Mule Deer Restrictions

[blacklab]

Blacklab
Wolves have already been here for awhile, they have cleaned out my whitetail spot 3-4 years ago and I first saw them 12 years ago in region 8, did someone tell you they weren't here yet?
Horshur
is someone sticking their head in the sand?

Wolves have been in 8 where I've hunted for a lot of years.
I think there fairly new to the areas west of the lake over to Merritt. I think the big ranches have kept their numbers in check in the past. I saw an increase in wolf sigh in southern region 3 about 3 years ago. First time I ever saw evidence of a pack, south of the Thompson. There was a pack of about 6 near as I could tell just south and west of Tunkwa.

[stan]

The problem in 8 08 isn’t predators, it’s too much hunting pressure and development all over winter range. No where else in North America can you wack any buck for a full month plus all the other youth and 4 point opportunity.the summer range is now nothing but cut blocks where mule deer are easy to kill.anyway there is a serious decline what should be done?

[HappyJack]

When they can be pounded on for around 60 days total wtf would anyone expect?

I doubt too many people pound them for 60 days. The harvest is limited by the regional bag limits not by how many days are open for hunting. some guys hunt in September, some hunt in October, some only hunt weekends. Are you suggesting it would be better to have a 14 day season and have everyone there at the same time?

[Stone Sheep Steve]

The problem in 8 08 isn’t predators, it’s too much hunting pressure and development all over winter range. No where else in North America can you wack any buck for a full month plus all the other youth and 4 point opportunity.the summer range is now nothing but cut blocks where mule deer are easy to kill.anyway there is a serious decline what should be done?

Just look to the adjacent MU to the north. 8-11 is one of the brighter spots in Region 8. Good deer numbers and good buck to doe ratios. It also has lots of hunting pressure and lots of cutblocks.....but it also has one big burn as well as several more recent smaller burns. Fawn to doe ratios are similar to the rest of Region 8 in the 66-68:100 in early December.

Just so you know I do support doing whatever it takes to increase lower buck to doe ratios to meet our minimum management standards. Only Time will tell if the proposed new regs will work.... but it certainly won't grow more deer.

SSS

[Jelvis]

The governments building a huge park south of Kelowna soon it was on the news, closed to hunting apparently, A vast area, I wood be worried more about that right now lol.
Jel == Right by Kelowna a huge new park, closed to hunting it said so your losing a huge area in Reg 8
If you don't believe me look it up on the internet.

[HarryToolips]

Way to much pressure in the okanagan now days

I believe a much harder contributing factor to deer number decline in region 8 would be too much development on winter range...

[Stone Sheep Steve]

You have identified a couple of problems that mule deer are up against, both of them involve habitat issues, not hunting, or overhunting as some would have you believe. A hwy dissecting critical winter habitat and no fires, so the best idea some can come up with is limit hunting, smart....
Without knowing the area in question, the mule deer may be in another area perhaps higher up because of the snow conditions which are unusual this year and I have seen them in places I thought were strange in deep snow during winter in the N Okanagan, just a thought.

That's pretty much what I saw last year in one spot. Nothing but whitetails up to one point then all of a sudden the mulies arrived with increasing snow depth with a good crust. That's why I take my personal observations from the ground with a grain of salt.

SSS

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Bullshit 10 years ago mule deer were all over 8 08 same fences. And I sure ain’t gonna pray For another fire season like last year. The Bcwf needs to realize that the season for mules has way too much opportunity.

If your buddies have spent some time in that area they will know that some years it's like a linear graveyard along that fence. Fences may help the deer avoid vehicles but they also help the preds especially when the snow has a bit of depth and gets crusty.

[358mag]

Did anyone else catch Global news Okanagan last night and see the story about all the Mule deer down on the orchards and vine yards < all unfenced> in the Kelowna east side .. There wanting to do a big cull to get rid of them, maybe bow hunt . No shortage of mule deer or sperm in that news story .
Maybe Dana was on to something .............

[358mag]

That's pretty much what I saw last year in one spot. Nothing but whitetails up to one point then all of a sudden the mulies arrived with increasing snow depth with a good crust. That's why I take my personal observations from the ground with a grain of salt.

SSS

That's kind of like our sheep count area , for years + years + years the Whitetails out numbered the Mule deer 25-1 , but in the last 8-10 years its all Mule deer and next to no Whitetail . Mother nature sure can put a spin on things .
You coming down on Sunday for the count ???