Mule Deer Fanatic

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
INCORPORATED 1871
11250 Waples Mill Road – Fairfax, VA 22030

The number of licensed hunters has dropped steadily, from 14.1 million in 1996 to 12.5 million today. Gleeful anti-hunters claim that hunting is dying, and no longer of interest to Americans.

But it isn’t lack of interest in hunting that’s causing the decline.

It’s overly complex, nit-picking regulations that turn inadvertent mistakes into criminal offenses. It’s too much difficulty in finding a place to hunt, or even to sight-in your rifle. It’s overzealous law enforcement. It’s archaic minimum-age hurdles that must be cleared before youngsters can hunt. And it’s radical anti-hunting groups–and their sympathetic media–that succeed in closing down hunting seasons, even when they are overwhelmingly justified by the science of wildlife management.

“There are more threats to hunting than many of us seem to realize,” said NRA Executive Director of General Operations Kayne Robinson, who spearheaded the development of the site. “And many of those threats are caused by government action, abuse, or inaction. Government red tape and bureaucratic hostility have reached a point where people are actually being driven out of hunting. A hunting license is not probable cause to believe its owner is a crook to be searched and interrogated.

“NRA strongly supports game laws based on sound wildlife management, and we vehemently oppose laws that only serve the convenience of the bureaucracy,” Robinson continued. “The hunters rights’ abuses NRA addresses are not to shield the guilty but to protect the innocent from being treated like the guilty.

“With all these factors combining to make it harder for an average citizen to hunt, we saw a need to keep people informed through a Website devoted to hunters’ rights issues.”

If you have not clicked on www.nrahuntersrights.org yet, here’s a small sampling of some of the story topics already posted, or in development.

In Alaska, guide Jim Hamilton and his brown bear hunters were startled when a low-flying plane circled their camp more than a dozen times. The plane carried a local TV news crew, whose members camped about 50 yards from the hunters. The crew crowded the hunters all the next day until a kill was made, and at one point a cameraman allegedly got in front of a rifle on one stalk. A few days later, the station aired a story questioning whether a perfectly legal hunt was fair chase and ethical. According to Hamilton, the pilot and TV crew ” ruined the hunting experiences of at least six resident and nonresident hunters and endangered their safety as well.”

In Oregon, hunters are complaining that an increased cougar population–brought about by a ban on using hounds for cougar hunting–is leading to substantially increased predation on deer and elk. The ban was strongly advocated by anti-hunting groups–and now deer and elk hunters are paying the price in decreased opportunities.

In Arizona, half–yes, half–the population of desert bighorn sheep on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge have died because of drought. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service planned to install water-for-wildlife devices to save the remaining sheep — but radical environmental groups sued to block them! NRA and other groups stepped in, helping to allow the water projects to go forward while the suit is in progress.

In New Jersey, despite clear scientific justification for a black bear season, anti-hunting zealots managed to block it. The antis went a step farther when they tried to pass legislation that would remove hunters and fishermen from the State Fish and Game Council, and allow political appointees–meaning anti-hunters–to replace them. New Jersey sportsmen roared their opposition at rallies, in the press, and at the polls. Major sponsors of the bill were voted out, but the legislation they introduced remains pending.

In Missouri, turkey hunters are now required to affix a yellow “Be Safe” sticker to the receiver of their guns so that it will be in the line of sight when shooting. Besides being useless, or at the very least unproved as a means of preventing accidents, the sticker regulation is an insult to anyone who has taken hunter education. Should a hunter be subject to a fine if the sticker gets brushed off in the woods or simply forgets to put it on?

BLM lands are used by millions of responsible hunters and recreational shooters. Yet in Colorado, there are plans underway to close the entire, 164,000-acre Canyons of the Ancients National Monument to recreational shooting. Also in Colorado, BLM plans restrictions to travel routes on lands it administers within the San Luis Valley. Proposals would limit the retrieval of game off designated routes except to a perpendicular distance of 300 feet from the edge of a route.

Nationwide, many areas require shotguns-only for deer hunting, based on the perception that shotgun slugs won’t travel as far as centerfire rifle bullets. But these decisions should be based on science, not perception. And studies show the ballistics of modern slugs are rivaling, and in specific circumstances even surpassing, those of rifle bullets.

