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Author Topic: Deer hunting limited after tough winter  (Read 2687 times)

Offline Ridgeratt

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Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« on: November 24, 2017, 08:45:01 AM »
http://www.khq.com/story/36918677/deer-hunting-limited-in-western-us-states-after-tough-winter


Deer hunting limited in Western US states after tough winter
Posted: Nov 24, 2017 7:43 AM PST
Updated: Nov 24, 2017 8:16 AM PST


 

(Keith Kohl/ Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP, File). FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2017, file photo provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, elk feed at the Wenaha Wildlife Area near Troy, Ore. Wildlife managers in some western s...
 

(Keith Kohl/Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife via AP, File). FILE - In this Jan. 18, 2017, file photo provided by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, elk feed at the Wenaha Wildlife Area near Troy, Ore. Wildlife managers in some western st...
 

(Ryan Dorgan/Jackson Hole News & Guide via AP, file). FILE- In this file photo taken Feb. 21, 2017, a group of elk move past another that had died on the National Elk Refuge in northwest Wyoming. Wildlife managers in some western states cut back hu...
By BOB MOEN
Associated Press
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Hunting guide Mike Clark normally has more than 20 clients lined up each fall for trips deep into Wyoming's western wilderness to shoot mule deer, prized by hunters for their size and impressive antlers.
But unusually cold weather and heavy snowfall that blanketed much of the Western U.S. last winter killed off many young deer. And that prompted wildlife officials throughout the Rocky Mountain states to take measures such as reducing the number of hunting permits to try to help devastated wildlife populations rebound.
Clark took only six mule deer hunters out in September and October who were lucky enough to get permits. He estimated that he lost 40 percent of his income as a result. If it wasn't for the hunters he was guiding this year to shoot elk that generally survived the brutal winter, Clark said, "We'd pretty much be selling out."
In one remote part of Wyoming's backcountry where peaks soar to 11,000 feet (3,300 meters), state wildlife managers documented the loss of all fawns they had been monitoring in a mule deer herd.
To help the herd recover, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission reduced the number of deer permits for out-of-state residents from 600 to 400 in the area where Clark operates, cut the hunting season to 22 days and limited hunters to killing older bucks.
Officials won't know how effective their efforts will be until hunting season ends in January and hunters submit reports saying how many deer they killed.
Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington state also imposed hunting limits to help isolated wildlife herds recover from the winter. Deer were hit hardest in most of those states, while Washington had severe losses among several of its elk herds.
In southern and central Idaho, last winter's fawn survival rate was just 30 percent, prompting a reduction in deer hunting permits to help herds boost their numbers, said Mike Keckler, spokesman for the Idaho Fish and Game Department.
"We're trying to bring them back up," he said.
And in Washington, the number of elk hunting permits was cut drastically in some parts of the state where elk died in droves, said Brock Hoenes, statewide elk specialist with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The area of Wyoming where Clark takes hunters is known as one of the best places in the world to hunt mule deer, state Game and Fish spokesman Renny MacKay said. He added that the decision to limit permits was difficult for state officials to make.
Clark said his business will survive the downturn but that his future guiding hunters is uncertain if wildlife managers reduce the number of mule deer hunting permits for nonresidents again next year.
"Otherwise, none of us are going to have any deer hunters," he said.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2017, 09:25:39 AM by Ridgeratt »

Offline actionshooter

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2017, 08:53:11 AM »
I definitely saw it first hand in Idaho this year. Heard stories from reliable sources in other states also.........was not a good year and I suspect the next couple of years will be the same.

Offline boneaddict

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2017, 09:15:16 AM »
Wouldn’t break my heart if they cancelled deer for next year.   If you still want to hunt.   Pick up a cougar tag

Offline Ridgeratt

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2017, 09:28:17 AM »
Wouldn’t break my heart if they cancelled deer for next year.   If you still want to hunt.   Pick up a cougar tag

Sad part is that after the 1st of the year the quotas will have been reached and the season is shut down.  :dunno:  Don't forget to throw a few coyotes into that mix as well.

Offline robescc

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2017, 09:29:00 AM »
Wouldn’t break my heart if they cancelled deer for next year.   If you still want to hunt.   Pick up a cougar tag

And sss a wolf or two.
I hunt therefore I am.

Offline Hungry Horse

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2017, 07:21:13 PM »
Great post  Ridgeratt  on the thinking and actions  of the different western  state's Game Commission to help deer and elk populations recover after a tough winter.  Lets hope it was enough. Hope you are well and enjoying retirement.  Congratulations on your retirement whitetail.    HH   
« Last Edit: November 24, 2017, 07:44:03 PM by Hungry Horse »

Offline optic2

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2017, 10:25:59 PM »
Wouldn’t break my heart if they cancelled deer for next year.   If you still want to hunt.   Pick up a cougar tag

Sad part is that after the 1st of the year the quotas will have been reached and the season is shut down.  :dunno:  Don't forget to throw a few coyotes into that mix as well.

There are no quotas in the following GMU's:

133, 136, 139, 142,
248, 254, 260, 262, 266, 269, 272, 278, 284, 290,
330, 334, 371, 372, 373, 379, 381,
407, 454,
621, 624, 627, 633, 652, 666

Offline jmscon

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2017, 10:36:05 PM »
I must have missed something, I didn't hear about elk dieing in droves in this state. ???
My interpretation of the rules are open to interpretation.
Once I thought I was wrong but I was mistaken.

Offline actionshooter

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Re: Deer hunting limited after tough winter
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2017, 05:33:20 PM »
I must have missed something, I didn't hear about elk dieing in droves in this state. ???
Ya,  I missed that also.

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