Wyoming proposed regs

[beaglegun]

There must have been some serious resident comments about the proposed regs/seasons for elk in Area 7 because they made an abrupt change on the Type 1 and 2 seasons and quotas. Maybe Buzz can shed some light on that.

I thought i had a chance to draw a bull tag and the rug was pulled out from under me☹

 

[BuzzH]

There must have been some serious resident comments about the proposed regs/seasons for elk in Area 7 because they made an abrupt change on the Type 1 and 2 seasons and quotas. Maybe Buzz can shed some light on that.

There was a lot of discussion about unit 7 that started a couple months ago. I attended a meeting in Casper with @JM77 where it was discussed at length.

I don't hunt that area for bulls, however, I was in favor of the GF recommendation of splitting the seasons for any bull into a type 1 and 2. For a long time, people have been complaining about elk in unit 7, from too many elk, too many bulls, busted up bulls, trophy quality, too much archery pressure, objective numbers for the herd...really, you name it.

IMO, I thought the proposed season structure solved a lot problems. It would have increased bull tags, lowering the number of bulls in the unit so they didn't bust up as much. It would have decreased over-all pressure in archery, and both rifle seasons. It would have probably worked somewhat to control over-all elk populations since many people shoot cows on the any elk tag, and most have a cow tag that draw bull tags.

The downside was that there were conflicts with ranchers getting their cattle off their leases and potential loss of trophy quality opening the first rifle season 14 days earlier on October 1. Both of which are legitimate concerns.

I just think that unit 7 has so many people hunting it, so much interest, so many different landowners, tons of outfitters, anything is going to be controversial. Changing things up, leaving it the same, all are going to be favorable to some, opposed by others. There is just flat no way to keep everyone happy on how that herd is managed.

 

[Lost Arra]

There was a lot of discussion about unit 7 that started a couple months ago. I attended a meeting in Casper with @JM77 where it was discussed at length.


IMO, I thought the proposed season structure solved a lot problems.

Thanks. I thought the same thing and was hoping they would at least give it a try since about once a month there is a news article about too many elk in SE Wyoming. The new Type 8 did total about 1000 dead elk but the net harvest is probably less since they reduced Type 6 tags.

 

[BuzzH]

Thanks. I thought the same thing and was hoping they would at least give it a try since about once a month there is a news article about too many elk in SE Wyoming. The new Type 8 did total about 1000 dead elk but the net harvest is probably less since they reduced Type 6 tags.

They increased type 6 licenses, or more accurately eliminated type 4's and made them all type 6's. IIRC, I think the overall harvest was about 500 more than usual...still not even close to enough to control the herd out there.