WGFD license proposals 2022, big cuts to Antelope.

[go_deep]

2022 proposals are out, as expected and needed, big proposed cuts to Antelope licenses.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Public Meetings

wgfd.wyo.gov

 

[Slugz]

Yep. Writing was on the wall with that one.

Annnnnnd.......changed my favorite elk type 2 to 5 points or less one side. Fingers crossed.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have posted here before that in the last 5 years I have seen a big decline in antelope number in the units I usually hunt. The proposed cuts in tags reflect that the biologists and wardens are doing their jobs.

 

[Hilltop]

Glad to see drastic cuts in some of the areas we saw were down last fall. On a bright note, guys waiting for an area 61 tag will have more permits to pull from. Seems like the Red Desert herd must be doing better.

 

[dan maule]

Pretty good increase in number of Elk tags , some good news at least. All of the deer areas that I am familiar with were cut pretty drastically.

 

[wy-tex]

Glad to see drastic cuts in some of the areas we saw were down last fall. On a bright note, guys waiting for an area 61 tag will have more permits to pull from. Seems like the Red Desert herd must be doing better.

Sadly, that may mean habitat is bad and they need to drastically cut numbers or have winterkill. Hoping your positive thoughts are the reason though.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Sadly, that may mean habitat is bad and they need to drastically cut numbers or have winterkill. Hoping your positive thoughts are the reason though.

In the areas I hunt antelope I have noticed a gradual decline in the number of animals and especially does & fawns. I am thinking the extended drought has really effected their habitat.

 

[wy-tex]

I agree CC, but wishful thinking never hurts.

 

[bdan68]

Wow. Huge cuts. Will be more point creep this year than ever before. Glad I wasn't planning to use my 6 points this year. Looks like doe tags will also be much harder to draw again, even more so than last year.

 

[BuzzH]

Tag cuts for pronghorn in many areas are 2-5 years too late. Recovery is going to take 4-10 years...depending on conditions.

Some areas may take longer because they won't eliminate doe/ fawn tags.

My wife and I will apply for 2 doe/ fawn tags each and throw them away again.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Tag cuts for pronghorn in many areas are 2-5 years too late. Recovery is going to take 4-10 years...depending on conditions.

Some areas may take longer because they won't eliminate doe/ fawn tags.

My wife and I will apply for 2 doe/ fawn tags each and throw them away again.

Like I mentioned in my post, I started seeing lower numbers 5 years ago and they only quit offering doe/fawn tags 2 years ago. A little too late. I won't be applying for doe/fawn tags at all this year in Wyoming, just hunting here in Colorado this year.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

I don't see the general elk tag numbers. Was there a change there?

 

[bdan68]

Elk numbers are good, so I'm guessing the general tag numbers won't change.

 

[Hilltop]

I don't see the general elk tag numbers. Was there a change there?

General is unlimited for residents and is capped for non-residents to not exceed the total non-resident tag allotment. Basically general tag numbers are dependent on the number of LQ licenses non residents draw. Someone correct me if I am explaining it wrong.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

General is unlimited for residents and is capped for non-residents to not exceed the total non-resident tag allotment. Basically general tag numbers are dependent on the number of LQ licenses non residents draw. Someone correct me if I am explaining it wrong.

So any way to know the amount of NR general elk tags prior to the entry dead line next year? How did the number of tags look this year against last year?

 

[Hilltop]

So any way to know the amount of NR general elk tags prior to the entry dead line next year? How did the number of tags look this year against last year?

A guy can add up previous years tags by looking at all section of the draw odds.

2021 was 3574
2020 was 3753
2019 was 3944

The reason totals are dropping is due to increased numbers of LQ tags being available to non-residents. Elk populations are doing good through most of the state. There is a cap of 7,250 non-resident elk licenses so all LQ licenses are subtracted from that number to get the approximate number of general tags available. To figure out how many will be available this year, you would need to add up all area non-resident quotas and subtract the number from 7250. Looking at the recent regulations, I think it is fair to assume the number of general tags will again drop a bit. You will likely need 4+ points to draw in the regular PP drawing.

There is a local organization challenging the WG&F. They claim that too many tags were sold to non-residents in the recent past. I haven't looked into it at all so no clue on the details or if an audit will be done. That may impact numbers as well.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

That is very helpful information. Thank you. Looking like It may take another year to draw a general tag for our group. I was hoping we could draw with less than 4 as one of the group forgot to buy one year.

 

[bdan68]

That is very helpful information. Thank you. Looking like It may take another year to draw a general tag for our group. I was hoping we could draw with less than 4 as one of the group forgot to buy one year.

The guy who forgot to buy a point, have him apply separately in the special draw, and the other three apply in the regular draw.

 

[RICMIC]

The guy who forgot to buy a point, have him apply separately in the special draw, and the other three apply in the regular draw.

Good advice. If I don't draw with 4 pts. this year, my only out of state hunting option may be in Ukraine. At least the license fee is reasonable, and there is no bag limit.

 

[Prerylyon]

I'll still be applying; and no, I won't be throwing away doe tags if I draw any.

If I don't draw, still a great destination to do some fall fishing, chase some small game.

Make lemonade from lemons...