Wyoming Region G 2017 Non-Resident Deer License Allocation

PLK · Dec 10, 2017

Perhaps someone could clarify the Region G 2017 NR deer license drawing results. I thought that NR were allocated 400 licenses for Region G. However, when looking at the drawing results posted on the Wyoming Game and Fish website, I come up with the following totals:

NR Random Draw = 54
NR Special Random Draw = 36
NR Preference Point Draw = 164
NR Special Preference Point Draw = 110
-------------------------------------------------------
Total = 364

What happened to the other 36 Region G NR licenses?

Thanks

TOPGUN · Dec 10, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-10-17 AT 08:09PM (MST)[p]It states that the NR tags for each Region "may not exceed" the number listed (400 for G) in that section of the Regulations, but the G&F isn't bound to issue that many. In adjacent Region H the total is 600 and if you add them up like you did for that Region the tags given out totaled 594 and that was 3 more than they had left due to a party getting the last draw. In that case they issue the party more tags than what was left, so it should have been only 591.

PLK · Dec 10, 2017

Sure seems like a very inefficient method to limit hunting pressure in Region G.

TOPGUN · Dec 10, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-10-17 AT 08:17PM (MST)[p]>Sure seems like a very inefficient
>method to limit hunting pressure
>in Region G.

It obviously doesn't limit pressure to any real extent when you figure that thousands of residents hunt the region every year and have for many moons. As long as the region remains under the general license structure for residents the number of hunters will remain in the thousands, as compared to the several hundred NRs that are issued tags. IMHO it would make sense if they want to reduce the deer kill that something needs to be done to restrict residents. However, this is obviously a hard sell when all residents that want to hunt G have been able to do so every year, as well as hunt any other general region in the state. It would either need to be made an LQ tag for residents or possibly left as a general tag, but would have to be applied for as the only region the resident could hunt if they pick it as their choice. It's really a can of worms that the residents need to figure out with the G&F if any changes are to be made because it's obvious that the small number of NR tags that are issued for G doesn't reduce deer numbers to any real extent.

PLK · Dec 10, 2017

Mr. Wiley claims that outfitters in Region G guided 89 hunters in 2017 and killed 43 bucks. I wonder how many of these guided hunters were Wyoming residents? I sure hope that Wyoming Game and Fish makes some substantial/unpopular changes to limit the resident hunting pressure in Region G. The residents that think the outfitting community in Region G is responsible for the decline in mule deer numbers are simply misinformed. Obviously the harsh winter was a major factor in 2016/2017 but bucks that are killed in September/October obviously have no chance to survive even a mild winter. The old adage of "No Pain, No Gain" applies to perspective resident and non-resident mule deer hunters in Wyoming for years to come. The sooner a change is made, the quicker the recovery may occur (assuming Mother Nature plays nice). I'll be sending my comments to the decision makers supporting Mr. Wiley's ideas.

BuzzH · Dec 10, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-10-17 AT 07:30PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Dec-10-17 AT 07:28?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Dec-10-17 AT 07:28?PM (MST)

>Mr. Wiley claims that outfitters in
>Region G guided 89 hunters
>in 2017 and killed 43
>bucks. I wonder how
>many of these guided hunters
>were Wyoming residents? I
>sure hope that Wyoming Game
>and Fish makes some substantial/unpopular
>changes to limit the resident
>hunting pressure in Region G.
>The residents that think the
>outfitting community in Region G
>is responsible for the decline
>in mule deer numbers are
>simply misinformed. Obviously the harsh
>winter was a major factor
>in 2016/2017 but bucks that
>are killed in September/October obviously
>have no chance to survive
>even a mild winter.
>The old adage of "No
>Pain, No Gain" applies to
>perspective resident and non-resident mule
>deer hunters in Wyoming for
>years to come. The sooner
>a change is made, the
>quicker the recovery may occur
>(assuming Mother Nature plays nice).
>I'll be sending my comments
>to the decision makers supporting
>Mr. Wiley's ideas.

Did his total include drop camps and day hunters for outfitters? Archery and rifle?

Doubt it.

Also, the missing tags in G were probably issued to NR landowners.

jm77 · Dec 10, 2017

Based on what I am hearing about a recent attitude survey, the majority of residents want to keep general areas and not under any region restrictions. The survey was authorized by the G&F Commission and I imagine will carry a lot of weight in future decisions.

