This week, my text messages and social media feed were filled with photos of dead whitetails. Unfortunately, those pictures were missing the classic grip and grin that tells the story of hunter success. Instead, they revealed the devastating effects that epizootic hemorrhagic disease and bluetongue are having on whitetail populations across parts of Idaho and Montana.

Biologists warned hunters about these die-offs during the summer. But with hunting season underway, hunters are now seeing the effects firsthand. In Idaho, biologists have confirmed EHD and bluetongue in northern Idaho and the Panhandle. White-tailed deer in the Clearwater Region have tested positive for EHD. Idaho Fish and Game is encouraging hunters to report any sightings so the agency can have a clear picture of the impact, but for hunters who drew tags in those areas, it might be tag soup.

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Biologists at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks report EHD and bluetongue in eastern and northwestern Montana. A friend hunting in north-central Montana reported seeing several dead whitetail bucks during bow season. Luckily, reports from friends in the field this week weren t entirely filled with bad news. Montana held its two-day youth season Oct. 16 and 17, and a friend s daughter shot her first deer a mature 5-by-5 mule deer buck. They reported that bucks were still hanging in bachelor groups or solo. However, while feeding horses during the weekend, I spotted a pair of young mule deer bucks with a group of more than a dozen does. The pair sparred off and on until it was too dark to watch. Meanwhile, trail camera photos of whitetails in Montana are still showing that most of the buck movement is occurring in the dark.

Although rut activity is slim, hunters in some areas of Wyoming will have better odds at catching rut activity this year because of season adjustments. In some areas of southeastern Wyoming, the general season for mule deer will run Oct. 20 through 31. In the past, it ran Oct. 1 through 14. The Wyoming Department of Fish and Game shifted the season as a result of public feedback. The new season is designed to improve hunter opportunity and enjoyment. The later dates will allow for potentially cooler temps, increased rutting behavior and overlap with neighboring hunting areas, which should eliminate previous reports by hunters of overcrowding.

Deer season is open in western Oregon to any legal weapon. However, biologists with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are more concerned about the non-legal weapons that might be out in the field. They suspect an increase in poachers using handheld thermal imaging devices, which are illegal to use for hunting. The infrared light highlights heat-emitting objects, such as deer, in cover or total darkness. According to biologists and taxidermists, there s been an alarming number of poachers using these devices to target trophy bucks.