Montana season structure proposal 2.0

[Ben Lamb]

Yes 2 trips. Or you can hunt whitetail with elk. Trying to save a constellation prize when people can’t find elk.

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]

I probably missed it somewhere, but how would this work for non residents? Would they draw a tag first and then choose whether they would hunt October mule deer or November whitetail?

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]

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.

 

[4ohSick]

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.

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]

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.

It baffles me that fwp just decided to do that on only certain archery tags

 

[Treeshark]

Great work guys, keep it up! Hoping this goes through (especially the 10/1-10/31 mule deer season dates).

 

[Forkyfinder]

Great work guys, keep it up! Hoping this goes through (especially the 10/1-10/31 mule deer season dates).

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

 

[Treeshark]

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]

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?

 

[Ought Six]

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]

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?

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