Wyoming Mule Deer

[Zogman]

Wyoming’s Golden Age Of Mule Deer Is Gone, With Fewer Than Half Of Peak Numbers Wyoming has fewer than half of the 500,000 mule deer it did during the heyday of the 1960s to 1980s, and it will likely never see mule deer herds like that again, a Game and Fish official told legislators Friday. [READ MORE]​

 

[KDM]

Winter is a bitch and predators pack a wallop. Those two mortality factors, IMO, are worse than all the rest put together. Lions eat a deer a week and then you add wolves on top just for spice. Easy winters are the best thing mule deer hunters can hope for as you can imagine how likely an open season on lions will be let alone a free fire declaration on wolves. You can't do much about winter, but you sure as heck can do something about predators. Just some thoughts from a old grey beard.

 

[Trip McNeely]

That winter about 4-5 years ago they had decimated the herd. Especially in the south-central region. I’ve got a buddy that drives a state plow truck in the bighorn region and he was sent to help in the south east/central and said there were dead deer/antelope everywhere. Never seen anything like it…… It’ll take a lot of time to rebuild the herd. I second the predators idea. Theres a lot we can’t control but one we can is predators. I like sd bounty program and wish ND would adopt something similar. I’d be 100% for setting aside 500k a year out of the OHF for such a program. Every predator shot is a better chance for a game animals survival to harvest. Plus that’ll help distribute some of the OHF money back across the state into individual citizens hands and not a bunch of buddy grants for playgrounds in Temvik nd……..win/win. Money back to small communities/more game animals around the country side…..

 

[1lessdog]

That winter about 4-5 years ago they had decimated the herd. Especially in the south-central region. I’ve got a buddy that drives a state plow truck in the bighorn region and he was sent to help in the south east/central and said there were dead deer/antelope everywhere. Never seen anything like it…… It’ll take a lot of time to rebuild the herd. I second the predators idea. Theres a lot we can’t control but one we can is predators. I like sd bounty program and wish ND would adopt something similar. I’d be 100% for setting aside 500k a year out of the OHF for such a program. Every predator shot is a better chance for a game animals survival to harvest. Plus that’ll help distribute some of the OHF money back across the state into individual citizens hands and not a bunch of buddy grants for playgrounds in Temvik nd……..win/win. Money back to small communities/more game animals around the country side…..

South Dakota does not include Coyotes.

Program Details
The Nest Predator Bounty Program begins on March 1 for youth under the age of 18. The program is then open to all South Dakota residents from April 1 until July 1, or until the maximum payout of $500,000 is reached.

Species Included: The following primary nest predators: raccoons, striped skunks, badgers, opossums, and red fox.

They pay 10.00 per tail and a household can only cash in on 59 tails. Which I don't think that is right. If you have a youth Trapper and a parent that traps it's still only 59.

Yes N.D. should do something like that as Most trappers don't target Coons as there worth nothing at the fur buyer

 

[Trip McNeely]

South Dakota does not include Coyotes.

Program Details
The Nest Predator Bounty Program begins on March 1 for youth under the age of 18. The program is then open to all South Dakota residents from April 1 until July 1, or until the maximum payout of $500,000 is reached.

Species Included: The following primary nest predators: raccoons, striped skunks, badgers, opossums, and red fox.

They pay 10.00 per tail and a household can only cash in on 59 tails. Which I don't think that is right. If you have a youth Trapper and a parent that traps it's still only 59.

Yes N.D. should do something like that as Most trappers don't target Coons as there worth nothing at the fur buyer

Absolutely it’s a good program and I believe the intent is to help the nesting birds in the spring more so than big game….but why couldnt we add coyotes to a program here as well. Coons and skunks do the most damage to egg layers but taking out some springtime coyotes will translate into more fawns making it to fall as well. Like I stated earlier I’d rather see this type of program installed and some kids or adults for that matter put a few extra bucks in their pockets each spring than some of the crap they want to spend money on……

 

[7mmMag]

Absolutely it’s a good program and I believe the intent is to help the nesting birds in the spring more so than big game….but why couldnt we add coyotes to a program here as well. Coons and skunks do the most damage to egg layers but taking out some springtime coyotes will translate into more fawns making it to fall as well. Like I stated earlier I’d rather see this type of program installed and some kids or adults for that matter put a few extra bucks in their pockets each spring than some of the crap they want to spend money on……

I agree that it would be good idea to have a program for coyotes but I really don't think it would make that much of a difference in the long run. Habitat is 100% the most important thing that needs to focused on for the deer population. I really don't think the deer population can grow much due to the lack of habitat. Solve the habitat issue first and then work on other issues.

