Hunting and Fishing News & Blog Articles

GUEST AUTHOR: Dave Winchester

According to a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) news release, https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=8030  CPW wildlife officers are confident in confirming a wolf depredation incident has occurred on a domestic calf in North Park, near Walden Colorado.  Walden is located at the confluence of numerous GMUs in northwest Colorado less than 20 miles South of the Wyoming border.

On Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021 a CPW District Wildlife Manager (DWM) received a report of a calf carcass on a ranch in Jackson County. The DWM responded and conducted a field investigation and necropsy on the carcass of the calf to look for evidence of pre-mortem wounds. “The results of this investigation indicated wolf tracks in the immediate vicinity of the carcass and wounds on the calf consistent with wolf depredation,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Kris Middledorf.

Today, gray wolves remain a state endangered species, and wolves may not be taken for any reason other than self-defense. Illegal take of a wolf may result in a combination of penalties, including fines of up to $100,000, a year of jail time, and a lifetime loss of hunting license privileges. 

However, Proposition 114, a ballot initiative directing the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to develop a plan to introduce gray wolves onto the Western Slope of Colorado, passed on November 3, 2020.  

Proposition 114 directs the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission to:

Based on public feedback and CPW’s expertise in developing wildlife management plans, the Commission is moving forward with a strategic phased approach that will facilitate robust stakeholder engagement in the early stages of the planning process.  CPW has formed a Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) to oversee wolf reintroduction and management in Colorado. The SAG will represent diverse wolf management interests that will convene to support the development of the gray wolf management plan for Colorado. 

The U.S. House of Representatives just passed H.R. 5608 the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act. This bill authorizes $70 million annually between fiscal years 2022 and 2028 to be divided equally between CWD research and management efforts. 

“Of this, $35 million will be dedicated annually for CWD research to develop testing methods, enhance detection efforts, better understand genetic resistance, among others. The remaining $35 million will be used for the management of CWD by prioritizing funding for state and tribal wildlife agencies that have the highest incidence of CWD, are demonstrating the most significant commitments to combatting CWD, are facing the greatest risk of new CWD cases, and more.”

There’s an old saying, “follow the money” and it’s intended to ferret out the source of a fishy smell surrounding an issue and there is no bigger issue in wildlife management today than CWD. Therefore it makes sense that if the federal government was to “get behind” an issue it would be this one. It also stands to reason that by earmarking half of the $70 million to state and tribal wildlife agencies experiencing “the greatest risk” that states would ramp up their testing and searching for CWD so that they can get their share of the money to help prop up sagging budgets. The money trail is startlingly clear on this one. Want a piece of the pie? Start showing more CWD incidence. The higher the prevalence rate of CWD the more money the feds will throw your way. Things that make you go, hmmmm. 

Understanding more about CWD is not a bad thing and my hope is that states use this money to learn more about the disease before implementing drastic, half-baked and dangerously short sighted “management measures” like the culling of mature mule deer bucks on the winter range! Yes, that’s actually part of more than one state’s management plan that for now, has been stalled, thankfully. 

More knowledge and understanding is always a good thing but modern society’s tendency to base policy on emotion and feelings instead of cold, hard scientific fact is dangerous at best and could very well lead to the extirpation of the West’s iconic mule deer herds, all thanks to the boogeyman named CWD. We are seeing the dismantling of sound wildlife management practice all across the West from CWD cull hunts to demands for the closure of elk feed grounds due to the possibility of CWD contamination. What will this look like now that federal taxpayer dollars are dangling in front of state wildlife agencies? 

Well that didn’t take long! The FWP commission retracted their proposal to convert special draw areas to general elk hunting on private land in hunting districts in 411, 417, 426, 535, 590, 702, 704, and 705. FWP Director Hank Worsech defended the proposal saying it’s a way to address herd numbers and make it so private landowners could hunt their own property because they couldn’t draw a tag. There is a landowner tag draw already in place and you are eligible for it if you own 640 acres of land in the district. For deer and antelope you must own  160 acres to be eligible for the landowner draw. Would this change in law actually address the elk population problem on private land? Most folks say no, and it created quite the buzz in Montana recently with fears that this would only further privatize hunting in the great state of Montana.

