Where Oh Where have the Mule Deer Gone

[New2Elk]

I had multiple nice areas scouted out for mule deer the last couple of years but now none of them seem to have any mule deer left in them (located in WMU 336 north of Highway 16). Last year I was still seeing lots with about a 50/50 split between mule and whitetail, both the ones I saw in person and what the trail cams were capturing. I decided to put in for mule doe draw this year and of course now that I have the tag, I can't find any. Haven't seen a single one in over a dozen days in the field. Trail cams are also not showing any recent mule activity, only whitetail now. The mule populations seemed to have dropped off all through the summer and were basically gone by August. I have noticed significantly more wolf tracks around recently and keep capturing cougar on the trail cams occasionally. Talking to the locals in a couple of locations, they have also noted how the mule deer that frequented the areas over the last number of years seem to be gone. The whitetail populations still seem to be doing ok. Does an increase in predation affect the mule deer populations more so than whitetail? That's the only thing I have been able to come up with so far. Or is it a matter of whitetail taking over and edging out the mule deer? Even one local who took me to his "mule deer spot" was surprised when all we were seeing were whitetail and no mule deer over a couple of days.

[Faststeel]

Originally Posted by New2Elk

I had multiple nice areas scouted out for mule deer the last couple of years but now none of them seem to have any mule deer left in them (located in WMU 336 north of Highway 16). Last year I was still seeing lots with about a 50/50 split between mule and whitetail, both the ones I saw in person and what the trail cams were capturing. I decided to put in for mule doe draw this year and of course now that I have the tag, I can't find any. Haven't seen a single one in over a dozen days in the field. Trail cams are also not showing any recent mule activity, only whitetail now. The mule populations seemed to have dropped off all through the summer and were basically gone by August. I have noticed significantly more wolf tracks around recently and keep capturing cougar on the trail cams occasionally. Talking to the locals in a couple of locations, they have also noted how the mule deer that frequented the areas over the last number of years seem to be gone. The whitetail populations still seem to be doing ok. Does an increase in predation affect the mule deer populations more so than whitetail? That's the only thing I have been able to come up with so far. Or is it a matter of whitetail taking over and edging out the mule deer? Even one local who took me to his "mule deer spot" was surprised when all we were seeing were whitetail and no mule deer over a couple of days.

I have heard that an increase in whitetails will cause mules to move out of an area.....FS

[walking buffalo]

Look for the steepest, deepest terrain.

When under heavy pressure from four legged predators,Mule deer will seek escape terrain best suited to their physical advantages.

Another consideration to evaluate. If Mule deer populations have indeed dropped so significantly in this area, you may want to forgo killing one of the few remaining does.

[bubba300]

Where I live in 210 the mule deer numbers seem to be down also,hard to say but maybe last winter was hard on them here.I keep hearing there are a few cougars around also.Lots of bucks,just not as many does.

[Smokinyotes]

I hunt 336 North of 16. A few years ago I had permission on some land that was full of mule deer. Every time I went into the field there would be at least 20 mule deer in it. Slowly over the next 4 years they started to disappear until there wasn’t a deer left. There was at least one big cougar in the area and several wolves. The land owner asked me to shoot the cougar if I ever saw it as they were seeing it so frequently they were driving their kids to the school bus.

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by New2Elk

Does an increase in predation affect the mule deer populations more so than whitetail?

Just my opinion but I believe mules are the first to go when wolf and cougar populations get high. The average mule deer is not as wary or as quick to realize they need to try to escape, by then its too late. Whitetails in general seem to be far more alert, skittish and predator wary than mulies.

[Don K]

Originally Posted by Bushrat

Just my opinion but I believe mules are the first to go when wolf and cougar populations get high. The average mule deer is not as wary or as quick to realize they need to try to escape, by then its too late. Whitetails in general seem to be far more alert, skittish and predator wary than mulies.

I would agree with this completely.

Another important thing to consider is the increase in buck tags (majority of areas) and the ridiculous amount of doe tags that are given. I agree that if you see numbers are down maybe it’s time to hang a tag on the tree. Sometimes the best hunters are the ones that are also stewards/conservationists and look towards next year and the years after.

[weedcatcher]

That's interesting. In the area I've been hunting for over 10 years the whitetail population is dropping off while the mule deer population is growing. The number of whitetail bucks has gone down and so has the quality of antlers. And numbers in general have reduced.
The mule deer population has noticeably increased though.
The weekend before the season opened I saw one hill slope with about 150 mule deer on it. Now that the season is open they are harder to find, true, but I can still find 5 mule deer for every 1 whitetail.
The whitetail general tag is causing the WT bucks to disappear. It takes at least 5 years to get a mule buck tag. In years past it wasn't a guarantee to get a mule doe draw but it was pretty much a sure thing to get a WT doe draw.

This year they've given out 2 tags for each doe draw. Last weekend I saw so many fawns with no doe. Some mule fawns tagging along behind small bucks. Does are getting tougher to find already.

Sometimes the wildlife management in this province really makes me scratch my head. Do they just make decisions at random?

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

Another consideration to evaluate. If Mule deer populations have indeed dropped so significantly in this area, you may want to forgo killing one of the few remaining does.

lol nope! our first reaction is to try to kill the last one

[New2Elk]

I've also had that thought. If it takes me two weeks to spot one mule doe, probably shouldn't pull the trigger on that one. Was a different story last year where I always saw multiple groups of 5 - 10 mule in multiple areas I hunt - that's why I put in for the draw for this year.

Already have some whitetail meat in the freezer this year, and had some, almost, luck with a general elk tag last weekend so I'll just enjoy watching the mules if I do see any while out there possibly looking for elk again. May just have to switch to hunting wolf as well to try and reduce those numbers a bit.