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GAME AND FISH COMMISSION SETS SEASONS FOR 2008

CHEYENNE – The proposed 2008 hunting seasons were a major topic of discussion at the April 24-25 annual season setting meeting of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission in Casper.

In addition to discussion about big game license changes for 2008, the Commission also discussed continued challenges to obtain access for hunters in order to meet harvest objectives and the ongoing concern for habitat conditions in many parts of the state.

“Balancing populations with declining habitat is a major concern to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and our wildlife managers,” said assistant wildlife division chief, Bill Rudd.  “We will be managing some herds below objective in select areas in order to try and rest some important habitats.”

Probably the most significant change of interest to hunters is for deer and pronghorn herds in hunt areas around Rawlins and Baggs in the south central portion of the state.  Nonresident deer quotas have been reduced by 200 licenses in Region W, and seasons have been shortened in hunt areas 82 and 100, two of the more popular deer hunt areas in that region. In area 82, the season has been reduced from 14 to 10 days, and the season in area 100 was shortened from eight to five days.  General license seasons in both areas will be for antlered deer only. Doe/fawn licenses were also reduced from 600 in area 82 in 2007 to 10 for the 2008 season.

 In the same geographic area, pronghorn licenses in hunt area 53 were cut from 550 to 200 type 1 (any antelope licenses) and from 750 to 25 type 4 (doe/fawn licenses).  In neighboring pronghorn area 55, type 1license quotas were reduced from 150 to 50 and doe/fawn licenses were cut from 100 to 25.  Pronghorn areas 61 and 62 north of Rawlins also had their quotas reduced.  Concern over winter loss was cited as the reason for reduced quotas and seasons in those hunt areas.

In other portions of the state, quotas for pronghorn remained similar to previous years and some areas had increases.  Overall, there will be 3,000 more pronghorn licenses available statewide than there were in 2007.

While most deer seasons and quotas in other parts of the state are similar to 2007, there are changes that will affect nonresidents in Regions Y and C located on the eastern slope of the Big Horn mountains and east of Sheridan and Buffalo.  This year, Region C was split into two regions, Y and C, which encompass the same geographical area as Region C in previous years. In 2007, Region C had a quota of 6,000 licenses.  For 2008, the quota in the new region C was set at 3,100 licenses and the quota in the new Region Y was set at 2,200.  This represents a reduction of 700 licenses from 2007. 

Some of the hunt areas (78, 79, 80, 81) in Region D near Saratoga also had the any deer season shortened from 12 days last year to 3 days this year.  The total length of the season will still be 14 days in those areas with the change reflecting the fewer days that does can be hunted on a general license.

In western Wyoming, the seasons and nonresident quotas are generally the same as in 2007 as those areas have been operating under reduced quotas for several years.

Most elk hunt areas remained liberal reflecting continued high populations in most areas of the state.  As with most years, some areas had quota and season adjustments to accommodate changes in herd populations and bull/cow ratios.

Moose quotas remained fairly conservative with the biggest change coming in hunt area 26 north of Kemmerer. In that area, type 1 antlered moose licenses were reduced from 60 to 50 and the type 4 antlerless licenses were reduced from 25 to 5. 

Bighorn sheep and mountain goat quotas and seasons will be similar to 2007 with a few sheep areas opening which have been closed (areas 12, 18, 21, 24) and small quota adjustments in a few others.  There were no changes in the mountain goat seasons and quotas from 2007.

Rudd said that changes in seasons and quotas were proposed to hunters at public meetings in March and April and were met with general support from the state’s hunters in attendance.

“We had good attendance at our public meetings,” Rudd said.  “Hunters who came to the meetings were mostly in agreement of our proposals and the steps we were taking to help compensate for the winter loss and effects of drought on big game habitats.  Some adjustments were made to our original recommendations to accommodate suggestions from hunters attending our public meetings.”

In addition to setting seasons for big game, the commission also set seasons for small game, upland birds and wild turkey.  Seasons will be similar to last year.

            Big game summary maps listing season dates and quotas are now available at Game and Fish offices and license agencies.                                

APPLY NOW FOR RESIDENT LIMITED QUOTA ELK, DEER, ANTELOPE LICENSES

CHEYENNE – Beginning May 1, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will be accepting applications for resident limited quota elk, deer and antelope licenses. 

Application deadline is normally May 31, but since May 31 this year is on a weekend, the Game and Fish will accept applications received by 5 p.m. mountain time on June 2.  The Game and Fish advises hunters that all applications must be received in the Cheyenne office by the deadline date to be valid, regardless of the postmark date.

License draw manager Aaron Pelto advises hunters to get applications in early to avoid any potential delays with mail service.  “Even better is to apply online,” Pelto said.  “This will ensure that the application will be received by the deadline and will also ensure accuracy of the application.” 

 Pelto said that all applications, whether paper or online, must be received by the deadline date to be valid. To apply online, hunters need to go to the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us.   Online applications are catching on with hunters.  In application periods recently completed for nonresidents, more than 60 percent of the applications received were taken online. 

“Online applications can be processed faster and require less manpower,” Pelto said.

             Hunters should be aware that a number of areas have quota and season changes from previous years.  Big game summary maps for elk, deer and antelope, listing seasons and quotas for 2008, are now available at Game and Fish offices and license selling agents.   

MOUNTAIN LION HUNTERS ASKED TO RETURN SURVEYS

CHEYENNE – For the first time, all mountain lion hunters who hunted lions during the 2007-08 hunting season are being surveyed as the Game and Fish is seeking more information on mountain lion hunter success rate and the effort being put into lion hunting.