Commissioner Pat Byorth argued against it saying the herd population numbers in those areas are outdated and noted that only hunter access is going to reduce the elk herds, not privatizing the hunting. State Senator Brad Molnar told the commission that the current proposal will do nothing to address the population objective as a whole and “the problem is, for this particular moment, that Gov. Gianforte appointed and the Senate confirmed an extremely slanted commissioner and director. And I expect nothing good to come out of your efforts for the next four years.” 

I will note that the elk management plan is being rewritten as we speak which could be good or bad for the future of public hunting depending on which direction it goes. In 2017, the elk management plan was rewritten and objectives were lowered statewide which is why all of the sudden all these districts across the central and eastern parts of the state were “over objective”. It largely has to do with landowner tolerance of animals on their property. So stay tuned to see what the new elk management plan entails in 2022. 

Source:

https://www.ktvq.com/news/montana-fwp-changes-course-from-controversial-elk-hunting-proposal-for-central-and-eastern-hunting-districts

The Wyoming Game and Fish released a reminder to slow down on the highways and watch for poachers on Wyoming’s winter ranges this winter in hopes of protecting wildlife and especially the mule deer herd in southwest Wyoming. Every year hundreds of big game animals get hit on Wyoming’s highways and winter is the most prominent time for vehicle collisions because of the increased density of animals on the low elevation winter ranges. Slowing down even 5 mph is enough to make a difference in vehicle collisions and increases the duration of your reaction time to slow down. 

Game and Fish is asking to be on the lookout for suspicious activity around wildlife like harassment and poaching. Big bucks are more visible now more than any other time of the year due to the winter range being around highways and developed areas. As always, informants are anonymous and cash rewards are offered if convictions are made. 

Source:

https://oilcity.news/galleries/2021/12/09/photos-tumbleweeds-invade-bar-nunn-after-relentless-winds-on-wednesday/

In today’s world it seems that security is at the top of the list for most people. We are constantly searching for ways to keep our loved ones and our possessions safer and better protected. We see this in everything from home security systems to car alarms and personal information protection. It only makes sense that securing our firearms would be a top priority as well. 

In the past securing a firearm meant cumbersome gun locks or hiding them away behind the vault door of a gun safe. This is a problem if the firearm in question is needed for protection. Afterall, a gun that you can’t retrieve quickly and easily is useless, especially a handgun. Hornady understands this and has developed a line of products aimed at keeping your firearms secure while also allowing unfettered access to select people. 

The RAPiD line of safes from Hornady are well thought out and heavily constructed firearm containment devices that allow virtually instant access to your securely locked away weapon. The RAPiD Safe Night Guard in particular is designed to lock away a handgun from unwanted access while allowing quick access to authorized users via Hornady’s patented RFID technology. 

Wildlife managers across the West are confronted with declining mule deer populations and Montana is no exception. With that struggle only getting more difficult the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission has proposed some changes to the general deer season in Regions 1, 2 and 3. 

In Region 1 the proposal is structured as follows. Mule deer bucks will be able to be hunted on a general license for the first three weeks of the season and the last two weeks will go to a limited permit hunt with a quota of 15 tags. Since Montana’s general deer season falls largely within the mule deer rut, the hope is that by trimming two weeks off of the current five week season, more bucks will be available to breed and grow to maturity. 

Region 2 already has permits in place but now the commission is seeking to shorten the season from five weeks to three. 

In Region 3 the proposal is to move HDs 380 and 392 to limited permits. 

There are other factors suppressing mule deer recruitment across their entire range in the West. Predation from overpopulated predators such as wolves, bears, mountain lions and coyotes is high on the list of concerns. Mule deer are often outcompeted by whitetail deer that are more resilient to hunting pressure and more adaptable. Mule deer also suffer widely from habitat loss and fragmentation and death by automobile thanks to human population growth. 

Help us keep wild sheep on the mountains. Wildlife conservation can’t afford to take time off. Wild Sheep Foundation’s annual Sheep Week will be virtual and in-person this year! Whether you travel to Reno or not, Sheep Week is better than ever with more sheep hunt auctions and raffles than last year. During the virtual event, visit with outfitters and manufacturers, join the live auction, chat with your friends and more from any internet-connected device. Bighorn sheep, Dall’s sheep, Stone’s sheep and wild sheep across the world depend on this fundraising.

The post Sheep Week in Reno is Back! appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

The state of Nevada’s migration corridors is set to have a major boost in priority within BLM lands. The Department of the Interior sent out a memo outlining 13 action item points that will help migratory big game animals move from summer to winter range every year. This plan in particular will help mule deer who have oftentimes followed the “green wave” the farthest. Every spring the deer and pronghorns follow the snow line with the greenest most nutrient-dense food back to the higher elevations. Every year that gets a little tougher with fragmentation, competition and development all eroding the landscape.

