Drought problems for pronghorns
#3
Wyoming Game and Fish Department wildlife management coordinators:
Laramie Region - "Shirley Basin looks dismal"
Green River - "Pronghorn also exhibited poorer body condition and poor fawn survival likely related to the drought." "Browse production was less than 25 percent of normal."
Casper - "fawn ratios were the lowest ever recorded in many herd units and newborn mortality was extremely high due to drought conditions"
Cody - "although the drought has not caused a significant increase in mortality or stress for deer and pronghorn in the southern Bighorn Basin, more animals were using private agricultural lands than in previous years."
Laramie Region - "Shirley Basin looks dismal"
Green River - "Pronghorn also exhibited poorer body condition and poor fawn survival likely related to the drought." "Browse production was less than 25 percent of normal."
Casper - "fawn ratios were the lowest ever recorded in many herd units and newborn mortality was extremely high due to drought conditions"
Cody - "although the drought has not caused a significant increase in mortality or stress for deer and pronghorn in the southern Bighorn Basin, more animals were using private agricultural lands than in previous years."
Last edited by Big Uncle; 02-16-2013 at 06:20 AM.
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,926
If it's not drought, it's some disease...
like TB. EHD, CWD, blue tongue, abcessed brain disease or whatever. (could have fouled up the initials)
If a 16 year old archer doesn't take the trophy in an adjoining property, something else will prevent a number of 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 year olds from surviving.
Saw one owner who spends much time and money on getting an older herd, lost two shootable trophies before the hunting season opened in 2012. I can feel his pain.
Depend on nature, and it will extract some price.
If a 16 year old archer doesn't take the trophy in an adjoining property, something else will prevent a number of 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 year olds from surviving.
Saw one owner who spends much time and money on getting an older herd, lost two shootable trophies before the hunting season opened in 2012. I can feel his pain.
Depend on nature, and it will extract some price.
#5
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
Big Uncle---I read those brief reports a few days ago on the website and what I was referring to is the animals that are still out there seem to be doing okay. They are definitely in a bind with what has already happened drought wise and it has definitely cut the numbers from what was an all time high in many areas just a year or two ago. As I mentioned, they need good Spring amd Summer moisture to start a decent recovery or it could really get nasty.
#7
I have been trying to draw one of the Red Desert units for the past few years, but this season I am just going to get a preference point. Maybe I will try to get a leftover tag in a different unit and look for a nice fat small buck.
#10
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
Be careful what you wish for! The first half of winter up here in lower MI we only got 3" and people were mad because they couldn't ski or snowmobile. As of about the 20th of January it started and hasn't quit with one storm after another. Spring can come any time up here and most would be very happy!