Montana’s Proposed Deer Hunting Reduction Draws Concerns
OutdoorHub Reporters 12.18.13
Last week the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission gave their preliminary approval to limit the number of mule and whitetail deer hunters could take. According to the Helena Independent Record, the proposal came after deer populations took a hit following recent die-offs.
“Usually you see 150 mule deer in my field,” Conrad Commissioner Richard Stuker said. “This year we’re leaving the gate open in my hay fields and we haven’t seen a single one.”
The proposal would eliminate the majority of type “B” licenses, which allow hunters to take antlerless deer. The Associated Press reported that 30,000 type “B” licenses were issued last year.
“B tag holders took 10,000 white-tailed does in 2012,” said Mary Ellen Schnur, a spokesperson for the Montana Outfitters and Guides Association. “That’s a lot of deer. It’s time to look at this and be supportive of this proposal.”
Hunters’ associations such as the one represented by Schnur are generally in favor of the proposal, due to a decline in the deer population that some have reported to be between 60 to 90 percent in certain areas. However, Montana hunters urge wildlife officials to review the data before going forward with this bold plan. State biologists have yet to complete their winter deer surveys, which will provide vital information for the decision makers.
“[The Montana Sportsmen’s Association] supports the recommendations for mule deer; we all recognize they’re going through some tough times,” said spokesman Vito Quatraro. “The knee-jerk reaction from sportsmen is, it’s a good thing, but let’s give sportsmen some data. This is a sweeping change statewide. I think we need to see the numbers.”
Deer in north-central Montana were especially affected by an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which is believed to have been exacerbated by a longer and warmer summer. The Great Falls Tribune reported that biting midges, which spread EHD, survive longer in hotter summers and have a greater chance to expose deer to the disease.
