Montana Mule Deer Mismanagement

[Bambistew]

I can't wait to see the math.

 

[MTGomer]

Follow the MONEY! Frankly, FWP has little wiggle room to adjust license and tag sales (revenue). Their staff and overhead eat up most of their budget, which is a cumulation of many sources, but licenses and tags are a large part of it. Each time we hear FWP tout "opportunity" we can easily substitute REVENUE. There are a lot of big game harvest changes that should occur, but FWP will continue to shout "opportunity" while they justify the status quo.

They sell resident tags for $16. They could 5x it. And if the hunting was worth a shit, people would be glad to pay it.

 

[cgasner1]

Mine only cost 10 dollars so get about 5 of them

 

[DFS]

They sell resident tags for $16. They could 5x it. And if the hunting was worth a shit, people would be glad to pay it.

We aren’t looking for solutions, we are living with excuses.

 

[The Hedgehog]

We aren’t looking for solutions, we are living with excuses.

That’s a description that could be used in a lot of places

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

It'd be pretty fun if we could tie FWP employee compensation to performance. The state could be saving a fortune.

 

[DFS]

It'd be pretty fun if we could tie FWP employee compensation to performance. The state could be saving a fortune.

I’m sure you are joking but if nothing changes ever. One game manager/biologist per region at best. Maybe one for the whole state. Private landowners can do the hard work of telling the public no so a species can survive.

 

[TheTone]

They sell resident tags for $16. They could 5x it. And if the hunting was worth a shit, people would be glad to pay it.

How else is a montana family going to survive? Gotta keep that freezer full on the cheap. One deer for the cost of a single ribeye at the store

 

[FREAK]

View attachment 299607

Fwp’s definition of a “mature” deer:

That’s directly out of a winter flight survey report from FWP.

Googles definition:

 

[8andcounting]

So basically , In Montana the average mule deer buck is in the prime of his life when he’s about 18 months old . #opportunity

 

[WanderWoman]

Fwp’s definition of a “mature” deer:
View attachment 299641
That’s directly out of a winter flight survey report from FWP.

Googles definition:
View attachment 299642

I believe the FWP definition is referring to more like, “sexually mature,” not “range of peak antler growth mature.” I think that’s also why they make the distinction with 4-points in there too.

Yes I know yearlings can breed.

 

[antlerradar]

I can't wait to see the math.

I cant wait to estimate the deer population of the Custer in the 80's. All I have to do is reverse engineer the math using the number of mature bucks is saw.

 

[antlerradar]

I believe the FWP definition is referring to more like, “sexually mature,” not “range of peak antler growth mature.” I think that’s also why they make the distinction with 4-points in there too.

Yes I know yearlings can breed.

Then FWP should use the term "sexually mature" and not mature. This kind of confusion is not helping FWP.

 

[Tlrussell]

I believe the FWP definition is referring to more like, “sexually mature,” not “range of peak antler growth mature.” I think that’s also why they make the distinction with 4-points in there too.

Yes I know yearlings can breed.

Just curious, do you work for fwp?

 

[FREAK]

I believe the FWP definition is referring to more like, “sexually mature,” not “range of peak antler growth mature.” I think that’s also why they make the distinction with 4-points in there too.

Yes I know yearlings can breed.

That makes sense. I guess I'll reach back out to the biologist and try and understand how they determine age class structures of a herd. Maybe it's collar information? I think basing anything off 4pt bucks could be a bit misleading. Most of the 4pt bucks I see in the field are little dinks that are likely 3.5 years old.

If region 7 is asking the question of what we would consider the age of a "mature" MD buck and how many we'd like to see afield, I would like to know how and what they'd define as a "mature" MD buck.

 

[canadiantuxedo]

Hustling to my truck to make a play on this Montana FWP "mature buck!"

 

[rogerthat]

Hustling to my truck to make a play on this Montana FWP "mature buck!"

Wth you doing out of your truck? The big warrior trolls like him are best hunted from the truck!

 

[Bambistew]

Hustling to my truck to make a play on this Montana FWP "mature buck!"

That's actually a 6.5 yo buck. Some just don't have the genetics to get big

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Then FWP should use the term "sexually mature" and not mature. This kind of confusion is not helping FWP.

In my home state, the DNR only has fawn bucks and adult bucks. An adult buck is one with an antler 4" or longer. So you're one step up on MN!

 

[Hunting Wife]

Then FWP should use the term "sexually mature" and not mature. This kind of confusion is not helping FWP.

With respect, this is one where hunters have co-opted a biological term to suit their aesthetic wants. Biologically speaking, “mature” nearly always means sexually reproductive age, particularly when we’re talking about wildlife. Any animal without antlers is mature when it reaches sexual maturity. It is nonsensical to have a different standard just for males of antlered species.

Based on any other subjective metric whether it’s some magic number of years old or antler size, no one can really articulate what “mature” actually means because it depends on the person. Therein lies the problem. I don’t think it’s FWP that has introduced the confusion here.