Montana to cut deer tags

[Narcs]

Deer hunting in particular, but game pursuit in general, is a whisper of what it was not so many years ago. Sadly, it will have to get worse before it gets better. Even then, I’m not sure it will change. Until landowners see a financial benefit to changing farming practices that enhance and expand habitat, the outlook is bleak. Throw in disease, oil/gas development, wind farms and horseshit weather, the outcomes are pretty obvious. Let us not forget our local, state and federal politicians can’t spell “conservative”, let alone know the meaning of such when it comes to habitat and wildlife. It’s not that complicated. The evidence is all around us, we’ve watched it gradually transpire for the last 10-20 years. Sportsmen complacency only compounds and expedites the process.

 

[Tinesdown]

Deer hunting in particular, but game pursuit in general, is a whisper of what it was not so many years ago. Sadly, it will have to get worse before it gets better. Even then, I’m not sure it will change. Until landowners see a financial benefit to changing farming practices that enhance and expand habitat, the outlook is bleak. Throw in disease, oil/gas development, wind farms and horseshit weather, the outcomes are pretty obvious. Let us not forget our local, state and federal politicians can’t spell “conservative”, let alone know the meaning of such when it comes to habitat and wildlife. It’s not that complicated. The evidence is all around us, we’ve watched it gradually transpire for the last 10-20 years. Sportsmen complacency only compounds and expedites the process.

Um sportsmen bieng complacent expand on that just a touch like. Do you think people non landowners want to see acess dwindle i meen dont think you said that correctly how as a average joe hunter can we make even a bit of difference with gov or landowner practices riddle me that???

 

[Tinesdown]

Deer hunting in particular, but game pursuit in general, is a whisper of what it was not so many years ago. Sadly, it will have to get worse before it gets better. Even then, I’m not sure it will change. Until landowners see a financial benefit to changing farming practices that enhance and expand habitat, the outlook is bleak. Throw in disease, oil/gas development, wind farms and horseshit weather, the outcomes are pretty obvious. Let us not forget our local, state and federal politicians can’t spell “conservative”, let alone know the meaning of such when it comes to habitat and wildlife. It’s not that complicated. The evidence is all around us, we’ve watched it gradually transpire for the last 10-20 years. Sportsmen complacency only compounds and expedites the process.

Um sportsmen bieng complacent expand on that just a touch like. Do you think people non landowners want to see acess dwindle i meen dont think you said that correctly how as a average joe hunter can we make even a bit of difference with gov or landowner practices riddle me that

Um sportsmen bieng complacent expand on that just a touch like. Do you think people non landowners want to see acess dwindle i meen dont think you said that correctly how as a average joe hunter can we make even a bit of difference with gov or landowner practices riddle me that???

Complacent?? Idk do we even have a dog in the fight I dont think its about hunting any longer or habitat its about money (greed) imo!

 

[NDSportsman]

I'd rather see $12B spent on CRP or other land conservation practices then a bailout for corn and bean farmers.

 

[zoops]

No matter what tag numbers are, you're not going to have many deer if all you have is seas of corn & beans and no trees, sloughs, grass, etc.

 

[Tymurrey]

How many people on here that are complaining about deer numbers have done anything to help. How many people applied for a doe tag this year and didn't hunt just so someone else didn't shoot a doe. All i see from most fellow sportsman is complaining, no action. Thats not everyone and i've met some truly good people who care about actual conservation but i read a lot about people willing to spend thousands on the gear and nice things to go hunting but nothing on actual conservation. Landowners are evil and destroy habitat, so get a group of people together, buy some land and plant some crp and trees on it and make your payments and if you can't stomach the cost of the land for being able to shoot a couple of deer or pheasants maybe quit bitching about farmers doing it. Cash out some of your 401k and buy land, if you don't see that as a financially wise investment then quit complaining. Until these people truly do something besides tell everyone and every agency how to fix the problem while they sit at home, nothing will change. The game and fish doesn't need to cut doe tags if everyone would apply for them and then not fill the tag and all it would cost each one of you is $30 to help increase the herd.

