Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is developing a new Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan and is looking for public feedback through a series of workshops that will give people a chance to ask questions of FWP staff and share their opinions on key mule deer management concepts.
“One of our guiding principles is to maximize the opportunity for public input of all stakeholders and the workshops show our commitment to transparency of agency decisions and rationale,” FWP Director Christy Clark said. “Simply said, the more input from the public, the better.”
The new Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan will reflect public concerns FWP has heard over the past several years, as well as the latest science and research around mule deer numbers and management. The new plan will provide more comprehensive guidance for FWP as it manages mule deer and include strategies and information on management concepts that address hunting harvest, mule deer habitat conservation and herd health.
Public input is vital to ensure the management plan’s strategies reflect public concerns and opinion.
FWP’s goal is to manage for the long-term welfare of Montana’s mule deer resource and provide hunting opportunities that reflect the dynamic nature of deer populations. Through these public workshops, FWP will get a clearer understanding of what the public wants to see in the Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan, which will help us achieve this goal.
FWP will host public workshops around the state. Each workshop will have breakout group discussions led by FWP staff.
- May 12, 5:30-8 p.m. – Region 3 Headquarters Office, 1400 South 19th, Bozeman
- May 13, 5:30-8 p.m. – Region 2 Headquarters Office, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula
- May 14, 5:30-8 p.m. – Region 1 Headquarters Office, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell
- May 19, 5:30-8 p.m. – Region 5 Headquarters Office, 2300 Lake Elmo Drive, Billings
- May 20, 5:30-8 p.m. – Region 7 Headquarters Office, 352 1-94 Business Loop, Miles City
- May 21, 5:30-8 p.m. – Region 6 Headquarters Office, 1 Airport Road, Glasgow
- May 22, 5:30-8 p.m. – Region 4 Headquarters Office, 190 Terminal Drive, Great Falls
Mule deer population overview
Over the past several years, mule deer populations in Montana have fluctuated, and in many areas declined. The three main drivers for mule deer populations are weather, habitat and disease.
Declining and fluctuating mule deer numbers have concerned both hunters and FWP staff. Assessing the population statewide is complicated. Not every part of the state has the same set of challenges. However, persistent drought and the broadening impacts of chronic wasting disease seem to be widespread.
“It’s a challenge to assess the current state of mule deer through a statewide lens,” FWP Game Management Bureau Chief Brian Wakeling said. “That’s why it’s so important we get input from the public in each region throughout our state in order to compile a comprehensive plan.”
The following graphics reflect the changes in mule deer population at a regional level over time.
Note: 2025 mule deer population estimates will be available later this spring.
-FWP-
