Hoss,
If you understood supply and demand you would not have to worry about funds.
I agree with your point on how many deer historically. However you fail to factor in technology along with all the shiit that has been listed. So back to my point...1 thing that we actually have control of....hunters.
Well, like you, I talk to biologists. Their number 1,2,3,4 concerns are LACK OF FUNDING. The best biologists don't work for the DWR, they make more elsewhere. Projects cost money. Equipment costs money.
So, because they lost over 100,000 hunters, and because dudes squeal, tag prices are stagnant, as inflation is 7% this month.
Which creates the hole, that your buddies over at $fw are happy to fill, for a fee of course.
Which brings us to facts.
YOU, Muley, care about mule deer, UNTIL it hits home You don't believe shutdowns work, or YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, would sit home. You don't. You simply virtue signal in Utah, then run to Colorado, FOR HUNTING OPPORTUNITY. But somehow it's "the opportunists, who are the issue. Because as we all know, Utah deer STAY ONLY IN UTAH. Colorado deer don't cross borders. The issue with the decline in Mule deer, throughout the west, IS THOSE DAMN UTAH OPPORTUNISTS.
Beyond my "amusement" at your math, the issue I have with YOU, is you are full of crap.
You chase mule deer hunting EVERY YEAR. Same as me. But somehow YOU convinced yourself youre above it all, because you call for shutdowns to save mule deer in Utah, then haul ass to other states.
THAT MAKES YOU AN OPPORTUNIST. And that's a fact.
3years ago I challenged YOU, and all the other "shutdown" guys to post the pic of the tag you got and paid for, then post the video of you cutting it up, PRIOR TO THE HUNT. In 3, years, there is a grand total of ZERO pics or vids.
Lots of dudes ***** afterwards. Lots of dudes claiming the "ain't killed a deer on my tag in years",. No dudes funding the DWR, then sitting home. Yourself included