Larger numbers, longer times

On March 26 at the Saratoga Town Hall, Will Schultz, Saratoga Wildlife Biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), spoke with nearly a dozen hunters about proposed changes to the upcoming big game and game bird seasons. The meeting, which began at 6 p.m., was one of several held in Carbon County by the WGFD to receive public input as well as explain the proposed changes.

Antelope

Using a PowerPoint presentation, Schultz began the meeting by talking about two different antelope herd units: the Medicine Bow herd unit and the Iron Springs herd unit. Data gathered after the 2017 hunting season showed that the Medicine Bow herd unit was numbering around 51,600, over eleven thousand more than the population objective of 40,000.

Combined with the positive ratio for fawns and bucks to does, Schultz said they felt comfortable increasing license numbers in areas 46 and 47. In area 46, which extends from Interstate 80 to Wyoming Highway 287, there would be an increase of type 1, type 2 and type 6 licenses. Type 1 and type 2 licenses would increase by 50 from the previous hunting season while type 6 would increase by 75.

The Iron Springs herd unit had a postseason count of 14,000 with the population objective being 12,000. Area 52 would see an increase in type 1, type 6 and type 7 licenses. Type 1 would increase by 100 while type 6 and type 7 would increase by 50 each. Type 2, any antelope valid south of North Spring Creek, would remain unchanged at 150 licenses.

“Why not increase type 2? That just gives us more of a chance to draw that tag,” said Dave Sturm of Silver Spur Outfitters.

“You have to remember, we raised it a little bit last year,” replied Biff Burton, Saratoga Game Warden for the WGFD.

Schultz added that a typical harvest for type 2 was around 90 percent with most hunters getting a type 2 antelope in area 52.

White-Tailed Deer

Moving on to white-tailed deer, which changed from a numerical objective to a hunter satisfaction survey in 2015, Schultz explained that the previous hunting season had a 69 percent satisfaction rate. The last three years saw a hunter satisfaction average of 67 percent. Area 15, which is composed of most of the southwest corner of Wyoming, would see type 3 licenses increase by 50 and type 8 licenses increase by 100.

Areas 59, 60 and 64 are proposed to see an increase in type 3 and type 8 licenses as well as an extension of the season. While last year these areas had their season begin on Nov. 1, it is proposed that the 2018 season starts on Oct. 1 adding another month to the season. Type 3 licenses would increase by 50 and type 8 licenses would increase by 175.

Areas 78 through 81 and 161 would see an increase in type 8 licenses by 25.

“Locally, the only change we are proposing is to go up to 50 from 25 based on ranches that have some white-tailed damage and would like to see some more hunters,” said Schultz, referring to areas 78 through 81 and 161.

Mule Deer

Schultz then moved onto the Shirley Mountain mule deer herd unit in area 70. While the population objective for mule deer in this area was 7,000 the WGFD estimated roughly 6,300 after the previous hunting season. There would not be any changes in the number of licenses for the upcoming season and the season itself would be shortened by one day, from Oct. 22 to Oct. 21, so that the end could fall on a weekend.

Moving on to the Platte Valley mule deer herd unit, the only change would take place in area 81. The area, which had been the sight of the Beaver Creek fire two years before, will see an increase from 150 licenses to 250 licenses. Schultz explained that 84 hunters from 2016 were able to delay the permits until the 2017 hunting season due to the fire.

Sturm and others gathered at the meeting asked why the WGFD hadn’t considered extending the mule deer season. Schultz explained that extending the season in the front would interfere with the archery elk season and extending the season near the end would interfere with the general hunting season. Schultz added that wardens and biologists were comfortable with keeping the season length where it was at.

Elk

The Snowy Range elk herd unit had a postseason count of 8,700 in 2017, well above the population objective of 6,000. The WGFD created a new type 7 license for areas 9 and 10 with the season starting on Aug. 15 and ending Jan. 31. The season in area 11 for type 1 licenses will increase by two weeks while the season in area 114 for type 1 licenses will decrease by a month.

Bighorn Sheep

Areas 18 and 21, home to the Douglas Creek herd unit and the Encampment River herd unit, are proposed to be open for the 2018 hunting season with two type 1 licenses being issued. Areas 17 and 26 will issue four type licenses for any ram.

Game Birds

For sage grouse, the season in area 1 for sage grouse is proposed to be shortened by one day while the season in area 4 is proposed to be shortened by two days.

Pheasant seasons in areas 7, 9 and 11 are proposed to be shortened by one day while Springer pheasant permits for area 8 will be reduced by two days. Any pheasant for area 8 is proposed to take place between Nov. 3 and Nov. 30.

The hunting seasons of Dusky (Blue) and Ruffed grouse are proposed to extend by a month to Dec. 31

WGFD Commission

Schultz ended the meeting by telling those gathered that any public comment would be sent to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners and discussed at the Game and Fish Commission meeting April 24 and 25 in Lander.