Wyoming winter 2023
- Thread starter manitou1
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JM77
Well-known member
There's a lot more elk tags proposed in Wyoming than last year. Do you look at at the regs?
Snowplow Drivers Hauling Off Wildlife Carcasses All Across Wyoming As Animals Continue to Starve - Cowboy State Daily
As wildlife continues to starve to death in Wyoming because of the harsh winter, snowplow drivers are hauling off carcasses from Interstates and highways across the state.
cowboystatedaily.com
Mountain Man
Well-known member
I knew this winter was bad, but it was shocking to see the opinion in the article that it will take 6-10 years to recover populations. I’m not sure that statement is backed by a scientific analysis, but the mortality appears to be worse than I feared.
BuzzH
Well-known member
There won't be much elk winter kill.Elk are still above objective in many areas... at least until the snow melts and they start finding the bodies.
Carl 9.3x62
Well-known member
I bet most of it is roadkill on I-80.
Elk should be alright. Pronghorn and Mule deer are taking a beating tho. Sounds like the Wyoming range will lose 100% of fawns this year. I'm in Idaho near the Wyo border and another foot of snow is forecast through the weekend. Hasn't felt like spring yet. Anyone catch the town hall in Pinedale yesterday? I tried to zoom in but it was limited to the first 100 participants and I didn't get on quick enough.
D
Deleted member 16014
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I did. It was recorded, it would be worth watching.
WesternWyoming
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Yes, I attended the town hall meeting in Pinedale; it was a listening session. Some folks suggested a much lower tag limit for mule deer, & some suggested no deer tags at all this fall. WGFD's Director Nesvik & Gov Gordon talked a lot about the new highway overpasses/underpasses coming online this year. IMHO, the Governor should designate and protect the migration corridors that the overpasses/underpasses connect; otherwise that's $20 million each down the drain. The Governor's Wyo. Migration Corridor Initiative was released in Jan. 2020, but the state has done nothing to designate new migration corridors since then. Sublette adult pronghorn have seen a 50% reduction since December. It's time to designate and protect the Sublette/Sweetwater Pronghorn Migration Corridor, from Trapper's Point to I-80. It's all public & state land, not private, but BLM won't do it. It's Wyoming's wildlife. Talk to the Governor if you care. https://governor.wyo.gov/contact/governor
Said tongue-in-cheek...
WesternWyoming
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Click on the title below about the town hall meeting in Pinedale:
Governor and WGFD address Wyoming wildlife concerns, community input
sclancy27
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That was pretty much the timeline for NE MT after the winter of 10/11
WesternWyoming
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2023
CONTACT: Ivy McGowan-Castleberry
[email protected]
Governor Convenes Pinedale Town Hall to Discuss Wildlife Losses
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – This winter has been one of the hardest winters Wyoming has experienced in recent history. According to temperatures recorded at the Pinedale airport, the 30-year average for days of temperatures below zero is approximately 39 days. This year, there were 62 days below-zero temperatures. Compounding the winter conditions has been an unusually large amount of snow, with many areas currently at 125-150% of the average snowpack. These factors have severely impacted Wyoming wildlife, and concerns from the public have grown as antelope, and deer carcasses have become substantially visible.
In response to the growing concerns Governor Gordon heard from constituents and legislators, the Governor called for a town hall meeting to provide an opportunity to hear directly from citizens in areas most impacted and to discuss solutions that work for Wyoming wildlife. The town hall was held at the Pinedale library and was open to the public through Zoom.
Joining Governor Gordon and Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Director Brian Nesvik was Dr. Kevin Montieth, a professor at the University of Wyoming’s Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. Dr. Monteith shared with the audience that in addition to tougher than usual winter conditions, antelope have been hit hard by a rare bacterial pneumonia, which appears to be spreading.
Dr. Monteith further explained that some solutions that have been called for, such as feeding antelope and mule deer, are not good solutions because, unlike elk, the digestive systems of these animals cannot quickly adjust to hay. Monteith explained to an audience of more than 200 that the best solution to help Wyoming wildlife is protecting and enhancing the animals’ habitat and protecting migration routes so animals can more easily seek forage. Access to their natural foods over the summer and fall allows the animals to enter winter with higher body fat content, helping them survive winter when shrubs and sagebrush brush are scarce.
Governor Gordon and Director Nesvik heard many suggestions, including limiting hunting quotas and seasons this year. Director Nesvik explained that this is an ongoing evaluation, and the WGFD continually monitor all the factors, taking them into account in future decisions. “We are experiencing one of the toughest winters for big game in Wyoming’s recent history,” noted Director Nesvik. We have difficult decisions to make, and I appreciate everyone who came to our town hall. Rest assured; those tough decisions will be made in consideration of biology and the advice we hear from concerned citizens.”
Concluding the town hall, Governor Gordon stated, “I thank all who came to the town hall in person or virtually. Wyoming people care deeply about our wildlife. That was clearly shown today. I greatly appreciate all the suggestions, questions and comments they shared today. Wyoming folks are not shy. I am committed to working with our citizens to provide healthy wildlife populations for generations to come.”
A Zoom recording of the town hall can be viewed here.
El Guapo
Member
Not disagreeing that migration corriders are extremely important, but how is the checkerboard land pattern along I80 "all public and state land"?
WesternWyoming
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True, not including the checkerboard. Should have said "down to the (ridiculous) checkerboard."
