Wyoming antelope population article

[88man]

Howa bout wind farms??? I guess they like the woooshh woooshh woooshh woooshh and the roads to build the wind farm certainly don't affect pronghorn

 

[wyoelkfan15]

Hell,

Buzz has a better strategy, draw doe tags and throw them in the trash

I've done the same thing the last four years, soon as they come in the mail they go in the trash can

 

[TheTone]

"Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in North Dakota have experienced habitat fragmentation due to agricultural practices, roads, and oil development. We analyzed patterns of female pronghorn habitat selection in 2006 and 2014, years with contrasting pronghorn density and oil production in western North Dakota. We quantified resource selection and fawn:female ratios relative to proximity to active wells, road density, land cover, development, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and agricultural practices. We also assessed patterns of well placement relative to the same environmental variables. Pronghorn selected sagebrush and areas with low NDVI but avoided developed areas, roads, forests, and wetlands. Pronghorn selected areas close to oil and gas wells because wells were located in high-value habitats (e.g., native sagebrush-steppe ecosystems selected by pronghorn). For the majority of variables tested, selection was stronger when pronghorn density was low, consistent with current resource selection theory. Although females selected relatively open habitats, fawn:female ratios within areas selected by females were positively correlated with NDVI. Our results demonstrate that pronghorn avoid human development and roads but not oil and gas wells. Although wells are not actively avoided by pronghorn, their placement in high-value habitat for this species leads to significant habitat fragmentation. In light of these results, we recommend efforts to conserve pronghorn habitat such as constructing wells away from sagebrush, using existing roads to service newly constructed wells, and re-vegetating well pads with sagebrush plantings once they are no longer in use"

View attachment 330360

Abstract and figure from "Pronghorn Resource Selection and Habitat Fragmentation in North Dakota" (Christie et al. 2017). Habitat fragmentation is a huge issue even if they don't avoid the wells themselves. Having wells in areas that were historically great pronghorn habitat doesn't make it a symbiotic relationship. Look at the map here, it's not like they're only constructing a couple two tracks - it's a pretty dramatic change from continuous sagebrush communities. Yeah this is ND, but similar scenario.

That sounds like science, what a bunch of balogna

 

[Clarq]

I've done the same thing the last four years, soon as they come in the mail they go in the trash can

I'm sure WGFD takes success rates into account when issuing tags.

More tags thrown away = lower success rates = more tags issued = same number of does get killed. Throwing tags away doesn't help the pronghorn, just the WGFD. But by all means continue if that's your preferred donation method.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Is Wyoming offering over the counter doe tags this year?

 

[R.K.]

"Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in North Dakota have experienced habitat fragmentation due to agricultural practices, roads, and oil development. We analyzed patterns of female pronghorn habitat selection in 2006 and 2014, years with contrasting pronghorn density and oil production in western North Dakota. We quantified resource selection and fawn:female ratios relative to proximity to active wells, road density, land cover, development, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and agricultural practices. We also assessed patterns of well placement relative to the same environmental variables. Pronghorn selected sagebrush and areas with low NDVI but avoided developed areas, roads, forests, and wetlands. Pronghorn selected areas close to oil and gas wells because wells were located in high-value habitats (e.g., native sagebrush-steppe ecosystems selected by pronghorn). For the majority of variables tested, selection was stronger when pronghorn density was low, consistent with current resource selection theory. Although females selected relatively open habitats, fawn:female ratios within areas selected by females were positively correlated with NDVI. Our results demonstrate that pronghorn avoid human development and roads but not oil and gas wells. Although wells are not actively avoided by pronghorn, their placement in high-value habitat for this species leads to significant habitat fragmentation. In light of these results, we recommend efforts to conserve pronghorn habitat such as constructing wells away from sagebrush, using existing roads to service newly constructed wells, and re-vegetating well pads with sagebrush plantings once they are no longer in use"

View attachment 330360

Abstract and figure from "Pronghorn Resource Selection and Habitat Fragmentation in North Dakota" (Christie et al. 2017). Habitat fragmentation is a huge issue even if they don't avoid the wells themselves. Having wells in areas that were historically great pronghorn habitat doesn't make it a symbiotic relationship. Look at the map here, it's not like they're only constructing a couple two tracks - it's a pretty dramatic change from continuous sagebrush communities. Yeah this is ND, but similar scenario.

In God we trust- everyone else, bring data. Well done.

 

[Dave Bergman]

I agree

 

[Treeshark]

lower success rates = more tags issued

I wonder if that is always the case though- could it possibly work the exact opposite direction?

Lower success rates = population model estimates a lower population in some instances? (I don't know how Wyoming incorporates harvest rate % with population data for antelope).

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

Is Wyoming offering over the counter doe tags this year?

If there are any left after the second draw

 

[88man]

In God we trust- everyone else, bring data. Well done.

Come on man> You use data to prove a point or to get funded to do more research.

 

[R.K.]

Come on man> You use data to prove a point or to get funded to do more research.

I know you’re being facetious, but…

The best job security for wildlife biologists is more animals to sell more tags and get more funding. Not pointless studies to keep the personal gravy train flowing while watching it all circle the drain.

 

[TheTone]

Come on man> You use data to prove a point or to get funded to do more research.

Disappointing to me that hunters feel this way

Let’s all remember, buying a tag makes you a conservationist…

 

[Treeshark]

The best job security for wildlife biologists is more animals to sell more tags and get more funding.

That, and CWD.