 

[Tymurrey]

I should also mention it’s not the farmers in a my area and lots of other places driving up the land values. It’s lawyers and doctors and oil money along with out of state groups. Sacrifices have to be made to compete in the land ownership world for normal people.

 

[KDM]

How many people on here that are complaining about deer numbers have done anything to help. How many people applied for a doe tag this year and didn't hunt just so someone else didn't shoot a doe. All i see from most fellow sportsman is complaining, no action. Thats not everyone and i've met some truly good people who care about actual conservation but i read a lot about people willing to spend thousands on the gear and nice things to go hunting but nothing on actual conservation. Landowners are evil and destroy habitat, so get a group of people together, buy some land and plant some crp and trees on it and make your payments and if you can't stomach the cost of the land for being able to shoot a couple of deer or pheasants maybe quit bitching about farmers doing it. Cash out some of your 401k and buy land, if you don't see that as a financially wise investment then quit complaining. Until these people truly do something besides tell everyone and every agency how to fix the problem while they sit at home, nothing will change. The game and fish doesn't need to cut doe tags if everyone would apply for them and then not fill the tag and all it would cost each one of you is $30 to help increase the herd.

I like the idea of buying a tag and throwing it away. Lets the average guy who doesn't own land do some good if they want. I know I've spent 30 bucks in a bar more times than I want to think about and didn't do anyone a damn bit of good, including myself. However, not complaining about habitat loss would be just as useful. Telling folks without land to "put up or shut up" might not be the best way to get the guys in Bismarck to lean into the problem. I think more "squeaky wheels" will result in a better outcome than "The silent majority". However, I'm just an old fat guy. What do I know.

 

[bowhunter12]

People Bi#ch and moan about rifle, gratis, muzzy and archery tags for residents, all arguing about this tag or that tag. Just a bunch of "fighting" b/w residents tags. I never hear anyone complain about the unlimited, no unit restrictions for the NON RESIDENT whitetail archery tags. There is zero restrictions on these tags and they could theoretically sell more non resident archery whitetail tags then they issue rifle tags for residents in the entire state. The eastern counties get hit hard with the 2 big Universities (UND and NDSU, non resident students get tags at resident fees!) and MN being across the river. Sure some non residents spread out over the state, but the vast majority stay close to home, probably drive within an hour of the red river to hunt for all the ones buying tags over here. The mule deer units have restrictions for non resident archery mule deer tags(Basically any deer tag, like a resident tag). Why not whitetails tags, especially with our deer populations decreasing? We continue to decrease resident rifle tags and do nothing about the non resident archery tags. That's where I have the issue. If we had high deer numbers, then I have no problem with issuing more tags! I can attest that in the last 5 years I've seen a huge increase in non resident archery hunters, this day and age there is a much higher success rate too. Another factor is the very limited amount of public land on the eastern side of the state and all of a sudden you have 3-4 trucks from MN parked on a very small piece of public stuff. Some of the public ground I used to hunt, not no more as it gets hammered year after year by the MN boys. They have zero common courtesy either, if you are parked there, they park next to you and come walking right by you ruining your hunt. I know, comes with hunting public ground, but what happened to common courtesy?

I think all RESIDENTS could agree on tag restrictions for non resident whitetail archery hunters! Currently non residents can enjoy "any whitetail deer" state wide archery tag, no unit restrictions or sex restrictions, just has to be a whitetail. $375 gets them that tag, fairly cheap this day and age. If you are a non resident student then you pay the same fee as a resident.

Let's start with non resident archery whitetail tag by having a lottery(like mule deer), each unit allows so many tags based on the resident rifle tags that year, maybe 5% of the rifle Buck tags issued for each unit. That would lower pressure, in return I would imagine #'s would increase slightly and allow for more tags for the resident rifle draw in future years. Are deer numbers ever gonna be like the late 1990's, early 2000's, no but this would be a starting point that most every resident could agree on? just my take!

Start talking to your legislators to get behind a non resident archery lottery tag system with unit restrictions!!! It is all run through the legislators, they make the laws. Game and fish has zero control over this, they only enforce the laws.

 

[Bacon]

What’s this lack of deer thing you talk about?

