Sound Off: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sound off:
Letters to the Editor

Thanks!

I would like to take this opportunity On behalf of the Mule Deer Foundation to thank you for your help and support at this year’s Western Hunting & Conservation Expo in Salt Lake City. I would like to extend a very special thanks to Todd Munford; not only is he a valuable member of your team, but he has also become a good friend. It was great to have him with us at the Big Horn Show in Spokane last month.

Thanks again
Yours in Conservation;
Mike Jones, Washington State Chair
Mule Deer Foundation

Thanks for donating to the Mule Deer Foundation. The camo outfit will be great for my Arizona muzzleloader hunts. I read all the hunting/shooting magazines and I think Hunting Illustrated tops all the others! Maybe I’ll get lucky this year and send you some photos. Again, thanks.

Smokey Aulston – AZ

I just got a package in the mail telling me that I had won a prize from the Varmint Youth Hunt Giveaway. I didn’t win the grand prize, but was very excited to have won something. Thank you very much for the jacket and hat you donated to this contest. I like it a lot and will definitely use it the next time I go in the mountains. I just wanted to let you know what a good thing you’re doing.
Thanks again.

Justin Bouwhuis

Hunting Forecast Blues

I wanted to comment on the May-June issue’s deer forecast. I was rather upset after seeing the listing of my home unit in New Mexico listed for the whole world to see - especially Texas. It is really hard to obtain tags here in these units because we have limited tags and a no points system. Keeping the number of applicants to a minimum helps the locals have a better chance of obtaining a tag. We would appreciate it if you didn’t publish the unit number in any future forecasts and outlooks.
Thanks,
Dan - via Email

Mr. Mule Deer

In your May-June Hunting
Illustrated, page 17, you are asked, “How can you tell a buck mule deer track from a doe mule deer track?” You answered, “I don’t know, but if you ever find out please let me know!” And then you closed by saying, “Do not believe that old tale that only bucks make dew-claw indentations.” I have had good success in determining whether the deer is a buck or a doe by the depth of the track and the dew-claw print. I know many other deer hunters that determine the gender and the size of the deer (buck) by the track that they left. This information helps them to decide whether or not to pursue the animal. If you are still skeptical on this practice, I would suggest that you turn to page 20 of the same issue and read Dennis Wintch’s article, “Mule Deer Tracks Tell a Story - What can you read in a Track?” Do you know him by chance? By the way, I love Hunting Illustrated and always read it from cover to cover.

Alan Bartholomew - Spring City, UT

I have enjoyed reading your question and answer column in Hunting Illustrated. Do you have a publication available that lists your questions and answers over the years?

Michael Devereux – Eugene, OR

Michael, that is a good question, the question and answer column has-been a great resource over the years. With 31 issues now, Mr. Mule Deer has covered a lot of topics dealing with becoming a better hunter. There are currently a handful of issues on our member’s website that you can get access to. However, we are just about to launch our brand new, fully updated website where you will eventually have access to all back issues. This will be available for current subscribers and King’s Club Members. Stay tuned as we put together the finishing touches of what we think will be an exciting new website for King’s Outdoor World and Hunting Illustrated. Hopefully, in our next issue, I will be able to divulge some more details about the new site.

Editor

Speed Kills…Some More

Your article is most interesting to me. As the Utah Department of Transportation Region 4 Environmental Engineer, I’m glad to see you identify the magnitude of an issue that is not generally recognized by wildlife enthusiasts. Last week a tour Regional office in Richfield, we held a three-day Wildlife Crossing Workshop for I-70. The workshop was attended by Resource Agencies, Land Management Agencies, and State Departments of Transportation from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Alaska, and Arizona, as well as a Federal Highways representative from D.C. The workshop looked at crossing needs on I-70 from the junction of I-15 at Cove Fort to Fremont Junction at SR-10. It was the consensus that seven crossings are needed in this stretch. Estimated costs are $30-$40million, although we are looking at ways to make these estimates more economical. This area is one of the critical wildlife crossing needs in Utah. There are many competing demands for highway funds. Widespread public support for safety and for wildlife will be important to make the crossings reality. If you’d like to discuss this further, feel free to give me call or stop by the U DOT Region4 Headquarters at 1345 South 350West, Richfield, Utah. Calling ahead of a visit is suggested to finding available time, but feel free to check in anytime you’re in the area.

Randall Taylor UDOT Region 4Environmental Engineer

Great Job

I received my first copy of your magazine and was surprised to seethe article on X-1 in California. That unit is the area that I have hunted in much of my life. It was nice to read an article about familiar country. Over the years, there have been some nice bucks taken from the Modoc area. I have seen huge bucks during the off season,but they seem to disappear in deer season. Thanks for the forecast,keep up the good work.

Bill Meeks

Tags: HI31

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