Word on the street is that G&F is talking about making residents choose a region to hunt for general deer, just like they do to the outta staters. I hunt three different regions so you can probably guess that I'm not a fan of the idea. What say you?
Residents & General Deer Regions
- Thread starter Elkoholic307
- Start date
- Feb 21, 2011
- 192
- 39
Can't say I agree with it 100%, but it will help take some of the pressure off the high profile regions, G, H and K. They have been talking about it for a few years now, and I think it is coming soon. Maybe not this year, but probably next or the year after. When they changed all of those Platte River Valley units to limited quota, they now have to do something to curb the resident pressure in the generals. It should be interesting to see how it all shakes out.
I think eventually the residents will be faced with choosing a two week deer season at the end of September in the Gray's River and then they will be done hunting deer for the year in WY. That might change some things.
It might help Region F also.
Changes are headed our way it sounds like.
G-
I think eventually the residents will be faced with choosing a two week deer season at the end of September in the Gray's River and then they will be done hunting deer for the year in WY. That might change some things.
It might help Region F also.
Changes are headed our way it sounds like.
G-
nunt'nbutmuleys
Active Member
- Feb 25, 2011
- 195
- 0
I agree with Guy, cant say I agree with it a 100% but more than glad they are trying to do something, long time coming hope they keep making changes to get are quality to the status we all know Wyoming is capable of.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
The G&F is really between a rock and a hard place with everyone complaining about the lower deer numbers and the pressure put on them in a lot of areas. They can only cut back the number of us NRs so far and then it comes down to the residents having to decide whether they want to help the herds or keep on pounding away with those various general season tags where a guy can go from spot to spot and hunt an awful lot of days. I do believe that Wyoming is going to have to either cut some of the days off these seasons, make them all concurrent so a guy can't go all over, or do what the OP mentioned is in the wind. IMHO picking one area is the best option to try initially and then go from there with the other options, if necessary.
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Before the Game & Fish shorten G&H seasons...again...they should go to 4 point only. They've been shortening seasons since the 90's with no increases in deer numbers. This "tool" has proven to be a complete failure.
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
libidilatimmy
Veteran member
The bottom line is that only approximately 30 out of 160 areas are on a true limited quota basis in the state, meaning the only way to hunt for a buck in the area is to draw a tag, allowing the residents free reign over much of the state via OTC licenses. I really don't see how they can shorten the seasons any more than they already have, so the next logical step for improving heard quality lies in either making more LQ-only areas or confining General seasons to regions, which is essentially a parallel thought process. There was another species in Wyoming, the Antelope, which was in dire condition in the mid-1900's until they made all of the residents draw licenses through the LQ system, which in turn allowed the species to bounce back in regions where they were struggling, and continue to thrive in regions where they were doing well. All in all, we're approaching the point where something really has to be done in order to improve the heard qualities in the state.
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Sorry, but studies all over have shown that point restrictions have no bearing on what we're talking about. The G&F has done that in various areas and still has some under that restriction and it doesn't do anything to increase overall numbers. If you don't have a decent amount of does a few more quality bucks isn't going to help anything other than appease a few trophy hunters.
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Againstthewind
Very Active Member
I am really not trying to suck up to any game wardens that might be reading this, but having lived in a couple of different states, I think the Wyoming G and F does a really good job of keeping the balance between sportmen and game management. Like Topgun said, they are between a rock and a hard place. The herds in G and H have been declining steadily for quite a while from the way the old timers talk, so I would be willing to look at picking a region. It would probably save some gas money instead of driving all over the state. Libid...timmy, (I have been trying to say that for a while, won't even try to spell it,you should put that on a t-shirt for a well-endowed girl) has a good point about the antelope. They are limited quota but except for a few trophy areas they are pretty much a guaranteed tag, and you can get leftovers every year it seems like. I really don't think that kind of proposal will affect me personally a whole lot. I will still probably be able to get a tag where I want, and maybe in a few years I have a better chance at one of those 30" wide jobbers that look really good on the wall. I would rather areas be limited quota or choose a region or whatever than shorter seasons because I never know when I can go.
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shootbrownelk
Veteran member
3 point or better is a better way to go when looking at antler restriction. By and in large these kind of efforts are usually only good for the short term.
I am ok with having to pick a region, the 3 week season that we have now in many places works IMO. I can hunt two separate opening days if I wanted and that isn't a good thing for pressure.
I am ok with having to pick a region, the 3 week season that we have now in many places works IMO. I can hunt two separate opening days if I wanted and that isn't a good thing for pressure.
I assume if they make residents choose a region, then it would have to be via a draw...correct? If not, then I would think that certain regions would be pounded with residents while others would only have crickets chirping in the background. Unless they allowed the residents to pick the region well in advance of the non-resident draw, but that would likely not work out to well either.
Im not sure current game management/politics can bring back muley numbers significantly, I would guess a drastic measure would need to take place that would likely bankrupt G@F and tick off a lot of people.
