Montana Regional Caps and Limited Entry for Mule Deer.

[El Jason]

Its funny there is a thought going from November to an early October is going to help anything I prefer to hunt mule deer late September to early October with a rifle especially the first week of October.

You truly don’t think hunting deer in the pre rut vs the rut won’t reduce buck vulnerability and harvest?

 

[MTTW]

Some people just don't know what they don't know.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Its funny there is a thought going from November to a early October is going to help anything I prefer to hunt mule deer late September to early October with a rifle especially the first week of October.

Saving the deer who wont roam off private until the rut.

 

[Archer86]

You truly don’t think hunting deer in the pre rut vs the rut won’t reduce buck vulnerability and harvest?

Not for anyone that knows what there are doing most of you have never hunted highcountry muled deer in late September early October have you.

Some just dont know what they dont know

 

[Archer86]

Saving the deer who wont roam off private until the rut.

that's not what they are after on the rock cast they said they wanted to change it to October to make the deer more accessible on public ground During hunting season

 

[Forkyfinder]

Not that's not what they are after on the rock cast they said they wanted to change it to October to make the deer more accessible on public ground. During hunting season

Likely true for regions not 6 and 7.

 

[Treeshark]

Not for anyone that knows what there are doing most of you have never hunted highcountry muled deer in late September early October have you.

I think this strategy is location dependent. Not a ton of classic high country in the eastern half of the state.

 

[El Jason]

Not for anyone that knows what there are doing most of you have never hunted highcountry muled deer in late September early October have you.

Yes, I have. You are largely comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Archer86]

I think this strategy is location dependent. Not a ton of classic high country in the eastern half of the state.

Just as easy to find them over there in early October. May save some running around by the roads but that's it. This is only a feel good attempt.

 

[mtmuley]

I think this strategy is location dependent. Not a ton of classic high country in the eastern half of the state.

This is why I have said from the beginning that any changes to the mule deer policy has to be done Region by Region. mtmuley

 

[antlerradar]

Curious - do you see concern of NR deer tag sales if its an october season?

I have a hard time seeing someone wanting to hunt Montana for mule deer - if the seasons are open elsewhere with better hunting.

If you were to come hunt in oct - what region would you target?

I do see the tags sill selling out, Probably have fewer hunters that are hunting multiple states, as they would have a harder time find the time to hunt MT. For the guy that only does one or maybe two western hunt a year I don't think it would be an issue.

I think you could make an argument for any region. Nothing nicer than being in the mountains in Oct, and there can be access issues with the mountains if you are hunting too late in the year, so I would suspect that an earlier season would make the mountains more appealing than the plains during Oct. The drive around and shoot one close to the truck method of hunting would just not be that effective in October.

 

[antlerradar]

Saving the deer who wont roam off private until the rut.

There are some deer that will roam off private during the rut, but it is not a fair trade. I can think of maybe one or two nice bucks that roamed off of private and onto public. I see more bucks that go the other way every year and often a lot more and from miles into public. The only place where the public gets the best of this trade are on small isolated bits of public. We don't want to be managing so that 40 acre tracts are the best place to be hunting. Buck movement during the rut is not random.Does are controlled by their stomach, that time of year and since most of the best feed is on private, that is where the does will be. Bucks are controlled by there Johnson during the rut and since most of the does are on private, that is where the bucks will be to.

 

[Jon Boy]

You truly don’t think hunting deer in the pre rut vs the rut won’t reduce buck vulnerability and harvest?

Hunter effort will go up and the harvest will be the same in r 6 & 7. The guys that are out there shooting the same dink bucks year after year will get their buck every year. They have that mentality. We all know the guy that has a dozen 18” 3 points in his garage. They might have to hunt just a little harder and instead of ‘holding out’ for a 3 y/o 4 point the harvest will shift to more 1&2 y/o deer. There are too many roads and not enough cover to save those deer.

I support unlimited region specific tags with region specific seasons. Make 6&7& portion of 5 an October season. Keep 1,2,3 and Beartooth portion of 5 with the current season. Eliminate doe harvest. And see what that does. I’m not sure it’s going to change much.

