Follow up from the meeting last night.
We all heard from Frank Romero, USFS District Ranger for the Laramie Ranger District. Frank talked about the importance of collaborative work with local groups like BHA. He also expressed concerns over the resources vial illegal user created trails and how our work on Pole Mountain was having a very positive impact. He also stressed that as these areas close, he has instructed his LEO's to strictly enforce the closers. Frank also said that when groups like BHA step up with financial help for things like the signs we are paying for, that it almost always attracts matching funds from other Sportsmen's organizations. He then pointed out again, that he really values the partnership with local groups like BHA.
Next up was Alex, the USFS biologist. He believes that the signing is the first step in the education process of how important winter range as well as fawning/calving area closures are to wildlife. He is really thankful as well for the money that BHA is kicking in to get the ball rolling on the Pole Mountain area as well as the Snowy Range proper. He said he is thinking of many more projects that he needs volunteers for and is really looking forward to the continued partnership with BHA.
Next up was Lee Knox with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. He talked about the Sheep Mountain Mule deer herd and how its doing and where its going. The current population is estimated at 5600 mule deer with an "objective" number of 15,000 deer. Currently hunter success on the Sheep Mountain herd is about 23%, but this area has always had low hunter success even in the 50's and 60's during the "good old days" of mule deer. Harvest success in the 50's and 60's was around 30-40%, much lower than many surrounding areas. The reason for low harvest success has a lot to do with the country, thick trees, and hard to hunt compared to more open areas. Fawn recruitment was discussed in length. First of all, Lee stated that 66 fawns per 100 does is considered the minimum number for herd growth. The past 4 years have been lower than that with the exception of this last fawn crop. There were 80 fawns per 100 does observed in the Decembers flight survey. Of further note is that the fawns were way larger in stature than the last 4 fawn crops. Lee made note that buck fawns, were about the same size as the yearling does from last year. So, there is guarded improvement in the herd coming, and if we can get favorable weather again this spring and fall...and for many falls and springs to come, we may see a nice rebound and improvement in this herd. Lee is very knowledgeable about mule deer. Lee also added that the season dates have changed, right now it's a Oct.1-11 and not all to long ago the season use to be Oct 15- Nov 15 making it easier to find those bucks during the rut. One contributing factor also that was mentioned was in that 50's through 70's era there was a substantial amount of logging in that area that allowed more ground forage to grow and sustain a larger population of deer.
Finally, we had a Legislative update on what happened/is happening in Cheyenne. We discussed the WYSA reception, the transfer of public lands bills, and many others that would have impacted hunters and anglers in Wyoming. Several of the really bad bills were killed after much effort, some were not. There was also some good legislation like Senator Hicks' round up for wildlife bill that is likely going to pass. BHA is still taking the lead on the banning of aircraft for scouting/hunting and just last week Jeff Muratore and Buzz Hettick talked with Brian Nesvik to make sure everything was progressing. We are on track to tighten flight rules, including drones, within a few months time.
In general, Wyoming BHA is having great success in Wyoming and that only happens through the efforts of the membership. Many of our members are actively engaged on a host of important issues. For a chapter that is only a couple years old, we are making our presence known and doing positive work for sportsmen/women, wildlife, and wildlife habitat all across Wyoming.
