INTRODUCTION 



Deer are the most common big game animal in Montana. Mule deer (MD) occur throughout 

 nearly all areas of the state and white-tailed deer (WTD) predominate in northwestern 

 Montana and throughout the riparian zones and adjacent bottom lands of the southwest and 

 east. Deer hunting is popular among Montanans, with approximately one in every five 

 hunting deer annually. A survey of deer hunters in 1985 revealed that total expenditures by 

 resident and nonresident hunters amounted to $63,875,730 (Brooks, 1988). 



Today's deer management is influenced by many factors some of which are beyond the 

 control of deer managers. An example is Montana's human population and the changes 

 occurring in agriculture. Population estimates by the Census Bureau for 1994 indicate that 

 eight of the ten fastest-growing states are in the Rocky Mountain region with Montana 

 gaining 1.8% between 1993 and 1994 (841,000 to 856,000 respectively). 



At the same time, landownership and human use patterns are changing. The number of 

 smaller farms and ranches is decreasing and the number of larger ones is increasing. The 

 Montana Crop & Livestock Reporting Service estimated there were 24,600 farms and 

 ranches in Montana in 1992. This compares with over 37,200 farms and ranches in 1950. In 

 1950 the average size of a farm or ranch was 1,747 acres. By 1992, this has increased to an 

 average size of 2,439 acres. 



The growing number of Montanans has resulted in increased subdivision activity, especially 

 in western Montana. In the past wildlife managers most frequently had to address problems 

 with deer in agricultural settings, now these managers must address the problem that 

 increasing deer populations can pose in an urban setting. Here the issues of public safety, 

 trespass of private property, individual landowner preferences often dictate the use of new 

 and iimovative approaches. 



A change in how some landowners view wildlife and the hunters that wish to pursue wildlife 

 has occurred with the increased size of farms and ranches. Hunters no longer can count on 

 receiving permission to hunt, and many times a fee or use of an outfitter is the only way to 

 gain access. This change has resulted in increased hunting pressure to the remaining open 

 private land and public land. More hunters hunting less and on less land not only has caused 

 complaints of "too many hunters" in some areas but has also influenced the age and sex 

 characteristics of the deer population to the point that hunters are complaining about the 

 number and size of the bucks in some locations. 



Recognizing the changes that are occurring and evaluating deer management in Montana is 

 the purpose of this analysis. This analysis will describe deer in relation to their environment 

 and the effects of hunting as they relate to both the hunter and deer. Our purpose is to 

 provide an information base for future management decisions. The next phase will be to 

 provide direction for Montana's future deer management program by establishing 

 management objectives for the different areas of the state. 



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