Idaho mule deer recovery suggestions

[timberliner]

Just curious as to any ideas you all had on mule deer recovery in idaho? What do you all think needs to be done and how? I am an idaho resident and feel that the path of the mule deer here is not a downward spiral (yet). There is hope. Just wanted to get some feedback on others' opinions on the subject. Thanks and good hunting.

 

[Bob D.]

Probably the best thing, and this would be true in any western state, would be to eliminate over-the-counter tags, and make all mule deer hunting by permit only. Also, encourage the harvest of bears and cougars by reducing the price of tags, especially for non-residents.

 

[Pre64]

Very good points Bob D. I especially like the idea of increasing the bear and cougar harvest.

Or, get rid of the (^()^*&^*)^)^ wolves.

 

[Bob D.]

Well, getting rid of the wolves is not an option, but killing more bears and cougars is. I think they should be encouraging people to hunt bears and cougars. Tags should be $5.00 whether a guy is resident or non-resident. Just enough to pay for the paper and the cost of printing and selling them.

 

[Idaho_oldtimer]

I have hunted in Idaho since 1962, and I can tell you that mule deer ARE in a downward spiral in this state. During the 1967 hunting season my brother and I saw, between the two of us, 56 head of four point bucks within rifle range. That was four points on both sides with spreads as wide as their ears or larger. How many Idaho mule deer hunters have seen that in the past fifteen years? Idaho does need to eliminate over the counter tags, and go to a very conservative drawing tag quota at least for a while. Certainly predators are a problem. I see far more predator sign today that ever before. I think that tag prices for lions and bears should be reduced to $10.00 for res and non-res. alike. Another problem is that Idaho's population is just exploding. Wealthy people come here and buy up precious winter range. The next step is subdivisions. Deer have fewer and fewer areas to winter. These critical winter range areas need to be protected somehow. Another problem is IDFG. They in my opinion, are far more interested in dollars than they are in deer. Also their buck doe ratio is far too low in many areas of the state. Of the does I see, fewer than 50% have a fawn. They are having as hard a time finding a buck as the hunters are! I'd like to be optimistic about the future of mule deer in Idaho and the rest of the western US, but I'm not. PS. I hunt Wyoming.

 

[BrianID]

I'd agree with Idaho oldtimer, the mule deer in Idaho are already in a downward spiral. The total population the last 15 years is well below what it was in the 60's, 70' or 80's.

I don't think low buck/doe ratios have had any significant affect on the number of does bred. There have been many studies that show 5 bucks per 100 does can get the job done. Even in the units that are hunted hard the buck/doe ratio rarely drops below 5 bucks per 100 does. However, I do think higher buck/doe ratios would make healthier herds.

The quality of the hunting experience would be better in Idaho if the F&G managed the units like Colorado does. Unfortunately the F&G would have to drastically reduce the number of tags to boost the buck/doe ratios. They don't do this because that isn't what most hunters want. At the moment, I like the opportunity that we have.

Personally I would like the F&G to reward hunters that do not fill their tag the previous year and restrict the guys that did fill their tag. An open "two point" hunt and controlled hunt for larger bucks would also be something that I wouldn't mind. The only problem with my ideas is that I don't think enough other hunters would like them as well.

 

[gemstatejake]

actually, i have been pretty encouraged with the buck numbers and maturity level i've encountered over the pats couple years. gives me hope that the muleys may be bouncing back a little bit.
this past season i counted eleven bucks in a day of glassing in my area on a scouting trip. four or five were pretty good four points. opening day saw two well above average bucks (150-160 type deer) and killed a 173 gross later in the season. all in general units. there are still decent numbers of good bucks here in Idaho.
Many factors contribute the rise and fall of deer numbers. Hunting probably is one of them but it may not be the biggest. myself and most other resident hunters would be pretty bummed if deer hunting was restricted to a permit only basis. i would fight against it if it were proposed by F&G.

 

[WAZZUP]

i have been hunting idaho since 1988,the area i hunt has had a major reduction in bucks to does,probaly 7 bucks per 100 does,in 1988 i did not see 1 atv anywhere i hunted now they are in the thosands,it seems it is out of control ,the area i hunt has atv restictions,but no signage saying no atvs is displayed anywhere.i say walk or horses,get rid of the atvs,and better manage the predators would go along ways with bringing the herd back.

 

[Gator]

Bring in a dead bear or lion in to F&G office and get a buck/elk tag. I'm sure that would bring those numbers down quick.

 

[aimlow]

There are many reasons Mule deer struggle. It isn't just the fault of one person or an agency. If there is one thing that may be the root of it...well it may be $, and the human desire for progress.

While I've hunted SC Idaho for deer on occasion and Northern and Central Utah. It all looks about the same. I was raise in SE Idaho during the boom of Mule Deer and my ancestors all hunted them. I have returned there almost every year with a tag in my pocket since I started hunting in 72. Here is my observation of what has happened. Question is, can it ever be reversed? I doubt it. Stabelized maybe, but I doubt there is enough $ to put a few things back in place.

Hate em or love em the grazing industry, sheep, in the 30-70's put browse, particularly sage on the map. They manipulated the grasses and kept the browse coming. As the wool industry went south, so did our coyote control, and range manipulation. Grass now helped the elk populations grow and created another competitor for mule deer in the winter.

Add to this all the "everybody gets everywhere, because of motorized vehicals, and we are where we are with deer. The SE Idaho Mule Deer Initiative Program by the IF and G is at least taking steps to try and understand where we are at and if anything can be done. Itis an interesting program. You can check that out on their web sight.