A mule deer buck goes out exploring a field in the Anaconda area in July. Photo courtesy of Carly Moodry.
Hunters should know that we take your concerns about mule deer management seriously. FWP and hunters share the same goal – healthy herds and more hunting opportunities.
Staff know how easy it is to believe myths and misconceptions when they are repeated over and over again – by friends, at hunting camp and even at check stations. In a new video posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_0YUb9p_g, FWP addresses the most common myths and misconceptions about mule deer management.
These include:
• Hunting and predators are what really drive mule deer numbers;
• FWP is slow to respond;
• Long seasons and rut hunting hurt mule deer recruitment;
• Hard winters are the main killers of mule deer.
These are all valid concerns, but as the video points out, the biggest factor for herd health is habitat. Where they live, what they’re eating and how those things change over time have a huge impact on herd health.
With hunting season right around the corner, FWP encourages all hunters to watch the video to understand how real world observations and data drive FWP’s mule deer management decisions.
What’s new in Region 2:
• Join FWP Region 2 Wildlife Manager Liz Bradley as she shares what she’s seeing on the ground, what hunters can expect this season, and the ongoing work behind the scenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDBhKi88OHE
• Mule deer were hit hard by recent years of drought and severe winters in southwestern Montana, FWP wildlife manager Warren Hansen talks about the work Region 2 is doing to better manage the Mule Deer populations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRaLp2_8Uik
