Montana Mule Deer - First timer

[Tmac]

Is there an overpopulation of whitetails in MT?

Not since 2020 where we hunt in SE MT. Blue Tongue hit them hard the summer of 21, then the winter of 22 finished the job.

 

[mt terry d]

I guess I don't see the "then shoot a whitetail if you want to fill your tag" strategy.

Unless one is only concerned about mulies and don't GAS about whitetails.

Montana has historically produced some pretty darned nice whitetails.

 

[finner]

I guess I don't see the "then shoot a whitetail if you want to fill your tag" strategy.

Unless one is only concerned about mulies and don't GAS about whitetails.

Montana has historically produced some pretty darned nice whitetails.

There's no "one size fits all" population curve for the state for whitetails. Some units have incredible numbers, to the extent that mule deer are suffering for it. Some units have gone through boom and bust cycles with EHD/blue tongue.

There is a definitive population trajectory for mule deer on a statewide level. To paint with a broad brush, yeah, I'd rather whitetails get shot.

 

[voltage]