I don't think you can underestimate the impact to mule deer caused by the people elk attract. Even where I live where bull tags are very limited the increase in hunters has been dramatic. Most of the people lucky enough to draw a bull tag have a few friends helping them try to find the bull of a life time and then there are all the people with cow tags or looking to fill an A tag on a cow or spike. Almost of those hunters have a deer A tag and maybe a few doe tags to go along with their elk tag. Any time your have OTC elk tags and OTC mule deer tags at the same time the mule deer are going to come out with the short straw.
I can remember the late 80's and early 90's around Gardiner MT. The elk numbers were sky hi up until the winter of 91. The range land was taking a beating and had been for many years. The deer north of the park line didn't have a chance with all of the elk hunters. Go south and there was some giant bucks. I did some find and leave shed hunting in the park and found some of the best antlers of my life. One was so big I thought it was a freak elk antler when I first saw it. Over 90 typical and at least 15 inches of NT. Another was tall and both forks were better than 14. Just under 90 typical as I remember. Some where I have some old pictures, I will try to find them.
I can remember the late 80's and early 90's around Gardiner MT. The elk numbers were sky hi up until the winter of 91. The range land was taking a beating and had been for many years. The deer north of the park line didn't have a chance with all of the elk hunters. Go south and there was some giant bucks. I did some find and leave shed hunting in the park and found some of the best antlers of my life. One was so big I thought it was a freak elk antler when I first saw it. Over 90 typical and at least 15 inches of NT. Another was tall and both forks were better than 14. Just under 90 typical as I remember. Some where I have some old pictures, I will try to find them.
