Mule Deer and Mental Health Part 1
I do not need to tell everyone the current status of our Mule Deer in Eastern Montana. There were a few good bucks taken in 2024 and I congratulate you, but overall, the struggles are real and something besides spring moistures and mild winters are needed to see healthy Mule Deer again. Not only are the Mule Deer struggling, but this could also start to influence our local folks and primarily younger generations Mental Health. Montana has had issues with suicide over the years and has found itself at the top before. Will taking care of Mule Deer and looking after better opportunity and experience fix the problem? I do not think it would hurt.
There are obvious benefits of living and traveling to Eastern Montana that go without saying. The uncrowded fishing, abundant public grounds and many different wildlife species from big game to birds that many locals and non-locals benefit from. A lot of folks are not here for the winters that take place from time to time or the mosquitos in the summer or how ranchers find themselves in a hard place during recent droughts to find enough grazing or hay to get through the year. Winters can be long and a bad one can have folks feeling some cabin fever before the new year.
In many areas of Eastern Montana, several local youth sports and activities carry on, such as wrestling, hockey and basketball. For Glasgow and our family, it’s all hockey, Go Dawgs! To the wrestlers and basketball crowd, Go Scotties! Some kids may be more involved in band or choir or whatever it may be. There is a little competitiveness to which sport or activity is best, but in all honesty, the more the merrier. Not every kid wants to do basketball or hockey or band, but I am guessing we can all agree that winters can be long, and you want to have some sort of activity available for them. For a short bit I tried my hand at team roping and boy what a rush. I soon learned it was a good way to lose my fun money but boy did I love it. You would be surprised at how many folks find themselves in frozen arenas through the winter to team rope. Can you imagine if any of these previously stated activities were taken away?
Before winter sets in, which can be anywhere from Halloween to Christmas, many locals grab their gear and head afield and hunt with their families and friends like they have for generations. Friends of mine have kids starting to get a little older and are joining them out in the field, mine included. With the current state of many Elk and Mule Deer herds in Eastern Montana, I am hearing of more and more locals choosing to stay home. Many still choosing to head afield with their kids or nephews or grandkids are more than unhappy with their experience compared to just a few years prior. These folks see the outdoor life experience being farmed out and overused. I often look at wildlife, conservation and hunting like my marriage, you get what you put in. Right now, the management side of this is on the take, take, take rather than giving something back and letting her know she feels appreciated, then we are surprised when the other quits giving anything back. With that motto, pretty soon it falls apart and does not work for either. Let’s look at a few ways to give back rather than making sure we get ours. She may surprise you and give you more than what you expected. I got two apple pies for Thanksgiving this year when she only wanted to make one. I bet I would have got zero if she didn’t think much of me.
In my opinion, Local residents should benefit from the aspects of living here and it’s starting to be taken from them. Do I want non-residents shut off? No. Do I think we need to rethink the numbers and the way this is being managed? It absolutely must happen. I understand local economies benefit from hunting season and summer travels but as with almost everything in wildlife, it can be measured on a pendulum, and I think we are maxed out to one side. Those managing our hunting should have one thing in mind and that is managing for healthy animals.
With the current status of our elk and deer herds in Eastern Montana, it pains me to say the state and local communities are in danger of seeing the true cost of selling such a high number of tags/permits for more dollars. I am not referring to the deer, I am referring to the teenagers and younger generations who are being forgotten and not prioritized. With fewer folks spending time afield, substance abuse and downtime will rise and local folks, especially younger generations are sure to struggle with more down time. Seems like every town in Montana has gone through spurts of higher substance abuse or problems with Mental Health/Suicide and mismanagement of our wildlife is sure to increase these odds. Give the kids that live here every reason to “don’t do meth.” Give them the reason “to get outside.” Many friends and other locals I talk to out here are having trouble to find the reason to go. They should have priority.
I have heard many complain about their hunting experience or not hunting out of sympathy due to the animal’s current state, especially Elk and Mule Deer. It also seems like they have not been loud enough as Helena is a long way away. Healthier herds build healthier communities, unhealthy herds take away from local communities. Dramatic? Yes. But as many of you know if you do not yell loud enough, nobody hears you. My kids will not have the same experiences and QUALITY opportunity that I did and it is a shame.
Brandon Guhy
Eastern Montana Outdoors