4) Decreased total buck harvest: In 1985 for the three 4-point districts combined, the 

 total mule deer buck harvest was 892 animals. In 1988, the legal 4-point harvest was 

 reported at 58? animals (35% fewer 4-point bucks than before the 4-point regulation). 



5) High yearling buck mortality: Even though yearling bucks were protected by the 

 4-point regulation, survival through the hunting season was significantly less than 

 100%. In HD 329, there were 61% fewer yearling males on the winter range after the 

 hunting season than projected to be there. The survival was better in the more secure 

 Tobacco Root Mountains (HD 333 =37% fewer yearlings and HD 320 = 22% 

 fewer). 



6) No Major Increase in 4-point bucks: Out of 1,438 deer surveyed after the 1988 

 hunting season in the three 4-point areas, only 5 (3%) of the 149 bucks observed had 

 four points. 



III. Permit Only Buck Mule Deer Season 



Purpose: Permit only buck mule deer seasons were initiated in HDs 291, 441, 



530, & 650 to increase the availability of larger bucks for hunters, 

 improve the post season buck/doe ratio and improve the buck age 

 structure. 



General Description: The four hunting districts occur in markedly different habitat types. 

 The varying weather conditions, deer population characteristics, hunter numbers, and other 

 factors unique to each area are reflected in the results observed under the permit only season. 

 HD291 291 is in the East Garnet Mountain Range north of Drunmiond and Avon, west of 

 the continental divide in mountain foothill habitat. HD441 lies along the east face of the 

 Rocky Mountains in Teton and Pondera Counties where deer migrate from the Bob Marshall 

 Wilderness to the foothill zone along the east face of the mountains to winter. HD530 is a 

 very large district in central Montana near Roundup. Within the district, there are six distinct 

 habitats: low lying mountains, riparian/ agriculture, agricultural/prairie, ponderosa pine 

 breaks, native prairie grasslands, and breaks. HD650 is in northeastern Montana includes 

 sagebrush/grassland, native prairie, breaks and riparian habitats. 



HD291: 



Background: Landowners and hunters believe that this hunting district historically provided 

 large numbers of mature buck mule deer during the hunting season. As hunting pressure 

 increased in this low security habitat, buck/doe ratios declined to only 3-4 bucks per 100 

 does post-season. Although the production and survival of fawns remained good, a growing 

 number of hunters expressed concern about the high percentage of yearling and low numbers 

 of mature bucks harvested. As a result, the department implemented a buck hunting by 

 permit only season (50 permits) following the first week of the general either-sex hunting 

 during 1986. The objective of this regulation was to increase the average age of bucks in the 

 population and increase the post-season buck/doe ratio to 20 bucks/ 100 does. Retaining one 



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