This is also significant because Nevada has vast swaths of BLM land. These giant tracts will serve the battle grounds for preserving and ideally growing Nevada’s mule deer population. I’ve documented well in the Eastmans’ MRS the steady downward trajectory that the deer herd has faced in the recent past. These priorities will, over time, help be a boon for these deer herds and with a little luck I may be able to report stabilization and eventually growth in the areas where these management strategies have taken place. 

Of those 13 points here are a few that will likely make a huge difference: 

All of these actions will be a huge win for Nevada’s wildlife. However, there is one major piece of the equation that is missing and honestly I don’t envy the job of selling to the public what must happen to fix the issue of wild horses. Nevada has been dealing with this issue for years and these, while beautiful creatures, exist on the landscape in such high numbers improving deer and pronghorn populations to match objectives will be tough. 

The wild horse issue really becomes apparent in drought years like this one. Their ability to out compete their smaller competition for food and water is bringing the issue to the limelight. The solution is removing them, but will it be in a non-lethal form? 

Beginning in 2023 AZ will transition to a harvest threshold model of OTC archery deer. This means that OTC tags will remain available but that each unit will have a set harvest quota. When that quota is reached the unit will be closed. This follows the same model that our bear and lion hunts utilize. This will require AZ to utilize mandatory reporting, something that is likely to be expanded to all species at some point. This should provide better data for the state to utilize when planning seasons, as previously only 20-30% of surveys were completed.

Additionally, the commission has directed the department to explore ways to implement a 10% cap on Non-Resident sales of OTC archery deer tags. In 2020 non-residents made up approximately 11% of the total tag sales, the highest it has ever been. This won’t reduce the tags available to NR by much but will prevent the number of NR archery hunters from continuing to skyrocket.

The post Arizona Update: OTC Archery Deer appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Chronic Wasting Disease(CWD) is spurring the Feds to review permits for two elk feedgrounds in western Wyoming. One feedground is located in Sublette County and another in Lincoln County. Both of these feedgrounds together hold approximately 13,000 elk every year during the winter months with the Wyoming Game and Fish providing supplemental feeding to these animals through some of the worst stretches of the winter.

CWD has come into a much bigger spotlight in the last few years as testing has become a regular part of life at most check stations. It shouldn’t come as any surprise that when we test more for the disease we will find it far more often than we have in the past. Bearing that in mind opposition to shutting down Wyoming’s feedgrounds comes from what many feel is a lack of data proving that CWD has been prevalent in high enough numbers to really be harming deer and elk herd populations. 

On the other end of the spectrum, many people believe that these feeding programs have helped make the disease more prevalent across the West. So much so that some of the more extreme “conservation” groups like Western Watersheds have called feedgrounds “toxic disease factories.” 

The polarization on this subject isn’t going away and will likely be something that the reviewers will struggle through for the three year review period. The review is expected to take that long and we will have to wait and see how this turns out. This review, much like the actions taking place in Jackson’s famed feedgrounds will have a ripple effect on 22 feedgrounds across western Wyoming.

What do you think? Are we finding more CWD just because we are looking or is this a disease that requires immediate drastic action? Leave a comment and let us know how you feel. 

Pardon my long winded rant on this blog, however I feel that this PSA is necessary for every western hunter. Every year we pick our gear for every trip and we are glad to share how well we did picking the right gear for the trip. I am turning this around the other way this time, sucking up my ego! In this article I am going to share with you some of the wrong choices I made in gear and tell you what I wish I would have taken to better fit the needs of the trip that I was on. And what better time to share all of this than when the last late season hunts are wrapping up and the significant others are building their Christmas lists?!

Now let me also remind everyone that none of the gear pieces used failed or performed poorly, they did exactly what they were supposed to do. This is just a reminder that there are sometimes better tools than what we throw in the pack, sometimes it is bias towards our favorite pieces, sometimes it is ego, other times it is just that we hadn’t bought the ideal piece yet. 

Now let’s move on to the gear!!!!

