Montana Mule Deer Mismanagement

[Nick87]

Just curious, who do you think it most likely to lie on the survey, R or NR's?

Im not wallowing into that lol.

 

[Eric Albus]

Seriously? Pennies on the dollar for public land access (exclusive from your competitors, valid for all hunting seasons) compared to private land access cost for hunting rights.

I hunt some BLM, they take a percentage of gross income. Far from “Pennie’s”. Don’t know about state, FS or other public lands.

 

[Eric Albus]

View attachment 416733
Not sure why youd laugh at the survey and sponsor the bill, but here we are.

The people in region 6 probably respect it, given whats happened with harvest there. Resident buck harvest used to run ~3x non-resident harvest in r 6 (2005–08), but by 2022–25 it's nearly 1:1, nr harvest exceeding r in 2025. Non-resident buck harvest roughly tripled over the ~17-year gap while resident harvest stayed flat. NR Hunter days in the region have doubled across the data set, which i understood to be a key metric in evaluating hunting pressure.

I’m still not completely sold on NR harvest numbers.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I’m still not completely sold on NR harvest numbers.

I take it you dont spend a lot of time on accessible public land?

If the margin of error were large (it isnt) it is the same between the two data sets - the fact remains - it shows a dramatic trend shouldnt go left unnoticed. Especially considering it mirrors the experience of many.

 

[Exhausted]

I’m still not completely sold on NR harvest numbers.

I'm still not completely sold on the R harvest numbers.

 

[mtmuley]

It's interesting how the Western side of Montana is virtually non existent in the mule deer mismanagement discussion. mtmuley