Elk vs Deer

[Prism]

Anybody else read the article in the latest "Muley Crazy?"

Pretty interesting stuff! Check it out if you haven't already.

I know in areas around here where I use to see bucks I now find bulls-both summer and winter ranges.

Just another piece of the puzzle I'm sure, but one game managers can somewhat control unlike the weather, etc......

www.neverenoughbiggame.com

 

[ridgerunner]

When did the latest MC come out? It's been sometime since I've gotten an issue, perhaps mine is on its way.

 

[NvrEnuf]

I received my Muley Crazy Mag yesterday evening so they are in the mail.

I read the article about last year's state wide UT Sportsman's Tag. A handicapped kid drew the tag and since he is unable to walk Doyle and 3 or 4 of his buddies took turns carrying him up the mountain. He sure seemed appreciative of all the help he received. I'm glad to see the tag and one heck of a nice buck go to such a deserving feller.

I didn't make it to the Elk vs Deer yet but that article sounds very interesting and is next on my list.

NvrEnuf

 

[Silentstalker]

I know that several areas we hunt used to be awesome deer areas with elk sightings few and far between. Now it is the exact opposite. I truly believe that it is no coincidence that with elk thriving in this state that the mule deer are struggling. Maybe we can't have both? Or maybe we need to manage deer more restrictive and allow more elk to be harvested?! What do you all think?

 

[idhunters]

People with biology degrees may have a different opinion but I can think of area after area that used to have tremendous deer populations and now are, quite frankly, over run with elk.

Are the elk just filling in habitat left vacant by deer? I don't think so, as elk & deer typically don't eat the same forage. It seems that the feed base must have changed to be more supportive of grazers (elk) than browsers (deer).

Anyone have an opinon on why?

A rancher I know used to shoot good bucks in their meadows and foothill ranch. A year or 2 ago they killed 6 bulls opening day and when I said I saw a 20" 3 point buck they all kinda freaked out that there was a deer on their place.

Its enough of an issue that the Idaho Fish & Game have several units with open rifle hunts for cows to try and control the population.

I don't know if the elk have pushed out the deer or if the elk have just taken advantage of a situation that made the deer leave, but there is certainly a correlation between increasing elk range and decreasing deer population in those areas.

 

[JACKELOPE]

>I received my Muley Crazy Mag
>yesterday evening so they are
>in the mail.
>
>I read the article about last
>year's state wide UT Sportsman's
>Tag. A handicapped kid
>drew the tag and since
>he is unable to walk
>Doyle and 3 or 4
>of his buddies took turns
>carrying him up the mountain.
> He sure seemed appreciative
>of all the help he
>received. I'm glad to
>see the tag and one
>heck of a nice buck
>go to such a deserving
>feller.
>
>I didn't make it to the
>Elk vs Deer yet but
>that article sounds very interesting
>and is next on my
>list.
>
>NvrEnuf


They showed that hunt on tril of the sportsman.
good show

 

[rabidrattlesnake]

I think the elk are taking advantage or are better suited to the forests we have created. On the one hand it is very sad about the deer and on the other you got to love the elk in the numbers and sizes they are now in.

 

[idhunters]

"I think the elk are taking advantage or are better suited to the forests we have created"

I'm curious, what do you think they are taking advantage of, the feed? What things have we done to create it?

My opinion is the reduction in grazing by cattle and domestic sheep have caused an abundance of feed suited for grazers. I also think that fire suppression has had some effect.

What do you think?

 

[AWHOLELOTTABULL]

I have noticed that where there is an abundance of elk the mule deer seem to thin out. In the areas that I hunt the elk and deer seem to co-habitate pretty well but the numbers are definately out of balance. I would guess that elk outnumber deer 10-1. I have always said that the UDWR has done a great job managing elk but it may have come at the mule deers expense.

www.awholelottabull.com

 

[cpugsie]

In Arizona about 15-20 years ago, there were many monster bucks seen and taken in many of the Mogollon Rim units, 3,4,5... The largest buck I've ever seen was in unit 4a during an archery elk hunt. At the time there were not as many elk as today. I haven't seen a decent buck in years in those units. But I also have witnessed a definite decline in monster buck numbers up in the Kaibab where there are just a handful of elk to speak of.

It is nice to see all the monster elk up on the rim though. Not sure if the elk push out the deer or they are just on the decline by themselves. 15-20 years ago in the Kaibab you could see a monster buck everytime in the field. Not any more???

Carl