Montana deer population

huntFX4

Active Member
Messages
870
All,

I'm a long time MM'r but haven't been on in long time. I joined the Marines from Glendive over 26 years ago and the last time I hunted up there was 2007. My wife hunted as a nonres then but there were no muley doe tags for the 700 HD's at that time. Now this last year, there were 1000 if I read the regs correctly, yet I'm hearing the populations are down.
I grew up hunting between Glendive, Terry and Circle and sometimes toward Baker.

I'm thinking about getting my two older boys nonres youth big game combo tags this year. I've been in Afghanistan since October so I did not get home this last season. I have two questions.

What is this winter like back in Eastern MT so far and
what are the populations looking like compared to 5 years ago?
I hunt mostly for mule deer personally and I know that's what my boys hope to go after. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I hunted Pine Unit south of Glendive in 1999 and again in 2004 and there was a definite difference, fallen population.

Any advice on top of answering the questions above?
 
This winter has been an easy one so far. Biologists say however, that it is a big storm late in the winter when deer are at their weakest that kills the most, so the fact that its easy now may not mean a thing by the time fall rolls around.

The populations pretty much statewide are way down from 5 years ago. In the east because of the winter, and in the west because of the predators. Also, liberal doe tags have impacted deer herds statewide.

They're not all dead though. I saw a few groups of guys post pics on MM where 5 or 6 guys all killed 4x4 or better bucks. I don't hunt eastern MT for deer so I can't tell you much more than that.
 
North East MT had more Mule Deer loss then SE MT during the Winter of 010-011. Mule Deer Numbers are way down from 5 years ago. Still last Fall there were MD Doe tags, go figure? Guess it's the "haystack deer" During heavy snow more deer will depend on the hay for survival.
This Winter so far is very good for the wildlife. Should be in good shape if/when the blizzards hit.
 
Currently North East Montana has no snow and it has been above freezing for the past three weeks. We had snow on the ground for a while but not much but when it is 55 degrees during the day it doesn't take long.

Deer numbers are down but I bet every doe will be packing twins this spring due to the abundance of feed and the so far easy winter.

Will take some time to rebuild our herds but this is not the first bad winter these animals have faced and then rebounded.

Nemont
 
All,

Thanks for the replies. NeMont, I know what you are talking about. I remember the winter before my first hunting season which was in '78, you could buy 2 buck tags. 1978 went down to one tag. In 82 they started with doe tags by drawing and by 1984 you could get 4 doe tags and your buck as well as a buck antelope and two doe antelope. The numbers skyrocketed after a hard winter in 77-78 and herds way down. the following winters were easy by comparison
 
I remember when you could buy 5 either sex tags up around Seico,then blue tongue wiped em out.
 

Click-a-Pic ... Details & Bigger Photos

Montana Hunting Guides & Outfitters

Bearpaw Outfitters

Mule deer, whitetail, antelope, buffalo, and prairie dogs on private ranch leases totaling about 100,000 acres.

Urge 2 Hunt

We focus on trophy elk, mule deer, whitetail and antelope and manage our ranches for top quality.

Vargo Hunting

Top quality bear, antelope and free range bison hunts on the Crow Indian Res. Turkey and cougar as well.

Back
Top Bottom