Mule deer opportunity?

[huntin24/7]

I’d like to think it could as well. But based on our experience of trying to get buy in on a proposal less restrictive than mentioned above, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of appetite with the FWP dept or among the majority of MT hunters to restructure opportunity into anything less than OTC general hunting through the rut.

In my opinion the status quo isn’t going to change without some bold action from folks in position to make decisions to do something good for mule deer regardless of how popular it is to the majority of MT hunters. Expectations have calcified over generations of what MT hunter consider normal opportunity. If a majority of public opinion is required before change is made it probably won’t happen any time soon.

That is discouraging to me because some of the best policy decisions in MT wildlife management history have been because decision makers had the courage to make unpopular decisions that paid off for wildlife and eventually for additional opportunities for sportsmen.

After listening to other hunters a lot in person or reading comments on line, I’m convinced that the average resident is flat out terrified of change. I’m not sure you could convince the average resident to give up one week of the season even if you could guarantee them hunting twice as good. I really don’t think at least half of resident deer hunters care about deer numbers, buck quality, or herd health as long as there is never any change to seasons or tag prices.

 

[mtmuley]

After listening to other hunters a lot in person or reading comments on line, I’m convinced that the average resident is flat out terrified of change. I’m not sure you could convince the average resident to give up one week of the season even if you could guarantee them hunting twice as good. I really don’t think at least half of resident deer hunters care about deer numbers, buck quality, or herd health as long as there is never any change to seasons or tag prices.

Sadly I think this is true. And I don't see the demographic of "average" resident changing any time soon. mtmuley

 

[antlerradar]

That is discouraging to me because some of the best policy decisions in MT wildlife management history have been because decision makers had the courage to make unpopular decisions that paid off for wildlife and eventually for additional opportunities for sportsmen.

Don't be discouraged Gerald, I a have been advocating for changing season structure to something similar to our proposal for close to thirty years. The amount of progress now is light years a head of when I started or even ten years ago.

 

[huntin24/7]

Don't be discouraged Gerald, I a have been advocating for changing season structure to something similar to our proposal for close to thirty years. The amount of progress now is light years a head of when I started or even ten years ago.

That’s encouraging. Thanks for all your work on this.

 

[Forkyfinder]

If anything was to change with MD season - itd have to be about changing mule deer.

Perhaps when the "proposals" impacts elk hunters and every other user group and dates, more so than mule deer, its too much.

Closing the season for the last 2 weeks. Making the last 2 weeks limited entry. Make species specific tags with fwp to set quotas.

There are plenty of ideas around without redoing the whole season structure to benefit commercail interests associated with elk.

 

[nrpate05]

Idaho seems to have a good season structure. 2-3 week general season in October and many of the units have limited draw that goes through November. Problem is it is tough to hunt them in October and the average hunter probably wants a more casual hunt where you see a lot of deer. Idaho OTC is usually not that.

 

[antlerradar]

There are plenty of ideas around without redoing the whole season structure to benefit commercail interests associated with elk.

How in the h=== is our proposal going to benefit commercial interests associated with elk? Rifle elk season is nearly unchanged, Archery is shifted forward one week. Having the season a week earlier when bulls are by themself or in small groups, often on public land will effectively cut the archery season a week for the commercial interests on private land.
What has been disappointing is some people appose because they dislike some of the people that helped or that because anything that an individual outfitter agrees with must be some arterial motive the pad their bottom line.