VG,
Muley populations have declined significantly across their entire home range of western North America beginning in the early 80’s. Despite a number of studies by the western states, no clear smoking gun has been identified. Almost certainly a perfect storm of several or more factors. Predators among them.
From the early 60’s to the late 70’s there were 1.1 million deer estimated to winter over in Colorado ( full disclosure, that was recognized as an over population). But today…….there are less than 425,000.
Makes me sad.
