FWP has to manage mule deer, hunters can’t/won’t control themselves.
Hunter’s will buy every license available and fill every tag they have, assuming they’re able. There are a few of us here preaching to the choir that can/will self control, but hunters by and large are parasites, taking all they can and leaving a gut pile in the field. Perhaps calling them parasites is a little harsh, they don’t understand management/biology/age structure, ect./self control. Their mindset is “oh boy, there’s antlers on that one, gotta get him before the next guy does”.
Until we are all fed up enuf to show up with torches and pitchforks in each region and at FWP headquarters lawn expect to see very few changes.
Couldn't agree more with the first part.
I think the second part describes a flawed approach. I'm not trying to call you out Albus, not at all. But I think you folks just need to get organized and go to the FWP like adults and sit down and figure out the problem. There appears to be a disconnect some where in the chain. Whether that's management, communication, or the observations of hunters, I don't know. Whether the underlying problem is with decision making, flawed deer counts, shifting historical herd locations, bad harvest data, or deer simply staying on private land more, I don't know that either.
But it appears to me that someone on one or both sides is seeing or thinking different things. When trustees and beneficiaries are on a different page over the management of the trust, that's not a good foundation for communication or working together for good management. That needs to be corrected before moving towards solutions and understandings.
I find it extremely helpful to make an appt with our GF in ND and sit down to try and figure out their point of view. I ask lots of questions to make sure I understand everything. I request to see data, I ask questions about it. Sometimes it takes multiple meetings to get me to understand every element. Sometimes they need more data. Sometimes they disagree with my point of view. Sometimes they have information I didn't know about that tells me more about the big picture. Sometimes I don't like their answers and share a different opinion. Sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree.
But the effectiveness of the conversation and the willingness to continue to work towards a positive outcome would all be lost if their perception of me, because of my own actions, is simply pitch forks and torches and I haven't even given them a chance at a fair, rational, and objective conversation(s) on a subject matter their career revolves around.
Maybe that's already been done and I'm just out of the loop or to far behind? And none of this is to say they're always right about everything.
I understand theres some history that makes things difficult for some people. But sooner or later, cooler heads must prevail and show up, willing to put the past in the past, and get on the same page.
I've been plenty vocal and critical about wildlife issues in MT. So I'm just as guilty of being an ass about things as anyone else. So don't take this spiel as me talking down to anyone. But I think if MT hunters want to see different management of the deer resource, you need to start communicating with your wildlife professionals better. That's the first step towards anything meaningful and good. I've seen pitch forks and torches, it makes a mess of things, even if you get your way momentarily.
New Mexico might be a different story and there might be a few things at the MT legislature that needs pitch forks and torches. But with the FWP, I think there needs to be more conversations.
Just my 2 pennies.
