Wyoming feed stations are a breeding ground for disease/CWD. Thoughts?

[Tbar]

I’d bet an entire paycheck that most anti hunters don’t have a clue that feed stations exist throughout the west, and that CWD exists. I’m all for calling a spade a spade but I’m not sure the argument over feed lots and supplemental feeding comes from anti hunters.

Maybe a push to stop baiting, sure. Honestly this is the only state I’ve ever hunted that it was legal to bait ungulates. I’ve always thought it was pretty silly and could care less if it disappeared from most states.Baiting bears is a different story.

Just a for instance. It’s anti hunting groups that are pushing to stop feeding the Elk at the Jackson Hole Wikdlife Refuge. 100 % Fact

Based on the spread of CWD and environmental health or anti hunting? It's an important distinction.

[Stein]

I don't think it's binary.  For sure, disease spread is an issue with feeding, no way around that one.  It's also artificially boosting herd size, many of the groups that would oppose feeding also want to see nature handle most things as opposed to human management.  Likewise, many of them are likely anti-hunting at least to some degree.

For CWD, honestly I don't think it changes the end game much.  It will likely shift the impact earlier in time, but CWD is such a nasty creature that it's going to get everywhere eventually.

[Tbar]

I don't think it's binary.  For sure, disease spread is an issue with feeding, no way around that one.  It's also artificially boosting herd size, many of the groups that would oppose feeding also want to see nature handle most things as opposed to human management.  Likewise, many of them are likely anti-hunting at least to some degree.

For CWD, honestly I don't think it changes the end game much.  It will likely shift the impact earlier in time, but CWD is such a nasty creature that it's going to get everywhere eventually.

I look at it a little different, especially in Washington but I believe the dynamics are similar.  The critical habitat is prioritized for agriculture therfore putting the viability of many herds at risk.  So without supplemental feeding some of these herds would cease. 

[Stein]

For sure, I seem to remember something like a 39% reduction if feeding stops.

[Feathernfurr]

Unfortunately I think that’s the biggest problem that hunting is facing in the westerns states. Too many people and too much new infrastructure competing for space with animals. Often times I like to wonder what places some of these winter ranges looked like 150 years ago. I imagine it was incredible to see.

I’m sure there is a solution somewhere that is best for both animals and people, but I don’t suppose it’ll make anyone happy. More designated wilderness encompassing winter range would satisfy me. But I know that would cost a lot of people their livelihood unless they were compensated fairly. That doesn’t make of for the loss of what may be generational land and heritage though.

[Stein]

Probably looked something like this, pic from inside the refuge during my hunt.  When I took this pic I could see 7 different herds just from my vantage point.

[Feathernfurr]

I was lucky enough to live very close by and spend at lot of time at the refuge for ~ a decade. It’s a pretty amazing place.

[link]

Unfortunately I think that’s the biggest problem that hunting is facing in the westerns states. Too many people and too much new infrastructure competing for space with animals. Often times I like to wonder what places some of these winter ranges looked like 150 years ago. I imagine it was incredible to see.

I’m sure there is a solution somewhere that is best for both animals and people, but I don’t suppose it’ll make anyone happy. More designated wilderness encompassing winter range would satisfy me. But I know that would cost a lot of people their livelihood unless they were compensated fairly. That doesn’t make of for the loss of what may be generational land and heritage though.

Elk were pretty close to being wiped out 150 year ago. Winter ranges in the late 1800's probably was incredible to see.

[Feathernfurr]

I mean I was just using a rough number for conversation sake. Obviously I meant pre-settlement and market hunting lol.

[Twispriver]

I've wondered about that as well. Not just winter feeding, I'm also curious what the herds were like before agriculture and logging provided additional food sources and before bounty hunting and trapping reduced predator numbers. Were there more deer and elk? Less? Or about the same as now.

[bearpaw]

I've wondered about that as well. Not just winter feeding, I'm also curious what the herds were like before agriculture and logging provided additional food sources and before bounty hunting and trapping reduced predator numbers. Were there more deer and elk? Less? Or about the same as now.

According to the records of Lewis and Clark's expedition, game was very scarce in the Rocky Mountians, they nearly starved to death.

[Sunbkpk]

Probably looked something like this, pic from inside the refuge during my hunt.  When I took this pic I could see 7 different herds just from my vantage point.

I remember in the 70's, seeing multiple herds like that on the hillside from Oak Creek feeding station up to Nile. Not like that for decades.

[CarbonHunter]

Back in the Lewis and Clark days there was little reason for the animals to migrate high into the mountains. They could literally spend the entire year on the winter range so long as the feed was there and fire didn’t push them off of it.

I’ve noticed that we are starting to see a bit of a return to this behavior as the housing developments replace the farmland that used to be in the winter ranges. Now that they are not being hunted in some of these areas there is no reason for them to move off of the winter ranges and the year around watering ensures plenty of feed. Lots of towns with year around elk heard that never used to be.

[GOcougsHunter]

Back in the Lewis and Clark days there was little reason for the animals to migrate high into the mountains. They could literally spend the entire year on the winter range so long as the feed was there and fire didn’t push them off of it.

I’ve noticed that we are starting to see a bit of a return to this behavior as the housing developments replace the farmland that used to be in the winter ranges. Now that they are not being hunted in some of these areas there is no reason for them to move off of the winter ranges and the year around watering ensures plenty of feed. Lots of towns with year around elk heard that never used to be.

yup.  drive through North Bend.  Parking medians are a good rumenating spot, apparently.

[bearpaw]

Back in the Lewis and Clark days there was little reason for the animals to migrate high into the mountains. They could literally spend the entire year on the winter range so long as the feed was there and fire didn’t push them off of it.

I’ve noticed that we are starting to see a bit of a return to this behavior as the housing developments replace the farmland that used to be in the winter ranges. Now that they are not being hunted in some of these areas there is no reason for them to move off of the winter ranges and the year around watering ensures plenty of feed. Lots of towns with year around elk heard that never used to be.

yup.  drive through North Bend.  Parking medians are a good rumenating spot, apparently.

A big part of that is escaping wolves and cougars by staying closer to humans and farming/ranching.