week of either-sex hunting at the beginning of the general five week season was intended to 

 mediate the loss of hunting opportunity, and keep hunters from shifting to other areas at least 

 during the first week of the season when the highest numbers of hunters were in the field. At 

 the same time, antlerless B licenses were increased to control population increases. An 

 adjacent district (292) was used as a control to make comparisons. 



Results: Following the first year of permit hunting, nearly twice as many deer and four 

 times as many bucks (mostly yearlings) were observed in post season surveys. The ratio of 

 bucks/ 100 does increased to 15. Increases in total deer and numbers of bucks also occurred 

 in the control area (HD 292)(5-6 bucks/100 does), but not to the degree of that observed in 

 HD291. After three seasons of permit hunting, a buck/doe ratio of 22/100 was observed and 

 numbers of adult bucks were the highest observed to date (80 versus 4-8 prior to 1986). In 

 the control area (292), the total number of deer increased as did the number of bucks; 

 however, the majority of the increase was in yearling bucks, and few mature bucks were 

 observed. The buck/doe ratio remained at five. 



Since 1988, the post season buck/doe ratio in HD291 has declined to 13 bucks/100 does. 

 This was caused by the season structure which allowed anyone with a deer A license to hunt 

 the first week due to the perception that there was a better chance of harvesting an older 

 buck. 



During the 1986 season, hunter numbers in HD 291 decreased by 10%, while numbers in 

 HD 292 increased by 19%. This might suggest a displacement of hunters as a result of the 

 restrictive buck season in HD 291. However, during 1987, hunter numbers in HD291 

 increased by 55% over 1986. This may be explained by the fact that one hundred antlerless 

 B tags were issued for the first time during 1987 or hunters may be responding to improved 

 chances of harvesting an older buck during the first week of the season. Conversely, hunter 

 numbers in HD 292 dropped 9% during 1987. With the exception of the 1993 season in HD 

 291, hunter numbers have increased slightly in each district since 1988. 



Although sample sizes of hunter killed deer incisors are small, the average age of bucks 

 harvested did increase from 2.4 in 1986 to 4.1 in 1993. 



HD 530: 



Background: A low cycle of deer numbers in 1986 along with post-season buck/doe ratios as 

 low as 4/100, prompted concern from sportsmen. In response to those concerns, HD 530 

 regulations were changed in 1987 from an antlered mule deer season open to anyone with a 

 general A deer license to one which restricted mule deer buck hunting to only hunters with a 

 special permit. The objective was to maintain a post-season buck/doe ratio of 20-25/100. The 

 number of buck permits issued was limited to only 200 the first year. Since that time, permit 

 levels have increased and in 1992, 1500 were issued. Success based on permits issued was 

 only 10% the first year, but has fluctuated between 22 and 28% since then. 



34 