I think it would be in everyone’s best interest to have mandatory reporting for a few seasons with the current dates so we have actual legit data to compare to. It absolutely drives me nuts that this is not the issue at the forefront.

Every one is speculating via their own personal opinions but there is no data that can show trends. My personal opinion in the Mtn regions of r 3&5 is the hunting is as good as it’s ever been, and it’s still flat out tough. Those deer use the timber and people just dont hunt them and they are tough for bios to count. I have trail camera evidence that supports this. They are not region g deer that live in the high country for everyone to see. There aren’t many days in November when I’m out looking for bull tracks that I don’t come across a giant set of mule deer tracks. The old bucks are there. They are just tough to hunt and don’t stand along the side of the road to jump in your truck.

After drawing a moose tag this year I learned there isn’t even mandatory reporting for moose. WTF we have more data on black bear harvest than deer, elk and moose? I just don’t understand that.

 

[MTGunner]

Based on this and most of the other posts on this site, it seems that residents of Montana would rather there not be NR at all....
Good luck funding FWP without our huge donations every year.
And yes, NR should consider other options, most states have cheaper NR tags and opportunities are at least as abundant as those opportunities in Montana.

Your decision, hunt in MT or don’t. Mule deer are declining,





WT are thriving. Elk, first day of season they move to private land. Hunt with an outfitter to take a minimalistic elk or mulie…..go ahead. Pay the high fees and attempt to draw in the remaining hot zones. GOOD LUCK! There are other options.
BTW, I have hunted NY state. I paid the NR fees. No complaints.
To find a truly trophy mule deer, 4 point or eight point as you like, here in MT requires lots of research, burning shoe leather, long days spent behind a spotting scope plus a stealth stalk. I guess this is my mantra and it has paid dividends. At this point if it’s not a four point, eight point eastern count, with good mass and eye guards it gets a pass. Got two good mule deer heads on the wall along with many other heads from other states, countries and exotic adventures. Good nuff! MTG

 

[Forkyfinder]

WT are thriving. Elk, first day of season they move to private land.

Exactly why moving an exclusive season for mule deer to oct 1 will ruin rifle elk hunting and cause more conflict with non-outfitting landowners.

Cow elk are sensitive to hunting pressure, and will file out early if hearing gunshots, atvs, and other hunter noises and will move out long before they are able to be hunted.

 

[MTGunner]

Your decision, hunt in MT or don’t. Mule deer are declining,





WT are thriving. Elk, first day of season they move to private land. Hunt with an outfitter to take a minimalistic elk or mulie…..go ahead. Pay the high fees and attempt to draw in the remaining hot zones. GOOD LUCK! There are other options.
BTW, I have hunted NY state. I paid the NR fees. No complaints.
To find a truly trophy mule deer, 4 point or eight point as you like, here in MT requires lots of research, burning shoe leather, long days spent behind a spotting scope plus a stealth stalk. I guess this is my mantra and it has paid dividends. At this point if it’s not a four point, eight point eastern count, with good mass and eye guards it gets a pass. Got two good mule deer heads on the wall along with many other heads from other states, countries and exotic adventures. Good nuff! MTG

Don’t know why my posts get segmented. MTG

 

[bigsky2]

They might have to hunt just a little harder and instead of ‘holding out’ for a 3 y/o 4 point the harvest will shift to more 1&2 y/o deer.

That would be the ideal scenario if you’re someone that wishes to see more mature deer on public ground.

 

[DFS]

Region 7 didn’t come out with any recommendations for deer regulation changes. It’s going to be an uphill battle this season setting. More of the same coming forward.

 

[mtmuley]

There is so much focus on Region 6 and Region 7. Mule deer are hurting in the rest of the State also. mtmuley

 

[Forkyfinder]

There is so much focus on Region 6 and Region 7. Mule deer are hurting in the rest of the State also. mtmuley

Wasnt r3 pick your unit 20 years ago?