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State of Montana- Mule Deer Status Report
 
   

Contact Information

State/Province: Montana
Contact Person: Glenn Erickson - Chief, Wildlife Management Bureau
Address: MFWP
Chief, Wildlife Management Bureau
1420 East Sixth Ave.
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701


General Deer Harvest Information
Hunter Harvest Data 1970 1985 1995 2000
Total Mule Deer Harvest NR 75,899 79,115 56,155
Antlered Mule Deer Harvest (Rifle) NR 46,952 45,655 36,371
Antlerless Mule Deer Harvest (Rifle) NR 27,348 30,891 9,293
Antlered Mule Deer Harvest (Archery) 290 965 1,080 NR
Antlerless Mule Deer Harvest (Archery) 151 634 1,489 NR
Resident Hunters NA NA NA NA
Non-resident Hunters NA NA NA NA
Total Deer Hunters* (Rifle) 136,903 190,935 177,919 138,318
Total Deer-Hunter Days* (Rifle) NR 915,538 1,222,910 954,659
Total Deer Hunters* (Archery) 3,438 21,736 17,004 NR
Total Deer-Hunter Days* (Archery) NR 128,153 137,361 NR
 * Hunter numbers include mule and white-tailed deer hunters.  Archery stats are estimates.

 

 Fees and Limits
Resident License Fees: $13 + Conservation ($4) = $17
Deer B License (usually antlerless) $11
Non-resident License Fees: Big Game Combo $478; Outfitted BG Combo: $975
Deer Combo: $248; Outfitted Deer Combo: $850
Deer Landowner Sponsor Combo: $253
Deer B License (usually antlerless): $78
% of state in public lands:
(USFS, DNR, WDFW, BLM)
 ~ 24%
Season Bag Limit: 1 per license
Definition of a Legal Animal: Varies by hunting district and license


Season
Structures

Common Opening Day: Begins on a Sunday counting back 5 weeks from the Sunday following Thanksgiving
2001 Season Dates:

General - 5 weeks
Archery - 6 weeks
Muzzleloader - No season

Mule Deer Population Statistics
Mule deer
Population Statistics
1970
1985
1995
2000
Total population NR NR NR NR
Mean buck ratio/100 does NR NR NR NR
Range buck ratio/100 does NR NR NR 4-50
Mean fawn ratio/100 does NR NR NR NR
Range fawn ratio/100 does NR NR NR 22-93

Black-tailed Deer Population Statistics
 Black-tailed deer do not occur in Montana.


Current
Mule Deer Population
Status

Status/Trend UPDATE: May 2002.  Click here..

The winter of 2000 again proved to be very mild.  A record total of 52,105 mule deer were classified in the spring, which again showed high fawn:adult ratios and good survival of both fawns and adults. Harvest strategies corresponding to the standard season were recommended for many areas in 2000 since those areas had reached the objectives identified in the
Adaptive Harvest Management Plan.  Moderate levels of B licenses for antlerless mule deer and either-sex seasons were implemented.  Hunter checked harvest during the fall of 2000 was 20-40% above the previous year and the total mule deer harvest increased to 56,155 (up 23%).

Spring surveys in April 2001 showed continued recovery of mule deer.  Many areas surveyed indicated a 20% increase rather than a 20% decrease as predicted the previous fall. Fawn/adult ratios ranged from 24-80 fawns/100 adults. The mild winter weather conditions allowed for excellent survival of fawns. Buck ratios ranged from 4-50 bucks/100 does during post season surveys. The mean buck ratio ranged from 5-38 bucks/100 does with the high of near 50 recorded in regions 4, 6 & 7.

In summary, Montana's mule deer populations are meeting or exceeding objectives in many areas just 4-5 years since the lows experienced during the period 1995-1997. Although populations are not at the highs recorded in the early 1990s, populations are rebounding toward previous levels rather rapidly. The winter weather, summer forage conditions and hunting season harvest the next few years will dictate our success in adequately responding to the dynamic nature of mule deer populations in Montana. We anticipate implementing liberal hunting seasons in many areas of the state in 2002.