And while hunters’ rights issues make up the heart of the site, there are 13 sections in all, and various ways for readers to provide comment. “Hunting Headlines” includes stories about new opportunities hunters need to be aware of, such as various states’ efforts to increase public hunting lands and introduce new seasons. Two of the most popular columns are the monthly “Gift Giveaway” and the “Trophy Gallery,” in which readers can share their best hunting photos. Also stay up to date on new products by checking into “Hunting Gear You Need,” or click on “Range News” to see if there’s a new place near you where you can sight-in before the season or just practice your marksmanship. “Dubious Regulations” is your chance to tell us about nonsensical laws, and “Eye on the Antis” keeps you aware of how groups like PETA and the Humane Society of the United States are trying to abolish hunting.

Perhaps most of all, the site is the primary source of information on what NRA is doing to protect your hunting rights. Through the combination of our political strength, our hunter recruitment programs and even our grant funding, there is simply no one group doing more for hunters than NRA. Hence the name, www.nrahuntersrights.org.

Does this Mexico buck look like a new World Record?

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Jason Gisi’s buck IS the current SCI World’s Record at 221 3/8 for Desert Mule Deer.  I got to hold it in my hands when my Dad officially measured it for SCI.  The pictures don’t do the buck justice – it’s freaky big in person.  Chad Smith of Vaquero Outfitters was his guide.

28 5/8, 28 4/8 beams
32 1/8 inside

Mexico, Hermosillo – Jan, 2005

Eli Grimmett

http://pronghornguideservice.blogspot.com/

Even friends of mine, who ought to know better, are in favor of making the Arizona late bowhunt a draw hunt. When I ask them why, the typical response is, “everything is getting overhunted”. When “reasonable people” view mule deer hunting this way, I wonder why, as hunters, we have become so willing to attack the symptoms vs. the problem. By applying band-aids to the symptoms, the real problem is obscured. In our self-centered desire for presumed “better hunting”, we cut off our nose to spite our face.

We are witnessing the last of a dying breed – so to speak. There aren’t very many mule deer hunters left who know how good it could be, having seen how good it once was. If the present trend continues, there will be no over-the-counter mule deer tags available anywhere. To me, this slow cancer of declining opportunity feels like a loss of freedom. I have told my friends that once it is taken away, it will not be given back.

Since I, apparently, possess one of the last remaining over-the-counter Arizona mule deer archery tags, I decided to put it to use on the “opening day” of the unit 10 late bowhunt. December 14, 2007, was my first attempt at this hunt, and may very well be my last.

There was a fairly fresh blanket of snow over much of the unit, so I decided to find deer by looking for tracks. I especially like to find tracks that are so fresh that the deer are still standing in them, but I didn’t find any of those. The muleys in this area don’t need to migrate, but they do anyway. Snow is a great blessing for the few remaining deer because they can go wherever they please and have access to what would otherwise be a scant supply of water in this drought-ridden state.

I spent most of the day behind the steering wheel, and I covered a lot of ground. High, low, north, east, west, and south. Mid morning I found a likely looking spot with fresh deer tracks crossing the road, and decided to set out on foot. I hiked for 3 hours. The only live animal I saw, not just while hiking, but for the whole day, was a fox.

Some say that tracks in the snow tell the story. Rabbit tracks were, by far, most abundant. I cut hundreds of them. Coyote tracks were next in abundance. There were about 30 sets of these. There were three deer tracks, and one lion track. The lion was fairly large, having a 4 inch wide foot print. The lion had been hunting from the ledges overlooking a sidehill. I used a similar strategy.

If I were to judge the number of animals by the number of tracks, then it is absolutely amazing that there are any deer left at all. For every 10 deer there would be 3 lions and 10 coyotes. I don’t know how the rabbits survive either.

I did not see one live deer all day. Most of the hunters were driving the roads. Most were congregated around the areas where there were deer tracks. In a couple of spots, there were migration tracks that looked somewhat like a herd of sheep had passed through. Over the rest of this very large unit, tracks were very few and far between.

Now, after a hunt like that, wouldn’t it be easy for me to say that the unit is overhunted and that it ought to be a draw? It would be, if I were ill-informed. But, I realize that the problem is “not enough deer”, and the symptoms are: poor hunting experience, and overcrowding around where the few deer remain. The solution is to have more deer, not less hunters. And, if we were to go back in time, we would find that, once upon a time, there were more deer, more hunters, more opportunity, and more success. What is the solution, you ask? Less predators – way less. Our wildlife agencies have taken to managing hunters for the predators, instead of the other way around.