What this boils down to is resident hunters by majority, care more about hunting opportunity than having a big buck behind every tree. Issue with herd numbers are unaffected by general seasons as long as buck/doe ratios remain good and this years classifications show over 30 per 100 does in region G.

If those that are wasting time trying to get regions G&H limited quota for residents would just focus on the real issues causing herd decline, the deer would be far better off. Road kills, predators, lack of good habitat, disease, youth hunting does and hard winters are the real culprits in herd decline.

Maybe you should add those to your comments PLK.

TOPGUN · Dec 10, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-10-17 AT 08:19PM (MST)[p]After two hunting trips on horseback in Region G in 2015 and 2016 and seeing the harsh country I have to believe that what jm77 stated in his last paragraph are the real reasons for herd decline, rather than hunting pressure for big bucks. Also, BuzzH is right on, as I plumb forgot that landowner tags are taken from that 400 total before the draws that are shown on the website. Thanks for that tip BuzzH!

Founder · Dec 10, 2017

If I we're ever granted the right to voice my opinion on region G, I wouldn't want limited quota either. Pick a region, fine, but I'd rather maintain opportunity and look for other ways to reduce success rates as long as possible.
I like big buck hunting more than anyone, but it ain?t worth a crap if I can never get a tag.
Shortened season length is a good start. How can a big buck have a chance with an outfitter and client, plus various other dudes, hunting him for 3 weeks straight? They can hide only so long.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
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2lumpy · Dec 10, 2017

Yup and y'all will have it your way. Been watching this for 40 years. Nothing will change except you will have fewer and fewer deer to hunt. We've heard the same arguments for 40 years and you all know what you have left. Mule deer are not ##### roaches. Dead and gone, is dead an gone, regardless if it's a bullet, a bumper, a claw, a fang or a deep freeze. It's called responsible mule deer management. We don't do it when it comes to mule deer.

DC

gasman · Dec 11, 2017

The residents arent the majority complaining about the downswing in trophy bucks or hunting pressure.

letmgetbig · Dec 17, 2017

I am a Resident and I have been saying we need a drastic reduction in WY Residents Hunting G and H for years. There will have to be some changes no matter what is wanted. Its wrong to do this to the Deer. Sad thing is we are many years late for making changes.

DoubleDropMuley · Dec 18, 2017

Shorten seasons to 4 days, sure would help a bunch. Let the outfitters cry just have to work faster and harder!!

nontypical · Dec 18, 2017

Season length reductions will only cause more over-crowding. Overall harvest has never been shown to change much between longer or shorter seasons. I agree a mature buck is much more likely to make more mistakes in a longer season, but overall harvest rates don't differ greatly( or at least haven't been shown to do so in the past).

We are WAY past the best years, and we'll never get that back. Too many roadblocks in the way nowdays. We maxed out years ago...

It is what it is. G&H will always grow big bucks. And many will die during winter. The way it's always been in my memory. There's just not as many, and there never will be.

hossblur · Dec 18, 2017

Utah guy. Don't plan on hunting that country, so take it for what is worth.

If you quota g h you do so knowing your sacrificing other areas.

We limited the entire state, I think you'd be hard pressed to show its better.

We did it with elk, Pahvant, Monroe, San Juan, etc, but that meant sacrificing other units, mainly Me no and Manti.

I hope if you do it, you do it because the locals want it, not the outfitters. Setting limits for outfitters is what we do here, and its a mess, not a silver bullet.

"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun"

DoubleDropMuley · Dec 18, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-18-17 AT 05:53PM (MST)[p]I agree nontyp we are way past the best years and personally I don't have any problems with the way the system is now as far as season lengths. I was thinking later dates when all the bucks start to separate a little but then there is a possibility the weather drives them down for easier accessibility. I'm not saying a short season would help that much for the crowds but I would think less deer would be harvested. I do know at least from what I've seen the short season has helped 131. Seen more bucks this year than I have in a long time and quite a few 4 points or better. Now I'm not sure if it is the short season or point restriction but I say there are more deer out there than there has been in a long time and seen a few quality bucks come from there. So not sure what the ansewer is but I believe we will always have ups and downs with our deer and to much change is not needed in h or G!!

DoubleDropMuley · Dec 18, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Dec-18-17 AT 05:54PM (MST)[p]Nontyp you are also correct we will always grow big deer in G and H. And we will never have the heards we used to. From the pics I've seen from this year there was plenty of quality bucks harvested this year. And can't wait till season again to see what I can turn up. And hopefully winter stays mild like it has been and we get the spring rain instead.