Mule Deer Management Takes Center Stage In Eastern Montana

A number of public workshops, including one focused on Eastern Montana, were held throughout the state, and have given Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks important information about what hunters are thinking, what they would like to see in the new statewide Mule Deer Management Plan, and their thoughts on important ideas for the plan.

These workshops were crucial for FWP staff to hear directly from hunters who are worried about mule deer management and have ideas for the future.

The seven workshops at each of the regional headquarters offices drew close to 150 attendees. Attendees attended several discussions with topics touching on harvest, habitat, and health management in small groups.

The participants then selected what they believed to be the most significant goal that emerged from each session, with a number of additional chances for public input to follow, FWP intends to use these goals as a guide when creating a new management plan.

Ending in 2026, the updated Mule Deer Management Plan will take into account the most recent science and research on mule deer numbers and management, as well as public concerns that FWP has heard over the past few years. In addition to strategies and information on management concepts that address hunting harvest, mule deer habitat conservation, and herd health, the plan will give FWP more thorough guidance as it manages mule deer.

FWP Region 6 Supervisor Drew Henry facilitates a recent mule deer management workshop in Glasgow. FWP photo. 

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Eastern Montana workshop review 

Eastern Montana, where mule deer populations remain the highest in the state, has recently been the focus of the loudest concerns regarding declining mule deer numbers. Hunting mule deer on the eastern Montana prairies is a popular pastime of both local hunters and hunters from other states.

In Glasgow, there was some discussion about managing CWD, and there were differing views. Some hunters wanted to see FWP play a less active role in managing the disease, while others wanted to address it.

However, the topic of mule deer harvest generated the most interesting discussion.

Harvest management also dominated the conversation in Miles City, and participants were aware of the divergent viewpoints being voiced.

The management of mule deer is still a complicated topic, and it makes sense that public opinion frequently centers on the hunting opportunities that vary from year to year.

Here are ideas also brought up at the eastern Montana workshops:

1. Increase mule deer populations by reducing doe harvest on all land ownerships.

2. There needs to be scientific delineation of mule deer winter range with telemetry information and better protection and management of those areas.

3. FWP needs to improve habitat education and outreach.

4. We need to learn how to manage reducing buck-to-doe ratios and buck abundance with managing for an acceptable mature buck segment.

5. Mandatory reporting should include physical inspections of harvested bucks.

6. Overcrowding is a problem and pits resident against nonresident.

7. Reduce the number of nonresident licenses within each hunting district.

8. Management should increase the number of bucks and the average age of the bucks.

9. Shorten the general season.

10. There should be a cap on nonresident numbers by hunting district or region.

To check out what came about from other regions, click the link: HERE