Winter kill update

[ccc23454]

I know we have been talking about this in numerous threads but just seen this, aint looking good in most of the state.

Cold temperatures, deep snow taking a toll on Wyoming wildlife | Wyoming Game & Fish Department

Much of Wyoming is experiencing an increase in snowfall and extremely cold temperatures this winter. Wildlife managers across the state are actively monitoring the impact on big game and are seeing increased mortality in some areas of the state.

wgfd.wyo.gov

 

[Johnny Bravo]

So unit 32 for lopes should be OK

 

[Beesting]

And on a year when everyone wants to burn their points.

 

[BuzzH]

Pretty tough to burn points on tags that don't exist.

Another very good reason to never accumulate large sums of preference points. I suspect the next few years are going to see significant tag reductions in large parts of Wyoming.

Herds are going to take time to rebound from this.

 

[Up_A_Creek]

Pretty tough to burn points on tags that don't exist.

Another very good reason to never accumulate large sums of preference points. I suspect the next few years are going to see significant tag reductions in large parts of Wyoming.

Herds are going to take time to rebound from this.

Any idea how well sage grouse handle rough winters?

 

[Nick87]

Mother nature can be a bitch.

 

[EYJONAS!]

Any idea how well sage grouse handle rough winters?

Your profile name probably says it all....

Pretty damn tough to see man. Those conditions are just incredibly brutal.

 

[wytex]

Not much sage showing here back end if Jan but things did improve a bit in this area.

 

[Mallardsx2]

That 7-day delay on allowing NRs to pick up shed antlers should provide some relief to the animals.

 

[jt13]

That 7-day delay on allowing NRs to pick up shed antlers should provide some relief to the animals.

Anyone that gets caught shed hunting early this year should be tarred and feathered in the town square

 

[BuzzH]

That 7-day delay on allowing NRs to pick up shed antlers should provide some relief to the animals.

Doesn't happen until 2024...and NR's will also need a conservation license to pick up sheds. Both bills passed.

 

[Addicting]

Was planning on 9? antelope this year but think we are just going to pass and shift fire to a CO mule deer hunt.

 

[TheTone]

Dang! Really was planning on cashing in pronghorn points this year but now not sure what to do

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Doesn't happen until 2024...and NR's will also need a conservation license to pick up sheds. Both bills passed.

If the license cost anything it's just another BS money maker for the state...I would risk it and not buy it good luck catching anyone...

 

[TOGIE]

meh i'll still apply for pronghorn. there will still be licenses and there will still be random odds

 

[WYelker]

It has been a pretty brutal winter. I don’t think 17/18 has anything on this winter. Hope I am wrong. I am seeing
More dead than 07/08 which was a really harsh winter.

I have watched 3 different herds of lopes on my way to work. They have all shrank significantly in size. The one herd was smaller and had 9 fawns in it about 4 weeks ago there are none. That herd had at least 11 adults lay down and die… 3 more were hit by vehicles as they are stuck in the road right of way. I think there are like 19 left. So 23 know dead out of a starting population of like 44-45ish…

Then on the res I saw where there were 4-5 lopes killed by feral dogs on the river bottom. Todays on my way to work, I could see a coyote running lopes off the high way. That herd had 5 die within sight of the road in the last 2 weeks.

I am certain if a person really looked you could find a few during everyday. Just laying down and not getting up.

It is a huge area affected. I am here in Lander and it is really bad all the way south to Craig etc.

This bull did not make it. A friend for the state had it try and shelter from the wind on her plow truck…

 

[Niobrara]

They have started feeding more elk under emergency management plans in Western Wyoming. Some states are feeding deer with special pellets they can digest but probably too little too late for the deer. https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/...eding-of-elk-due-to-extreme-winter-conditions

 

[manitou1]

Yup. We have seen them bed in snow pockets and never get up here on our road.
Not good.

 

[WYelker]

See they just found a disease outbreak in Lopes south of Pinedale…. over 200 dead…

That is on top of winter kill etc.

 

[Treeshark]

Here we are arguing about R vs NR tags, and Mother Nature shows up with a hold-my-beer-style winter. Yikes.