change as long as people are satisfied taking their rifle for a walk.

 

[TheTone]

60% success is unreal!

 

[brockel]

60% success is unreal!

Not for rut hunting and lots of roads. Just drive till you catch a dumb buck chasing a doe

 

[Bambistew]

This season seems like the perfect storm. Bad weather = high success, not the opposite. Low population and high success = next year looking ever worse. But don't fret, they purposely reduced doe tags this year, so it will offset the loss. If you guys get a bad winter... F&G will reduce the doe tags again. Don't panic just yet.

Has MT ever closed a season due to potential overharvest? I think they delayed the opening of bow season 1 or 2 times due to fire danger. I know they've extended the elk season 3-4(?) times in the last 40 due to low harvests during regular season. Does FWP have the authority to close seasons once they start? I know they never would, but I'm curious.

 

[brocksw]

 

[TheTone]

View attachment 250669

Holy hell! MT has the best deer hunting in the west. Look at those success rates

 

[brockel]

Holy hell! MT has the best deer hunting in the west. Look at those success rates

Amazing what can happen when you can take your rifle for a walk for 5 weeks


I know guys that have to change their oil midway through rifle season. And they only hunt local

 

[mtmiller]

I have never been asked if I was "satisfied with my hunting opportunity". Weird every check station summary states high hunter satisfaction. Interesting template.

 

[brockel]

I have never been asked if I was "satisfied with my hunting opportunity". Weird every check station summary states high hunter satisfaction. Interesting template.

Never been asked that at a check station or the July hunter survey call

 

[easternmt]

I’d like to know how many several quality bucks is and what it takes to be his definition of quality

 

[antlerradar]

Holy hell! MT has the best deer hunting in the west. Look at those success rates

If you can't be successful after five weeks and all of the rut, you are not trying, you really suck or the hunting is real bad.

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

Or they're just instructed to put that "most people were satisfied" in the report. They asked the 3 of the 48 guys that MN plates if they were satisfied and someone remembered hearing a few yes answers.

Like BLM riots were "mostly peaceful" as buildings burned.

 

[antlerradar]

They don't ask if you are satisfied with the hunting, they ask if you are satisfied with the opportunity. There is a difference.

 

[SAJ-99]

They don't ask if you are satisfied with the hunting, they ask if you are satisfied with the opportunity. There is a difference.

Maybe they ask the question to determine which county roads need to be regraded.

 

[Big Fin]

Gauging satisfaction with some confidence level is not that hard. It's called mandatory reporting. New Mexico even does it for the lowly pronghorn.

Link to example here (second column from the right) - https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/download/hunting/harvest/2021_2022-Pronghorn-Harvest-Report.pdf

Nevada does the same. Maybe this is the reason some at Montana FWP have resisted mandatory reporting for so long. Having data that shows low satisfaction might require some change and adjustment.

 

[Tomahawk]

Not that Minnesota is the gold standard for state government, but their online real-time deer harvest tracker is pretty neat. Seems like a seasonal IT intern could probably keep it running too. Would this be so hard to implement in Montana?

Deer reports & statistics

www.dnr.state.mn.us