As far as I can tell, with the possible exeption of water, there is ample habitat for many more deer, both in quantity and quality. The rabbits and the elk are making it possible for the predators to avoid starvation from the lack of deer or there would be no deer and no predators.

I had a lion tag in my pocket. If I could have shot ( or shot at ) a lion, coyote, or fox – I would have done so. The fox, that I saw, didn’t hang around long enough for a shot or he may have had an arrow enema.

Do your part. Kill predators. Resist decisions that reduce opportunity for hunters.

Utah Big Game Unit Map:

Link to 2007 HUNTING ODDS REPORT

“Kansas deer hunters boast about having record numbers of “Huge Bucks.” It certainly cannot be denied, but there could be an underlying reason — for years, non-residents were not allowed to deer hunt in Kansas! Now that the state has allowed non-residents in on a drawing basis, those that received the lucky draw, can attest to that fact — Kansas has an abundant number of huge bucks.

Idaho has published a Mule Deer Management plan that will be in force for the next decade. If you want your voice to be heard, here is the link: COMMENTS.

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My comments to Idaho: “None of Idaho’s units have anywhere near the mule deer they should have. Every single one of the units should be marked “increase”. Overall, mule deer numbers are at about 1/3 of what they once were. That is pretty sad for a state with so much potential. Stop killing does and fawns until the REAL carrying capacity is reached.

I estimate that predators are killing 150,000 (or more) mule deer in Idaho each year. There is nothing more important to managing mule deer than predator control, and yet it is almost totally ignored. Why do you bury your heads in the sand about this issue when no other problem comes anywhere close in its severity? All the rest of your goals are fluff, and expensive fluff at that, if you do not address the predator problem.

Suppose I was in business having old customers that were leaving me, and that my products and service were so bad that I could not obtain any new customers. How do you think it would work if I then paid good money to recruit new customers while collecting that money from the old customers and while giving the old customers even less product/service? That is exactly what you are doing.”

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Some of my observations about the plan:

1) The plan will spend a lot of money and accomplish very little

2) Money will be spent to recruit new hunters (while old hunters have been severely restricted) instead of spending money to have more deer

3) In 12 goals, only one mentions predator control, and it is only short-term control at that.

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HERE ARE THE “GOALS”

Goal #1: Provide mule deer hunting opportunities that reflect the preferences and desires of hunters, including maintaining annual hunting opportunity and increasing opportunity for mature buck hunting experiences.

• Example Strategies:
• Maintain general hunting to allow annual hunting opportunity with family and friends.
• Provide additional mature buck hunting opportunity, equitably distributed throughout the state (e.g. some quality or trophy hunting available in each region).
• Provide for a balance of motorized and non-motorized hunting experiences.

Goal #2: Maintain healthy and productive mule deer populations proportionate to habitat capabilities.

• Example Strategies:
• Manage mule deer populations below carrying capacity to promote healthy populations, including optimal buck recruitment.
• Use antlerless harvest conservatively to achieve population goals.
• Monitor for, and manage against, disease.

Goal #3: Implement predator management actions when and where appropriate to aid in achieving management objectives.

• Example Strategies:
• Increase mountain lion harvest short-term following significant declines in mule deer populations.
• Continue to direct Animal Damage Control Board coyote removal efforts.

Goal #4: Encourage recruitment of new hunters and retention of existing hunters.

• Example Strategies:
• Continue providing either-sex opportunity for youth.
• Develop simple and easily understood hunting regulations.

Goal #5: Fully implement the Mule Deer Initiative Action Plan.

• Example Strategies:
• Continue devoting additional personnel and funding to accomplish on-the-ground projects to benefit mule deer.

Goal #6: Improve and protect habitat.

• Example Strategies:
• Improve or protect more than 50,000 acres of habitat annually.
• Increase Department involvement in landscape scale land-use planning.
• Promote livestock management practices that benefit mule deer habitat.

Goal #7: Evaluate a cost-effective and reliable habitat monitoring program.

• Example Strategies:
• Develop a management tool that can be used to improve habitat and population management efforts.

Goal #8: Reduce illegal harvest.

• Example Strategies:
• Increase targeted enforcement efforts, especially on mule deer winter ranges.
• Provide training and information to other law enforcement agencies to increase awareness of poaching and commercialization.
• Reduce illegal outfitting and guiding for mule deer.
• Promote citizen involvement in enforcement issues.

Goal #9: Improve population monitoring programs.

