Where Have All the Whitetail Gone?

Well, it has happened.  We have received our first call asking for hunting permission a few days ago.  Antelope bow season opened a few weeks ago and bird hunting season opened on September first for Hungarian Partridge, Doves, and Sharptail Grouse. Rifle season, however, doesn't open for a few weeks yet. 

Too bad we didn't have a bow along with us when we spotted this guy, huh?

Photo by Tom Bangs

 Hunting season is typically a busy time in our neck of the woods.  Hmm.  As a sidebar:  the phrase "Neck of the Woods" really doesn't make sense for this area because there are hardly any trees.  I suppose a person should say, "In our neck of the plains." Does that work?

Photo by Tom Bangs

In any case, our neck of the prairie (Do prairies have necks? Do woods, for that matter?  What is the origin of this silly phrase anyway?), hunting season is normally a busy time when people from all over the state and even some from out of state converge on our normally quiet area.  We host friends and family nearly every weekend we are not in Bozeman in the fall.  Everyone is hoping to get their trophy deer or antelope, or the occasional wandering elk.  Time to start wearing Blaze Orange jogging clothing and for Harvey to wear his orange vest.

Did you know Pronghorn Antelope are the fastest North American land animal?
Take that, Alex Trebek!
Photo by Tom Bangs

This year, when deer rifle season opens, I am hoping people will give some serious consideration as to whether or not they need to travel to this area for their venison harvest. No, I'm not anti-hunting.  Quite the contrary. In fact, the situation this year has made me feel stronger than ever about hunting as a humane way to manage animal populations and provide some natural, organic, local food to your family and friends.

What has me concerned this year is the massive outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease among whitetail deer in this part of the state.  Usually simply referred to as hemorrhagic disease, it has what had up until now been burgeoning populations of whitetail quite stymied.  The deer are bit by small insects called Biting Midges, which are basically a type of gnat, and who are carriers of the disease.  The disease incubates within the infected deer's body for 7-10 days and then the deer dies slowly from uncontrollable internal bleeding.  The deer, not feeling so well, typically wander back to their favorite nearby watering hole for what they hope will be a drink of water that might make them feel better.  The water is no use.  The deer dies anyway and meanwhile gets bit by a new gnat, who now becomes a new carrier for the disease, and then goes on to bite another deer... and the cycle continues.  Personally, I'd rather be shot by a hunter than left to bleed out internally until I died.  Sounds pretty horrible, doesn't it?

You can see how a highly contagious disease like this could quickly and effectively impact an animal population.  Don't be too alarmed-- there is no risk to people or dogs of catching the disease either from a Biting Midge or by encountering a dead or infected deer.  We researched this topic thoroughly after Harvey found a dead deer in a neighbor's yard and promptly began rolling all over and around the stinky deer carcass, as dogs are wont to do.  Apparently, you can even eat meat from an infected deer and be just fine! Although, that doesn't sound very appetizing. "Hey guys! This year we made hemorrhagic disease jerky! Who wants to try some!?"  I think not.

Many farmers in the area have talked about happening upon multiple deer carcasses in their fields as they were harvesting their crops.  In fact, it seems like it has become more common to see a DEAD whitetail than to come across one trotting around happy as can be.  Jeff and I spotted a very small whitetail fawn the other day bounding across the road--alone.  I suppose it's evolution or Darwinism as a perfect example.  Only the strong survive.  It nevertheless made me sad, seeing Bambi all alone. Bleeding heart that I nurse under my supposed tough-girl exterior. Ha.

At this point, we haven't heard anything from Fish and Game as to pending restrictions on whitetail this year, which Jeff and I both think is a little unnerving.  Even when there are restrictions released, some people choose to ignore them anyway.  With no restrictions, what will happen to the whitetail population? Hard to say.

The bottom line as it relates to hunting season is that the whitetail population is already greatly reduced by the disease.  If you are planning to come to this area to hunt, please be aware that whitetail are not going to be very numerous and consider only hunting antelope, mule deer, or elk, and hope for a rebound in whitetail populations in seasons to come.