Money and Deer

COHunter · Apr 13, 2004

I have a quick question for everyone out there.

Why is it that a lot of hunters will donate big $$$ for Elk, a species that is doing too good, but won't drop a few dollars for the Mule Deer which isn't doing so good ?

nvhunter · Apr 13, 2004

I've dropped just as much money at MDF banquets as RMEF banquets. But your right, most people will do as you described and give more towards elk orgs. Status thing i guess, big elk=big ego. Personally i like hunting big deer more then hunting elk.

BUCKSPY · Apr 13, 2004

Because elk bugle and have harems and are highly visible in parks and people are better able to attribute anthropomorphistic qualities to elk than mule deer. Also the RMEF has their collective crap together better than the MDF. Ask any elk hunter about his big bull and know that they would give their left nut for a truly big muley! They know how damn hard it is to kill a big buck these days.

Deerlove · Apr 13, 2004

Buckspy I didn't drop out of high school to become a govenors tag holder guide,and I did though finish college but what is "anthropomorphistic" thanks. Russ

manny15 · Apr 13, 2004

described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes <anthropomorphic deities>

2 : ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things <anthropomorphic supernaturalism>

OR
an interpretation of what is not human or personal in terms of human or personal characteristics......?....over my head....LOL

Murphy · Apr 13, 2004

When I give money to RMEF I feel I am helping mule deer more than if I gave it to MDF.When RMEF buys winter range before it gets sub-divided I can see where my donation goes. If MDF was in my area I would probably support them also.

boneaddict · Apr 14, 2004

I'd hate to really upset some folks, but I think that the RMEF has done more for mule deer than the MDF. Habitat = MuleDeer.

ICMDEER · Apr 14, 2004

I think people just give to conservation in general, and RMEF was established and more effective much ealrier than the MDF. I'm a life member of the MDF and don't belong to the elk foundation. But good habitat conservation will benefit all species, so I appreciate all that is done on behalf of wildlife conservation. As long as it's not PETA or the Brady bunch, we are making progress.

Cowkiller · Apr 14, 2004

I support both the RMEF and the MDF but I agree with Murphy and boneaddict. I tend to think long term. The RMEF spends most of their money on land. Preserving habitat is the best way to help mule deer in the long term. Range fertilization and water projects are helpful but they certainly don't last forever.

antlerrick · Apr 14, 2004

I agree with you all on the RMEF doing a lot more with the funds and especially for projects that are highly visible to all. When I was a RMEF chapter chairman, I done a little research on how much money had been put back into Utah projects the previous year, and the MDF hadn't done squat, but had put on a bunch of good fund raisers. I was quite disappointed as I was a member of the MDF at that time, and now it has pretty much fizzled out in our area. I also agree that any projects that improve habitat benefit all species, so I support all the conservation programs. I am hoping the SFW will help the mule deer here in Utah. They seem to put their money where their mouth is!

Just my 2 cents for what it's worth!
a*r

RLH · Apr 14, 2004

i like to hunt elk. like to hunt deer too. hell, i like to hunt anything. couple things that yank me off about things tho. first, it really pisses me off that we have to have all these different foundations, because the stinkin' state and federal wildlife agencies are forever doing things that are anti hunter. i've never seen a state game and fish department or the usfw do one thing just for hunters or anglers. sometimes we get a little residual benefit from things they do, but you can bet that anytime there is something new done, we lose a little and the anti's gain. seems like the different organizations have to force and politic, etc. in order for outdoorsmen to make any gains. too bad too, because even more of the funds they raise could go to conservation. it's sorta like a few years back how all the kids in the country were donating there lunch money to repair and restore the statue of liberty. why the hell did it ever come to that in the first place? the amount spent on it was peanuts to the federal budget, but the public had to kick in even more to save her. same with a lot of stuff gets done for wildlife. we have agencies to take care of wildlife, but a lot of the actual work that gets done, is done by folks donating time and money to do it, over and above the taxes and license fees we pay. and the next thing, and i know this is gonna sound a little counter to what i just said, i think that elk are a little too prolific and need to be weeded out some, at least in Az. and new mex. good muley and even coues country is being ruined by elk encroachment. can't find a deer to save you in a lot of historically great deer country, and there are elk everywhere and they have the heck protected out of em. i'm all for a healthy elk herd, but lets keep the elk herd in it's historic habitat. last year while hunting muleys in the desert i saw more bull elk and rocky mt bighorn rams than i did deer. bucks and does combined. the elk herd is in a little too good o' shape i think. and the bighorns where i hunted are a damn nuisance. saw over 40 rams on one little mountain! and there are 4 permits for the area. the rmef and sheep society and different outfits have done some good things for their respective species, but i think the poor ol' muley is getting the short end in most cases. i know most of what i percieve as a problem is the "fault", if you can call it that, of the game and fish, but it sure seems to me that the deer herd is sure being encroached on by elk and bighorns.

chinochief · Apr 14, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-04 AT 11:51PM (MST)[p]Good reply RLH. I know what you mean when you are talking about seeing nothing but elk in historically great deer country. I have seen this happen in the units near my home. I ain't no biologist but it does seem like the muley is getting the short end of the deal in some cases. I wish there was a clear solution to this but I sure don't know what it is. Hopefully we figure it out someday. Oh yeah, I'm with BUCKSPY, I would give my left nut to kill a book non-typical muley!

Chief