Under common populations of white-tailed deer following a illness outbreak and variable numbers of mule deer had been counted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists throughout the post-season winter and spring aerial surveys in northeastern Montana’s Area 6.
“A major drought in 2021 had impacts on the mule deer numbers throughout the area, most notably within the central and western portion of the area,” stated Ryan Williamson, Outlook-area biologist.
“The 2021 drought doubtless led to decrease fawn survival and recruitment, as indicated by the decrease fawn ratios we noticed throughout the surveys,” he added.
Within the south-central portion of the area, together with searching districts (HDs) 620 and 630, numbers had been under common, with different districts north of Freeway 2, resembling 670 and 600, remaining above common, and HD 690 remained close to common. As a consequence of inhabitants decreases in HDs 620, 630, 670 and 690 in comparison with the previous few years, B-license quotas had been lowered previous to the June 1 drawing.
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In distinction, HDs 640 and 650 within the japanese portion of the area are nonetheless effectively above common and better numbers of antlerless B-licenses had been maintained.
“We at the moment are beginning to see mule deer numbers nearer to common throughout the area,” Williamson stated.
Whitetails
The 2022 winter surveys for white-tailed deer present a density of seven.3 deer per sq. mile throughout the development areas. That is under the long-term common of 10.6 deer per sq. mile, and the bottom density seen since 2016.
The 2021 drought impacted whitetail habitats and distribution as effectively, however one other important issue was an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic illness, primarily on the japanese portion of the area alongside the Missouri River.
“The biggest EHD impacts had been in areas nearer to the North Dakota border, and winter surveys indicated reductions of over 50% alongside the Missouri River and Sandhills areas however was noticeably patchy with some areas nonetheless sustaining common numbers,” Williamson stated.
Scattered pockets of EHD had been additionally noticed on the Milk River between Glasgow and Malta and out on the prairie habitats in northeastern pockets of the area, together with within the Dagmar and Froid areas.
B tags
Past the overall deer license (also referred to as the “A” tag), which is legitimate for either-sex deer or both species, many choices can be found to acquire extra antlerless deer licenses (also referred to as “B” tags). Hunters could maintain a complete of seven deer B licenses. Apart from the June 1 drawing for antlerless mule deer-B licenses, a number of different choices are nonetheless obtainable:
• The excess license record sign-up is open June 20-July 20. Hunters should go to their myFWP account on the FWP web site to join the excess record. If drawn, hunters should then finalize the acquisition of the license/allow inside the timeframe laid out in an e mail from FWP, in any other case, the chance might be provided to the following hunter on the randomized record.
• Hunters can buy the 006-00 single-region antlerless white-tailed deer B-license (as much as 4 per hunter) over-the-counter beginning Aug. 8. This license is legitimate all HDs in Area 6.
• Hunters could possibly buy over-the-counter antlerless mule deer-B surplus licenses (which might be left over after the excess license record is full), beginning Aug. 8.
For any questions on license alternative, please seek advice from the 2022 deer, elk and antelope rules or name your native FWP workplace.