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State of Wyoming- Mule Deer Status Report
 
   

Contact Information

State/Province: Wyoming
Contact Person: Daryl Lutz - Casper Region Wildlife Managment Coordinator
Address: Wyoming Game and Fish Department
3030 Energy Lane
Casper, WY 82604


General Deer Harvest Information
Hunter Harvest Data 1985 1995 2000 2005
Total Mule Deer Harvest 52,216 31,935 43,544 35,266
Antlered Mule Deer Harvest 37,747 25,218 37,723 28,020
Antlerless Mule Deer Harvest 14,469 6,717 5,821 6,481
Resident Hunters 62,008 51,263 47,290 35,559
Non-resident Hunters 33,621 29,559 32,242 26,533
Total Deer Hunters 95,629 80,822 78,532 62,092
Total Deer-Hunter Days 393,491 390,690 396,952 307,256
 

 

 Fees and Limits
Resident License Fees: Deer: $35 (application)
         $23 (over-the-counter)
Non-resident License Fees: Deer: $273
         $473
% of state in public lands:
(USFS, BLM, State Trust, WGFD)
 ~ 50%
Season Bag Limit: Any person may apply for and receive a maximum of one (1) Limited quota, Resident General, or Nonresident Region General, and two (2) Limited quota Reduced Price doe/fawn deer licenses.
One (1) deer per license.
Definition of a Legal Animal: Varies by Hunt Area


Season
Structures

Common Opening Day: Archery - September 1
Modern Weapon - October 1 and 15
Common Season Length:

Archery - 30 days
Modern Weapon - 15 to 30 days (Varies by Hunt Area)

Mule Deer Population Statistics
Mule deer
Population Statistics		 1985 1995 2000 2005
Total population 423,021 428,983 545,320 500,256
Mean buck ratio/100 does 19 28 30 32
Range buck ratio/100 does 9-28 16-48 18-57 19-45
Mean fawn ratio/100 does 72 64 64 68
Range fawn ratio/100 does 44-109 42-80 35-82 42-88

Black-tailed Deer Population Statistics
 Black-tailed deer do not occur in Wyoming.


Current
Mule Deer Population
Status

Most mule deer populations throughout Wyoming have experienced some degree of recovery from the last harsh winter in 1992/93 starting in 1995. However, drought conditions have prevailed throughout the majority of the state during the past two summers. These conditions have and will continue to have an impact of fawn production and survival, which will impact both overall population size and numbers of mature bucks. Drought conditions have a measurable impact on several mule deer winter ranges. Shrub production (current annual growth) has been only a few millimeters on established transects. These conditions are only exacerbating already poor habitat condition due to a variety of factors. It is apparent shrub land management to protect, maintain, or enhance mule deer habitat is not a priority in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department continues surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) during the 2001 season. CWD is a rare brain disease in wild deer and elk. These surveys help document the distribution and frequency of CWD in Wyoming. To date, CWD has only been found in 14 hunt areas in the southeast part of the state. In December of 1999, the World Health Organization stated, "There is currently no evidence that CWD in cervidae (deer and elk) is transmitted to humans." Several drop points throughout the southeast corner of the state have been established for hunters to drop off their deer's head for testing. Those who fill out the information correctly and legibly will be notified my mail if their animal tests positive for the disease. It takes about 12 weeks to complete the test. Hunters notified that their deer tested positive for CWD may dispose of that meat if they choose without violating laws concerning waste of game meat.

Hemorrhagic Disease (HD) has reared its ugly head in white-tailed deer populations throughout some of Wyoming. HD is almost always prevalent in White-tailed deer. Most mortality occurs during late summer or early fall. The northeast corner of Wyoming and the Bighorn Basin have been hardest hit.