Mule Deer Fanatic

Excerpt from NRA

Earlier this spring, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft resource management plan for Ironwood Forest National Monument that proposes to ban recreational shooting in the 128,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument. The Monument is currently open to dispersed recreational shooting but if BLM’s preferred alternative (Alternative C) is adopted, ALL recreational shooting will be banned.

It is critical for BLM to hear from NRA members, hunters, and recreational shooters during this meeting to stress how important recreational shooting is in Ironwood. Make no mistake; this is just the first step to banning all firearms and their usage on all public lands. If the federal government can ban shooting on a vast rural area like Ironwood Forest National Monument, it can and it will ban shooting on all public lands. They must be stopped now.

An extremist environmental group called the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) issued an “Action Alert” to its followers calling NRA members who attended the five (5) previous meetings “reckless recreational shooters. These “reckless recreational shooters” are the same responsible, law-abiding shooters and hunters who pay millions of dollars every year in Arizona for conservation projects and wildlife habitat through license fees, taxes on ammunition, firearms, and other firearms-related equipment.

Please send written comments to the BLM by Thursday, May 30, and let them know that recreational shooting is a legitimate use of public lands, and a legitimate and traditional recreational use in Ironwood Forest National Monument.

The growing campaign to ban recreational shooting on federal lands in Arizona and throughout the West is underway.

Written comments are due Thursday, May 30 and can be submitted by mail to Mark Lambert, BLM Planner, Tucson Field Office, 12661 E. Broadway, Tucson, AZ 85748, or sent via email to . To review the management plans; go to “http://www.blm.gov/az/LUP/ironwood/ironwood_plan.htm”

The deadline to submit applications for fall 2007 deer hunts is Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 7 p.m. (MST). The new 2007-2008 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations with drawing information for deer, is available for download from the link below.

2007-2008 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations [ PDF, 8.85mb ]

As Reported by the Idaho Examiner:

     Reducing coyotes on mule deer fawning range and managing other predators is one component of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game’s Mule Deer Initiative. The initiative is a multi-faceted program aimed at increasing mule deer populations and public understanding of factors that influence mule deer populations across southern Idaho. The other five interconnected components of the initiative include: habitat, populations, communications, access and enforcement.

     “Research has demonstrated that focused coyote control during specific times of the year can improve mule deer fawn survival, especially when alternate prey – rabbits and mice – are low in abundance and deer populations are well below carrying capacity,” said Toby Boudreau, MDI coordinator for Fish and Game. Biologists are using radio-location data for mule deer from the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area to determine where mule deer does have their fawns. This information is then used to focus coyote removal before and during the spring fawning season.

     “Coyote removal efforts are conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services from December 1 to July 1,” Boudreau said. This is the 10th year that Idaho Fish and Game has funded and directed Wildlife Services to control coyotes on mule deer fawning ranges. The goal of the program is to remove 75 percent of the coyotes from a given area in an attempt to improve fawn survival.

     Fish and Game provides $100,000 a year to Wildlife Services to supplement predator control efforts in Idaho. In exchange, Fish and Game determines where Wildlife Services should spend hunting license and tag revenues to benefit wildlife. Predator control geared to benefit mule deer is based on an annual evaluation of mule deer populations, alternate prey, and environmental conditions.

For more information, contact Idaho Fish and Game at 208-525-7290.

To apply online for Idaho Mule Deer Controlled Hunt

Click here

As of: April 27, 2007

Combination Hunting & Fishing ……………………………..$199.75
Hunting ………………………………………………………………….. $141.50
Archery Permit …………………………………………………………..$18.25
Muzzleloader Permit ………………………………………………….$18.25
Deer (Regular or White-tailed) ……………………………… $258.50
Southeast Deer Tag …………………………………………………$258.50
Controlled Hunt Application …………………………………………$6.25
Controlled Hunt Permit ………………………………………………..$7.75

Deer Tag (controlled hunt)………………………………………..$266.25

Click these links for maps:

Southwest

Magic Valley

Southeast

Upper Snake

Salmon

Dates:
• Deer, elk, pronghorn, and fall black bear: May 1—June 5.

Nonresident Permit Limitations:
In controlled hunts with ten or fewer permits, not more than one nonresident
permit may be issued. In controlled hunts with more than 10
permits, EXCEPT unlimited controlled hunts, not more than
10 percent (not a guaranteed 10 percent) of the permits may
be issued to nonresidents. NOTE: If a resident applies for a
controlled hunt on a group application with a nonresident, and
the 10 percent nonresident limitation is met, rejection of the
nonresident on the application will also result in rejection of any
residents on that application.

You may apply for a Regular Controlled Hunt and send
in a second Controlled Hunt application for an X hunt.
Hunters also may buy a general deer and elk tag, and
apply for an X hunt. If you draw a permit for an X hunt,
you could harvest a deer or elk during the general
season and then harvest a second deer or elk in the
extra Controlled Hunt.

Drawing Results:
It is your responsibility to find out
if you were successful in drawing a controlled hunt permit.
Results will be available July 10 on the IDFG Internet site,
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Drawing Results:
All successful applicants, except
those applying for spring black bear hunts and turkey, will be
notified by mail at their mailing address listed on their hunting
license by July 10. Results will also be available at that time
on the IDFG Internet site, http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.
Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified.

UNCLAIMED PERMITS
Successful applicants for deer, elk, fall black bear, or
pronghorn controlled hunts must pick up their controlled hunt
permit and tag not later than August 1, 2007. All deer, elk, or
pronghorn controlled hunt permits and tags not picked up by
August 1, 2007 will be entered into a second controlled hunt
drawing (see page 21).

Why do we need the Mule Deer Initiative?
Mule deer are an important wildlife resource to
Idaho’s hunters and citizens. Southern and eastern Idaho
have traditionally been well known for abundant mule
deer populations providing plenty of hunting opportunity
and big bucks. Since 1992, mule deer populations in
portions of eastern, southeastern, and south-central
Idaho are lower than desired by both Department
biologists and hunters. The Department plans to
intensively manage deer to increase the number of mule
deer and increase the proportion of mature bucks.
is no single solution. The Mule Deer Initiative includes
habitat improvement projects, population management,
stepped up enforcement efforts, predator control, access
management, and public involvement – all in an effort to
increase mule deer recruitment and survival, increase
hunter satisfaction, and protect and improve habitat.

What is being done?
Habitat loss, predators, drought, changes in
hunting technique, and access are just some of the
factors influencing mule deer populations and the
hunting experience. Deer managers have no control
over weather, climate, and human population growth.
However, there is opportunity for deer managers to
improve existing habitat, reduce the impact of predators,
reduce elk occupation of important deer habitats, and
implement hunting season and rule changes to improve
mule deer hunter experience. Just as there is no single
reason for the decline in mule deer across the west, there
deer in Idaho.

Where can I find out more?
Visit the Idaho Fish and Game website at
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/mdi for more information