Managing Private-Heavy Units

[Jaden Bales]

I have heard a lot of hubbub in Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and other places about managing mule deer hunting more strictly in private-land dominated units.

In Wyoming, a private land heavy area is throwing 55 bucks per 100 does and just got an antler point restriction and nonresident tags cut in 2025. I was perplexed to say the least.

Now, I know I'm at risk of starting a dumpster fire, but I have been looking for help thinking about this more critically.

I figure if it's a private land-dominated area, the agency really cannot manage access and therefore hunting pressure is up to the local landowners. I grew up on a family farm with muleys on it, and to me, if I were a landowner today, I would want long, primetime seasons so my friends and family had the most opportunity to be picky and take the older age class. Growing up, we just hunted the opening weekend (of a two-weekend hunt) and rarely if ever took the oldest critters on the place. It was kind of a "shoot what you could because finding them is tough" mentality.

Granted I have a different mentality today, I wanted to get some folks' thoughts on that dichotomy with private land animals and state-run seasons for muleys.

 

[robby denning]

i feel sorry for game departments trying to manage in these units. It seems like it's always some "token" management they offer because like you say, the LOs do the managing.

the restrictions you mention probably from public pressure. 55 bucks per 100 and they want an antler restriction. Sounds like a few fudds I know. If you find out another reason, let us know

 

[TSimons9]

It is strange in my opinion to have that high of a Buck : Doe ratio and an antler point restriction. Wouldn’t the landowners want more tags given the high ratio?

 

[Jaden Bales]

i feel sorry for game departments trying to manage in these units. It seems like it's always some "token" management they offer because like you say, the LOs do the managing.

the restrictions you mention probably from public pressure. 55 bucks per 100 and they want an antler restriction. Sounds like a few fudds I know. If you find out another reason, let us know

I misspoke. The APR was in a more of a public land unit, but a tag reduction was in the 55 bucks area. Regardless, and to your point, the biologist cites "low hunter satisfaction and public concern for deer quality" as the main driver.

Man, I feel sorry, too. I'd hate to have their job.

 

[Jaden Bales]

It is strange in my opinion to have that high of a Buck : Doe ratio and an antler point restriction. Wouldn’t the landowners want more tags given the high ratio?

Yeah, I was confused, too. I don't know if the outfitters are that engaged in the process out there, and if locals who hunt the small parcels are driving the conversation or not.

Also, I corrected it with Robby, but the APR was in a unit with growing populations and 23 bucks per 100 does. About 10% public ground there. The tag cut was in the area with 55 bucks. 16-26% public land there.

The point remains the same, though. Pretty wild.

 

[Skerhunter]

I have heard a lot of hubbub in Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, and other places about managing mule deer hunting more strictly in private-land dominated units.

In Wyoming, a private land heavy area is throwing 55 bucks per 100 does and just got an antler point restriction and nonresident tags cut in 2025. I was perplexed to say the least.

Now, I know I'm at risk of starting a dumpster fire, but I have been looking for help thinking about this more critically.

I figure if it's a private land-dominated area, the agency really cannot manage access and therefore hunting pressure is up to the local landowners. I grew up on a family farm with muleys on it, and to me, if I were a landowner today, I would want long, primetime seasons so my friends and family had the most opportunity to be picky and take the older age class. Growing up, we just hunted the opening weekend (of a two-weekend hunt) and rarely if ever took the oldest critters on the place. It was kind of a "shoot what you could because finding them is tough" mentality.

Granted I have a different mentality today, I wanted to get some folks' thoughts on that dichotomy with private land animals and state-run seasons for muleys.

I wouldn’t count Nebraska in this discussion with the western states. I think our mule deer harvest stats now mirror that of the 1980s when mule deer inhabited a much larger portion of the state (tags were a draw also). Due to extensive habitat loss and G&P being late to the party they have no choice but to keep cutting tags until they see a positive change in the population (won’t recover to peak 1995-2005ish level unless we outlaw row crops ).

 

[Jaden Bales]

I wouldn’t count Nebraska in this discussion with the western states. I think our mule deer harvest stats now mirror that of the 1980s when mule deer inhabited a much larger portion of the state (tags were a draw also). Due to extensive habitat loss and G&P being late to the party they have no choice but to keep cutting tags until they see a positive change in the population (won’t recover to peak 1995-2005ish level unless we outlaw row crops ).

