'24 Wyoming Range Mule Deer Update

[Jaden Bales]

In case you missed this email by WGFD:

Wyoming Game and Fish Department - Wyoming Range mule deer population declines after severe winter of 2022-23

wgfd.wyo.gov

I suppose at least it wasn't the 75% decline they expected?

Also, WGFD only did a small sentence on it, but I want to know the Sublette herd size. Good buck ratio and decent fawn ratios out there for mostly Region H migrants.

 

[CM]

We all knew it was brutal but seeing it on a graph is a kick in the teeth. It looks like less than 1/2 the deer now than after the infamous winter of 92/93.

 

[Tourguide]

Wow that's pretty disappointing. Mother nature can sure be cruel.

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

That is awful, dang!

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

Just did a big drive the other day where I will usually see 600 to 800 or more deer and lots of antelope
Saw maybe 100 deer and not one good buck, I think we saw 3
1 group of 40 or so antelope which are the first ones I have seen down there this winter
It is one place I will probably not hunt again and that is a bummer because I have killed many big deer and lots of antelope in that country

 

[S.Clancy]

Tell-tale will be fawn:doe ratios this spring. Interestingly, the fawn to doe ratio graph has definitely trended down over the last 35 years....says something about habitat quality and landscape scale effects....

 

[Jethro]

Do the muley bucks hold their antlers long enough to get accurate buck counts in February? When do they shed?

 

[maxx075]

Do the muley bucks hold their antlers long enough to get accurate buck counts in February? When do they shed?

Been watching a decent 3x3 from my window and he's recently dropped his in the last two weeks here in UT. That or straight up disappeared.

 

[rcook10]

Do the muley bucks hold their antlers long enough to get accurate buck counts in February? When do they shed?

Still seeing 3-5 full antlered bucks on my commute this week in se wyoming. Everything from spikes to large 4 points

 

[mtnrunner260]

I don't think they just finished the flight, got the reports completed and published the article in the last week.
I'd assume flights were in January.
S.Clancey is spot on about productivity, both of the habitat and the does.

 

[ManyBullets]

How's the winter been so far?

 

[Jaden Bales]

How's the winter been so far?

I haven't been to the Kemmerer/Cokeville/Evanston area this winter, but I have been from Lander to Cody to Cheyenne and it's been mild. Just right in a lot of ways. It's raining and windy with lots of snow melting in Central WY lately.

 

[Indian Summer]

Yep overall numbers way down. Also fawn to doe ratio down so the near future isn’t looking very bright either. The population graph shows about a 65% mortality rate. From what I saw last year that number is low. For a year now they’ve been saying it was 80-90% and I think that is a more accurate number. It’s that bad.

 

[CBar]

This winter in the Wyoming range was trending very light into January, the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) was barely 60% of normal temperatures mild, and it looked like everything was going to get a real break. Slightly further north, the National Elk Refuge didn’t even commence feeding elk until March 4th, the latest date in the history of the refuge.

Down in the Wyoming Range, conditions changed dramatically in the last month, with over 100” of snow to push the SWE to 112% of normal. So it’s good to know what few deer that did survive last year in our region went into this year in great condition, but the true toll of Winter has yet to come.

 

[Bull_n_heat]

This winter in the Wyoming range was trending very light into January, the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) was barely 60% of normal temperatures mild, and it looked like everything was going to get a real break. Slightly further north, the National Elk Refuge didn’t even commence feeding elk until March 4th, the latest date in the history of the refuge.

Down in the Wyoming Range, conditions changed dramatically in the last month, with over 100” of snow to push the SWE to 112% of normal. So it’s good to know what few deer that did survive last year in our region went into this year in great condition, but the true toll of Winter has yet to come.

Agreed here. On the Pinedale side, snow accumulation ticked up a bit into February and March has been warm but somewhat snowy. Looks like it's melting more and more on the winter range now, but some of the fawns have died in the last couple weeks with some storms that came through (partly due to them being born in poor shape this spring no doubt). The next few weeks will probably be critical to get those 2023 fawns through and at least have something to show for recruitment this year. However, with does in good shape and pregnant, and mountain snow packs near average, I think 2024 fawn crops should be excellent (barring impending disaster). Stay tuned

 

[Boone-In-Wall]

Wow!