Yep I heard they cut 10k worth of antelope tags this season. Also rifle deer seasons have been shortened plus cuts.
WY 2023 Hunting Season Proposals
- Thread starter Maxhunter
- Start date
More Than 10,000 Antelope Hunting Tags Cut In Wake Of Brutal Wyoming Winterkill
With the ultimate antelope death toll from the worst winter in recent memory still unknown, game managers Tuesday agreed to cut more than 10,000 hunting…
cowboystatedaily.com
wy-tex
Veteran member
Haters gonna hate, no skin off my back.
wy-tex
Veteran member
I defend WG&F because I know many folks that work for them and my spouse worked with G&F for many years as well.
I'll not sit by while folks denigrate good hard working folks they do not know.
I have pushed back on G&F with comments, For sure don't agree with all they do.
Go read comments submitted to the Task Force, all are there with our names, no hiding behind handles online.
I agree that access is needed for areas like 6 and 7 but if LO won't give it no way to force it.
There are many LO in this state and others that even if some folks offer them huge fees for access they say no. They want folks they know and trust on their land so it's really a double edged sword for them. Not enough access for hunters and too many elk.
We have ranches in that for years provided sanctuary for elk, now they want more taken but yet still limit access for hunters.
What is G&F to do there?
Not sure your point on doe tags, I agree that mule deer doe for the most part should be taken but in some cases they do need to be thinned.
WT hunting is what got us access where we hunt now, LO in the past wanted them taken out as competition for MD. Still that same thinking for the most part but now more LOs tolerate WT.
With the likes of mallards on here spewing hate speech, less time here for sure in the future. I'm sure he'll go else where and spew the same hate talk though.
mallardsx2
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Hilltop
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I also know some that work for them. Most are great people. I just think some of their decisions, at least from the view on this side of the fence, have more to do with money and politics than they do management. Some have that same sentiment from the inside and don't mind some public criticism when it's due.
I agree there are some landowners that wouldn't allow public access, regardless of the incentive. However I think there are quite a few, in key areas, that would agree to it. To me that is obvious because they lease to outfitters. The outfitters are simply offering a better incentive currently. I don't think the state should get into a bidding war with outfitters for access but they surely could come up with a compromise for late cow elk season access. I think doing that, in combination with other outside the box thinking like was mentioned previously, could make a real positive difference to everyone involved.
The discussion on the mule deer does was in response to you saying landowners were upset about too many mule deer in their meadows. I still find that difficult to believe.
disabled combat vet
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disabled combat vet
Active Member
Mallardx2 and wy-tex can we just please get along and respect each other and have a mature conversation....... Thank You
mallardsx2
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It shouldn't be an issue going forward. I put him/her on my ignore list.
disabled combat vet
Active Member
Anyone that has ever thought that politics don't play into wildlife management decisions either lives somewhere between denial and fantasyland or just doesn't pay attention.
Everything from quota's to herd objectives to price to_________________(fill in the blank) decisions are based on wayyyy more than biology. Yet, it seems the biologists and Departments take the brunt of the bad-mouthing from sportsmen and the public. Most commissions and Directors are political appointees and that comes with baggage, politics, etc.
That said, there are still some less than stellar biological decisions made, but many times the biologists are doing what they can to appease a pretty big audience and trying to navigate the system best they can. Not to mention they are constrained by Statute that directs the commission/department to do certain things.
I wish those making comments actually took the time to get involved, understand the process, and they would quickly see nothing is easy when it comes to these things. And I mean nothing is easy.
disabled combat vet
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I agree that's why I'm learning and educating myself from you guys...... I always learn something new everyday usually.......
disabled combat vet
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Yell Co AR Hunter
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10,000 less antelope tags. That is a good start. I notice no reduction in a unit I have hunted a couple times. Numbers are way down but still a lot of any antelope tags issued. I think it is a money grab as it is some what limited access area. Harvest % have gone from around 80% to 50%. I would like to hunt antelope at least one more time in my life so I will gladly wait and hope for a rebound. The day of two buddies filling 6 tags may never come back.
Hilltop
Veteran member
The population will eventually rebound but I do agree, as a non-resident I don't think you will see those days return unless you gain access in limited public access areas.
wy-tex
Veteran member
Hard to believe but yes some ranchers don't want their meadows full of deer.
It is still an issue in some parts of the state.
Not near as much complaining lately but it happens.
Email a few biologist in areas that have doe tags and ask them why.
As far as criticism, yes it is due sometimes but the constant name calling and talking about all is over money gets old fast.
Yes, some folks in WG&F no doubt are not doing their jobs as we would like. Instead of bashing as stated above maybe get involved.
The elk and outfitters issue is a problem but much of it comes from those LO not wanting to deal with hunters themselves. They can lease, not have to take the hunters out and not have to deal with the trespassers. outfitters take care of that for them.
For some it is not about the money but the hassles of having public hunters on their land. They've been burned by a few I bet and don't want to deal with it.
Frankly in area 6 it is not about the money it is about not wanting folks they don't know on their property.
I have no clue how to get around that.
G&F tried managed hunts late in season for cows and took folks out, that didn't work well either.
Issues like this, on elk, are why folks should get involved.
You have better ideas on management, comment and get them out there. Attend meetings if you can, watch online and comment then.
Instead of coming on forums and name calling have some construction ideas.
