A mule deer buck browses on shrubs. What northern Rocky Mountain herds could use this year is some wet weather. Photo by Jack Ballard

As it has for the past half-decade, drought continues to be the underlying issue of all discussions relating to big-game habitat conditions and populations in the northern Rockies and Plains states. However, when it comes to deer, low precipitation often affects mulies and whitetails in different ways. A creature highly adapted to agriculture and riparian areas, western whitetails typically don't suffer as much during drought years as their big-eared cousins. By contrast, mule deer often inhabit arid, semi-desert regions where a downturn in moisture can drastically affect the volume and quality of summer and winter forage.

While mule deer populations are beginning to feel the strain of the lingering drought in a number of regions in our forecast area, populations are actually holding up better in most places than one might imagine. The worst-case scenario for deer is a dry summer followed by a cold winter with lots of snow cover which requires animals to expend increased energy foraging and keeping warm.

Thankfully, those conditions haven't materialized on any large scale. Mild winters have allowed deer to sneak through with relatively low mortality in most places, keeping a widespread die-off at bay. Thus, the outlook for fall deer hunting is actually very favorable for both mule and whitetail deer across most of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Whether you're a resident or visiting hunter, there will be plenty of bucks for the taking this season -- if you concentrate your efforts in the right areas.

WYOMING
Of all the Western states, Wyoming's reputation as a destination for high country mule deer hunting is unsurpassed. But with the drought, does the reputation still match reality?

Compared to the historically more arid portions of the state at low elevations, mule deer in the alpine regions are still doing well. "Statewide, our mule deer are being pressured by drought," explains Jeff Obrecht, information officer with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, "but not so much the higher elevation deer; doe production among those is still good."

For trophy mule deer hunters, backcountry hunts in the Jackson area (Region H) should be good this fall. "We get some nice deer taken out of there every year," observes Obrecht. He goes on to note that the numbers of monster mulies in the region don't rival those of the 1980s and early '90s, but hard-working hunters still have the chance to connect with the deer of a lifetime. Non-residents considering the Jackson area should be aware that much of the high-elevation mule deer habitat occurs in designated wilderness areas where a misguided state law requires non-resident hunters to hire an outfitter or guide.

Over on the western border of the state, trophy hunters are also accustomed to finding good numbers of big bucks in the Salt River Range and the Wyoming Range. But unlike the rest of the state, these mountain strongholds were tough on deer last winter. Although there are still some big bucks to be found, the next few seasons aren't likely to produce mature animals on the same level as they have in the past. The overall population certainly isn't in jeopardy, but last year's winter mortality was significant enough that some trophy hunting consultants have (temporarily, at least) downgraded the status of these historically stellar ranges (in Region G) as destinations for trophy hunters.