Mule deer populations vs elk populations

[AHayes111]

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.

 

[AHayes111]

Pictures of some of the bucks, there were others too, but with the camera equipment I had back then you had to be close.

 

[AHayes111]

Some of the sheds I found, I think all of these had typical frames in the mid 80's, the one with the deep forks is near 90 and both forks are over 14. Couldn't find a picture of the biggest antler I found, Might be in the pile of old slides I have or it is buried in some other place.

The elk were pounding the range land in the park in the late 80's. Could have there been more deer? probably. Was there some big mule deer? 100%. Like I said you can not over estimate the impact of the people elk attract and managers need to take that into account when managing mule where there are lots of elk.

 

[WRO]

hey,

the Kaibab in AZ is a year-round elk hunt for this reason (correct me AZ guys if I'm off) but not a good case study because it wasn't a really strong elk herd to begin with.

off the top of my head, that's all I can think of (to your point). I'll think on it more, though.

There’s never been more than a couple hunted on the stip, last I read it was under 80..


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[Pony Soldier]

After calving season (June) the elk migrate through about every 7-10 days all summer. The deer move onto my place in late may, sleep in the corral, and linger around the salt lick and water trough until about the first frost and then migrate back toward the winter range.

The elk cycle through until the grass starts to dry in August and then move to the north sides and creek bottoms where the grass is green and tender.

After the first freeze they start towards the winter range for the rut. After that the little bulls hang around the cows and the big bulls form groups of 2-3 and settle into localized spots that have water, feed and cover to recover. They are usually 500 ft higher than the cows or all the way on the winter range. The cows hang about the snowline and work their way to the winter range.