Wyoming Winter Kill

[Red Leg]

I knew Wyoming was having a rough winter at higher elevations, but had not realized the impact was this bad.

Dying By The Thousands: Miles Of Death As Wyoming Antelope, Deer And Elk Die From Winter Starvation

Outfitters say southcentral Wyoming antelope, deer and elk herds are dying off in huge numbers and that predictions that half of the antelope in parts of the state could die this winter probably fall short. It’s more likely to be closer to 80%.

cowboystatedaily.com

 

[BRICKBURN]

It’s been hard up high, right up the entire Rockies. Bloody sad to see.

 

[shotgungibbs]

WOW! I hate to see that! I love Wyoming, and their antelope & mule deer!

 

[Justhunt]

Very sad. Hopefully they will have "normal" or mild winters in the future to help the recovery.

 

[John Wasmuth]

Sad indeed

 

[Randy F]

A horrible way to an end.

 

[revturbo9967]

Very tough to see.

 

[Tanner Lee]

I knew it was going to be really bad after seeing the pictures from the big storm back in February, but those estimates seem even worse then I was thinking.
I guess I am just going to keep getting points then for the next few years.

 

[CM McKenzie]

It’s been rough here for sure.

 

[Woodcarver]

I'm wondering if parts of Colorado are suffering the same issue. Haven't seen any reports yet, but a lot of our mountains are over 150% of snow pack.

 

[Wyfox]

It's really, really bad!
I'm not even excited to hunt Wyoming this year, it's going to take 10 years to recover and that's if we don't get another killer winter between now and then. On top of winter kill we already had a 65% rate of CWD in the deer in my local area which has had record low deer numbers before this winter hit.

I'm afraid to say Colorado and Utah are in the same boat, all three states will be making drastic measures in cutting tags and seasons.

 

[Newboomer]

It's really, really bad!
I'm not even excited to hunt Wyoming this year, it's going to take 10 years to recover and that's if we don't get another killer winter between now and then. On top of winter kill we already had a 65% rate of CWD in the deer in my local area which has had record low deer numbers before this winter hit.

I'm afraid to say Colorado and Utah are in the same boat, all three states will be making drastic measures in cutting tags and seasons.

Need a Berlin type airlift to airdrop some feed. What a tragedy. That really hurts.

 

[Firebird]

I’ve posted on this in Utah a couple times-rough winter for everything except skiing.

 

[revturbo9967]

I contacted my guide friend in Wyoming and he said the worse damage is south central and southwest. North of that things are worse then normal but not 40-50%

 

[Wyfox]

Here's a pic i took last week, this is a wintering area for elk, deer, and antelope. This place normally gets very little snow.

 

[JimP]

I'm wondering if parts of Colorado are suffering the same issue. Haven't seen any reports yet, but a lot of our mountains are over 150% of snow pack.

Where the snowpack is isn't where the animals are wintering. But northwest Colorado and the Gunnison Basen got hit hard

 

[gillettehunter]

Here in NE WY we have had more snow and cold than what is normal. Most of WY is over 130% of normal snowpack. I know we're losing some animals but not as many as other parts of the state.
Bruce

 

[Scott CWO]

Where the snowpack is isn't where the animals are wintering. But northwest Colorado and the Gunnison Basen got hit hard

Yes, our winter range lands along the Front Range Mountains and foothills in Colorado are open with only occasional snow that comes and goes. Northwest Colorado and Utah are worse off.

 

[thi9elsp]

Snow truck drivers are collecting carcasses when not plowing snow.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/0...across-wyoming-as-animals-continue-to-starve/

 

[Woodcarver]

Where the snowpack is isn't where the animals are wintering. But northwest Colorado and the Gunnison Basen got hit hard

The Gunnison Basin was hammered in 2002. First, and only, year I had to take advantage of that quarter charged with our license for Search and Rescue. The impact that year was almost 75% mortality on the deer and elk populations in the Basin. It was just getting back to normal in the last couple years. Not looking forward to what it might look like this season.