Im not sure current game management/politics can bring back muley numbers significantly, I would guess a drastic measure would need to take place that would likely bankrupt G@F and tick off a lot of people.
- Feb 21, 2011
- 192
- 39
I agree with most of you. The antler restrictions for the most part, do not work. We had them for years here in Park, CO and all it did was perpetuate the crappy three point gene. Some of the areas around here are still suffering from maxed out three point bucks from it.
My guess, is they will make you decide at the point of purchase what your region will be. They used to do it in MT that way, choose your region when you buy the tag and the computer prints out a tag for that region only, much like the NR tags are now.
After researching and digging into the WY deer herd issues more and more each year, I really think the roads and fences are playing a major role in our deer herd drops. The gas and oil development in Western Wyoming on the winter range has had a huge effect on those deer. I'm certainly not a biologist, but I can do math pretty well, and on some of the roads I travel on regularly, I have been tracking the deer kill over a one year period, and it is massive. I know that in area 117 for example they are killing three or four times more deer on the highway and road systems than they are during the hunting season. I think the fences alone in that area are killing as many or possibly more deer than the hunting quota. If the rest of the state is that way, we have a huge problem on our hands, that is completely out of the G&F control. Not good at all.
Just a few cents from a dusty keyboard in WY.
G-
My guess, is they will make you decide at the point of purchase what your region will be. They used to do it in MT that way, choose your region when you buy the tag and the computer prints out a tag for that region only, much like the NR tags are now.
After researching and digging into the WY deer herd issues more and more each year, I really think the roads and fences are playing a major role in our deer herd drops. The gas and oil development in Western Wyoming on the winter range has had a huge effect on those deer. I'm certainly not a biologist, but I can do math pretty well, and on some of the roads I travel on regularly, I have been tracking the deer kill over a one year period, and it is massive. I know that in area 117 for example they are killing three or four times more deer on the highway and road systems than they are during the hunting season. I think the fences alone in that area are killing as many or possibly more deer than the hunting quota. If the rest of the state is that way, we have a huge problem on our hands, that is completely out of the G&F control. Not good at all.
Just a few cents from a dusty keyboard in WY.
G-
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
Those are some interesting points to bring up about roadkill and fences. Are they looking at doing anything like the crossings and bridges they put in around Pinedale for the future in the 117 area? I don't have all the information, but the Jonah field was kept under pretty tight wraps from the sage grouse and other things for quite a while. I haven't really heard if things have improved by Pinedale for the deer herds. Do you have any information on that subject?
Topgun 30-06
Banned
Encroachment by all the things Guy mentioned, along with bad winters and drought, are all big factors in the herd numbers and very little can be done by the G&F to solve those problems, so it''s not just the budget issue where they are between a rock and a hard place!
HiMtnHnter
Active Member
And then there is the increasingly efficient modern hunter who can shoot with great accuracy out past 500 yards with the right setup and he can know just far the shot will be. No guessing. Add to that the fact the mule deer are more popular than ever. Seems like everyone wants a slice of pie and are going to unprecedented lengths to get it. After all, Killing the big one will bring him all the applause and praise from the hunting public. You killed a 30er? You must be a great hunter . . .
Traditional ways to limit harvest will likely continue to be employed, such as reduced seasons (can't do that much more), or choose your region or more limited quota. The platte valley will be a good experiment, but I think tag numbers are high enough that a marked increase will probably not happen . . .
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
plus disease... I was reading about elk calf mortality on feedgrounds because of disease and mule deer have been having their own trouble, plus competing with whitetails. I was reading that this winter was a tough one because of the freeze thaw making a crust on the snow and cutting elk legs and feet and breeding disease in the cuts. I didn't read about the mule deer having the same problem, but mule deer have plenty of their own diseases to battle.
I think it was the DOT that did all the bridges and crossings, and the EPA was big in keeping down the rig count in the Jonah field. The air pollution deal has a lot of studies going on. I certainly don't know what the answer is or have any suggestions for the game and fish, but they are in a tough spot for sure.
I mostly go on armed hikes instead of hunting, so that might be why I am not terribly upset about the looming prospect of picking a region or whatever is around the corner.
I think it was the DOT that did all the bridges and crossings, and the EPA was big in keeping down the rig count in the Jonah field. The air pollution deal has a lot of studies going on. I certainly don't know what the answer is or have any suggestions for the game and fish, but they are in a tough spot for sure.
I mostly go on armed hikes instead of hunting, so that might be why I am not terribly upset about the looming prospect of picking a region or whatever is around the corner.
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Granby guy
Active Member
In the 90's deer hunting in colorado pretty much sucked we had three day buck seasons which failed, 3 point restrictions that failed. In the end when they went to a limited quota statewide the deer numbers and quality dramatically improved. Now the deer are facing greater challenges than they were then but limiting the licenses may be the best alternative. I can still hunt deer every year even though it might not be my first choice, but hey it's still deer hunting.
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
Guy: I just learned how to get to the blog you have posted on the subject. In the future I will try to read those first so I am a little more informed. Sorry about that, thanks.