I should have had the Kryptek Atilla II Jacket

It’s no secret that I am a hoody guy. They are a piece of kit that has always been a staple for me and the advances in technical clothing the last 10 years has made them even more comfortable. On a late October elk hunt with 28- 50 degree temps during the day, plus the humidity of melting snow a wide variety of conditions were encountered. The wind was also brutal in some areas, especially when the drifting snow played into the equation. The Atilla II would have been perfect to have underneath my wind layer jacket or vest depending on conditions.

Wyoming Senators Cynthia Lummis and John Barrasso have stepped up as a tri-state coalition and four US Senators jump into the fight to delist the more than recovered grizzly bear. 

The grizzly bear delisting saga continues in the northern Rocky Mountain states. A new development has in fact arose as of late with a recent collaboration between the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho along with a coalition from Federal legislators in said states that places a bit more muscle and credibility behind the ongoing effort to delist the overpopulated predator in the region. A democratic federal administration will more than likely make this possibility nearly impossible, however it looks like the states of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are poised to make another run at a grizzly bear delisting in the next few months. A process that will neither be easy nor quick.  

The primary goal is for the states to regain control of the bears outside the scope of the protections encompassed within the confines of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The state of Wyoming in particular has aggressively engaged in this process for the better part of two decades with no avail as court case after court case has shut the effort down even after the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service themselves have agreed with the release of the species as “recovered”. All the while the population of bears in and around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has continued to expand well beyond the carrying capacity for the predator causing massive wildlife management issues and conflicts.  

The primary complaint or reason for the Montana judge and an appeals court panel to reject the move to “delist” was based on the risk of a lack of genetic diversity related to connectivity within the region’s bear populations. This new memorandum of understanding, which has yet to be agreed to fully by the states of Idaho and Montana, would create an agreement or pact between the states to open up the possibility of embarking on a relocation program between the not quite connected current populations throughout the states. Essentially, genetically connecting the Yellowstone bears with the Glacier bears in an effort to create a larger and more blended genetic pool in both regions. Basically, a good old fashioned bear swap. 

As a side note, the state of Montana has also recently begun to move forward with the process of a potential removal of the grizzly bear in the Glacier National Park region of Montana from the ESA as well. Northwest Montana is now experiencing many of the same negative effects and problems of an overpopulated grizzly bear population that we have witnessed in northwest Wyoming. 

“Officials have agreed to allow as many as 900 bison from Yellowstone National Park to be shot by hunters, sent to slaughter or placed in quarantine this winter…” 

Anyone who has visited YNP recently can attest that there are too many of two things… people and bison! It is virtually impossible to visit “the Park” without running into droves of each animal. I live along the borders of the nation’s first national park and much of our local economy comes from the millions of annual visitors each year and just like the tourists, bison spread out from the Park as well, finding nooks and crannies to live in, especially during the winter. Like the money made from tourism it would be nice to have a crack at those big shaggies too! 

However, before we dust off the Sharps and get our Quigley on I’m betting that any “hunt” won’t be a hunt at all but a cull carried out by government “sharpshooters”. That would be sad indeed! I for one would pay a handsome fee to hunt a wild bison and do my part to thin the over populated YNP herd. I don’t know about you but there’s just something about a big old “buffalo” that’s romantic, the skull, the hide, the meat… every inch of the American bison is pure nostalgia, they are the true symbol of the American West. 

Romance aside, we owe these animals a balanced ecosystem and YNP is anything but right now. Too many predators, too many bison, each wreaking havoc on the flora and fauna of one of the most incredible places on the planet. That balance, and a fair bit of monetary profit could assuredly be generated via a limited public hunt on the bison of YNP. 

I will keep my ear to the ground on this, looking for opportunities for public comment about an open hunt. Fingers crossed the Park Service will use common sense on this and allow John and Jane Q Public to participate in the balancing of our Nation’s bison herd. 

GUEST AUTHOR: Brian Clintworth

Hunters in Washington have just lost their Spring Bear season for 2022, but hunters everywhere should take note as the anti hunters will see this as a victory and look to further their agenda across the nation.  Last month the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission had a tie vote when approving the 2022 Spring Bear proposals.  Because of the tie vote, the hunt has been put on hold while the commission decides what to do.  Let’s look at what caused this outcome.  

Spring bear seasons across the nation have always been controversial.  Anti hunters are concerned with cubs being orphaned, too many females being killed, bears being in a weakened state from just waking up from hibernation, are a few of the many reasons they oppose these hunts.  From a biologist and sportsman perspective, spring hunts have been very popular with hundreds of hunters applying for the limited number of permits.  Spring hunts have been effective in harvesting bears(mainly boars) which subsequently helps out ungulate populations. In the Blue Mountains of Washington, it is estimated that up to 80% of the elk calves are killed by predators each year, primarily bears and cougars.  Spring harvest also helps minimize timber damage on westside timberlands.  

