Conservation > Wildlife Management Deer

Whitetailed deer

bucks in hiding

Mule deer and white-tailed deer are the most widely distributed and abundant big game mammals in Montana. Although they evolved to live and thrive in broadly different environments, the two species are remarkably adaptive. Both occur in a wide variety of habitats, under widely fluctuating environmental conditions, in the presence of numerous other wild mammals and domestic livestock, and in the wake of extensive human development and disturbance.

Managing deer across diverse habitats and conditions in Montana begins with understanding both their biology and behavior. It also requires effective methods for monitoring populations and habitats as well as for manipulating deer numbers or habitat factors to meet diverse social and economic objectives.

Montana has a long history of research to provide basic information about deer and their habitats and to develop and test new and improved methods and criteria for deer management.

Harvest Reports

For historical harvest reports and more information, visit here.

Hunting Guide

Deer are managed as a game animal in Montana with regulated hunting seasons.

Learn more

Management Plan

Adaptive Harvest Management, 2021 (PDF)

Population & Distribution

Mule Deer

Population Status Charts

2024 Chart (PDF)
2023 Chart (PDF)
2022 Chart (PDF)
2021 Chart (PDF)
2020 Chart (PDF)
2019 Chart (PDF)
2018 Chart (PDF)
2017 Chart (PDF)
2016 Chart (PDF)
2015 Chart (PDF)

Population Status Maps

2024 Map (PDF)
2023 Map (PDF)
2022 Map (PDF)

Distribution Maps

2024 Map (PDF)
2023 Map (PDF)
2022 Map (PDF)
2021 Map (PDF)
2020 Map (PDF)
2019 Map (PDF)
2018 Map (PDF)
2017 Map (PDF)
2016 Map (PDF)
2015 Map (PDF)

White-tailed Deer

Population Status Charts

2024 Chart (PDF)
2023 Chart (PDF)
2022 Chart (PDF)
2021 Chart (PDF)
2020 Chart (PDF)
2019 Chart (PDF)
2018 Chart (PDF)
2017 Chart (PDF)
2016 Chart (PDF)
2015 Chart (PDF)
2014 Chart (PDF)
2013 Chart (PDF)
2012 Chart (PDF)
2011 Chart (PDF)

Distribution Maps

2024 Map (PDF)
2023 Map (PDF)
2022 Map (PDF)
2021 Map (PDF)
2020 Map (PDF)
2019 Map (PDF)
2018 Map (PDF)
2017 Map (PDF)
2016 Map (PDF)
2015 Map (PDF)
2013 Map (PDF)
2012 Map (PDF)
2011 Map (PDF)
2010 Map (PDF)
2007 Map (PDF)
2006 Map (PDF)
2004 Map (PDF)

Research

Completed Research

Large Mammal Monitoring in Northwest Montana
2021 Final Report (PDF)
2020 Annual Report (PDF)
2019 Annual Report (PDF)
2018 Annual Report (PDF)
2017 Annual Report (PDF)

Forest disturbance shapes habitat selection but not migratory tendency for partially migratory ungulates (PDF)
Monitoring ungulates in northern forests: Camera-based estimates of abundance for mule deer, white-tail deer, elk and moose in the Fisher River area (PDF)
Best practices to account for capture probability and viewable area in camera-based abundance estimation (PDF)
Climate, habitat interactions, and mule deer resource selection on winter landscapes (PDF)
Ecology and Management of Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer in Montana (PDF)
Ecology of White-tailed Deer in the Salish Mountains, 2006 (PDF)
Potential effects of oil and gas energy development on mule deer in eastern Montana (PDF)
Missouri Breaks Mule Deer (PDF)
Mule deer mortality in the northern Great Plains in a landscape altered by oil and natural gas extraction (PDF)
Survey & Inventory Protocols for Big Game in Montana – White Tailed Deer
Survey & Inventory Protocols for Big Game in Montana – Mule Deer

Human Dimension Surveys

Hunter Surveys

2023 Mule Deer Resident Hunter Survey Results (PDF)
2023 Mule Deer Nonresident Hunter Survey Results (PDF)
2023 Summary of Research* (PDF)
Selected Results from a Resident Mule Deer Hunter Survey Conducted by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks in 2023
*This summary was updated Aug. 30, 2023 to reflect minor language edits
2021 CWD (PDF)
2015 Landowner Management of Hunter Access (PDF)
2014 Hunting Access (PDF)
2013 CWD (PDF)
2011 Mule Deer Hunter Survey Results (PDF)

Additional Reports

How Antlers Grow

The science behind antler growth