Montana Mule Deer Mismanagement

The whole “opportunity” state thing is an interesting dynamic here. At face value, it’s great. But when you start reading MT Facebook forums, some discussions here, and just talking to many residents, it seems like so many want unreasonable opportunity. But if anyone ever questions the management style, they’re hit with the old “you just want more big bucks” and that’s the end of the discussion. It’s ironic that anyone who supports sacrificing any opportunity is considered just pure selfishness because back to “you just want big bucks”, but people unwilling to sacrifice anything are not.
 
The whole “opportunity” state thing is an interesting dynamic here. At face value, it’s great. But when you start reading MT Facebook forums, some discussions here, and just talking to many residents, it seems like so many want unreasonable opportunity. But if anyone ever questions the management style, they’re hit with the old “you just want more big bucks” and that’s the end of the discussion. It’s ironic that anyone who supports sacrificing any opportunity is considered just pure selfishness because back to “you just want big bucks”, but people unwilling to sacrifice anything are not.

Honestly yes I do want big bucks. Big bucks get my heart going. There’s far better table fare than a rutted up mule deer buck. Not sorry to admit it
 
Honestly yes I do want big bucks. Big bucks get my heart going. There’s far better table fare than a rutted up mule deer buck. Not sorry to admit it
I’m with you. I’m referring more to the hypocrisy of wanting more big bucks is selfish but trying to kill everything on the landscape isn’t. Obviously that’s an exaggeration but you get my point.
 
Honestly yes I do want big bucks. Big bucks get my heart going. There’s far better table fare than a rutted up mule deer buck. Not sorry to admit it
I like big bucks too. I don’t know why that is viewed as a crime by many. Even the people that just want to fill their freezer get excited by big bucks. There’s a reason why every time a western game and fish agency puts a mule deer on the cover of their regulations book, it’s a picture of a big buck. They get people excited. I’d want big bucks on the landscape even if I couldn’t hunt them. I just like to see them. I don’t think everyone should be a big buck hunter, and I believe everyone should be able to shoot whatever buck makes them happy. I just wish our management allowed for some big bucks to exist on public land in all parts of the state. It seems like the only big public land bucks I see coming out of Montana anymore are mountain bucks. They just don’t stand a chance in the more open country in the eastern half of the state anymore.
 
I like big bucks too. I don’t know why that is viewed as a crime by many. Even the people that just want to fill their freezer get excited by big bucks. There’s a reason why every time a western game and fish agency puts a mule deer on the cover of their regulations book, it’s a picture of a big buck. They get people excited. I’d want big bucks on the landscape even if I couldn’t hunt them. I just like to see them. I don’t think everyone should be a big buck hunter, and I believe everyone should be able to shoot whatever buck makes them happy. I just wish our management allowed for some big bucks to exist on public land in all parts of the state. It seems like the only big public land bucks I see coming out of Montana anymore are mountain bucks. They just don’t stand a chance in the more open country in the eastern half of the state anymore.
I like big bucks and I cannot lie. You other hunters can deny, but when a buck walks in with a big old rack I get sprung.
 
Big bucks aside I’m not sure how region 7 just continues to take the bludgeoning they do with no response from MTFWP. I haven’t been through a game check where they are establishing how many hunters we have in 10-15 years. I have been through a couple game warden check stations in those 15 years which I really appreciated. I don’t see that we are managing anything. Unlimited tags privatizes wildlife and leads to less access. Not one other western state is going to let nonresidents put the hammer down on mule deer during the rut that we do. It is disgusting. Not a knock on nonresidents I don’t blame them for coming but it is a knock on MTFWP for not responding to the changes we have seen.
 
Big bucks aside I’m not sure how region 7 just continues to take the bludgeoning they do with no response from MTFWP. I haven’t been through a game check where they are establishing how many hunters we have in 10-15 years. I have been through a couple game warden check stations in those 15 years which I really appreciated. I don’t see that we are managing anything. Unlimited tags privatizes wildlife and leads to less access. Not one other western state is going to let nonresidents put the hammer down on mule deer during the rut that we do. It is disgusting. Not a knock on nonresidents I don’t blame them for coming but it is a knock on MTFWP for not responding to the changes we have seen.

Where is the nearest game check station in Southeastern Montana? I’m sure one on the interstate by glendive. Is there one down by broadus? I know rest area by Hysham has one. Is there one around Miles? Quite a large area for so little data being collected. O well I guess the cold calling in March gathers plenty of good information
 
Where is the nearest game check station in Southeastern Montana? I’m sure one on the interstate by glendive. Is there one down by broadus? I know rest area by Hysham has one. Is there one around Miles? Quite a large area for so little data being collected. O well I guess the cold calling in March gathers plenty of good information
Ashland is the last one I went through. I was dead tired and drove through it. Turned back around when my brain started functioning again. They weren’t going to chase me down like I envisioned. Not an accurate way of counting hunters.
 
Where is the nearest game check station in Southeastern Montana? I’m sure one on the interstate by glendive. Is there one down by broadus? I know rest area by Hysham has one. Is there one around Miles? Quite a large area for so little data being collected. O well I guess the cold calling in March gathers plenty of good information
I suspect you have never been through one?
 

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