This whole deal is very complicated. First, let me say that as an outfitter for 20+ years, I have always been opposed to the law that requires nonresidents to have a guide in a wilderness area. It's dumb and a bad law - plain and simple. And yes, I'm licensed to guide/outfit in 4 wilderness areas. Don't do it often, but I have the permits. And the reason we don't take hunters there? The hunt quality is substandard. It needs better management.
I like the stats that show the deer herds are way below objective. Not sure the figures are exactly right, but they do show we are WAY UNDER OBJECTIVE. We need to "lay off"" those deer and do some other things to get the deer numbers back up. I'd advocate hammering more elk and predators for a start. We could increase lion mortality quotas and possibly extend lion seasons. Or maybe do something to encourage coyote hunting.
I've been in those areas near Rock Springs where there are limited quota licenses. IMO they are also way oversubscribed and poorly managed. There just are not enough deer there for the number of licenses G&F sells. Those are good examples to NOT use as the prototype for limited quota hunting.
The money deal always crops up. That's BS; pure and simple. Wyoming could make MORE MONEY if they would emphasize quality than if they just turned everyone loose. EVERY resident that wants a license would still have one. It might not be statewide, but you would have a good license every year. And if we had preference points, G&F could make MORE MONEY. We have just over 500,000 people in Wyoming. Colorado has 4.66+ million residents. Residents of Colorado still have good hunts every year and a great opportunity every 2-4 years. And those folks are WAY HAPPIER with the deer than they were a decade ago when there was almost no management. Management has increased customer (hunter) satisfaction, they are still making money and most importantly, THE WILDLIFE RESOURCE IS BETTER. It has even increased support for and respect for the Colorado DOW.
I'd also be glad to pay more for a higher quality hunt. (In license fees.) Hunting is the #1 reason I live in Wyoming. A few dollars more per year would darn sure be worth it. Even here in eastern Wyoming, deer numbers are down. And that includes some big private ranches with very limited hunting. It's a combination of drought, predators, maybe CWD, and elk, plus whitetail influx. But with management, we can address some of those issues.
Also, there are already places in Wyoming where you can shoot 2 buck deer and 2 buck antelope per year. Why not provide opportunities for those places and limit the pressure on others? It's just managemnt. If/when we have 4 million residents, will all of you still resist change? Seems like this is a good time to start making positive change.
Finally, don't belive everything you read on the internet. (Surprise!) I've seen some of those G&F figures and they are "pie in the sky." No way we have as many deer as are reported in some of that census data. Many times, I simply see those numbers as JUSTIFICATION FOR NOT REDUCING LICENSES OR SHORTENING SEASONS.
I've got friends in G&F and most of them recognize the need for a change to enhance quality and management for mule deer. But there's HUGE RESISTENCE TO CHANGE both inside G&F and from the public. So please don't say that all professionals support the current system. Also, I personally manage over 100,000 acres. I work with the public. We have some land enrolled in walk-in areas. We take people elk hunting for free to kill cows. We help people with antelope hunts. But I darned sure protect the mule deer. They are truly the "barometer" for big game ungulates in Wyoming. And besides that, they are my favorite. And yes, I have seen them decline, but not where I have legitimate influence. And yes, I have spent thousands of dollars helping them, enhancing habitat, protecting them; paying money to not hunt them. And I'll keep doing it. It's a high priority for me.
Also, just FYI, I am what I consider a small-time outfitter. I have a full-time job, run cattle, put up hay and work darned hard to live in Wyoming. But if I never take another hunter, my family will still eat and we'll be OK. I do not outfit as my sole source of income. I do it because I love the wildlife and it provides us a year-round opportunity to visit some special places. We try to make money, but it does not always happen. It's a risky business.
I'd much rather see lots of mule deer and see trophy bucks than have chance to go hammer one in a crowded situation every year. This issue is as much or more about population numbers than it is trophy bucks. I take quite a few pictures of deer. And I spend a lot of time trying to kill coyotes. I only wish other people would be willing to appreciate that part of the mule deer's environment and be wiling to "lay off" them for while to let them recover to those objectives. Management is the way to accomplish that. What a dilemma we have. Too bad. We never agree and most folks are completely unwilling to give up anything until it is way too late.
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