Bad News Lope in 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 106

elks96 · Jan 28, 2021

Today, heard a pretty good interview on the local Radio station...

Antelope Take Away...

Units 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 and 106 all seen a 40% reduction in heard numbers last year.

2 fold issues were cited.... Harsh winter last winter, coupled with an extremely dry spring and summer. Has resulted in a double whammy...

Mature animals that made it barely made through last winter, but then were hit with poor range conditions. So essentially they lost the majority of 2 generations in these units. The fawns that died last winter and the ones that were not born or were born weak this srping.

They are talking about another significant reduction in tags in these areas.

Also 75 to the NW saw thier yearling counts down over 50%, but not as dramatic decrease in other age ages groups. So they are likely holding licenses at current level or looking at slight reductions. If they have another year with poor fawn recruitment it will be cut again.

mulecreek · Jan 28, 2021

First time in 106 was last year, my son had the tag. If that was down, an up year must be something to see.

Chesterwyo · Jan 28, 2021

A harsh winter followed by a dry spring? How’s that work? Wouldn’t the snowpack derived from a harsh winter create lush conditions as it melted?

SS! · Jan 28, 2021

Chesterwyo said:
A harsh winter followed by a dry spring? How’s that work? Wouldn’t the snowpack derived from a harsh winter create lush conditions as it melted?

Not when the wind blows it all away

DoubleDropMuley · Jan 28, 2021

Slightlysober said:
Not when the wind blows it all away

Not in Wyoming !!?

SS! · Jan 28, 2021

DoubleDropMuley said:
Not in Wyoming !!?

A little known fact is the wind blowing is from all the hot air utah guys spit out regarding managing wyoming wildlife. You know because they've done such a great job there

jims · Jan 28, 2021

I spent over a month last summer and fall in several of those antelope units. There was actually pretty good water available early in the spring. It was super dry and relatively hot from July through September when some of the water sources dried up. In some of the areas where I saw lots of antelope during June they were almost void of antelope where water totally dried up. In adjacent units where there was more water into September there generally were a lot more antelope.

If you’ve spent much time in Wyo you will notice that antelope tend to wander into areas with less snow in winter and also areas with more water and better browse during late summer-early fall. Some areas that hold antelope one year may be void of antelope the next...in response to these conditions.

Bookhead · Jan 28, 2021

I shot this buck in 68 last season

Bookhead · Jan 28, 2021

And there was no reduction of tags in 68 they raised them last year

wytex · Jan 29, 2021

Chesterwyo said:
A harsh winter followed by a dry spring? How’s that work? Wouldn’t the snowpack derived from a harsh winter create lush conditions as it melted?

Could be little to no snow and a layer of ice over whatever was there. Our area had good early moisture that just dried up in summer. Not much snow pack right now either. Irrigation is not looking good for summer hay.

nfh · Jan 29, 2021

Slightlysober said:
Not when the wind blows it all away

You know why it is windy in Wyoming? It's because Montana blows and Colorado sucks

elks96 · Jan 30, 2021

Chesterwyo said:
A harsh winter followed by a dry spring? How’s that work? Wouldn’t the snowpack derived from a harsh winter create lush conditions as it melted?

The areas mentioned got hit early with a heavy snow. Many antelope were kind of stuck. The snow was pretty deep in a lot of the country, many of the places where I am driving in 2 wheel drive in January this year was all but inaccessible last year in thanksgiving. That snow blew around a bit and got a nasty crust, and I mean nasty crust. Last January I found a group of antelope stuck in this nasty mid thigh deep snow. In the end 17 of the 24 died where they were stuck...

The snow was a hard pack top layer and under was like loose sand. Very little moisture. Then when it did melt the wind sucked a lot of the moisture out, followed by unseasonably dry spring and summer.

the pregnant does came out of the winter in very bad shape, then as the had Nabatean the food was not awesome. So making milk would have been down. ETC.

normally yes big heavy snow pack equates to a good spring, but in the low area of Wy with the wind that is not always true.
I can’t remember a single rain event from May first through august here last year!

Scrillznac · Jan 30, 2021

nfh said:
You know why it is windy in Wyoming? It's because Montana blows and Colorado sucks

LOL!

Ultimag · Jan 30, 2021

And even with the die off Wyoming still has
More antelope than people

SS! · Jan 30, 2021

Ultimag said:
And even with the die off Wyoming still has
More antelope then people

*than

WapitiBob · Jan 30, 2021

mulecreek said:
First time in 106 was last year, my son had the tag. If that was down, an up year must be something to see.

I was in one of those areas last year and 2018 as well. Last year was a significant improvement over 2018.

pjs78 · Jan 31, 2021

Son and I hunted 106 last year 3rd week. Plenty of animals
but never seen a decent buck in 4 days of hunting. Guessing
60 + bucks a day.

littlebighorn · Feb 1, 2021

My son and I hunted 68 for almost a week. We saw plenty of short horned average bucks, but I don't recall seeing that many fawns. It could be slow sledding for a few years.

dwalton · Feb 2, 2021

Had a great hunt in 106 this past fall.

aaron1975 · Feb 2, 2021

so I was planning on burning a bunch of points on one of these units this year. Will this poor outlook make for a tougher hunt or not worth it at all?

SS! · Feb 3, 2021

aaron1975 said:
so I was planning on burning a bunch of points on one of these units this year. Will this poor outlook make for a tougher hunt or not worth it at all?

Don’t overthink it. Just go!

grosventrehunter · Feb 3, 2021

aaron1975 said:
so I was planning on burning a bunch of points on one of these units this year. Will this poor outlook make for a tougher hunt or not worth it at all?

Hunt when you are able you never know what next year will bring. Even with numbers slightly down you will still have a great hunt.

elks96 · Feb 3, 2021

Yeah I would still try the hunts, but it is more about draw odds in my opinion. If they are already reporting a down turn in the herd, and making it well known to the public, I would venture to gues that the tags are reduced.