If you choose to hunt mule deer, you can also co-ordinate your hunt to overlap with the 2 week private land cow hunt as well. So elk opportunity still exists in antlerless form.
Montana season structure proposal 2.0
- Thread starter cgasner1
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If you choose to hunt mule deer, you can also co-ordinate your hunt to overlap with the 2 week private land cow hunt as well. So elk opportunity still exists in antlerless form.
cgasner1
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They would just have to select it. Doesn’t really matter at this point they can shoot either one. It’s managed by they can only sell x amount of tags
Forkyfinder
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We cant let perfection get in the way of progress. Everyone has their own ideas and desires, but overall this is a move in the right direction. So i plan to stand behind it in existing form.
As long as we are talking wishlist though - id really like some GEN areas in the alt seasons be LE to burn some of the gross point creep we all see. In example, few tags in many units so you can hunt a general unit for bulls during the cow only season... also do the same thing for mule deer rut hunts when elk season is open. Having worthwhile places to apply and use points, especially for someone early, is lacking in my opinion. It would maintain opportunity to hunt the rut for mule deer, and provide new opportunity to hunt the late rut for elk.
As long as we are talking wishlist though - id really like some GEN areas in the alt seasons be LE to burn some of the gross point creep we all see. In example, few tags in many units so you can hunt a general unit for bulls during the cow only season... also do the same thing for mule deer rut hunts when elk season is open. Having worthwhile places to apply and use points, especially for someone early, is lacking in my opinion. It would maintain opportunity to hunt the rut for mule deer, and provide new opportunity to hunt the late rut for elk.
4ohSick
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More "first and only choice" LE tags in general would be a positive move. I imagine many people hunting the breaks in archery would grumble but also appreciate the decreased pressure when higher point holders stop showing up there while building points for a rifle tag.
cgasner1
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It baffles me that fwp just decided to do that on only certain archery tags
Forkyfinder
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Which would you hunt? Muley, or whitey?
Curious - since this tag costs so much more for you and youre coming from far.
Unless youre too busy in NM, i guess
Which would you hunt? Muley, or whitey?
Curious - since this tag costs so much more for you and youre coming from far.
Unless youre too busy in NM, i guess
Mule deer.
4ohSick
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I listened to the podcast with Cal and one other concern popped up that I hadn’t considered - the season for LE mule deer tags not being limited to October. Not an issue in most areas, but in 380 where the “LE” is effectively unlimited due to crazy high quota, there will still be a ton of bucks killed during the rut, especially with how many cow tags there are in the unit. I’m sure there are other units in the state like this, but this one is close to home. Any consideration of the unlimited-limited areas?
I like pick your weapon and region eventually especially for elk. Would make a lot of western MT folks really have to think about that special archery permit in eastern MT versus their general rifle hunt in the backyard.
cgasner1
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We figured fwp is “managing” the le area so we didn’t wanna step on toes with that and it still creates “opportunity” for a rut hunt that’s how I remember the conversation one of the other guys may still chime in with prettier words
Correct. Since 380 is already managed for limited entry for elk & deer, then the thought was pressure was already lower in those districts and preserving a rut hunt because the pressure was far lower than a general area and the resource could handle the pressure a rut hunt brings on.
No, you could still hunt both species of deer during the archery season.
huntin24/7
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Just curious if there’s been much of any discussion about an archery only tag option where that would be your only either sex deer tag? As someone who hunts rifle and archery, I personally would feel like I had plenty of opportunity either way, but I’d guess that wouldn’t go over very well for most.
Forkyfinder
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I really hope there is a way to hunt gen unit rutting mule deer on a limited basis - i think its going to be a huge selling point for some.
I know no one here wants to hear it - but open country november mule deer hunting is a lot of fun. Overall activity being high throughout the day, buck fights, watching dominant bucks herd does, and the cool weather all make for a fun time. Ive hunted and passed a lot of bucks just watching them enjoying it just like i do elk with my bow in hand when the elk rut is wild. I cant imagine how enjoyable it would be if it didnt sound like a gun range in every drainage close to a road.
I bet that 410 tag would be an absolute riot with the ghost town the unit is without the army of cow hunters and gen deer tag holders. Even if you never saw anything over xxx" or one that youd like to harvest at all.
Montanans like the rut hunt for a lot of reasons - but not all of them are because everyone is lazy.
I know no one here wants to hear it - but open country november mule deer hunting is a lot of fun. Overall activity being high throughout the day, buck fights, watching dominant bucks herd does, and the cool weather all make for a fun time. Ive hunted and passed a lot of bucks just watching them enjoying it just like i do elk with my bow in hand when the elk rut is wild. I cant imagine how enjoyable it would be if it didnt sound like a gun range in every drainage close to a road.
I bet that 410 tag would be an absolute riot with the ghost town the unit is without the army of cow hunters and gen deer tag holders. Even if you never saw anything over xxx" or one that youd like to harvest at all.
Montanans like the rut hunt for a lot of reasons - but not all of them are because everyone is lazy.
Gerald Martin
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It’s called an unlimited permit area. There’s multiple places in the state that currently require a permit to hunt mule deer but don’t cap the number of permits available. Those areas would still allow folks who want to hunt in the rut that opportunity.
You can still go out and enjoy all those things and have those exact same experiences without a tag in your pocket and a rifle on your shoulder, and without shooting the big dumb rutter at 500 yards. It will be a great time to scout and see what made it through October and what buck to look for the following October..
However, once the state of mule deer recovers (if ever), then they could look at late season specific archery or rifle tags. Baby steps though.
Forkyfinder
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I get what your saying - but my point was largely about getting the average montanan in for it.
