Winter Mortalities 2023

The state of Wyoming is having a real, traditional winter this year; much of it under deeper-than-normal snow along with much colder temperatures. Wildlife managers from regions around the state are warning of the potential for harsher-than-usual winter mortality of mule deer, and some pronghorn which may affect hunt seasons for this fall. These conditions have also pushed elk into haystacks and livestock feedlines in some parts of the state, and because of the increase in damages-and the risk of co-mingling with livestock-the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has initiated emergency elk feeding in several locations in western Wyoming.
Harsh winters are a fact of life in Wyoming, but deep snows in some areas along with severe temps have pushed elk to lower elevations and habitats they don’t normally spend time at during the winter. Aerial classifications from western Wyoming show a frigid landscape deep in snow, covering up forage big game like mule deer and antelope need to get through the remainder of the winter. Mule deer are not being considered for emergency feeding due to their inability to digest hay, and because deer feeding efforts in other states have shown feeding isn’t effective at reducing mortality. So while the public is reminded that some big game mortality can be expected, they can help by:
Not disturbing wildlife. In winter months, deer get by on a diet lower in nutrition, and so will migrate to lower areas where habitat is usually better and more available, which can put them into conflicts with people. That can tempt people to feed deer, but that can be counterproductive; drawing in deer together ups the risk for disease transmission, and again doesn’t help the deer anyway, because they struggle to digest foods like hay, corn or pelleted grain. The deep snows are also pushing deer and antelope closer to roadways, so slowing down and paying closer attention to roadways will lessen the risk of a wildlife-vehicle collisions-even by slowing down just five miles an hour, especially during dawn and dusk when animals are more active and harder to see. With spring snows still weeks away, Game and Fish will continue monitoring conditions and elk distribution; the public can do its part by giving big game plenty of space. With the Wyoming Game & Fish, Ray Hageman…Wyoming News Now.

[@bustabass9025]

From the looks of things, still some pretty big boys out there. Gotta draw a tag though.

[@Iceaxehikes]

California repellant.

[@nmelkhunter1]

If that would only work in New Mexico! 🤠

[@buckrush8612]

Im a big hunter but close it down for 2 years at least happened in ND and it’s never been the same quality is really good have some monsters on cameras there but the buck to doe ratio is like 5:1 where I hunt numbers aren’t great drew a moose tag before I drew a gun tag there go figure