 

[Trip McNeely]

I agree that it would be good idea to have a program for coyotes but I really don't think it would make that much of a difference in the long run. Habitat is 100% the most important thing that needs to focused on for the deer population. I really don't think the deer population can grow much due to the lack of habitat. Solve the habitat issue first and then work on other issues.

I disagree and I do think it would make a difference long term, so long as habitat development also remains in the forefront….I do agree that only predator control isnt a good long term solution and more is work is needed for habitat but I think if the program is implemented yearly itll keep animal levels up near or above carrying capacity going into fall harvest seasons…..especially in areas with marginal to minimal “good” habitat…..now I feel a lot of the areas with dense predators on the landscape operate under carrying capacity most of the time to begin with and once fall arrives the predators have taken their toll on areas that could otherwise provide at least some opportunity…I know it’s not a stand alone approach but predator control could help to act as a cover so to speak on marginal habitat areas….. ideally a two prong approach would be a huge win. We focus on habitat creation while simultaneously implementing a predator control program. I think without some type of predator control program or focus we are doing all this work on the front end focusing on habitat creation, if there’s no focus on predator control we blow all that work out the backend by making more animals for an unchecked predator population. Go at the predators while working to make more/better habitat= a resurgence in the good old days of ample game and opportunities….

 

[luvcatchingbass]

I've said it before and I will say it again. If you like to hunt deer, upland, turkey, etc you should also try to do some predator control. Yes habitat is very important but predators need to be kept in check

 

[Ruttin]

I still applied this year. Not playing the point creep anymore. Its a migratory hunt so who knows...im not dying with points in my "basket"!

 

[Ruttin]

I hunted down there in 2023 after that devastating winter kill...it was damn strange on how empty the landscape was. Mom nature was not kind.

 

[Sluggo]

What do you want with all those deer anyway, they just get CWD.

 

[Kurtr]

You want to get the crazies fired up every time the Gfp posts about the neat bounty program they come out of the wood work.

 

[Traxion]

As a SD resident I'd rather see the money go to quality habitat. More impact there. There aren't many in our GFP that love the program as they don't feel it is cost effective.

WY mule deer are in a tough spot. Habitat is becoming more fragmented. Winters have knocked them down. Predation kills plenty. Slow road ahead at best.

Cowboy State Daily does a great job with outdoor issues. Wish there were more like them.

 

[Jiffy]

Habitat is #1, always has been, always will be.

Mule deer will be mule deer as long as they have a place to be a mule deer. Profound isn’t it?

 

[Trip McNeely]

Thats the caveat many who aren’t as interested in the predator program maybe dont realize….it’s understandable that it’s not meant to be a cure all, be all, fix all program. But in regards to habitat creation, it’s a wish in one hand shit in the other sort of deal. It takes time and is a process, so in the meantime while we can wish more habitat on the landscape, taking a bold approach to predator control is a good step in keeping populations high enough for when we can actually get some habitat on the map, imho.

 

[Trip McNeely]

I still applied this year. Not playing the point creep anymore. Its a migratory hunt so who knows...im not dying with points in my "basket"!

By the time you but the $40 points and build enough to apply you could just as well go for a super tag or hire a guide. Almost $500 deep into points in just Wyoming now…..

 

[Traxion]

We put 30 acres of new CRP into our section. Is armpit tall incredible cover. Our pheasant numbers are 3x better than they were before. Deer numbers are way up. Improving 5% of the land base in conjunction with the existing habitat made a huge difference. We kill predators but with little impact. Yes it’s a process and takes time and isn’t realistic everywhere. But habitat still wins for me.

 

[Average_NDA_Member]

u wasted ur time supplemental feed is the answer why else would the goverment be against it

 

[Jiffy]

What everyone is misunderstanding is the deer’s main purpose on this earth isn’t to provide us with sport. They just happen to be fun to hunt. Keep that in mind when trying to fit them in our agendas.

Wolves, coyotes and the ever dreaded mtn. lion were eating deer when we were still living in caves. My guess is they will still be eating them after humans destroy themselves. It’s kinda what they do. In both regards.

 

[Kurtr]

https://deltawaterfowl.org/whats-new/news/what-is-delta-predator-management/

habitat is king but when combined with targeted predator control it will show results . I have been putting out hen boxes and using dog proofs for trapping coons while a small drop in the buck if we can get enough drops the bucket will fill up faster