Here in Washington over the last several years, there have been attempts to shut down this hunt but they have not been successful until now.  In December 2020 there was a lawsuit filed to stop the Spring Bear hunt.  The state of Washington recently implemented new regulations for successful hunters to present proof of sex to a district office so they could document the low number of lactating sows that were harvested.  

The WDFW staff, presented science based evidence that these hunts do not cause a concern for the bear population.  Despite this evidence, the commissioners had a split vote, and because there was not a majority vote, the hunt was placed on hold.  During public testimony on zoom over 90% of the voices were to ban the hunt.   You can bet that many of these folks were from states other than Washington.  The anti hunting crowd showed up, and the governor appointed commission, many of whom are non hunters(or even anti hunting) listened.  They voted with emotion, rather than the science and data of the Department and hunters lost another season.  It is decisions like this, that should strike fear in hunters across the West.  The anti hunting groups are getting more organized, more active in wildlife management and this puts additional hunts at risk.  With more meetings being held via Zoom, it has become easy for these national organizations to flood the public comments with their emotionally charged thoughts.  

Corner crossing is one of the most controversial topics out there right now. Let’s define corner crossing as it pertains to this conversation before we go any further. Corner crossing is simply where two pieces of public land share a corner and someone from the public steps from one section of public to the other. In theory and in the eyes of many in the public land hunting world it would seem that no trespassing has occurred.

In the eyes of many landowners they believe that their property has been trespassed on when this happens. Their understanding is that they have a certain level of ownership above the ground. A quick Google search on this is clear as mud because the definition varies from state to state, but anywhere from 80-500 feet above the ground seems to be where some of the articles settle. 

Which brings us to where we are with a case here in my home state of Wyoming regarding corner crossing. In the fall of 2021 Brad Cape, Phillip Yoemans, John Slowensky and Zach Smith were each cited for trespassing by corner crossing from one section of public land to another. The ranch involved is the Elk Mountain Ranch in southeastern Wyoming. 

According to witnesses the men built a ladder-like device that allowed them to cross several stakes without touching the ground or any “piece” of private physical property in the process. So why were they cited for trespassing? Well according to the most recent Wyoming legislative statute criminal trespass is what “can” be cited by local law enforcement such as a sheriff if the case warrants it. A Wyoming game warden cannot cite hunters for this as ruled by the Wyoming Supreme court. Every case is investigated on a case by case basis as the 2004 supreme court ruling implicates. Yup, it’s more than a little confusing. 

The four men are going to fight the citation with financial help in the form of a GoFundme account funded by many public land hunters who want to be able to hunt the public land that tax dollars maintain. Therein lies the crux of the issue…public land that the public doesn’t have access to. Essentially private public property if you will that can only be recreated on by the landowners who border it or with permission from the said landowners. With the renewed and increasing interest in accessing public land in the covid era as well as the tools in GPS form that make it very easy to find property boundaries, this has the potential to be a very long litigation. Expect it to be a challenging issue to navigate for all involved. 

“Idaho Fish and Game conservation officers discovered a dead mother grizzly bear shot several times near Little Warm River in April. Jared and Rex Baum of Ashton are charged with felony unlawful killing possessing or wasting wildlife for killing the grizzly bear.”

Jared and Rex Baum gunned down this sow grizz with the intent of walking away and saying nothing. Afterall, people in glass houses sink… no wait… it’s loose lips sink ships. Getting caught by Google was obviously not in their plans. That’s right, Google! 

IDFG discovered the poaching bear and her nearby deceased cub in mid-March, she was being monitored via game camera. The sow had 10 5.7mm bullets inside of her leading to the obvious conclusion she had been killed on purpose. Whether or not the slaying was self defense or even justifiable was yet to be determined. A reward was posted for information regarding the case. 

IDFG waited until May and then sent a warrant to Google for a release of electronic devices in the area of the bear’s death around the time of her killing. Jared Baum’s device was discovered to have been present in the area at the suspected time. Busted by Google! 

