Montana Cutting Deer Licenses

[MMCCAULEY]

who in the hell would kill a mule deer doe!!!

Agreed.  And if I was a Montana resident I’d support this. 

[huntandjeep]

who in the hell would kill a mule deer doe!!!

Alot of people.

[freezerfull]

Many things to improve the Montana mule deer situation could be done. This does absolutely nothing to help. Here are some things that would actually improve the situation yet FWP has chosen to ignore:

- Want to know what’s actually going on: implement mandatory hunter reporting.

- Want to rebuild numbers: stop allowing doe harvest.

- Want better age class: stop hunting November.

- Want less pressure: region specific tags for both res and non res; get rid of discounted NR tag programs; species specific general tags (MD or WT, must choose); move B tag doe seasons (should only be whitetail b tags at this point, still can’t believe MD does are open season on private land) to dates that differ from general season.

[MADMAX]

We hunted there for 10 days mid November. I saw no overcrowding where I was at. We were in the south east corner. Saw plenty of deer. I agree with what’s been said on the doe tags.
Limit the b tags to Whitetail
Then probably increase the price from 50 bucks to 150 bucks for non-residents

[buglebuster]

who in the hell would kill a mule deer doe!!!

Alot of people.

Right. When we went we’d always buy a doe tag too. Already there and made the investment might as well make it worth our trip. But there were tons and tons of deer where we were at. I don’t think I’d do it with as bad as people are making it sound now.

We hunted there for 10 days mid November. I saw no overcrowding where I was at. We were in the south east corner. Saw plenty of deer. I agree with what’s been said on the doe tags.
Limit the b tags to Whitetail
Then probably increase the price from 50 bucks to 150 bucks for non-residents

Are they only $50 now? I thought they were around $75 when we used to buy them but I haven’t been back since 2019

[3nails]

 Ok so I have a confession to make. Every year that I go I buy doe tags and eat them. Just to save a few. 

[MADMAX]

who in the hell would kill a mule deer doe!!!

Alot of people.

Right. When we went we’d always buy a doe tag too. Already there and made the investment might as well make it worth our trip. But there were tons and tons of deer where we were at. I don’t think I’d do it with as bad as people are making it sound now.

We hunted there for 10 days mid November. I saw no overcrowding where I was at. We were in the south east corner. Saw plenty of deer. I agree with what’s been said on the doe tags.
Limit the b tags to Whitetail
Then probably increase the price from 50 bucks to 150 bucks for non-residents

Are they only $50 now? I thought they were around $75 when we used to buy them but I haven’t been back since 2019

Nope your right, $75
I dont buy them

[CarbonHunter]

who in the hell would kill a mule deer doe!!!

Alot of people.

They don’t shoot just one they shoot half a dozen in some units. With limiting the NR tags they are also reducing the number of tags someone can have from 8 to 3 so that will actually help. Not that a lot of people shoot 8 deer but some people do.

For each doe shot in November that’s 3 less deer in June if that does survives winter. 🤷‍♂️

[cougfan79]

Maybe I just missed it, but is the reduction just in the category of “Deer Combo” or are they going to prorate it out across all NR draws ie: landowner sponsor, come home to hunt, etc?  What this creates could be a return to applying for the Big Game Combo, then electing to put in for an Elk unit that only has minimal NR tags so when you don’t draw your elk you get refunded that portion and retain your deer tag.

There are many things that can be done to improve numbers, but it boils down to residents not liking out of staters (and we here in Washington are their least favorite) and the ever growing political stance of concentrating on how to get re-elected rather than solving issue.

[Stein]

I don't think they would cut come home to hunt as it was created for the legislator's kids to be able to come home and hunt with their parents.

[JWBINX]

Maybe Montana should have special permits for Mule deer in November instead of
open season through out the month during the rut? Like most other states.

Carbon Hunter, please explain; shooting a doe in November, makes 3 less deer the following year.

Just to be transparent, I will never shoot a Mule deer doe!!

[Alan K]

Doe + 2 fawns = 3 deer...

[Alan K]

Personally I don't mind seeing a kid shoot a doe, but other than that the only reason in my mind to have doe tags at all is if the population is at carrying capacity for the land. Montana might actually get close at times, but they certainly arent there right now.

I don't mind seeing 150 deer a day when hunting. 

I would always rather err on the side of big populations rather than overshooting and ending up like Washington.  Makes for a better bounce back if there is a boom in predators or a bad winter.

[huntandjeep]

who in the hell would kill a mule deer doe!!!

Alot of people.

They don’t shoot just one they shoot half a dozen in some units. With limiting the NR tags they are also reducing the number of tags someone can have from 8 to 3 so that will actually help. Not that a lot of people shoot 8 deer but some people do.

For each doe shot in November that’s 3 less deer in June if that does survives winter. 🤷‍♂️

I agree with you . I have never bought a doe tag in Montana in the 10 years ive been hunting Montana.  Hell I've never applied for a doe or Cow tag in Washington.  Never saw the point to " Fill the freezer"  . And I have seen multiple  Montana guys at the hotel with 6 or 7 does in the back of their trucks . Of course they are usually the same guys complaining about the Washington guys shooting all the young / dink spikes and forkies.  While having young spikes and forkies in the back to " Fill the freezer " . Of course I've also seen a lot of Washington ( and other states )  guys with young bucks in the back of their trucks as well .