Montana Mule Deer Mismanagement

[El Jason]

I do not believe that we can fix what is wrong with Mule deer hunting in MT by taking something away from someone else.
I do not mean to imply that a higher nonresident harvest than the resident harvest is in any way ok, but you could fix it by convincing residents to just pull the damn trigger. I am not too sure that would fix anything, but it would change the harvest ratio.
Could it be that residents won't pull the trigger because our season never ends until it is time to get those presents under the tree?

I agree 100% with your assessment. I think the NR harvest numbers are also skewed by outfitter clients as well.

 

[Wyoming270]

As usual - you have ZERO clue.

Glad to hear the guy who has taken hundreds of pictures of mule deer, has many mule deer skulls on the wall, and has collected dozens upon dozens of sheds has no clue that they actually have an excellent population right now. thats the definition of one who does VS one who types about. I would recomend you get out and WALK more.

 

[Wyoming270]

I don't disagree. That is what I was getting at with

"Reducing hunter numbers would surely have some other desirable effects, however."

The non resident thing can be ultra damaging. Ive seen many who are desperate to make a shot because its their last couple days before they leave. or they simply dont understand the animal and disturb all of the bedding areas. Ive noticed a lot of people still have not adjusted to the areas where mature ponderosa pine were beetle killed, chipped, and are now 10 ft tall thickets of young aspens. Mule deer habitat has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Aside from droughts, pine beetles, and wild fires, we also have a lot of instances of what was once undisturbed now having a $3M house perched in the middle of it.

 

[Wyoming270]

Quitcher whining. We get to hunt mule deer for 5 weeks with a rifle on an OTC tag. MT mule deer hunting is as good as it ever was and ever could be and I’m going to shoot a 20” forked horn in Region 7 this year to prove it.

Your priveleaged getting 5 weeks. We get 2 most places with a general tag. The draw tags are slightly better but good luck ever seeing one of those. I do see dozens of mule deer everytime im out elk hunting though.