This bow review features the Mathews V3X. This bow has 3 new features that set it apart from the V3.The Bridge-Lock Sight system and a sleek new Lower quiver design provides better balance than ever. You can even make easy adjusts at home or in the field without a bow press! The new Stay Afield System allows you to quickly and easily remove or repair strings and cables no matter where you are. Dan Pickar also speed tests this bow with a chronograph.

MORE CONTENT COMING SOON…

The post Eastmans’ Bowhunting Journal Updated: EBJ 129 appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

Go hunting for a trophy mule deer buck during the November rut with Guy Eastman and his wife Rinda. The hunt begins on a backcountry horse ride for elk, but as the rut peaks the pair switches focus to filling Rinda’s limited quota mule deer tag. Watch the DIY, public land action unfold on this web episode of Eastmans’ Hunting TV.

The post Mule Deer Rut Hunt with Guy Eastman appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.

PHOTO BY: Mike Eastman

Too many hunters and not enough game has been the theme of many of my conversations in recent years. The discussion on this subject will continue for the foreseeable future but the easiest way to remedy the latter issue is…put more animals in the field to hunt. How do we do that though? How do we make a real effort to see more animals in the field, year in and year out? One simple sounding option would be to cut down the highway related collisions with mule deer, elk and antelope that happen every winter. But is it simple? Is it really that many?

Let’s use mule deer as they are the species cited as having the roughest go of it in Wyoming with 85% of reported wildlife collisions involving them. That number happens to be the equivalent of 4% of the overall population of mule deer. OUCH! Let’s also be honest, this is probably a little low as I can guarantee there are a lot of unreported collisions in rural areas where heavy bumper guards are the norm. 

Let’s put that into some real world numbers instead of straight percentages. Right now our state holds about 350,000 mule deer, that means that roughly 14,000 mule deer die every year getting hit by vehicles. Now let’s break that down even further, most of those deer that are hit are going to be of the breeding age doe or juvenile variety. It’s pretty easy to see why Wyoming doesn’t need many antlerless mule deer tags with that many antlerless animals hit in the roads. 

Also consider that when a fawn gets hit on a busy highway it’s the equivalent of say compound interest in the banking world. If the fawn hit is a female we are talking about removing YEARS of fawn recruitment off the landscape. Her years to produce fawns are no more and by the time that she would have been 4-5 years older her fawns would have been reproducing. In Wyoming for example, highways by Rock Springs are collecting interest on basins in the Hoback by this logic. The mountain may have it’s own ways but the highways certainly have theirs, too. For migrating mule deer it certainly hurts populations. 

Yep, you read that right, just as many of us have feared Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to spread across the west and now Idaho has confirmed cases found in two mule deer bucks just north of Riggins, ID. The specimens were harvested in October of this year. Now Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is preparing for a cull hunt in an attempt to isolate this invasive disease, (some of the details of which are below.) Montana has tried similar hunts with what appears to be little success. But in some cases this method works, at least on paper. IDFG is asking hunters to hep procure 775 CWD samples by issuing 1527 deer tags to resident hunters onlhy. Public land tags will go on sale December 7th at 10am MST and private land tags will go on sale December 8th at 10am MST both will be available first come first served basis. Yes, you guessed it, they are only valid as described…thus you will not be able to mix match. If you have a public land tag you will not be allowed to hunt private land and vise versa. Perhaps this is an attempt to help with pressure? IDFG suggests many of the deer will be on private land during this hunt period. But of course this requires landowner permission and makes for a  tough scenario if you don’t have those connections already lined up. Successful hunters will be required to submit their harvest for CWD testing-no exceptions and abide by the rules and protocols set by IDFG. There will be 35 separate hunts each with set quotas and type of tags, i.e. bucks/does, whitetail/mule deer, etc. Here are a few key points to keep in mind if you want to participate in this hunt:

CWD is found in 27 states and much of Canada. Recently found in Montana in 2017 it appears to be spreading faster and is already hitting Idaho. A factor in this “wave” of CWD could likely be the fact that many deer have the disease, and it goes undiagnosed for quite some time. Meaning, discovery can be very difficult until late stages. All-in-all CWD appears to be very misunderstood…Share your thoughts with us, do you have any experience with this disease or animals tested positive with it?
Visit: idfg.idaho.gov/cwd/hunt for hunt specifics and details about each hunt. 

The post IDFG CWD Hunt appeared first on Eastmans' Official Blog | Mule Deer, Antelope, Elk Hunting and Bowhunting Magazine | Eastmans' Hunting Journals.