References / Links Population / harvest data Fawn monitoring Adult monitoring Statewide deer harvest

Populations

Today Idaho's mule deer population stands at about 300,000. Fish and Game biologists believe that is about half the population that lived here in the 1960s. The Mule Deer Initiative is all about maintaining healthy populations of mule deer throughout Idaho. Those populations are affected by various factors including predators, competition with other animals like cattle and elk, hunter harvest, and weather. Of course, we can't control the weather, but we can have some impact in other areas.

Mule deer herds are at their healthiest when there is enough habitat to support the number of deer in an area. This concept is known as carrying capacity. The Department has the ability to use sport harvest to keep mule deer populations within the carrying capacity of the habitat. This requires a balance of harvest of both bucks and does. If this is not done deer will overpopulate the area and die from inadequate habitat. Although this is more evident during hard winters, increased non-hunting mortality occurs every year where populations exceed the ability of the habitat to support them.

Biologists estimate deer populations using aerial surveys, fawn monitoring, and harvest report cards. Researchers not only count the number of deer, but the number of bucks versus the number of does. They also track fawn to doe ratios. Fish and Game considers all of this data to determine if specific herds are meeting management goals. If goals are not being met, big game managers may consider cutting permits, reducing access or restricting which weapons hunters can use to harvest animals. Those decisions are not finalized until the Department has heard from Idaho's citizens. Each spring population data is presented at big game scoping meetings and the public is asked to weigh in on how Fish and Game should go about meeting management goals.

Under the Mule Deer Initiative, hunting seasons will be designed to provide a variety of opportunities, including hunts for mature bucks, either sex hunts and youth hunts. The Department will manage motorized access during hunting seasons to increase deer survival and provide opportunities to those who prefer non-motorized experiences. Our researchers and biologists will closely monitor the effect of predators on mule deer herds and reduce predator populations where appropriate. We will work to minimize competition between mule deer and elk where appropriate, and work with livestock operators to minimize the impacts of cattle on mule deer. Fish and Game will also work with the hunting and non-hunting public to minimize the number of deer that are lost to automobiles.

The Mule Deer Initiative is a statewide effort. Our goal is nothing less than setting the gold standard for mule deer management in the Western United States. We will begin by focusing on south and southeast Idaho where mule deer populations are suffering most.