Montana Mule Deer Mismanagement

[El Jason]

Probably because we know what it could be. Always wanting to improve something I don’t think is a bad thing. “Just be happy you’re not like so and so state” I think is a bad thing.

I would agree 100% with this.

Not specifically directed at you. It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to complain about things all the time while you’re working to change them. It’s easy to lose perspective and forget to be thankful for what you do have, not simply complain complaining about what you don’t

 

[DFS]

I would agree 100% with this.

Not specifically directed at you. It’s also important to remember that you don’t have to complain about things all the time while you’re working to change them. It’s easy to lose perspective and forget to be thankful for what you do have, not simply complain complaining about what you don’t

It is hard to be thankful when you have watched a precipitous self inflicted decline. Sitting back and taking it like you suggest is a puzzling attitude for me to understand.

 

[SAJ-99]

2027 Montana Legislative session starts Jan 4. Anyone have proposals drawn up? Anyone making calls and sending emails? Anyone?

 

[huntin24/7]

2027 Montana Legislative session starts Jan 4. Anyone have proposals drawn up? Anyone making calls and sending emails? Anyone?

I think more people do than one would think. But certainly not enough. High numbers of residents are pretty casual hunters that are and always will be happy just to be able to buy a cheap tag otc every year and have a long season. That is probably the biggest obstacle for change. Add in a legislature that really doesn’t care about anything beyond revenue, and it is beyond an uphill climb. But the point you’re hinting at is valid.

 

[huntin24/7]

Another thing I notice where I live is that so many guys I know fixate on getting mad about “everyone” shooting the young bucks. Instead of focusing on that, I’d rather we work on making the hunt more challenging through season structure, hunter dispersal, etc., so hunters can still shoot what makes them happy but they have to work a little harder for that animal and a few more of those animals make it through the season, but those who put in a little effort can still be successful.

 

[Irrelevant]

It is hard to be thankful when you have watched a precipitous self inflicted decline. Sitting back and taking it like you suggest is a puzzling attitude for me to understand.

Ok, what place can you point to as being better than a decade ago? A generation ago?

I can only think of a few slivers of real estate that I think check that box.

There are more people almost everywhere. Technology has allowed everyone to have a bigger impact. Economics have been too great for too long... Social media has made entry too easy and spots burned.

But in general, today is going to be the best day you're going to have. You'll never be younger and more able bodied. Make the most of it, instead of looking in the rearview complaining about what used to be.

 

[Gerald Martin]

2027 Montana Legislative session starts Jan 4. Anyone have proposals drawn up? Anyone making calls and sending emails? Anyone?

When the proposed bills are introduced there will be some variation of “Bob’s Feel Good Bill to Reduce NR’s and Preserve the RUT HUNT for MONTANANS.”

Not likely to be anything that reduces pressure on the resource from all hunters or anything that touches the 3500 half-priced NR tags sold to former residents who want to come back home and shoot a buck or a bull.


One bright spot that is t really being talked about right now is that a couple years of eliminating mule deer doe harvest on public land seems to be having a positive effect .

 

[brockel]

One bright spot that is t really being talked about right now is that a couple years of eliminating mule deer doe harvest on public land seems to be having a positive effect .

I’ve noticed that as well. And FWP was against it

 

[DFS]

Ok, what place can you point to as being better than a decade ago? A generation ago?

I can only think of a few slivers of real estate that I think check that box.

There are more people almost everywhere. Technology has allowed everyone to have a bigger impact. Economics have been too great for too long... Social media has made entry too easy and spots burned.

But in general, today is going to be the best day you're going to have. You'll never be younger and more able bodied. Make the most of it, instead of looking in the rearview complaining about what used to be.

I am making the most of it. I have made the most of it my whole life. I dont need to shrug my shoulders and say well shoot I guess eastern Montana just has to take every nonresident and resident hunter so they can have opportunity to shoot a deer in November that can’t even see straight. We aren’t even trying to maintain what we have. It wouldn’t take much to move things in the right direction, as Gerald stated above the doe tags deal has been a positive move.

 

[huntin24/7]

I’ve noticed that as well. And FWP was against it

This is definitely helping. I hope this rule remains indefinitely.

 

[SAJ-99]

One bright spot that is t really being talked about right now is that a couple years of eliminating mule deer doe harvest on public land seems to be having a positive effect .

Let me just say that communication in Montana is most of the problem. People would find a larger % that agree with them if they could somehow get the word out. The few MT hunters I know (which i would say are typical of most casual Montana hunters) just heard about the prohibition on does on public. Not many knew the details of your plan last session. It’s sad but just the reality. It seems a conspiracy circles the state before the ink dries on a legitimate proposal.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Not many knew the details of your plan last session. It’s sad but just the reality. It seems a conspiracy circles the state before the ink dries on a legitimate proposal.

This is true. Region 1 commissioner Ian Wargo just introduced an amendment to the number of 900 series antelope permits to reduce them by 500 since this year’s draw saw 100% resident success and 70% NR success because NR’s were able to buy nearly 600-800 permits as leftovers.

MT residents on Facebook are overwhelmingly condemning the move as another FWP attempt to take something from them…

The average MT hunter would complain about anything that is change, whether or not that change could improve their hunting experience or be beneficial to the resource.

 

[brockel]

I’ve noticed that as well. And FWP was against it

This just shows the uphill battle Montana has when the people paid to manage the wildlife are against shutting down doe harvest when populations are down

 

[bigsky2]

When the proposed bills are introduced there will be some variation of “Bob’s Feel Good Bill to Reduce NR’s and Preserve the RUT HUNT for MONTANANS.

Not likely to be anything that reduces pressure on the resource from all hunters or anything that touches the 3500 half-priced NR tags sold to former residents who want to come back home and shoot a buck or a bull.

I’ve already reached out to my local legislator about carrying a bill to make these handouts be full priced. I’d prefer to see them go away altogether. Getting rid of these or making these former residents pay the full NR price seems like a no brainer and a low hanging fruit. The vast majority of constituents would fully support it.

 

[bigsky2]

Another thing I notice where I live is that so many guys I know fixate on getting mad about “everyone” shooting the young bucks. Instead of focusing on that, I’d rather we work on making the hunt more challenging through season structure, hunter dispersal, etc., so hunters can still shoot what makes them happy but they have to work a little harder for that animal and a few more of those animals make it through the season, but those who put in a little effort can still be successful.

This is a really good point. I’d rather restrict the effectiveness of all hunters than to criticize others for what they shoot and expect them to practice self restraint from shooting a certain type of buck.

 

[mtmuley]

This is definitely helping. I hope this rule remains indefinitely.

After a week in the Breaks I can say this has been a huge help. Lots of baby bucks dying though.



mtmuley

 

[Bambistew]

Sounds like deer hunting in MT as better last year and the year before that etc.

Same topic hashed out for more than 15 years and it just keeps getting worse. And F&G says nothing is wrong…

When’s rock bottom? I saw a note the other day by a famous hunter in MT, asking if you’d still pinch your tag is all you could find is baby bucks. Most said yes.

I can’t imagine the mental gymnastics that goes through a head to justify killing a deer for 40lbs of meat. Especially after spending hundreds or thousands on the tag and trip. What’s even more funny are the dudes who donate the meat (which should be illegal).

I’ts unfortunate that people are needy, but we shouldn’t be feeding them a finite public resource. All those donation hero’s should donate that cash they spent on the hunt instead of a small amount of meat.