Reduction in number of NR deer licenses

[Gerald Martin]

Sales don’t seem like it would be that hard to track. Have no reason to not trust those

Be a pretty cool printout to check out Region XYZ in 2026 to see how many hunters hunted the unit, how many deer and elk were killed and if they were on private or public and then compare those with year end counts and track biologists recommendations for department policy and permit/B license allocations in next season setting process.

It would make it a lot easier for engaged citizens to advocate intelligently for their preferred agenda and a lot easier for FWP to show their reasoning and management goals.

 

[brockel]

I watched it with a group of North Dakotans. That deer herd failed because of winter drought and North Dakotans to the tune of 7 muley doe tags a piece who were “just happy to shoot something”. The fact is when I’m out and about I see nonresidents out numbering residents by a large margin. Nonresidents are a major factor in pressure in region 7. Maybe I just hunt stupid spots and don’t know what I’m doing.

On a different note I’m in talks with fwp to make nonresidents take a course before they get the privilege to come here. Basic things will be covered.

*How to drive safely on gravel roads.
*which side of the road to drive on
*how to park safely and not cause accidents
*how to defecate discreetly in the woods
* private/public boundaries
*staying on established roads
*reading and understanding travel management maps.

I’m just in the early stages so input would be appreciated.

Going to work one day a few years ago I stopped at cenex to fuel up. North Dakota pickup pulls up with a smaller trailer with sides on it hooked on the back. The pickup box and the trailer were completely full of deer. 5 guys jumped out of the pickup. Joked at them if they left any behind. They said they all had 5 mule deer doe tags and the A tag and they filled them all.

 

[brockel]

View attachment 395131

Not me but I know the guy the nonresidents “hurt”.

 

[DFS]

Not me but I know the guy the nonresidents “hurt”.
View attachment 395139

I almost got smoked by a chit hauler this year (septic truck) because some nonresidents were parked crossways in the road on a blind turn. I knew the driver, I told him I was an innocent bystander he laughed and said they backed up the road for almost a half mile and through another blind turn. He also mentioned the landowners told him to be damn careful on the road with all the OTC hunters, but sure I’m making this all up. Would have been a hell of a way to go I tell people I almost got shit canned.

 

[MTGomer]

View attachment 395117

I known you have seen this Gerald but it seems interesting to me. I’ll be curious to see going forward how these numbers change. Tags won’t go unsold so now will people actually kill more deer with the tags spread thinner? This didn’t stop the tags but made 4106 tags available to someone else.

Based on this post, the right number of non resident licenses would be 12,757.

There’s currently about 17,366 too many NR licenses being sold if we subscribe to the well accepted standard that NR should not exceed 10% of license totals.

I totally support cutting R opportunity but it’s hard to deny that removing 17k+ NR wouldn’t make a huge difference in eastern Montana.

 

[DFS]

Not me but I know the guy the nonresidents “hurt”.
View attachment 395139

Right south of my buddies place. Real lucky it didn’t turn out worse.

 

[huntin24/7]

The parking horror stories are not exaggerations. I went out for a late season duck hunt last fall in the snow. In a 20 mile stretch, I came up over a small hill and almost hit a truck from Georgia that had parked in their lane and just took off pheasant hunting with their truck left on the highways. A little later, I came across a truck from MT that parked fully on the gravel road 100 yards from a parking area and went duck hunting for about 4 hours. Pheasants make NR’s lose it. I’ve lost track of all the times trucks are parked in the middle of roads with doors open and hunters several hundred yards away.

 

[DFS]

The parking horror stories are not exaggerations. I went out for a late season duck hunt last fall in the snow. In a 20 mile stretch, I came up over a small hill and almost hit a truck from Georgia that had parked in their lane and just took off pheasant hunting with their truck left on the highways. A little later, I came across a truck from MT that parked fully on the gravel road 100 yards from a parking area and went duck hunting for about 4 hours. Pheasants make NR’s lose it. I’ve lost track of all the times trucks are parked in the middle of roads with doors open and hunters several hundred yards away.