 

[Tymurrey]

I like the idea of buying a tag and throwing it away. Lets the average guy who doesn't own land do some good if they want. I know I've spent 30 bucks in a bar more times than I want to think about and didn't do anyone a damn bit of good, including myself. However, not complaining about habitat loss would be just as useful. Telling folks without land to "put up or shut up" might not be the best way to get the guys in Bismarck to lean into the problem. I think more "squeaky wheels" will result in a better outcome than "The silent majority". However, I'm just an old fat guy. What do I know.

Habitat loss needs to be addressed but blaming everyone else does no good is what I wanted my point to be. I enjoy hunting and wildlife. I’ve taken out loans from my 401k, financially struggled, sacrificed nice things to afford to buy some land and then dumped thousands of dollars and time and effort into trying to make that land better. Sometimes being harsh and calling the loudest screamers out needs to be done. I understand many can’t afford to do much but many can. How important is your camper, boat, pickup, big house? Could you do with less to help fix the problem you complain about. I can honestly say that I seen the problem coming and did what I could to address it for the future of my family and friends. I let one doe get shot off my land this year. I had a random guy stop and ask if he could shoot it, it was an older gentleman with his son and grandson along I believe. Hated to see a doe get shot but how many hunting seasons are left for that guy I didn’t know and especially ones with his family.

 

[Downrigger]

I've heard from a lot of people that went to MT that the deer numbers were poor. Even from some of the landowners our there that have Type 2 access that were like, yes, you can book but we don't have any deer. That was disappointing holding a buck tag. Went anyway, with very low expectations. Never have I have seen so many deer out there (been going for 10-years) and so many mature deer. Shot a decent 5x5 on the second morning and had my sights on two other good 4x4s the day before where it just didn't work out to get a good shot. We only walked over one ridge to a deep ravine that didn't have deer, all the other had deer in them and pretty most does had fawns.

The habitat in MT is there, they'll rebound if mother nature will help them.

 

[Jiffy]

Shut the season down for a while.

We have lots of money. Let’s look at something besides money when making decisions about our wildlife. (I’m referring to the Game and Fish)

Farmers…they’re going to do what is best for them. Rightfully so. It’s their land blah, blah…ect ect. Let them eat their cake. We can’t control what they do.

The game and fish…they work for us. Anything political comes with the obvious corruption and alternative motives.

Gents as always it boils down to $$$.

Have I ever mentioned I hate ALL politicians and ALL politics? Probably…

 

[Fritz the Cat]

Was visiting with a sponsor of the Clean Water Wildlife and Parks ballot measure 2013. Out of that the Outdoor Heritage Fund was created at $15 million. That passionate sponsor has never attended a meeting or has not once visited the website. They had a meeting Tuesday.

https://www.ndic.nd.gov/research-grant-programs/outdoor-heritage-fund

Meeting minutes and recordings are not up to date.

Instead click on Grant Rounds and Final Reports. Grant Round 27. Proposals. And advisory board members.

The wildlife non-profits are making off with your money faster than the Somali non-profits.

 

[wslayer]

Likely wouldn't be beneficial unless around 3 years no licenses it takes time for animals to grow. Some just think its a quick fix put life takes years to establish imo!

Well it certainly isn't gonna help shooting 1/2 the impregnated does every year. There is such a thing as a Start To Life.

 

[wslayer]

I've heard from a lot of people that went to MT that the deer numbers were poor. Even from some of the landowners our there that have Type 2 access that were like, yes, you can book but we don't have any deer. That was disappointing holding a buck tag. Went anyway, with very low expectations. Never have I have seen so many deer out there (been going for 10-years) and so many mature deer. Shot a decent 5x5 on the second morning and had my sights on two other good 4x4s the day before where it just didn't work out to get a good shot. We only walked over one ridge to a deep ravine that didn't have deer, all the other had deer in them and pretty most does had fawns.

The habitat in MT is there, they'll rebound if mother nature will help them.

A lot of Montana's land is rough enough so it will never be broken up and farmed unlike our flat land where every acre has to be broken up to get the almighty bushel of corn. They're habitat is there to stay. Granted there is plenty of flat land that is hurting for habitat, thus the low deer numbers in those areas.
Glad you were successful . . .