Mule Deer Falling Numbers in MT

[406LIFE]

http://www.kpax.com/story/34625803/new-research-looking-at-falling-montana-mule-deer-population

Maybe they should add Randy to the list of reasons of falling Mulie numbers for all his encouragement to come hunt R7. Lol. (Just Kidding BigFin, don't change my password.)

Article doesn't really say much. Personally I've seen more numbers and better quality in my hunting areas. Some have even have the permit requirement removed.

 

[8andcounting]

here's an idea .......... how about no mule doe tag ?

 

[MTGomer]

here's an idea .......... how about no mule doe tag ?

That would give the illusion that Montana gives a shit about having a healthy mule deer population.

 

[Walkathon]

Not really sure what they are trying to tell the viewers. They're going to study the mule deer to better manage them ? Wow- who would have thought of an idea like that? Populations are falling ? Maybe don't give out a pile of mule deer doe tags for region 7 and make them good to use on the public land that gets pounded.

 

[SteveE]

No mule deer doe hunting on public land should be state wide imo. Allowing the harvest on public pushes more deer on to private and makes the problem worse.

We have four limited units in the state with excellent buck hunting and a bunch of OTC units where most get killed at 2.5 years old. I would like to see 8-10 limited entry units scattered across the state. The limited units make the adjoining units better hunting also with the older bucks cruising into neighboring districts.

More limited units would spread the applications out a bit. 2015 1st choice stats lists unit 270 odds at 0.71. If we increase the age structure in a few more units it would help the whole state.

2016 limited tag

It would be great to have this tag more then once in a lifetime.

2015 buck from an OTC unit next to a limited unit


These limited units help the entire area. A few more wouldn't kill the meat buck hunters.
Just my .02

 

[Ben Lamb]

In SW MT, FWP is issuing either sex licenses and doe tags because the habitat is in such poor shape that we can't feed what we have.

In congress, we're seeing massive cuts to public land management agencies who want to work and improve public land habitat because Obama had the audacity to place habitat management on an equal par with mining and ranching.

In our state house, we have people who want to set seasons legislatively, while working to eliminate our habitat conservation programs.

But yeah, it's all the agencies fault for providing opportunity over trophy permits.

 

[SteveE]

In SW MT, FWP is issuing either sex licenses and doe tags because the habitat is in such poor shape that we can't feed what we have.

Not enough feed for the six deer remaining?

Jack Atcheson's book Hunting Adventures Worldwide documents seeing 1,000 head of mule deer in the Ruby Valley on one drive in 1960. Peter Ziemljak harvested a 275-1/8 in that valley. Old timers tell me they were thick as flees in SW MT in the 60's. Ziemljak Jr. harvested a 275-6/8 in the Highlands.

What changed?

 

[Ben Lamb]

In SW MT, FWP is issuing either sex licenses and doe tags because the habitat is in such poor shape that we can't feed what we have.

Not enough feed for the six deer remaining?

Jack Atcheson's book Hunting Adventures Worldwide documents seeing 1,000 head of mule deer in the Ruby Valley on one drive in 1960. Peter Ziemljak harvested a 275-1/8 in that valley. Old timers tell me they were thick as flees in SW MT in the 60's. Ziemljak Jr. harvested a 275-6/8 in the Highlands.

What changed?

Whitetail were introduced into the Ruby and Beaverhead Valleys in the late 50's or early 60's, IIRC. I've spoken with a number of old timers in Sheridan and Twin that recall the days of high mule deer in the valley and river bottom. There are still a number of muleys in the Ruby, but the whitetail have out-competed them terribly.

 

[mdunc8]

That would give the illusion that Montana gives a shit about having a healthy mule deer population.

Define "healthy", please

 

[406LIFE]

Whitetail were introduced into the Ruby and Beaverhead Valleys in the late 50's or early 60's, IIRC. I've spoken with a number of old timers in Sheridan and Twin that recall the days of high mule deer in the valley and river bottom. There are still a number of muleys in the Ruby, but the whitetail have out-competed them terribly.

It is easy to see this. The WT can be seen in herds of hundreds on ranches on the river bottoms. I think there are 7 doe tags available OTC in Region 3.

 

[Ben Lamb]

It is easy to see this. The WT can be seen in herds of hundreds on ranches on the river bottoms. I think there are 7 doe tags available OTC in Region 3.

It's been a few years since I've hunted down there, but last I knew you could get 5 OTC for the Ruby district. Used to be 7. Had many a doe safari w/ RobG, Rat Fink, Exponential Pi and others where we'd leave with 5 or so deer apiece. I wouldn't call it "hunting," but it was a fun time.

 

[406LIFE]

It's been a few years since I've hunted down there, but last I knew you could get 5 OTC for the Ruby district. Used to be 7. Had many a doe safari w/ RobG, Rat Fink, Exponential Pi and others where we'd leave with 5 or so deer apiece. I wouldn't call it "hunting," but it was a fun time.

Def not hunting, but great way to introduce kids to hunting or just fill up the freezer. I like knowing I can donate a deer or two every year to families I know can't afford food.

 

[MTGomer]

Define "healthy", please

Healthy; not being in constant crisis mode.

FWP likes to cry wolf about mule deer numbers, yet the 3 month, OTC hunt including rut rifle and antlerless harvest continues.

Its not like it was when I was a kid when you could kill 5. Oh the glory days.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Def not hunting, but great way to introduce kids to hunting or just fill up the freezer. I like knowing I can donate a deer or two every year to families I know can't afford food.

Yep. We ended up with a mandatory "access fee" of donating 1 deer to the food bank, and paying for the processing fee.

Little known fact: A 375 H&H magnum will blow an entire quarter off of a fawn if shot under 30 yards.

 

[406LIFE]

Little known fact: A 375 H&H magnum will blow an entire quarter off of a fawn if shot under 30 yards.

This made me laugh. My gut shot a fawn at about 70 yards and when we picked it up, already field dressed! He's 70 and his hands have started to shake. I let him take all the first shots he wants now.

 

[Randy11]

Whitetail were introduced into the Ruby and Beaverhead Valleys in the late 50's or early 60's, IIRC. I've spoken with a number of old timers in Sheridan and Twin that recall the days of high mule deer in the valley and river bottom. There are still a number of muleys in the Ruby, but the whitetail have out-competed them terribly.

You'd save me a lot of searching and head scratching if you ever found reference so these transplants Ben.

The Corps of Discovery encountered whitetail as far upstream as Three Forks. My wife's family has ranched the lower Big Hole near Dillon for 100+ years and can't recall anything, although they do talk about the huge rise in whitetail numbers in that time frame.

Does Bambistew know anything?

 

[Ben Lamb]

You'd save me a lot of searching and head scratching if you ever found reference so these transplants Ben.

The Corps of Discovery encountered whitetail as far upstream as Three Forks. My wife's family has ranched the lower Big Hole near Dillon for 100+ years and can't recall anything, although they do talk about the huge rise in whitetail numbers in that time frame.

Does Bambistew know anything?

My sources are a former methodist preacher, one of the people who is related to the people who supposedly introduced the deer & a really nice dude at the Sump bar in Sheridan.

 

[406LIFE]

My sources are a former methodist preacher, one of the people who is related to the people who supposedly introduced the deer & a really nice dude at the Sump bar in Sheridan.

Sounds legit to me.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Sounds legit to me.

I'm not sure how trustworthy the preacher is though.

 

[mtmuley]

Info from a bar called The Sump? Gotta be true. mtmuley