Bison Hunts, What Happens when?

elks96 · Dec 7, 2021

So this weekend we went to Jackson. Not where I would like to be, but the drive was nice. I noticed a few guys hunting or at least parking and hiking onto the National Elk Refuge. My question is this, what happens on year like this, when the buffalo just do not leave the park or get to where they can be accessed? On top of the pass there was maybe 18" max of snow. We saw moose and mule deer way high still. I am assuming the buffalo we saw in the one river bottom were on private and without major storms I do not see them leaving the river area. Also no elk anywhere in the area...

Will the state offer extra tags next year?

Bambistew · Dec 7, 2021

Pretty sure they just cull them. I know they want to shoot like 600 or something this year. Hunting doesn't really control much

llamapacker · Dec 7, 2021

There will be no season extension, or necessarily more tags next year. Harvest rates have been less than 50% for most bison tags the last couple years, and hunters are warned about low success and the possibility of animals not coming onto the refuge.

The first day bison cows came onto the refuge last year was 1/17, if memory serves. There were only two days in late January when cow bison were harvested. This is already built into their management model. This hunt has changed dramatically from 10 years ago.

Bill

highfastflyer · Dec 7, 2021

The bulls are often harvested on the Forest Service lands in September and October. The cows last few years have had very low success rates.

wytex · Dec 7, 2021

Yep, sounds like we've been pretty lucky to get 3 cows off of the Refuge.
Wish they could hunt them in the the same areas they can hunt elk, in Grand Teton.

dwalton · Dec 8, 2021

Bambistew said:
Pretty sure they just cull them. I know they want to shoot like 600 or something this year. Hunting doesn't really control much

Wyoming does not do cull hunts.

elks96 · Dec 8, 2021

dwalton said:
Wyoming does not do cull hunts.

Is that just MT side?

elks96 · Dec 8, 2021

llamapacker said:
There will be no season extension, or necessarily more tags next year. Harvest rates have been less than 50% for most bison tags the last couple years, and hunters are warned about low success and the possibility of animals not coming onto the refuge.

The first day bison cows came onto the refuge last year was 1/17, if memory serves. There were only two days in late January when cow bison were harvested. This is already built into their management model. This hunt has changed dramatically from 10 years ago.

Bill

is it just because the bison know the pressure and they wait as long as they can? or has it been late snow and weather driven?

dwalton · Dec 8, 2021

elks96 said:
Is that just MT side?

I believe so. I think they are looking at whacking 600 or so this winter on the Montana side of Yellowstone.

Muleyears · Dec 8, 2021

elks96 said:
is it just because the bison know the pressure and they wait as long as they can? or has it been late snow and weather driven?

They migrate south as the weather gets worse. However, in the last 5-10 years they have become much more familiar with the boundaries and know the elk refuge = danger if they cross too early. Cows are virtually impossible to kill before the weather forces them south. Bull will wander onto forest land and occasionally even onto the refuge before snows get too deep. Cow hunters are wasting their time hunting before mid January the last few years

PleaseDear · Dec 10, 2021

Hey Rob---

That small herd ya saw of Buff might have been the same that was on private I saw back in mid-November.

I did a thread over on the Bowsite of my multi-tasking trip!! haha

Wyo Parks Vacation 2022 ??

Bowhunting and Archery Information Article

forums.bowsite.com

Robb

elks96 · Dec 10, 2021

Yeah probably the same groups. We also saw a pretty big group on the park. Actually like 3 big groups on Teton.

Cool that you saw a wolf. So far I have only a glimpse of 2 at a long range.