• Example Strategies:
• Monitor mule deer population size, body condition, age structure, fawn production and survival, adult survival, and buck:doe ratios annually.
• Develop short-term and long-term total population objectives for discrete mule deer populations.

Goal #10: Work with landowners and sportsmen to minimize and mitigate for depredations.

• Example Strategies:
• Increase the use of permanent solutions to address chronic depredation problems.
• Encourage use of youth, seniors, hunters with disabilities, and veterans for harvesting depredating deer.
• Distribute information to agricultural producers on how to minimize depredations.

Goal #11: Implement special investigations to improve population and habitat management capabilities.

• Example Strategies:
• Conduct an in-depth analysis of the impacts of varying season length and timing on buck survival.
• Determine long-term impacts of noxious weeds, fire, and habitat change on mule deer populations.

Goal #12: Provide information and improve public understanding of, and involvement in, mule deer management.

• Example Strategies:
• Increase distribution of mule deer information via newspaper articles, internet, public meetings, radio, television, direct mail, e-mail, and workshops.
• Distribute educational materials promoting the relationship between hunting and wildlife conservation in Idaho.
• Increase opportunities for public involvement including public meetings, internet, conservation organization meetings, and e-mail

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Draft Plan Population Goals

The state has been divided into 15 mule deer population management units (PMUs) consisting of one or more game management units. Population management units were based on seasonal movements of deer, habitat characteristics, and similar management priorities. Short-term population goals are likely to be met within one to three years simply through hunting season structure, assuming normal precipitation and snow conditions. Long-term population goals are designed to be achieved in three to 10 years and are dependent on implementing a number of management strategies within the plan, particularly habitat improvement projects.

BLM closes lands to protect wildlife. Let the few remaining Mule Deer rest in peace.

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According to a Shoshone area news report, the BLM has been closing land to vehicles in the lower Woodriver Valley for 25 years in order to make a safe haven for wintering wildlife. The closure will start Dec 1 and run through Apr 30.

Areas covered by the closure include: – Martin and Big Dry canyons east of Bellevue.

– A large block of lands extending from Croy Creek to south of Townsend Gulch, with snowmobile and snowshoe use permitted on main roads.

– The Big and Little Beaver drainages northeast of Fairfield.

– The south-facing slopes above the East Fork of the Big Wood River.

– The Elk Mountain area to the north and northwest of Muldoon Creek.

– Portions of the Picabo Hills.

To view a detailed map of the BLM’s Wood River Valley area winter closures, go to www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/shoshone/off-highway_vehicles.html and click on “Seasonal Closure Map.”

Idaho Unit Map

BearPaw Outfitters of Alberta, Canada

These guys are pricey, but they produce.

Here are some links I think you will want to look at:

• 2001 Trophy Mule Deer
• 2002 Trophy Mule Deer
• 2003 Trophy Mule Deer
• 2004 Trophy Mule Deer
• 2005 Trophy Mule Deer
• 2006 Trophy Mule Deer

As reported by the Reno Gazette:

NDOW notebook: Black mule deer spotted in Winnemucca

PROVIDED BY NDOW

Posted: 11/16/2007

We have our fair share of wildlife legends here in the West. Bigfoot has been spotted all over the Pacific Northwest and Tahoe Tessie is seen from time to time patrolling the waters up at Lake Tahoe.

So when locals in Winnemucca began reporting sightings of a solid black mule deer, some people may have started to get their nicknames ready for the next big legend of Nevada.

Mike Cox, big game biologist at the Nevada Department of Wildlife, has his own name for the phantom deer … he calls it a genetic alteration.

“It looks like it fell into an oil spill, but obviously we don’t have those in the middle of Nevada,” Cox said. “There are genes that map out the characteristics of an animal in its embryonic stage. Sometimes it’s a funky hoof, or a tweaked antler, or in this case the hairs of this mule deer are a different color than the normal mule. Sometimes there are recessive traits that are hidden in those genes that never see the light of day except for maybe one in a million, or one in two million.”

NDOW biologist Ed Partee states that black mule deer have been spotted before in Nevada.

“We have seen these black deer in the past in Humboldt County, mainly in the Jacksons, but we haven’t seen it for quite some time,” said Partee.

Cox reports that there appears to be nothing else out of the ordinary with the black mule deer doe other than its striking color.

“It’s definitely unusual. We may never see it again for a generation, or 50 years, or we may see it next year,” said Cox. “It’s almost like slot machines. You have to pull that slot machine a long, long time until you get the right combination, and that’s what happened with this melanistic mutation.”