Do you trust and support your state/region mule deer biologist?

[Fireflyfishing]

No

 

[WRO]

Good comments!

So for the doe harvest I know a bunch of hunters are against it, but in some areas across the west, winter ranges are small and only getting smaller mainly due to encroachment. The biologists where I live say that our winter range quality is deteriorating because they are so many deer in such a small area. So they either have a doe hunt and allow hunters to harvest the does or we wait until another 22/23 winter and a ton of deer will die due to starvation because our winter range quality is poor. That’s where doe hunts can be beneficial!

If they didn’t graze the heck out of it on public lands, installed wildlife friendly fences, or just removed them the carrying capacity would be a lot higher.

 

[Coyote Commander]

The “problem” is rarely with the biologists.

It’s with the people above the biologists. Commissioners, bureaucrats, politicians, etc.

Biologists usually only get to make suggestions to these people.

I suggest things to my wife every night, she rarely follows them!


Game management, especially western big game has gotten a lot more difficult in the last 20-30 years. Increased predator pressure, habitat loss and fragmentation, and increased hunting pressure. (I know I know, but hunter numbers are down…eye roll). They have to manage people as much as the animals anymore.

 

[NDHUNTER24]

Right but they could work on a solution vs letting it ride.

Well over 90% of ND is private. Why wouldn't they cater to land owners. There's deer on public for sure, but there is way more on private. I don't have private land for what it's worth.

 

[WMDM]

Well over 90% of ND is private. Why wouldn't they cater to land owners. There's deer on public for sure, but there is way more on private. I don't have private land for what it's worth.

I get it, just feel the state shouldn't cater.

 

[NDHUNTER24]

I get it, just feel the state shouldn't cater.

I hear ya, it is frustrating. I try to look at it from both sides. Also, do i agree with everything the G&F has done. Nope. I have my different opinions when it comes to CWD.. With that said, i try not to get to frustrated at and blame the G&F. I've seen more tree rows cleaned out and dried up sloughs tilled up for farmland along with CRP that ruined nice deer country. I understand why the farmers did it, but i wish they didn't.