Should Wyoming have fed deer article

[Ralphie]

Guest Column: Why Game And Fish Should Have Fed Deer This Winter

Dr. Ron Dean, who spent 33 years managing Wyoming's state operated elk feedgrounds, writes, "It is hard for me to comprehend how an organization that has the motto of 'Conserving Wildlife-Serving People' can stand idly by and do nothing while one of the premier deer herds in the country is...

cowboystatedaily.com

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

A lot easier said than done

 

[Muledeerfanatic]

I wish they would stop feeding the elk and kill more

 

[TaperPin]

I’ve spent some time in the Wyoming Range and always assumed these deer migrate way south with the other deer heard to their east, but I was wrong. Great genetics - love the deep boxy antlers.

In some ways regular feed yards in this area would mean a lot more poaching - locals know what I mean.

At least this area is bordered on two sides by good genetics and lots of does.

By far the biggest deer I’ve ever seen was here - taking a lunch break near the top of a ridge, 200 yards below grampa, two of his kids and a young 3 point slowly crossed below us. The three mature deer had a 6” drop time all in the exact same place. We glass a lot of deer and all agreed it was an honest 32” outside with deep forks and a lot of mass. Hunted a long time looking for him, but never did see any of the three bucks with those distinctive drop tines.

 

[grfox92]

The herds that got hit the hardest are the ones with the highest density of CWD.

60% CWD detected. So yea, is it the worst thing that they had major die off?

Don't misunderstand my point. It's hard to see pictures and videos of dumpsters full of deer and antelope. I certainly wouldnt want it happening where I hunt. But the most successful method of reducing the spread of CWD is herd eradication.

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[Archer86]

The herds that got hit the hardest are the ones with the highest density of CWD.

60% CWD detected. So yea, is it the worst thing that they had major die off?

Don't misunderstand my point. It's hard to see pictures and videos of dumpsters full of deer and antelope. I certainly wouldnt want it happening where I hunt. But the most successful method of reducing the spread of CWD is herd eradication.

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Where did you get 60 percent cwd in the hardest hit areas from? Wyoming range and Sublette herd have a 0-5 percent cwd prevalence over 3 years (2018-2022)and they got hit pretty hard.

 

[grfox92]

Where did you get 60 percent cwd in the hardest hit areas from? Wyoming range and Sublette herd have a 0-5 percent cwd prevalence over 3 years (2018-2022)and they got hit pretty hard.

I was quoted by a biologist that the area around Lander has a 60% cwd detection rate. As far as I know that heard is just as devastated as the Wyoming range. Im not sure how to detemine which region soecifisly was hit hardest, but The entire South west and south central areas of the state experienced the same terrible winter.

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[Archer86]

So one area with a high cwd rate got hit hard not the majority. Time will tell if that helped that area at all.

To say that a majority of the area that got hit hard had high cwd doesn't appear to be the case all area that had the harsh winter suffered terrible winter kill regardless of the rate of cwd

 

[grfox92]

So one area with a high cwd rate got hit hard not the majority. Time will tell if that helped that area at all.

To say that a majority of the area that got hit hard had high cwd doesn't appear to be the case all area that had the harsh winter suffered terrible winter kill regardless of the rate of cwd

My bad, I thought CWD was way higher than that in the Wyoming range based on some conversations I had with a disease specialist / Biologist at my local field office.

Again I'm not insinuating the die off is a good thing, just one possible possitive to a really negative situation, specifically in the areas with high rates of CWD.

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[Rich M]

My thing was they shoulda made tracks in snow w quiet snow mobiles. Let critters use those to get around…. Save energy.

 

[Indian Summer]

They’ve been feeding elk hay paid for by Elk Management stamps and the elk herd is fine.

If I’m starving feel free to feed me anything!