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]

 

[manitou1]

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".

 

[Dirtscoots]

No one would deride a kid for shooting anything. But a good dad wouldn’t take his kid to eastern Montana!

Guess that makes me a terrible dad. My boys do enjoy seeing deer tho. I live in a liberal state that the deer hunting sucks. Shitty Montana deer hunting produces more deer then very “good” Oregon deer hunting. Terrible person here. If my son has an opportunity at a legal buck I will let him shoot it. If we draw tags, until Montana changes the regulations I am all for my boys shooting a sub trophy deer. I may hold out and eat a tag I may not depending on what I see. I will admit I will continue to partake in what many call the problem. I do not have a spread or point restriction on my mind that makes a trophy. A legal buck or elk that makes a memory especially with my boys is a trophy. I think not having a general tag during the rut is a great idea. Although when I’m scheduling my vacation and the rut is an option for hunting yet again terrible person that’s probably when I will go. You can advocate for self policing all you want. A few tags may get eaten the majority will have a similar mindset as me and possibly shoot dinks people look down on.