Montana Mule Deer Mismanagement

[huntin24/7]

I think with the western hunting craze and how every Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc hunting group is promoting it, even if the guys who are coming here now start giving up on MT, there’s a fresh crop to replace them. Aside from a recession or major economic downfall, all non res tags will be sold no matter what. To be clear, I’m only addressing the non resident issues here. There are resident issues we need to work on as well I’m fully aware of.

 

[TheTone]

But even Jason Phelps thinks Montana needs to make some changes now!

Listen to his latest podcast on it!

Hope he, dirk and the bro guys are able to find some content replacement for the epic road hunting videos they’ve been making over there

 

[JT88]

I just saw a post about a group of 15 guys from WA killing 42 deer on their trip. I just don't understand that I guess. Trading our deer herd for money that'll be squandered and a few instagram stories makes me sick

 

[DWarcher]

Rinella always says it for a reason: the good ol days are now.

And he'll keep promoting it till it's no longer the case.

 

[Irrelevant]

And he'll keep promoting it even if it's no longer the case.

fify

 

[SAJ-99]

JP should shut his trap and come back to WA.

I see some of WA problems as different from MT. We have almost 8 mil people, fence-line to fence-line farming in the best mule deer habitat, and very little public land in the eastern half. The problems we share are drought, fire, and urban expansion. It is easy to see why hunters from WA go to eastern MT when public land is both easily accessible and doesn't require a 3000ft climb. It is the same reason MT sees WI, MI, and MN plates. MT FWP has to address the problem.

 

[Irrelevant]

I see some of WA problems as different from MT. We have almost 8 mil people, fence-line to fence-line farming in the best mule deer habitat, and very little public land in the eastern half. The problems we share are drought, fire, and urban expansion. It is easy to see why hunters from WA go to eastern MT when public land is both easily accessible and doesn't require a 3000ft climb. It is the same reason MT sees WI, MI, and MN plates. MT FWP has to address the problem.

Yeah, WA hunting suck. MT hunting sucks compared to what it once was. That's the difference.

 

[sclancy27]

There were a lot more deer in the early 2000s. It’s not even close. I remember hunting a public land area that burned 4 or 5 years earlier in November back in 2003. Every north face had a group of 20 or more deer on it mid-day. Walk out on a south face. Glass north face. Rinse and repeat walking along. It was crazy. In a day and a half I bet I saw conservatively 300 deer. I would struggle to see 20 deer in that area now in a day and a half. It’s pretty sad where things are now. I don’t know what the official population numbers say. Frankly don’t care. (I don’t believe they are accurate) the last two years are definitely the lowest numbers I have seen in region 7 in my lifetime unquestionably.

I'd believe mule deer numbers are the worst in memory in parts of R7, specifically the southern portion. Northern R7 was worse post 2011 than it is now by a long ways, at least the places I frequent.

 

[SAJ-99]

I'd believe mule deer numbers are the worst in memory in parts of R7, specifically the southern portion. Northern R7 was worse post 2011 than it is now by a long ways, at least the places I frequent.

The risk may be that with CWD, the pops are right where they want them.

 

[TOGIE]

And he'll keep promoting it till it's no longer the case.

Meh, we have fully limited mule deer tags and restricted rut hunting

 

[DFS]

I posted this on a different thread. But if this doesn’t raise some red flags I’m not sure what will. Nonresident regional caps need to enter the chat.

 

[brockel]

View attachment 302881
I posted this on a different thread. But if this doesn’t raise some red flags I’m not sure what will. Nonresident regional caps need to enter the chat.

#tighterboots

 

[sclancy27]

View attachment 302881
I posted this on a different thread. But if this doesn’t raise some red flags I’m not sure what will. Nonresident regional caps need to enter the chat.

I'd like to see some time series data over the last 20 yrs on how much that has changed. But, I agree, NR caps should be a discussion

 

[DFS]

#tighterboots

I’m putting compression socks on tomorrow. The tight boots aren’t cutting it.

 

[brockel]

I'd like to see some time series data over the last 20 yrs on how much that has changed. But, I agree, NR caps should be a discussion

I think fwp deletes it every decade. Doesn’t look as bad that way. Kidding sort of

 

[rogerthat]

“We have been here before. It will self regulate. Hold the line!”

-fwp

 

[Irrelevant]

View attachment 302881
I posted this on a different thread. But if this doesn’t raise some red flags I’m not sure what will. Nonresident regional caps need to enter the chat.

You boys need to learn how to work a safety better

 

[rmyoung1]

I was hunting Campbell County, WY this week with my sons for elk. Not far at all from MT Region 7. It’s amazing what happens when you refrain from pounding bucks in November. Saw more mature deer in three days hunting WY than I remember in all my years in MT. Just one guy’s recollection, of course. But still… Here’s one from a few days ago that let me get his picture.

 

[Nameless Range]

View attachment 302881
I posted this on a different thread. But if this doesn’t raise some red flags I’m not sure what will. Nonresident regional caps need to enter the chat.

Something I saw as a response to these stats on social media is something like, “Those NR deer hunters support a lot of businesses or a lot of businesses depend on those hunters.”

It’s just another reason I think we should generally oppose any commercial endevours associated with wildlife we have control over (outfitting permits on public land, transferable tags, etc) and should rip the Band-Aid off now before the skin grows around it more. All of a sudden those hooks are in and will be economic arguments marshaled to resist any change that would serve the greater good.

 

[Bambistew]

Something I saw as a response to these stats on social media is something like, “Those NR deer hunters support a lot of businesses or a lot of businesses depend on those hunters.”

It’s just another reason I think we should generally oppose any commercial endevours associated with wildlife we have control over (outfitting permits on public land, transferable tags, etc) and should rip the Band-Aid off now before the skin grows around it more. All of a sudden those hooks are in and will be economic arguments marshaled to resist any change that would serve the greater good.

So true. There are areas in AK where NR shoot the majority of sheep every year. One unit hovers around 80%. Too much money in it.