“For a number of years, all successful lion hunters have been required to have their kill checked by Game and Fish officials,” said Reg Rothwell, Supervisor of Biological Services.  “But, this is the first year that all licensed hunters have been surveyed, whether they were successful or not in the hunting season.”

 Last year (2006-07) hunters harvested 186 lions in Wyoming, which approximates the 5-year harvest average of 188.

Surveys have already been sent to more than 1,600 hunters who purchased licenses in 2007 and the first few months of 2008.  The Game and Fish is looking for information from hunters who hunted between Sept. 1, 2007 and Mar. 1, 2008.  Even though several hunt areas are open year round, most mountain lion hunting takes place between the September-March. time period. 

Perhaps more than any other big game or trophy game species, more mountain lion licenses are sold to hunters who purchase a license on the chance they will see a mountain lion while hunting other species such as deer and elk, and as such, many hunters with lion licenses do not actively hunt mountain lions.  The survey will enable the department to get a better handle on hunter success rates and will also provide needed information on days spent afield and numbers of lions observed. 

“This is important information in helping us determine population trends in the different management areas in Wyoming,” Rothwell said.

Harvest survey coordinator Chris Leonard said mountain lion surveys were sent out in the last month and, so far, the return has been less than expected.  “We will be doing follow up surveys in the near future,” Leonard said.  “But, hunters can help right now by getting their surveys back to us as soon as possible.”   

CORRECTION TO THE 2008 DEER SUMMARY MAP INFORMATION

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department alerts hunters there is an error in the new 2008 deer summary map that could affect application for certain types of deer licenses.
                     An error occurred in the printed 2008 deer summary map regulation concerning issuance of deer licenses.  The corrected information should read as follows:

“For deer, no person shall apply for and receive more than one (1) full price deer license through the initial draw and leftover draw.  After the initial and leftover license drawings are completed any person may apply for and receive up to two (2) full priced deer licenses provided that at least one (1) license is a Limited Quota Type 3 any white-tailed deer license valid for hunt areas 11-15, 22-24, 26, 27, 51, 65, 66, 88 or 167.  However, no person shall apply for and receive more than a total of two (2) deer licenses valid for the taking of antlered or any deer, of which not more than one (1) shall be valid for antlered or any mule deer.”

“For deer, any person may apply for and receive a maximum of two (2) Limited Quota reduced price doe/fawn deer licenses, EXCEPT after the initial drawing is completed any person may purchase on or after August 15 from designated license selling agents up to four (4) Limited Quota Reduced Price doe/fawn deer licenses valid for hunt areas 1-14, 17-24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 65, 66, 88, or 167.  However, no person shall apply for and receive more than a total of four (4) Limited Quota Reduced Price doe/fawn deer licenses.”

MAY 15 DEADLINE FOR LANDOWNER LICENSES

LANDER - Resident landowners who hunt deer, elk or antelope are alerted that applications for landowner licenses must be submitted to your local game warden or Game and Fish office by May 15.
To qualify for a landowner license, at least 160 contiguous acres must be owned. The land must have provided 2,000 animal use days annually for each species being hunted. Landowners should contact their local game warden or Game and Fish Office to determine eligibility well before the May 15 deadline.
Resident landowners who miss the May 15 deadline can have their applications entered in the regular drawing if they apply by May 31.                                                                                      (Contact: Erin Smith (307) 332-2688)

ONLY TWO FIREARM HUNTING ACCIDENTS FOR 2007 -- NO FATALITIES

CHEYENNE – For the second year in a row, Wyoming hunters have recorded an outstanding safety record with only two firearm related hunting accidents reported in 2007. 

According to hunter education coordinator Jim Dawson, as with almost all firearm related accidents, both incidents could easily have been prevented by following safe firearm handling practices.

In Laramie County, two young men were riding down a county road on a coyote hunting trip.  The truck hit a bump in the road and the passenger’s rifle discharged, hitting the driver in the left arm taking out the tricep.  Dawson said this accident could easily have been prevented by not having a loaded gun in a vehicle.

The other accident occurred in Fremont County when a 13 year old boy was shot in the lower left leg by his 14 year old brother.  The two were hunting deer and after shooting at a deer, the two went to recover the game.  The older brother tripped on a rock, fell, and the rifle went off.  According to the ambulance crew, the boy’s life was saved due to emergency first aid rendered by the supervising adult on the hunting trip.

Dawson said that while every incident is tragic, considering the tens of thousands of hunters that take to the Wyoming outdoors every year, the few accidents confirm that hunting is a very safe activity. 

“The goals of the Hunter Education Program are to reduce hunting related accidents and violations, promote safe, responsible and knowledgeable hunting, and enhance hunting traditions and values,” Dawson said.

“We now have more than 400 instructors, who include game wardens, volunteers and professional educators.  These volunteer instructors certify an average of 3,500 students each year.” 

Migratory bird hunters are alerted that the federal Harvest Information Program permit is required every year to hunt doves, cranes, snipe, rails, ducks, geese, coots and mergansers.  The free HIP permit is available at all license agents, G&F offices or by visiting the G&F website at http://gf.state.wy.us.  All licensed hunters in Wyoming, including Pioneer, lifetime license holders and nonresidents are required to have a HIP permit and carry it with them while hunting.  Hunters under 14 are not required to have the permit. Hunters must get the permit in each state they hunt migratory birds.  HIP permits expire June 30, just like the federal duck stamp.