Mule Deer Hunting

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Wednesday - January 25, 2012

Last year the California Department of Fish and Game offered two random drawings for a deer license, and an elk license. Offering licenses by raffle brought in over $130,000 for the Department and for conservation. This year they are raffling four random drawing chances to win a big game license. This year along with the deer and elk, there is a desert bighorn sheep and pronghorn antelope tag.

Any interested hunter can purchase the raffle tickets from the DFG, or online for $5.66, no limits.

Friday - January 20, 2012

Kansas' Secretary of State Kris Kobach is trying to pass a bill that would enable the governor to distribute 12 big-game licenses. These licenses currently go to each commissioner for the Department of Wildlife, where in turn the commissioner usually gives it to a conservation group to auction off. The licenses are special licenses allowing the hunter to hunt either sex deer, whitetail or mule, statewide and in any season.

Monday - December 26, 2011

On Christmas Eve one Salt Lake City family was hoping for Santa and his reindeer, but instead got a buck that had crashed into their home. The Kellers believe that the deer tripped on a window well and fell into their home through a window. While waiting for wildlife officers, they captured several photos and videos. It will be a Christmas they won't soon forget.

Friday - December 23, 2011

Two men in New Mexico could not resist the deer. It was right by the roadside, they pulled the truck over, got out and started shooting at it. Little did they know the deer was a decoy set up by Game and Fish officers to catch poachers. This area was a high traffic area where poaching had previously taken place. The duo's actions were caught on video.

Wednesday - December 21, 2011

Brock Lesnar is known for his fighting skills, and had been invited to Canada to hunt for a filmed episode sponsored by Trophy Hunters Alberta in 2010. Lesnar needed a guide, to hunt legally in Canada.

Three charges were filed against him after this 2010 hunt. One for unlawful possession of wildlife, this was for a whitetail deer. Second charge was for wastage of wildlife, from a mule deer. Third charge and the one that Lesnar plead guilty to was for failure to immediately tag an animal.

Thursday - December 8, 2011

Mike Feldmann owns the Lodge at McGregor Lake in Montana. His business was not operating at full capacity this hunting season. He keeps a poster board at his lodge, where in seasons past hunters would proudly display photos of their harvests. This year Feldmann has posted photos of a pack of wolves eating a heifer carcass at a nearby campground during archery season. Feldmann's lodging business has felt the impact of less big game animals which has meant less hunters as well.

Tuesday - December 6, 2011

When I write about special hunts and draw odds, I’m usually focused on rifle hunts.  I vastly prefer to use my rifles over any other weapon as they are more interesting to me than archery and muzzleloading equipment, but in reality I use all three weapons.  However, I do not hunt with primitive weapons solely for the challenge, the only reason I’ll pick one up is to expand my hunting options. 

Friday - November 18, 2011

A competitive bid process allowed the first hunters onto Antelope Island State Park. This is the first ever hunt since Utah has owned Antelope Island. The hunt was conducted in the state park from November 15-17th for the first round, the second round will be for resident draw-out hunters from November 19th-24th.

The first part of the hunt has yielded one trophy mule deer, and a big mature ram. The measurements on the mule deer's antlers was a 39 inch spread.

Tuesday - November 15, 2011

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has seen a decrease of 3 million dollars since 2008. The marked decrease in revenue also shows a large decrease in non-resident hunters. The downturn of the economy has definitely sparked that loss, with less hunters traveling for their elk or deer harvests.

The lost revenue creates a double-edged sword as the Department of Fish and Game cuts back, there will be less in services. If there are no aerial surveys, the quotas will be smaller. The conservation mindset sets in when there is not a reliable survey on big game herd populations.

Tuesday - November 15, 2011

Elk in Jackson Hole Wyoming have had their migration route cut off and have come to rely on state and federal feedlots, in what is known as the National Elk Refuge. Jackson Hole, Wyoming is home to deer, pronghorn, and elk along with other animals. Jackson Hole is lovely during the summer, but not very life sustaining during the winter months. Elk did not winter there before their migration route was cut off by development.