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Information Sought on Wasted Elk on Heart Mountain
 A 6x7 point bull elk was killed and much of the meat wasted in the Heart Mountain Hunter Management Area the last week of October. The Department is seeking information on the person(s) responsible. Read the story.
Chronic Wasting Disease Discovered in Deer Area 46
A mule deer buck, harvested on Sept. 13, 2009 in the Shell Creek drainage of hunt area 46 has tested positive for CWD. This brings the total of deer hunt areas with CWD in the Big Horn Basin to seven (Areas 37, 41, 120, 122, 125, 127, 164). Read more. Want to learn more about CWD--check out the most recent information CWD Brochure. or watch the newest video.
Moose Hunters--We Need to Examine Your Head--Moose Head That Is
We are asking all moose hunters for their moose heads so that we may test for Chronic Wasting Disease and carotid worms. In an effort to better understand prevalence rates and distribution of these disease and parasite issues, we are asking hunters to bring their harvested moose to a regional office or to a field check station for sample testing. We need the entire head (the skull cap can be removed), including the first two vertebrae in the neck.
Transportation of Carcasses Thru Yellowstone National Park
To transport a carcass taken from a state where Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) exists through Yellowstone National Park certain conditions must be met. These are the conditions.
- meat must be cut and wrapped, either commercially or privately
- quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached
- meat must be boned out
-clean (no meat or tissue attached) skull plates with antlers attached
- upper canine teeth, also known as buglers, whistlers, or ivories
-finished taxidermy heads
-and ALL HUNTERS MUST OBTAIN A TRANSPORTATION PERMIT
- go to http://www.nps.gov/yell/ for more information.
Artificial Lighting Devices
It is hard to keep up with hunting technology. If you have browsed the shelves of your favorite sporting goods store you have no doubt seen a number of devices that utilize artificial light.
These devices are allowed in Wyoming:
- Fiber-optic and light gathering sights
- Sights emitting natural light
- Scopes with built-in rangefinders
- Battery powered scopes that use a lighted reticle or dot projected only within the scope
- Battery powered bow pins
- Lighted arrow nocks
These devices are not allowed in Wyoming:
- Spotlights/hand lights
- Laser sights--emitting visible light
- Night vision
- Infrared scopes
Are You a Sandhill Crane Hunter?
If so, you might be interested in the 2008 Crane Harvest Results.
Lead Ammunition -- An Issue To Keep an Eye On
There has been a lot of discussion about the use of lead shot and bullets and thier potential toxic effects on wildlife. A peer reviewed paper entitled Evidence of lead shot problems 2008 , published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources might perk your interest to read more on this subject.
Here is another recently completed study on California condor lead bullet ingestion in Arizona and Utah.
2008 Mule Deer Classifications
Using helicopters and ground vehicles, department personnel sample your big game herds and classify them into buck, doe and fawn ratios. These ratio's are then used in determining population estimates that are the basic components of big game wildlife management. Here are the 2008 mule deer classifications.
Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey Results
Many hunters judge the quality of their hunt by comparing one year to another. If you are an avid waterfowl hunter, here is some information you might find interesting. Each winter, our waterfowl biologist conducts aerial surveys to determine rough estimates of waterfowl numbers. The survey document provides estimates, by county, from 2000 to 2008. Check out the 2008 mid-winter waterfowl survey results.
When It Comes to Bird Migration, You Just Never Know What Might Turn Up!
During the fall 2007 hunting season a young hunter harvested a bird he could not identify. The bird turned out to be a sea faring bird called a surf scoter. This past fall, right before Christmas, another hunter brought in a duck that none of us in the office were able to identify. Having no luck using our field guides, we turned to Larry Roberts, our waterfowl biologist in Casper. Through a series of pictures, Roberts was able to identify the animal. It was not a duck at all, but a brant which is a member of the goose family. More specifically it was an immature, black brant. Both the brant and the scoter were apparently blown off their migration course.
Antler-width Measurements Tallied for Fall 2008.
Antler-width measurements were collected this past fall by Cody region personnel. A combined total of 863 antlered mule deer were measured. Here is the 2008 summary.
NWTF-Northwest Chapter Donates to Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Area
Food, water, shelter, space, and arrangement equals good wildlife habitat. Both turkeys and other upland gamebird species will benefit from a $2000 donation made by the Northwest Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. The money will be used to purchase 900 feet of irrigation pipe which will in turn be used to irrigate brood rearing habitat and food sources.
Mule Deer Initiative--Brochure Available On-line
Mule deer management continues to be a top priority for the Game and Fish and several initiatives are underway. The Mule Deer Initiative brochure provides useful information to those who wish to understand this important initiative.
Antler Hunting--Do You Know the Interstate Game Tag Law?
With winter and spring comes antler hunting, an ever increasing recreational activity. When conducted properly, the activity can be good exercise and fun, as well as profitable. Antler hunters should know that tagging requirements are different when finding a shed antler as opposed to finding antlers on a skull or skull plate. Here are the antler taging rules.
Devil's Canyon Bighorn Sheep Population Growing
If you are following the effort to re-establish bighorns in the Big Horns, then you will want to read the most recent update on the Devil's Canyon Herd.
Big Horn Basin Wild Turkey Hunting Summary (1990-2007)
Thanks to the cooperative efforts of landowners, the National Wild Turkey Federation, it's Big Horn Basin chapters and the Department, Big Horn Basin turkey hunting is gaining in popularity. Here is a summary of the harvest information we have gathered over the past 17 years. in hunt areas 6 and 10.
Poaching is Mutiny on your Bounty !
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