Winter proving tough on deer herd

When general hunting season starts Sunday, folks will likely see fewer whitetail deer in the woods.

While wolves and hunters alike reduced numbers in northern Montana, severe weather proved to be a bigger factor, according to a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) report.

"Predators certainly can and do affect prey populations," a report by FWP biologist John Vore notes. "However, these spring recruitment data indicate weather as the primary driver in this case."

Hunting district 170, at the heart of the Flathead Valley and nearly predator free, had a foot or more of deep, crusty snow last winter that lasted until April, and in the spring, the adult-to-fawn ratio was the lowest ever — 25 fawns to 100 adults. Meanwhile, in districts 101 and 109 near Eureka, which remained relatively snow free, biologists saw the highest recruitment in the region, with 37 and 38 fawns per 100 adults.

"Nearly all the other hunting districts experienced a relatively long, harsh winter and fawn-adult ratios were in the low 20s," Vore noted.

Biologists measure the fawn-to-adult ratio each spring. The higher the ratio, the more successful deer reproduction that year.

Harsh winters from 1994 to 1997 curtailed deer populations in the region, but this year's shortfall is not as severe.

FWP responded this year by drastically reducing the number of "B" tags that allow the harvest of antlerless deer. They've also limited antlerless harvest on a regular tag to the first two weeks of the season. In previous years, hunters could harvest an antlerless deer in the last four days of the season.

Even with lower numbers, hunters could get themselves a nice trophy, because over the past 20 years, the percentage of older bucks with their larger antlers has increased. Wolf tags are also available, and the region is home to several wolf packs. Finally, hunters concentrating on the lower Flathead valley have a much higher success rate — with a harvest rate of more than three deer harvested per square mile.