Lots of entitlement on hunting in others states, maybe don't bash that state you want to hunt it in an give some ideas to help.
Hilltop I think many residents are now asking why and how did our pronghorn numbers get so low to start with and we see over hunting of doe and too many tags in marginal areas so we spoke up, some did anyway.
Mule deer have been on decline for years and we need help with those for sure. No sure how that will come about.
WG&F has a plan to reduce CWD prevalence and frankly residents didn't like when they trotted it out. We spoke up and now they are trying to run around and get parts of it passed. We'll see.
It is still an issue in some parts of the state.
Not near as much complaining lately but it happens.
Email a few biologist in areas that have doe tags and ask them why.
As far as criticism, yes it is due sometimes but the constant name calling and talking about all is over money gets old fast.
Yes, some folks in WG&F no doubt are not doing their jobs as we would like. Instead of bashing as stated above maybe get involved.
The elk and outfitters issue is a problem but much of it comes from those LO not wanting to deal with hunters themselves. They can lease, not have to take the hunters out and not have to deal with the trespassers. outfitters take care of that for them.
For some it is not about the money but the hassles of having public hunters on their land. They've been burned by a few I bet and don't want to deal with it.
Frankly in area 6 it is not about the money it is about not wanting folks they don't know on their property.
I have no clue how to get around that.
G&F tried managed hunts late in season for cows and took folks out, that didn't work well either.
Issues like this, on elk, are why folks should get involved.
You have better ideas on management, comment and get them out there. Attend meetings if you can, watch online and comment then.
Instead of coming on forums and name calling have some construction ideas.
Lots of entitlement on hunting in others states, maybe don't bash that state you want to hunt it in an give some ideas to help.
Hilltop I think many residents are now asking why and how did our pronghorn numbers get so low to start with and we see over hunting of doe and too many tags in marginal areas so we spoke up, some did anyway.
Mule deer have been on decline for years and we need help with those for sure. No sure how that will come about.
WG&F has a plan to reduce CWD prevalence and frankly residents didn't like when they trotted it out. We spoke up and now they are trying to run around and get parts of it passed. We'll see.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I do appreciate your response. You bring up some fair points but generalize some unfairly as well. I grew up in the town you live in, have friends and family that are very involved, and I still get involved as much as I can from 7 hours away. I understand your points about people that just complain, but to a point they have a right to. When people spend their hard earned money, they are entitled to an opinion and can voice concerns as they have them. They may not accomplish much but that is up to them ultimately. I get that it is challenging to bring about change and have respect for those that put in tremendous time on behalf of the average joe hunter. That isn't lost on me but I don't believe that those who put in less effort being involved, yet remain a customer, should be forced to bury their head in the sand and stay quiet either.
My personal opinion on areas like 6 and 7 are that not enough out of the box ideas have been tried. What you state above is true about many landowners, but that doesn't mean their minds couldn't be changed with the right incentive or persuasion. Incentives don't necessarily have to involve a huge monetary exchange. The problem is politics get in the way of many possible tools that the state could use. Again, from my chair 7 hours away, it is challenging to make a difference but I do send questions, comments, and ideas when I can.
I am glad people are finally realizing pronghorn have a problem. I remember discussing this years ago in this forum. 2 years ago the Laramie area had a very low fawn survival rate. I voiced my concerns to the WG&F that year for the first time. I have no idea what, if anything, was done but they sure still sold doe tags. Hopefully enough residents voice loud enough to get their attention to change the narrative because I don't have much faith that they will consider my opinion.
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WapitiBob
Veteran member
wy-tex
Veteran member
I agree with most all of your points Hilltop. The complaining, yes is a right but take it where it makes a difference in my book.
We all are NRs in 49 others states, we get what they let us take. We are not entitled to their wildlife or other perks of being a resident of that state.
Interestingly enough now WG&F is saying the Laramie Pronghorn herd is doing well. Well better than other areas now. Easy winter and no big EHD die offs lately, last was a couple of years ago.
Populations may rebound a bit but like stated not back to historical levels.
I just think unless G&F can come up with a really novel way to get LO to off access elk in 6 and 7 will never get reduced to proper numbers.
Research out now is also showing the high elk numbers affect mule deer more than previously though. Although the mule deer herds in elk areas 6 and 7 are ones they want to reduce.
As far a farmers back East, I know some in Nebraska that get permits off kill deer and they leave them lay. The farmers have to shoot them themselves and can not allow hunters to do it. At least they did a few years back manitou. They didn't like it but had to they said.
We all are NRs in 49 others states, we get what they let us take. We are not entitled to their wildlife or other perks of being a resident of that state.
Interestingly enough now WG&F is saying the Laramie Pronghorn herd is doing well. Well better than other areas now. Easy winter and no big EHD die offs lately, last was a couple of years ago.
Populations may rebound a bit but like stated not back to historical levels.
I just think unless G&F can come up with a really novel way to get LO to off access elk in 6 and 7 will never get reduced to proper numbers.
Research out now is also showing the high elk numbers affect mule deer more than previously though. Although the mule deer herds in elk areas 6 and 7 are ones they want to reduce.
As far a farmers back East, I know some in Nebraska that get permits off kill deer and they leave them lay. The farmers have to shoot them themselves and can not allow hunters to do it. At least they did a few years back manitou. They didn't like it but had to they said.
