WY mule deer in decline

[asl20bball]

Any other Eastman's suscribers out there who got the email about the WY Mule Deer in decline? It does not look good due to a dry spring/summer and bad winter.   

[Bean Counter]

Huntin' Fool said the same thing. Better to buy points only if you're picking your battles.

[asl20bball]

Huntin' Fool said the same thing. Better to buy points only if you're picking your battles.

True, but the word on the street is WY is increasing their cost per tag in 2014 so this year might be the last year at the "reduced" cost.  If I put in for 2013 I will draw my area. looks like i got a decision to make.     Has anyone heard if they are really increasing costs?

[Bob33]

Huntin' Fool said the same thing. Better to buy points only if you're picking your battles.

True, but the word on the street is WY is increasing their cost per tag in 2014 so this year might be the last year at the "reduced" cost.  If I put in for 2013 I will draw my area. looks like i got a decision to make.     Has anyone heard if they are really increasing costs?

The proposal has been submitted to the Wyoming state legislature. No decision has been made yet.

[Bob33]

I wouldn't make a decision based on an organization like Huntin Fool (not to pick on them in particular.) I've hunted Wyoming for many years. I consistently find trophy animals in areas that Huntin Fool doesn't even list in their top ten. Two years ago there was widespread talk about winter kill of antelope. I had no trouble finding lots of antelope, including very nice animals.

There are good years and bad years everywhere, but a bad year in Wyoming is still a very good year by most state standards. If you can afford to go and have the time, just do it. 

[6x6in6]

Huntin' Fool said the same thing. Better to buy points only if you're picking your battles.

True, but the word on the street is WY is increasing their cost per tag in 2014 so this year might be the last year at the "reduced" cost.  If I put in for 2013 I will draw my area. looks like i got a decision to make.     Has anyone heard if they are really increasing costs?

The proposal has been submitted to the Wyoming state legislature. No decision has been made yet.

Wyoming reviews their f&G licensing fees every 5 years and submits the info to the legislature.  Last change occurred in 2008 affecting 2009 fees.

[Bean Counter]

I wouldn't make a decision based on an organization like Huntin Fool (not to pick on them in particular.) I've hunted Wyoming for many years. I consistently find trophy animals in areas that Huntin Fool doesn't even list in their top ten. Two years ago there was widespread talk about winter kill of antelope. I had no trouble finding lots of antelope, including very nice animals.

There are good years and bad years everywhere, but a bad year in Wyoming is still a very good year by most state standards. If you can afford to go and have the time, just do it. 

Please PM me your subscription info. I can even do without the glossy photos and what not. 

[WAcoueshunter]

The winterkill effect on the deer herd is much more noticeable than on antelope. I hunted deer in Region G in 2010 (pre winterkill), then next door in Region H in 2011 (post winterkill).  It was night and day.  Antelope were all over the place both years, bad winter or otherwise.  We probably saw 15 antelope carcasses in 2011 driving to and from town for supplies.  But there were still a ton of them out there.  Deer was a whole different story.  In terms of animals, we would have been better off hunting here.

That being said, I'm still looking to go back this year for the deer/antelope combo.  Scenery and overall experience can't be beat...just don't have real high expectations for the deer tag. 

[ShaneTyTrey]

Very intetesting

[jjhunter]

I plan on hunting "G" this year.  I can't wait to get back.   

[shrek]

Good, think you'll kill somthing?

[jjhunter]

Do you? 

[asl20bball]

Good luck jjhunter. See you there...just don't shoot my deer.

[ELKBURGER]

Deer hunting a "declining" deer herd in Wyoming is still 10X better hunting than washington.

[6x6in6]

Do you? 

Your PM inbox is full JJ. 

[jjhunter]

Made some room.   

[Skyvalhunter]

Same conclusion from huntinfool

[shrek]

Do you? 

No still sitting on max points. Hope you finally kill one over there.

[longrange7mm]

It was a pretty brutal year there this year and going out on the wintering grounds the other day the numbers are not what they were a couple years ago.. The game and fish is giving out way to many tags in some areas I used to get 35-50 different whitetail bucks on trail cam this year i had 12  they started giving out over double the doe fawn tags and started them a month earlier, my family bought 16 doe tags this year and together we through 16 in the garbage didnt even attempt to go shoot one.. money well spent IMO in the high country area we hunt we seen a third of the bucks we normally see in the area and put double the miles on that we should of had to. as far as the price going up i think non resident deer is suppose to go up to 500 for the regular and 700 for the special if i remember correctly.  Bob i agree with you I find some jaw dropper bucks in general areas that probably wouldn't make there top 50 list ... being there more often than not know that im living in MT and having to drive through the wintering grounds to get back in forth to work I agree that the numbers are declining

[jjhunter]

Do you? 

No still sitting on max points. Hope you finally kill one over there.

That's a good place for you - sitting at your computer with max points.  Me?  Not much of a sitter.  I'll be hunting and will be sure to give you a full report when I'm done. 

Oh, and I don't have max points as I killed a buck in Region H in 2009.   

[shrek]

Your right, that is a good place for me, as I like results, not un-notched tags in my pocket, paying leases, and buying landowner and still coming up empty handed. Congrats?

[jjhunter]

A rancher that I used to work for once told me "a guy who says he never lost a calf, never had any."

Think about that one there, Shrek....

[shrek]

You've lost your share of calves, it must be more than frustrating.... Not hating, just seems like you come up empty handed alot, while spending lots of $$$. Best of luck this year, $$ can't buy everything...

[jjhunter]

I now know who this is.....

[shrek]

LOL!!

[mkcj]

The map showed the hardest hit area's were in the Midwestern part of the state with a small area a little farther south the eastern half of the state looked normal for winter survival