WGFD Proposed Changes

[go_deep]

Purposed 7,975 less Antelope tags across the state. Otherwise mostly normal.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Public Meetings

wgfd.wyo.gov

 

[JimP]

That's going to hurt some with what they put in for.

Looks like the unit I put in for is unchanged.

 

[dan maule]

The antelope unit I am looking at actually increased the number of tags. In general it looks like reductions in Deer and Antelope and increases in Elk tags.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

The unit I like to hunt has no type 6 doe/fawn tags again this year, 2 years in a row. Lat time I was there we actually saw more bucks than does.

 

[Maxhunter]

Antelope didn't change much in my area. Hopefully I can draw this year been a while since I had a decent tag.

 

[LCH]

I'll probably throw in for doe tags, but as a supplement to a deer and/or elk tag. Tags are cut in my area also.

 

[Hilltop]

Antelope just got a lot harder to draw for many people. There are some decent elk increases though in some areas. Wish those numbers came out before we had to apply as a non-resident. Interesting tag in area 7 for meat hunters among others- 4 point or less bull tag added with 350 permits. Also some added cow moose permits is encouraging.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

Antelope area 21 no change in tags. Unless something major happens and a bunch move in there I predict a lot of unhappy tag holders.

 

[BKC]

At least you know how many tags are available. Here in Colorado, we apply and find out after the draw how many tags are available. You pretty much have to go off of the previous years allocation. Unless anyone else knows any different?

 

[dan maule]

Antelope just got a lot harder to draw for many people. There are some decent elk increases though in some areas. Wish those numbers came out before we had to apply as a non-resident. Interesting tag in area 7 for meat hunters among others- 4 point or less bull tag added with 350 permits. Also some added cow moose permits is encouraging.

I seen the area 7-2 tags when I was looking through the data. Was that an option to apply for back in January? If not are they going to sell them all in the leftover drawing? I get really confused when then add a tag after the drawing period, can people people change their applications and select that area before the draw? Interesting stuff. The area I usually hunt elk in added 25% more tags, hopefully it will reduce the years I have to wait to get a tag.

 

[Hilltop]

I seen the area 7-2 tags when I was looking through the data. Was that an option to apply for back in January? If not are they going to sell them all in the leftover drawing? I get really confused when then add a tag after the drawing period, can people people change their applications and select that area before the draw? Interesting stuff. The area I usually hunt elk in added 25% more tags, hopefully it will reduce the years I have to wait to get a tag.

That a good question - guessing you will be able to modify to the new tags as long as they are same/same- if that change goes through. Remember, these are just recommendations that haven't been approved yet. Guessing most or all changes will though. As far as the reduction in years, I wouldn't hold my breath. With significant reductions in other areas, I'm guessing many people will be adjusting their plans.

 

[Johnbud]

Purposed 7,975 less Antelope tags across the state. Otherwise mostly normal..

Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Public Meetings

wgfd.wyo.gov

They just crushed my plans for 2021. Heavy sigh. Plan B will need to be in play

 

[go_deep]

An additional proposal was put forward on April 5th, it has even more cuts to Antelope tags.

Follow the original link to see updated proposed cuts.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

Well I guess antelope are in worse shape than I knew. That is a huge decrease in doe/fawn tags. Even though the area I hunted only saw 400 to 300 reduction in doe tags. I have to say it needs a total cut of doe tags to help the heard rebound.

 

[BuzzH]

If people saw what the quota's were 20-30-40 years ago compared to now...you'd be asking for even deeper cuts.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If people saw what the quota's were 20-30-40 years ago compared to now...you'd be asking for even deeper cuts.

That's a fact! When I first started hunting Wyoming 50 years ago, you could buy type 6 doe/fawn antelope & deer tags over the counter in lots of retail stores statewide. If I remember correctly, we could buy up to 6 type 6 tags for deer AND antelope for $5.00 or $6.00 bucks. That is addition to your buck tag.

 

[lukew]

We just had Guy Eastman write on this. (SEE BELOW)
On April 15th the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced a substantial reduction in the antelope tag quota for the upcoming draw and 2021 hunting season. The total proposed reduction will amount to 3,650 buck antelope licenses and 5,775 doe/fawn licenses. Based on last year’s quota numbers this would be an overall reduction of about 10% for the coveted “any antelope” buck tags. This reduction would be in addition to a past reduction in buck antelope tags of nearly 4% seen the prior year.
The state contends, the massive spring storm seen in the southern half of the state in March was a major factor for the decision along with the substantial effects of the drought that our wildlife endured during the summer and fall of 2020.
I expect the majority of the tag reductions to be in the antelope areas inside of the counties of Carbon, Sublette and Sweetwater. These areas would be those in the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 90s. Keep this in mind if you are applying for units in these regions, you might want to make sure you have one or two more points than these areas took last year to draw successfully.
“We believe that offering some conservative hunting seasons proposals this year will help each of those herds stabilize, and allow pronghorn populations to bounce back,” said the Wyoming Game and Fish Information Officer, Sara DiRienzo on Wednesday.
I do give a well-deserved “hat tip” to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for their very proactive stance on wildlife management and their courageous move to do what is best for the resource and not what is best for the budget.
Antelope are very prolific animals and a bounce back could be very rapid if we can get a few “normal” years under our belts when it comes to weather conditions and habitat improvement. With nearly 98% of does giving birth to twin fawns, a favorable season alone can increase the total antelope herd by nearly 30% in a single year.
The odds may be a bit stiffer this year but I think this is definitely the right decision to make at this point in time. Now we know why Wyoming is very late to set their big game quotas each year. Had the quota been already set, the state would not have the luxury of being as proactive as possible thus making a bad thing worse and possibly prolonging a population bounce-back for another year or two

 

[BuzzH]

That's a fact! When I first started hunting Wyoming 50 years ago, you could buy type 6 doe/fawn antelope & deer tags over the counter in lots of retail stores statewide. If I remember correctly, we could buy up to 6 type 6 tags for deer AND antelope for $5.00 or $6.00 bucks. That is addition to your buck tag.

I agree, but for clarification there was not type 6 tags, doe tags were type 2 and "full price" 50 years ago. Type 6's are relatively new.

 

[D_Dubya]

That's a fact! When I first started hunting Wyoming 50 years ago, you could buy type 6 doe/fawn antelope & deer tags over the counter in lots of retail stores statewide. If I remember correctly, we could buy up to 6 type 6 tags for deer AND antelope for $5.00 or $6.00 bucks. That is addition to your buck tag.

Was there that many more deer and antelope or that many fewer hunters?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I really think both. Fewer hunters and more animals.

At least in the area I hunted. I only hunted a small part of Wyoming so I can't say for the rest of the state.