Montana General Season Structure Proposal 3.0

[Forkyfinder]

I think that shifting the season date is about public land hunting. Better to have the season before the mule deer go down the mountain to winter on property that is more likely to be private in the western part of the state and in the eastern part of the state bucks are leaving public because in the fall most of the does are living on the more productive private land river and creek bottoms. Limited Entry will not fix that, nor will it entice landowners to open up more access.

To bad the public didn’t have another proposal to help and support them huh?

I know id rather have my bucks stay on private all hunting season and rutting bucks dont stay put. Especially if only 10% of the tags represent a chance at a high paying client. Was it moga or fwp saying LE is a nonstarter? I cant remember.

 

[cgasner1]

I know id rather have my bucks stay on private all hunting season and rutting bucks dont stay put. Especially if only 10% of the tags represent a chance at a high paying client. Was it moga or fwp saying LE is a nonstarter? I cant remember.

The biggest problem with point a finger at someone is you have 4 more pointing back at yourself. Sorry we seem to be the only game in town. I like to think our idea beats the status quo so it’ll hopefully continue building public support.

 

[antlerradar]

I know id rather have my bucks stay on private all hunting season and rutting bucks dont stay put. Especially if only 10% of the tags represent a chance at a high paying client. Was it moga or fwp saying LE is a nonstarter? I cant remember.

FWP

 

[Treeshark]

Not my state, not my circus, but I do wonder if you’d be better off with Oct 1-31 early deer/ Nov 1-30 late deer just in the interest of simplifying things.

Edit: making late deer whitetail and LE mule deer worth bonus points.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Not my state, not my circus, but I do wonder if you’d be better off with Oct 1-31 early deer/ Nov 1-30 late deer just in the interest of simplifying things.

Edit: making late deer whitetail and LE mule deer
worth bonus points.

That would make it more simple but we have to accommodate archery that needs 6 weeks and rifle elk that folks want to keep the start date the last full week of October.

Juggling to get something that is acceptable to all user groups is not simple.

 

[Treeshark]

That makes sense, but does that necessarily have to impact deer season dates? Overlap, while not ideal, wouldn’t be the end of the world would it?

I may be off base, but I can’t imagine a ton of elk hunters are archery hunting that first week of October (especially if rifle deer opened 10/1).

 

[Treeshark]

we have to accommodate archery that needs 6 weeks

Not to nitpick, honest question in good faith: why does archery need 6 weeks? Sept 1-30 seems to work well elsewhere.

 

[cgasner1]

That makes sense, but does that necessarily have to impact deer season dates? Overlap, while not ideal, wouldn’t be the end of the world would it?

I may be off base, but I can’t imagine a ton of elk hunters are archery hunting that first week of October (especially if rifle deer opened 10/1).

One of the biggest complaints we had was losing that window of archery.

 

[Treeshark]

One of the biggest complaints we had was losing that window of archery.

Interesting, I wouldn’t have expected that.

 

[golfer]

Why do rifle hunters need 8 weeks?

Not to nitpick, honest question in good faith: why does archery need 6 weeks? Sept 1-30 seems to work well elsewhere.

 

[Treeshark]

Why do rifle hunters need 8 weeks?

Very fair question, and I agree.

10-1 through 11-15 (or even 10-1 through 10/31 with LE options after that), while I’m sure would be wildly unpopular, wouldn’t be the worst thing for the mule deer population.

I also realize that a big consideration this group has to wrestle with is crafting something that actually has a chance at being adopted, and that seems like it would disqualify the whole thing unfortunately.

 

[cgasner1]

Interesting, I wouldn’t have expected that.

Me either the rut stops sept 30 in Montana it’s wild

 

[Forkyfinder]

Me either the rut stops sept 30 in Montana it’s wild

Really?

Id be all for cutting it to 4 weeks - but ive played with bugling bulls in oct a few times

 

[cgasner1]

Really?

Id be all for cutting it to 4 weeks - but ive played with bugling bulls in oct a few times

Wouldn’t have hurt my feelings either but see how far you can get with that. Funny the feedback you can get when people read it. And ya set your calendar to not hearing a single bugle after sept 30 at midnight

 

[bigsky2]

Very fair question, and I agree.

10-1 through 11-15 (or even 10-1 through 10/31 with LE options after that), while I’m sure would be wildly unpopular, wouldn’t be the worst thing for the mule deer population.

I also realize that a big consideration this group has to wrestle with is crafting something that actually has a chance at being adopted, and that seems like it would disqualify the whole thing unfortunately.

10-1 through 11-15 would be a week longer than what's being proposed and would get into the rut.

 

[Treeshark]

Really?

Id be all for cutting it to 4 weeks - but ive played with bugling bulls in oct a few times

Guessing @cgasner1 was being a bit sarcastic with that one, which is fine and even appreciated

I’m aware that wlk will continue to rut after September 30, just as mule deer continue to rut after 11/15.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Why do rifle hunters need 8 weeks?

Because the rifle hunters are split and must choose one of the two seasons. No one gets 8 weeks for both deer and elk.

 

[Treeshark]

10-1 through 11-15 would be a week longer than what's being proposed and would get into the rut.

It would also likely lead to less mule deer being killed each year.

But that’s a good point. 10-1 through 10/31 with LE after that would probably be a sweet spot.

 

[golfer]

Because the rifle hunters are split and must choose one of the two seasons. No one gets 8 weeks for both deer and elk.

In general there’s still 8 weeks of rifle pressure. More than current structure. You won’t accomplish much by slinging lead for 8 weeks

 

[antlerradar]

There will not be 8 weeks of the current season pressure. For most of the eight weeks deer hunter numbers will be cut in half and focused on one of the two species