I’ve actually had a real hard time not saying f it and taking a door off on a blind hill. Washington hunters

 

[DFS]

November is a playground for adults in Montana. Some residents for sure but mainly nonresidents

 

[huntin24/7]

The resident hunters where I live are much safer and less of a threat on the roads since they drive through the fields and pastures.

 

[Pucky Freak]

 

[Rack Daniels]

Been over a decade since I’ve shot a buck in Montana. I could sure use one of you non residents for your expertise on finding a shooter. Prefer large neck roasts so keep that in mind.

Yeah right dude, your kid shoots bruisers lol

 

[Rack Daniels]

I watched it with a group of North Dakotans. That deer herd failed because of winter drought and North Dakotans to the tune of 7 muley doe tags a piece who were “just happy to shoot something”. The fact is when I’m out and about I see nonresidents out numbering residents by a large margin. Nonresidents are a major factor in pressure in region 7. Maybe I just hunt stupid spots and don’t know what I’m doing.

On a different note I’m in talks with fwp to make nonresidents take a course before they get the privilege to come here. Basic things will be covered.

*How to drive safely on gravel roads.
*which side of the road to drive on
*how to park safely and not cause accidents
*how to defecate discreetly in the woods
* private/public boundaries
*staying on established roads
*reading and understanding travel management maps.

I’m just in the early stages so input would be appreciated.

-Motorized travel restrictions.
-UTV etiquette.
-What those shiny shapes on trees mean.
-Why selective harvest (esp with mule deer but anything really) is important.
I’ll come up with more… many residents would benefit as well, of course.

 

[antlerradar]

Who's resource is it again?

The state of Montana and the residents of the state. However I am a mule deer first kind of guy. I have my doubts that cutting of 2500 NR will have much effect on the well being of mule deer. This is a step in the right direction. The 2500 NR are likely to be mostly made up of DIY public land hunters. I can think of plenty of more steps that need to be taken. I hope that the next step is R step up and pay for the loss of revenue to FWP. I kind of like BM and game wardens.

 

[Forkyfinder]

I hope that the next step is R step up and pay for the loss of revenue to FWP. I kind of like BM and game wardens.

Me too. Simply long overdue.

 

[antlerradar]

-Motorized travel restrictions.
-UTV etiquette.
-What those shiny shapes on trees mean.
-Why selective harvest (esp with mule deer but anything really) is important.
I’ll come up with more… many residents would benefit as well, of course.

I used to think that selective harvest was the way to go. I have changed my mind on that one. We as individual hunters want to be able to select what we harvest, but it is likely better for the herd and hunters as a whole the more random the harvest is.

 

[Rack Daniels]

I used to think that selective harvest was the way to go. I have changed my mind on that one. We as individual hunters want to be able to select what we harvest, but it is likely better for the herd and hunters as a whole the more random the harvest is.

I can understand the logic behind that. Although I don’t necessarily know if that is true, or universal.

 

[Treeshark]

Me too. Simply long overdue.

I bet they’re saving that for next year

 

[Hem]

Couple of concerned residents.
Or should I say concerning...

Sidney men arrested for wildlife violations in Dawson County

Warden Ault and warden Gregory Conitz responded to the scene and discovered seven mule deer doe and fawn carcasses that had been shot with rifles and left to waste.

www.montanaoutdoor.com

 

[mevertsen]

The state of Montana and the residents of the state. However I am a mule deer first kind of guy. I have my doubts that cutting of 2500 NR will have much effect on the well being of mule deer. This is a step in the right direction. The 2500 NR are likely to be mostly made up of DIY public land hunters. I can think of plenty of more steps that need to be taken. I hope that the next step is R step up and pay for the loss of revenue to FWP. I kind of like BM and game wardens.

No skin in the game, but my question has been, are these reductions an intent to reduce mule deer harvest overall, or provide more opportunities to residents.

If the goal is to reduce mule deer harvest, seems quite difficult to do with general resident licenses and a 5 week rifle season.