Idaho Muley Hunters!

T

TFinalshot

Guest
I just read the first issue of the "Mule Deer Update," published by IF&G and produced by Toby Boudreau. I know very little about Toby, or the Muld Deer Initiative, so I cant make any comments on their effectiveness. Would you guys mind looking at the first issue, I'd like hear what you boyz from Idaho have to say about it.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/hunt/MDI/newsletter1_feb06.pdf




"Roadless areas, in general, represent some of the best fish and wildlife habitat on public lands. The bad news is that there is nothing positive about a road where fish and wildlife habitat are concerned -- absolutely nothing." (B&C Professor, Jack Ward Thomas, Fair Chase, Fall 2005, p.10).
 
I think the department is really trying on this Mule Deer Initiative. The ideas they have for habitat are great. However I think they really need to look at the seasons in southeast Idaho. They don't understand the later we hunt the deer the more vulnerable they are and if they do understand they are more worried about hunter oppertunity then the Deer themselves.

The last few years we have seen an improvment in numbers, but up until last season the hunt ran from the 5th until the 24th. THis last hunting season went from the 10th until the end of Oct. For those of you that live or hunt in Southeast Idaho know that the snow in the high country can be piled as high as 5 or 6 ft by the middle or near the end of Oct. We dogded a hudge bullet last season due to minimal snowfall in those high places. A deer is alot easier to find on the winter range then he is in the timber. Some guys think its great they can go out the end of OCt and find a decent little buck standing off the road on the winter range and blast em. That can only last a few years and then we are back to where we were 5 years ago when it was difficult to find a buck in November.

I agree with the Department when they tell me the length of the season is not an issue. We still kill about the same number of deer if the season is 10 days long or a month. But when i bring up the timing of the season all they tell me is we can't stock pile deer. We need to give some more oppertunity by running the season later.

I know the locals in the Salmon District are trying to get the season changed up there. I also know the Department has already decided to make no changes to the season in Southeast IDaho. I hope they realize its just a matter of time before the snow comes early in the high contry and the deer have no where to go but down to the road. Seven days can make all the difference in the world when it comes to a deer season in this country. So oppertunity for a year or two. But then what?


Bigole5
 
TFinalshot,

I think the MDI is a good thing for hunters chasing muleys in Idaho. Over the last few years the F&G has been putting more resources into studying and managing mule deer.

bigole5,

I couldn't agree with you more about the season being one week too long. I would rather have the season open at the end of September and close around the middle of October. Even when there isn't snow the older bucks become easier to find the last few days of October. I don't think the F&G have the season set in stone yet but they are trying to make the season more uniform across the South half of the state so I doubt they will make any significant changes to the seasons this fall. For the most part I do think the F&G sets up the seasons in a way to make hunters happy.
 
I think the MDI is a good thing and causing people to finally take a look at the mule deer situation in Idaho. I think they are doing a pretty good job overall. However, I think there are a few things that they overlooked in conditions affecting the populations.
Everybody is quick to blame predators. But I think one of the most critical times to impact the deer numbers is during the winter. I like the idea of F&G closing several areas to human activity during the winter. But, they have not nearly taken it to the extent it should be. As we all know, trouncing onto winter range casues extreme stress on the deer. If they do not come into winter with good fat stores, it is difficult for them to make it. Burning tons of calories while being pushed around the hills all day is increasing their risk. I love seeing the animals on the winter range as much as anyone, but we can do it from a distance.
Anyway, if the F&G would shut down a few more critical areas during winter, I feel like the numbers would improve some. It would also decrease the poachers chance of an easy target. I know it would be difficult to enforce, but with the help of landowners and volunteers, it could be done. I think they should focus on more critical areas as well for habitat improvement.
Since the intro of the MDI, I think we are on the right path to awareness and bigger and healthier herds. Just my two scents.
Dan
 
ROADS and TRAILS...

The IDF&G, USFS and BLM can start by pushing an OHV initiative to shutdown and rehab the trails that are now roads, keep trails from becoming roads and enforce the issue for crying out loud.

If the big bucks have no sanctuary on non-winter range, and are hounded on the winter range, no wonder the buck numbers take a nose dive.

You can work on the seasons, the habitat and hope for good weather, but if people have to work to get at them, maybe well-- that's a few that can survive to seed the plot...later.

Perhaps START with traffic control. Its gonna take a multi-pronged approach.
 
I think they are doing a good job so far. but there could be some improvements with road closing and enforcement. but i did see the most big bucks this year than i have in a long time.
Muley Man!
 
Bigole5 you are exactly right. The current season is too late to support and maintain a healthy mule deer population. The late season has already shown its affects in the Salmon Region, and yes a group of locals and I currently working to change the hunting season for the Salmon Region. I do agree with the MDI in general, however, there is some inner collisions. MDI states that it's goal is to bring numbers up but by giving more opportunity for people to harvest. By looking at this year one of the highest success rates for increase/decrease of populations is by hunting regualtions. It will be a shame for the regions that have been seriously impacted not to change.
 
I am pleased that the IDFG is FINALLY trying to do something about the Mule Deer situation in Idaho. I hunted here all through the sixties. Today is a far cry from what it was then! IDFG concentrated on elk for a long time and with good success. Deer were overlooked in my opinion. Now the deer issues as I see it are:
1. Winter range. So much of Idaho is being developed. The ranchers are having a tough time making it, so many have sold out, and their land, that is too often prime winter range, is being subdivided.
Example: The Barber area between Boise and Lucky Peak Dam used to be a major deer wintering range for deer from unit 39. Today that area is solid houses. We need to purchase, expand and protect critical winter range.
2. Winter range protection. There are a few wintering areas closed to human entry during the winter months. This needs to be increased dramatically and there needs to be ENFORCEMENT!.
3. The seasons are generally too long. A week shorter I think would help.
4. Low buck-doe ratios in many areas. During the last two years, of the does I saw, only 40% had a fawn. Areas that have struggling deer populations need to be closed for a couple of years to allow the herd to rebound. Also, controlled hunts are necessary in areas of relatively easy access or high hunting pressure.
5. Restrict off-road travel. Drive up the Birch Creek valley in east-central ldaho and look at the ridges. Every one of them has an unauthorized 4-wheeler road up it's back. EVERY ONE! Deer and other game just have no sanctuary when people access them so easily. Again enforcement is needed here.
6. Poaching. I think anyone convicted of poaching should be assessed severe fines and have hunting and fishing priveleges revoked permanently.
7. One deer per year only, please. I know that the F&G has a non-resident quota. If they don't sell, then fine. Let's keep the extra deer rather than make the extra money. If there area areas that have over-populations, then make an exception there.
I know this sounds harsh. But if we pay the price now we might have good hunting a few years down the road. I want you younger guys to have what I enjoyed years ago. Here's an example. In the fall of '67, in units 33. 39, 36-A and 50, my brother and I, during the hunting season, observed 56 head of what we considered decent bucks (all were in rifle range). That was four points fully developed on both sides, and with antlers wider than the ears. We both took very good bucks that year and every year in those days. I haven't seen 56 bucks of any description during the last ten years!
I wish IDFG good luck with the Mule Deer Initiative.
 

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