Montana Mule Deer - First timer

mt terry d

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Jul 18, 2023
Messages
845
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

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 14, 2019
Messages
275
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.
 

manitou1

WKR
Joined
Mar 29, 2017
Messages
1,949
Location
Wyoming
Eastern side populations are hurting very badly the past few years. I used to hunt out there a ton. Unfortunately the winters the past few years along with blue tongue have hit them very hard.
Not to mention every Tom, dick and harry going out there and smoking the first forky they come across.
Ie: "Not looking for a trophy".
 
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