Haha. Good to know! Serious question - I've heard this from Nebraskans but I haven't hunted it since 2018 - do they still allow a lot of mule deer doe harvest? I honestly don't remember what it was when I was there, but gosh there were a lot of deer on the little pieces of public I hunted just 7 years ago.

 

[wapitibob]

It's virtually impossible to manage big game in a pvt land hunt area; the landowners will self regulate no matter how many tags are issued. Then the animals will move to the sanctuary parcels and that's that.

 

[Jaden Bales]

It's virtually impossible to manage big game in a pvt land hunt area; the landowners will self regulate no matter how many tags are issued. Then the animals will move to the sanctuary parcels and that's that.

That was pretty much my thesis but summarized way better. Thanks for that!

 

[Sandhills]

I wouldn’t count Nebraska in this discussion with the western states. I think our mule deer harvest stats now mirror that of the 1980s when mule deer inhabited a much larger portion of the state (tags were a draw also). Due to extensive habitat loss and G&P being late to the party they have no choice but to keep cutting tags until they see a positive change in the population (won’t recover to peak 1995-2005ish level unless we outlaw row crops ).

That's make my day. Turn everything from McCook to 81 back to pasture and everything from 80 to the start of the Sandhills back as well. Be a muley in every truck bed, a limit of grouse or chickens in every game pouch, and a lot of pissed off sodbusters.


I know the Sandhills has mule deer that die of old age because a majority of the ranchers don't hunt and they charge for access or don't let you hunt. But finding a good muley on public is a chore.

 

[Sandhills]

Haha. Good to know! Serious question - I've heard this from Nebraskans but I haven't hunted it since 2018 - do they still allow a lot of mule deer doe harvest? I honestly don't remember what it was when I was there, but gosh there were a lot of deer on the little pieces of public I hunted just 7 years ago.

On private land only, and not nearly the amount as pre 2021

 

[Jaden Bales]

On private land only, and not nearly the amount as pre 2021

Roger that! Didn't know that.

 

[Sandhills]

Roger that! Didn't know that.

The private only has been in the last couple years. But the amount of AOSC tags that allow doe mule deer harvest have been reduced a bunch. Probably could stand to be cut more but I think Game and Parks hands are tied in that to make landowners happy

 

[wytx]

WG&F has several meetings through the years with LOs in mostly private areas. Many times LO are not happy with what they see, lack of mature bucks, so they vent and sometimes G&F listens.
I know in the area we work for a rancher and hunt they voiced concerns about lack of mature bucks And got the season shortened.
I actually think that is not the best idea as now folks will shoot what they find and not hold out for something more mature.

On mule deer management in Wyoming they are trying to lessen the cwd prevalence in herds and want to take more mature bucks for that, LOs don't like that plan for the most part.
The ARs come from lack of mature bucks, whole in the population looks like to many folks.

 

[Jaden Bales]

WG&F has several meetings through the years with LOs in mostly private areas. Many times LO are not happy with what they see, lack of mature bucks, so they vent and sometimes G&F listens.
I know in the area we work for a rancher and hunt they voiced concerns about lack of mature bucks And got the season shortened.
I actually think that is not the best idea as now folks will shoot what they find and not hold out for something more mature.

On mule deer management in Wyoming they are trying to lessen the cwd prevalence in herds and want to take more mature bucks for that, LOs don't like that plan for the most part.
The ARs come from lack of mature bucks, whole in the population looks like to many folks.

That's kind of what I was gathering in that case, but that's a good example. Though the northern part of that mountain range does have quite a bit of public ground, wouldn't that southern unit's mature buck population just be controlled by private land hunting pressure since it's 13% public, and most of that inaccessible?

 

[wytx]

One would think that Jaden but the small amount of public sections lend to public hunting and take of whatever.

I know the rancher we work for and manage his wildlife only wants mature bucks taken and limits it to 2 per year on 8500 acres.
WG&F came up with the plan to reduce the mature buck population and LOs and hunters said NO.
We need more mt lions and coyotes out of that area, and some moisture for their range.

This year they have shortened the deer season in our area and I agree with 1 LO that spoke at the commission meeting, shorter season makes some hunters take the first buck they see, I've seen it and talked with hunters on the public sections. They will take a forky if that is all they see. Longer season gives folks more time to find a mature buck but if they want fewer taken it could be a double edged sword.