Less NR Deer tags soon to come in MT

[Fireflyfishing]

Fish and Wildlife Commission votes to reduce nonresident deer licenses

The changes are aimed at reducing hunting pressure on public land and bringing the state’s flagging mule deer population out of a multiyear decline.

montanafreepress.org

 

[Jaden Bales]

Interesting. Just crunched some numbers on this. We can all agree Montana is probably the most liberal mule deer hunting state in the union. Nevada is probably the most conservative of the West.

That said, there are about as many deer in Region 7 as the entire state of Nevada. 2024 Nevada mule deer harvest: 5,367 mule deer. 2024 Montana Region 7 mule deer harvest: 7238 mule deer. That's a 8% harvest of the population in Nevada versus 10% in Montana. This is assuming harvest estimates are somewhat effective.

While crowding certainly is real, I just am consistently worried we believe hunters have a bigger impact on the critters that are out there than we do. Can we shoot out the top age class, I'd say so! Especially because we are selecting for the top few percentage of bucks. But, as weather patterns are favorable, Montana will likely bounce back to 2019-2021 numbers and I'd like to see opportunity bounce back the same. Just don't see it happening and a Montana General opportunity hunt will take 5 preference points to draw in a few years.

This is more overall commentary on trends in the West and I don't see it being great for keeping nonresidents advocating for habitat and access. Just making the pie smaller.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Well, there’s no doubt liberal hunting seasons are an issue. I think reduction in tags to the NR hunters is a good start, but I would like to see more draw tags for residents as well.

 

[realunlucky]

Non residents are an easy target but rarely have that much impact on a resource. We could look at the data but montana currently only half ass collects it and then FWP fakes the rest with out dated modeling. Push for mandatory reporting so you can make it intelligent arguments based on factual harvest numbers.

You want bigger and better deer hunting in montana don't hunt them for weeks on end when they are the most vulnerable.



Sent from my SM-S926U using Tapatalk

 

[freezerfull]

Here are a few things that have not been done that could provide data on what’s actually happening and improve the situation.

- Want to know what’s actually going on: implement mandatory hunter reporting.

- Want to rebuild numbers: stop allowing doe harvest.

- Want better age class: stop hunting November.

- Want less pressure: region specific tags for both res and non res; get rid of discounted NR tag programs; species specific general tags (MD or WT, must choose); move B tag doe seasons (IMO there should be no MD doe hunting in most states at this time) to dates that differ from general season.

Instead FWP decides to cut the full price general season buck tags to appease people. I’m sure this will really help things rebound.

 

[270Hunter]

Interesting. Just crunched some numbers on this. We can all agree Montana is probably the most liberal mule deer hunting state in the union. Nevada is probably the most conservative of the West.

That said, there are about as many deer in Region 7 as the entire state of Nevada. 2024 Nevada mule deer harvest: 5,367 mule deer. 2024 Montana Region 7 mule deer harvest: 7238 mule deer. That's a 8% harvest of the population in Nevada versus 10% in Montana. This is assuming harvest estimates are somewhat effective.

While crowding certainly is real, I just am consistently worried we believe hunters have a bigger impact on the critters that are out there than we do. Can we shoot out the top age class, I'd say so! Especially because we are selecting for the top few percentage of bucks. But, as weather patterns are favorable, Montana will likely bounce back to 2019-2021 numbers and I'd like to see opportunity bounce back the same. Just don't see it happening and a Montana General opportunity hunt will take 5 preference points to draw in a few years.

This is more overall commentary on trends in the West and I don't see it being great for keeping nonresidents advocating for habitat and access. Just making the pie smaller.

Say it louder for the people in the back!!!!

Well said!

 

[freezerfull]

Hopefully it’s 2500 less Washington clowns in this state that would be the best thing to come of it. Ruined your own

the Washington feelings are all sorts of butt hurt in all these forums and on Facebook… god forbid a few 130” muley bucks survive the Washington plague

Interesting opinion and attitude. Have you spent time in Washington hunting and/or observing mule deer here?

What exactly do you consider the ideal mule deer situation in Montana? No nonresidents?

From the other thread it seems that you pass on many 150”-170” muley bucks. Is this because you are concerned about the population or do you think they are too young? 80% of mule deer bucks will never exceed 170” in their lives if left to die of old age.