Mule Deer Initiative for WA State

[MuleDeer]

Okay, let's hear what you all have to say about your ideas and observations for how we should manage our Mule Deer herds over the long term.  Let's keep it positive and constructive: this is a legitimate chance for us as hunters and conservationists to play a part in how the state handles our wildlife.
Look forward to reading the conversations here!

[grundy53]

I for one think habitat improvement should be on top of the list. Especially in the wintering grounds.

[carpsniperg2]

  Predators. Way to many and they are really hurting the populations.

[257 Wby Mag]

Draw only for modern, similar to Oregon.. Predators are next on the list.

[grundy53]

Predators. Way to many and they are really hurting the populations.

I agree. We definitely need more predator control.

[BAR C3]

I for one think habitat improvement should be on top of the list. Especially in the wintering grounds.

Imagine If they gave preference points for volunteer hours to help improve the habitat...
I would be in and I bet hundreds as well.
I would do it regardless but something I guarantee would put a lot  of men and women in the woods helping.

[KFhunter]

tag

[pd]

Okay, let's hear what you all have to say about your ideas and observations for how we should manage our Mule Deer herds over the long term.  Let's keep it positive and constructive: this is a legitimate chance for us as hunters and conservationists to play a part in how the state handles our wildlife.
Look forward to reading the conversations here!

OK, I will bite.  Tell us about your self.  This is your second post here, and you show yourself to be a "lifetime member" of a Mule deer foundation.  Clearly you have an agenda---what is it?  Tell us first what your thoughts and opinions are; it seems to me that you have some strongly felt ideas about how management should change, and I would really like to hear what those ideas are.

[wackmaster]

What about if you draw a tag that is your hunt no general season

[KFhunter]

visibility is going to be a problem,  folks will be blasting trophy animals from long distance.  Ya it'll be fantastic hunting - too good really.
Poaching - seeing trophy's out there so easily killed from a road

feed this winter,  even with a fall planting of grasses the snow will cover it up.  With the sage gone there won't be air holes and pockets to get down into the snow.



I'm leaning towards emergency closure and setting up some winter feed stations.

[3nails]

 Split the state deer tag into three parts and have hunters declare their region. West, east, and northeast. This would help all three deer species. imho.

[huntnphool]

visibility is going to be a problem,  folks will be blasting trophy animals from long distance.  Ya it'll be fantastic hunting - too good really.
Poaching - seeing trophy's out there so easily killed from a road

feed this winter,  even with a fall planting of grasses the snow will cover it up.  With the sage gone there won't be air holes and pockets to get down into the snow.



I'm leaning towards emergency closure and setting up some winter feed stations.

 Oh for crying out loud, how about we wait for the end of the summer at least before we call for knee jerk reactions to the fires.

 Yes, there has been a lot of winter feed destroyed by the fire, but there are still plenty of units, hundreds of thousands of acres of wintering ground and food left for deer to move to.
 
 Some of you guys act like the deer that migrate into Chiliwist and the burned parts of Pearrygin will get there, see that their normal wintering hole is burned, and then just sit down and starve to death.

 My guess is they will do what other animals looking to survive things like this do, "migrate" until they find the places that have food.

[huntnphool]

Okay, let's hear what you all have to say about your ideas and observations for how we should manage our Mule Deer herds over the long term.  Let's keep it positive and constructive: this is a legitimate chance for us as hunters and conservationists to play a part in how the state handles our wildlife.
Look forward to reading the conversations here!

OK, I will bite.  Tell us about your self.  This is your second post here, and you show yourself to be a "lifetime member" of a Mule deer foundation.  Clearly you have an agenda---what is it?  Tell us first what your thoughts and opinions are; it seems to me that you have some strongly felt ideas about how management should change, and I would really like to hear what those ideas are.

 +1

[grundy53]

bear in mind, this isn't just dealing with the areas damaged by recent fires. But our mule deer population in this state as a whole.

[grundy53]

This is the time for science-based decisions, on both dealing with this year's crisis, and the long-term future of management for our Mule Deer.  A 10+ year study on Mule Deer has just been finished in WA, and now the next step is to have a Mule Deer Initiative (MDI) written for our state.  This record fire has just added to the already needed habitat improvement, and now we may need to see season adjustments due to the loss of cover and habitat. (reference the Trinity Ridge fires near Boise, ID and the following slaughter of trophy Mule Deer because a season was left open with no restrictions.)
The gentleman who will be writing the MDI for WA state is looking for any and all information that can help us manage in the long term.  I will start up a new thread where we can all submit ideas and concerns, and I'll invite him to join the forum.  But, let's keep it civil and based on science and actual observations, so he won't leave after being pummeled verbally.  If we want to bash WDFW and it's practices (as we all do at times), let's leave it for another thread.  Look forward to reading and conversing with you all on what we can do now and in the future to better manage our Mule Deer herds.

Perhaps the OP's other post will clear things up a little bit. Hopefully he will do a full introduction when he comes back on.