2) Hunters are able to accomplish a significant harvest (50-65%) of mature (2 1/2 + 

 years) bucks during the first three weeks of the season when weather conditions are 

 even moderately favorable for successful hunting. This occurred during three of the 

 last six years which diminished recruitment into age classes four and older. This has 

 held the population below the stated management goal of maintaining 40% of the 

 harvest in age classes greater or equal to four years during five of the last six years. 



3) Illegal kill of mamre bucks during the last two weeks represents an additional 18% 

 of the legal harvest. 



4) Natural mortality of bucks six months and older is a significant factor in mountain 

 ecosystems that is contributing to low buck: doe ratios. 



n. Four Point Buck Regulation 



Purpose: A four point mule deer buck regulation was initiated in HDs 320, 333, 



& 329 in 1986 at the request of hunters. Hunters wanted to increase 

 their opportunities to take a larger buck by restricting hunters to only 4 

 point or larger deer. 



Background: HD302 was used as a control to compare with HD329, because its lower 

 security is similar to that of HD329. HDs 331 and 312 were used as controls to compare 

 with HDs 320 and 333, since they exhibited higher habitat security similar to those districts. 



Results: 



1) Increased post-hunting season buck/doe ratios: HD 329 increased from an average 

 of 5.4 bucks/ 100 does during four years prior to the 4 point regulation to an average 

 of 8.4 the four years after the regulation (Figure 19). In HD 302 (control) the average 

 buck/doe ratio stayed essentially the same during the same time period (8.4 to 8.6 - 

 Figure 19). 



2) Importance of Habitat Security: Even with the increase in the post-season 

 buck/doe ratio in HD 329 (5.4 to 8.4/100) due to the 4-point regulation, the ratio of 

 bucks/ 1(X) does in that district remained below the ratio found in hunting districts 

 exhibiting greater habitat security. An example is HD 331, which had an "any 

 antlered buck" regulation (15/100). 



3) Increased 4 - point harvest: The 4-point kill combined for the three 4-point 

 hunting districts increased from 318 bucks in 1985 to 583 in 1988. The 4-point kill 

 decreased in the three combined "any antlered buck" hunting districts from 510 to 455 

 during the same period (Figure 20). 



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