SE montana Mule Deer- population levels?

Ageewhy · Jan 13, 2018

Hi folks,

Last year I was planning my first mule deer hunt to SE Montana. I narrowed down to the Broadus area. I spoke with a few bio's from Fish and Game, and distinctly remember them telling me that the deer population in that area, and SE montana in general were extremely high- in fact he made a point to say that we need a hard winter and good harvest to get game levels back down...

Fast forward to the drawing that WAS all but guaranteed, and I didn't get drawn. So now a year has passed and I'm thinking of trying again. Any folks willing to chime in on the deer outlook in that area? Was the Bio blowing smoke?

Cheers,
Adam

lostinOregon · Jan 13, 2018

Hunted it for 25 years. It's getting better but not close to what it was years ago. Excessive deer, no.

Rich

antlerradar · Jan 13, 2018

I second what Rich has to say. Mule deer populations bottomed out a few years ago and have been making a recovery. Private land is recovering a lot faster than public land. There is some real good public habitat that has yet to see much of a recovery.
I have hunted the Custer for nearly 40 year and hunting is a weak shadow of what it was back in the 80's. That being said, you can still have a good hunt on public but don't expect to find any big bucks. Not saying it can not happen but it doesn't happen very often now days no matter how hard you hunt.

antlerradar · Jan 13, 2018

Biologist saying that the numbers are extremely high.
That is more than disappointing. God help us in SE Montana

mtmuley · Jan 14, 2018

Ad more deer hammered by the CWD hunt. mtmuley

dragonshed · Jan 17, 2018

Enjoy hunting some pretty country with about 1000 other hunters. That neck of the woods has become a hotbed for non-resident hunters the last 10 years and it's only getting worse every year.

tagsoup · Jan 18, 2018

I've hunted it a lot. Deer numbers are good, big bucks 170 plus are few and far between. If you are happy with a 140 - 150 buck you shouldn't have a problem.

"Go hunt for meat at Walmart."

WiscoKid · Apr 11, 2018

Can the same be said about the archery hunt?

HalfAce · Apr 12, 2018

Eastern Montana winters are likely the harshest of any of the lower 48. This winter is one of those bad ones. It just won't stop. There are winter storm warnings RIGHT NOW calling for another foot of snow. Ide say that's the last nail in the coffin. A guy would likely see a lot of deer fall of 2017. You may not see many deer on public this year. #####, might not see more than a 2 point in most places.

3404barrel · Apr 12, 2018

Hi Adam,
Hunted there as a non res. Talked with a lot of ranchers and locals none of which said the numbers were good let alone above objectives. For a biologist to say they wish for some bad winter to thin the herd....wow that is unbelievable ...period. One sure thing is there is always a majority harvest of young 1and 2 year old deer. People pay there tag fees and when discouragement sets in the next legal deer gets whacked and few deer see 4 years hence if u kill a 3 year old that's 150" you've accomplished near top end caliber. Maybe better quality with an outfitter but maybe not...they need to put clients on deer too and there is not much for a surplus of bucks once December rolls around.
Jon

WyMont · Apr 17, 2018

Horrible winter in SE Montana. Worse with each April snowstorm. Enjoy a combat hunt with a thousand other people for a genetically superior 2.5 year old deer.