Montana reducing nonresident deer tags

[HunterGatherer]

As a NR to the state, Im all for better management of the rescource. Just found the next paragraph in the article funny. The comish voted to pass changing the number of deer tags a R can hold from 8 to 3. Whoof, cleary the NR were the sole reason for MD decline.

2500 NR tags won’t affect the herds one bit. The anti-NR rhetoric is so pervasive in the hunting community. If only people would do a little research they would realize that NRs are putting in way more $ to the wildlife management agencies than the resident hunters in every western state. Not to mention all the other $ they bring to the local businesses where they hunt and fish. The whole system falls apart without NR hunters.

Yes, NR hunters need to be limited for the simple fact that if there weren’t limits the woods would be so full of hunters it would ruin everything. But every time they cut NR tags you should look at it as a loss of revenue more than an increase in herd numbers.

 

[mt terry d]

Huh?

What i'm saying is that the appointed leadership (by the governor) seemingly intentionally sabotages ideas that would yield good data so they can justify just doing what has always been done.

Sorry. Sarcasm is my Native tongue.

 

[Ralphie]

In general...there is zero reason to shoot a MD doe ever. Might as well shoot your neighbors mule as it eats from your hand. There are enough WT does to kill what you need.

Same for young bucks. There are plenty of species that are doing just fine if someone needs to shoot females and young.

 

[willfrye027]

Same for young bucks. There are plenty of species that are doing just fine if someone needs to shoot females and young.

Young bucks are another mouth to feed and are replenished quickly..

 

[Ralphie]

And yet in many places there are low buck numbers.

Also I’m not knocking shooting females of all species. I happily cow elk hunt every year.

 

[HuntHarder]

Sooo..., does this mean I'm not getting my annual, poverty MD montana tag in 2026? Last couple years, we haven't seen a buck that would top 160" on huntable land. I do enjoy the hunt tho.

 

[DuckDawg22]

I should have titled this Montana Reduces deer tags for Residents and non residents. I have no proof but I suspect the number of residents shooting more than three deer a year is small. Data on that would be interesting.

What I'm really concerned about is weather or not this will result in a positive result in herd health. Will there be a corresponding push for more aggressive predator management? will this just be the new norm? What we've all seen in other states is a death by a thousand cuts. Lost opportunity never comes back.

We did get a third pintail here in California this season, first time Ive heard of a limit increasing due to population health.

 

[Britt-dog]

We did get a third pintail here in California this season, first time Ive heard of a limit increasing due to population health.

We also get to keep a third pintail this year, but they reduced the overall goose limit from 4 to 3 at the same time. I haven't been able to find an explanation for the reduction. It has been 4 forever.

 

[Deadfall]

I should have titled this Montana Reduces deer tags for Residents and non residents. I have no proof but I suspect the number of residents shooting more than three deer a year is small. Data on that would be interesting.

What I'm really concerned about is weather or not this will result in a positive result in herd health. Will there be a corresponding push for more aggressive predator management? will this just be the new norm? What we've all seen in other states is a death by a thousand cuts. Lost opportunity never comes back.

Hunting already dead for common folk. We just aint realized it yet!

There will never be a larger push for predator control. I mean dire wolves are back. 3 one yr Olds are in existence now and they gonna make more.

It only gonna get worse! Not better. Until one day only tge kings can kill stuff and it won't be hunting then...

 

[Steve O]

Of course they are! Just make sure you raise the non resident rate so there is no decline in FWP coffers.

 

[bigsky2]

Hopefully this is a sign that the tides are turning. I’m not sure how much this moves the needle but at least it’s a step in the right direction. However, this does come with a big financial hit to the department. I hate to see warden positions or things like that get cut. I’d like to see some other things like changes to season structure in conjunction with reducing NR tags.

 

[Taco John]

What would really be cool is if people had to present some predator tails before purchasing a ungalate tag of any kind.

Or video evidence of killdozering a suburb.


Human sprawl in wintering areas will continue to erode the deer populations from here on out.

 

[mt terry d]

Lots of private around here bordering NFS; some large ranches
Plenty of prime habitat available but quite barren of deer
I suspect predators are a major contributor to this
Neighbor has several lions on game cameras
Plenty bears here. Heard two different wolves howl the other day.

 

[Will_m]

Hunting already dead for common folk. We just aint realized it yet!

Accurate.

 

[AHayes111]

I agree. We are meat hunters. We will get a bunch of tags but use half. We get the tags so we can focus on a few different locations, doing three day hunts as a family. By using the WT B tags it reduces the need to shoot a buck. Once we get what we need we are done. But now with the reduction in odds, I'm going to be much less selective when it comes to a buck.

I bet a lot of hunters use the same strategy. I will also say that the areas we are filling B tags have a lot of does.

This will also force us to focus more on getting an elk. Usually I only elk hunt during archery. Now it will include rifle. I suspect a lot more locals just became elk hunters.

But, at least they are trying some new things.

As a resident that would like to see a quality buck once in a while this is music to my ears.

 

[hobbes]

"Urban sprawl" and habitat loss is causing decline of MD in Eastern MT??? Where? The big city limits of Glendive? Have you guys ever been to Eastern MT?

 

[bigsky2]

"Urban sprawl" and habitat loss is causing decline of MD in Eastern MT??? Where? The big city limits of Glendive? Have you guys ever been to Eastern MT?

I didn’t see where anyone specifically said that was an issue in eastern MT. Lead poisoning is obviously more of a factor in eastern MT. Loss of habitat and winter range is definitely a factor in parts of western MT though, and that contributes to the lead poisoning in the east.

 

[Taco John]

"Urban sprawl" and habitat loss is causing decline of MD in Eastern MT??? Where? The big city limits of Glendive? Have you guys ever been to Eastern MT?

Ive done business in Wolf Point, spent a month in Vida one weekend, and buy Paddlefish Stout in Wibaux.

Does that count?


In arid landscapes, wintering habitat is just as important as in the mountains. Theres only so many places with the water, and grub necessary to survive a brutal winter. Coincidentally those are also the most attractive places to humans. There are more humans out there now than at any time previous. And that number is growing.