Has the commission ever considered different harvest regulations on size of Mule Deer available for harvest per unit? I'm from Eastern Idaho and I feel that if there was an imposed minimum size on bucks that are harvested, we could see an increase of mature animals available for harvest each year. In some areas like 66, 67, 69 etc. I'd like to see a harvest minimum of 3 point or above. I think the quality of more mature bucks available for harvest would increase exponentially. Harvest might potentially drop, but from my observations, the quantity of animals in each of these units has been down for some time, and could use a regulation to save the seed bucks and help improve populations. To me, this would explain why the youth doe, and either sex hunts were either minimized or dropped completely. Would the commission ever be open to establishing minimum size available for harvest in areas like these that receive high pressure?
Answer:
We have tried antler point restrictions in eastern Idaho in the mid-2000s in response to public encouragement. Unfortunately, it did not produce the desired effect on saving more bucks and allowing for them to get older. It actually reduced the number of 4 points in the population and made finding mature bucks even harder. Those trial areas were tested for 5 years and by strong public demand were subsequently removed. Youth doe hinting was dropped in response to severe winters that reduced deer populations and will be resumed once population estimates are at such levels to warrant those hunts again if needed to manage the population.
Answered on:
Thursday, October 13, 2022 - 4:37 PM MDT