Mule deer numbers are down most everywhere from historic highs no doubt, but from historical averages, I am not so sure. Back in the day, bighorns were more numerous than deer, according to some indian and mountain man accounts I have read. Who knows???
Loss of habitat (especially winter habitat) is another big one that hunters talk about, but other hunters insist the amount of farms and crops are the only reason deer survive winter. Then you have those that only care about deer and to hell with elk or antelope and the hunters that like to chase them-as it's all about the deer.
The world keeps turning, and hunters who put their time in keep killing deer...
