HUNTING
2015
GUIDE
Cody Enterprise Publication
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2015
2015 HUNTING
INDEX Kelli Thornton – Deer . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Wyoming ranks high in gun poll . . 6-7 Life and death in the mountains . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Ronnie Singer – Ducks . . . . . . . . . 10 Elk teeth additional hunting trophy . . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Bill Bailey – Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Ready for opening day . . . . . . . . . 16 Adam Miles – Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Keep horses healthy . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Joe Keele – Elk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Luck of the draw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Taylor Hensen – Antelope . . . . . . . 26
OUTLOOK
Follow rules in the field . . . . . . 28-29 Stay safe in grizzly country . . . 32-33 Elaine Haberland – Deer . . . . . . . 35 Bob Meinecke – TV hunting . . . 36-37 Patch – English Setter . . . . . . . . . . 38 Hunting outlook . . . . . . . . . . . 40-45 Leonard Liebert – Moose . . . . . . . 46 Take roll to prevent disease . . . . . . 48 Tim Wade – Fishing outlook . . 50-51 Sarah Christensen – Deer . . . . . . . 52 Bob Meinecke – .308, 30-06 rifles good options . . . . . . . . . . . 54-55 Youth pheasant hunt . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Wade McMillin – Birds . . . . . . . . . 58
P .O . Box 1090, 3101 Big Horn Ave ., Cody, Wyo ., 82414 (307) 587-2231 codyenterprise.com EDITOR: Vin Cappiello NEWS EDITOR: Amber Peabody ADVERTISING: John Malmberg, Shannon Koltes, Megan McCormick and Mike Voss PRODUCTION: Cassie Capellen and John Sides ON THE COVER: Chad Hall, executive producer of the show “Sheep Shape”, looks out over the Northwest Territory in Canada during a mountain goat hunt . (Courtesy photo)
Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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KELLI
Thornton
Kelli Thornton harvested this mule deer on the last weekend of the season on public land up on the South Fork with an over-the-counter tag. The deer scored 205 with 18 points. 4 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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Back Country Knife John Murray
Cowboy state is ‘promised land of guns’
Wyoming ranks high in gun poll By VIN CAPPIELLO Editor “The Gunrunner” isn’t surprised Wyoming ranks No. 6 nationally in a Guns and Ammo magazine survey. In fact, Scott Weber thinks, as many in the state do: Wyoming should rank No. 1. But neither he nor the thousands statewide who own, shoot, make, buy and sell various makes and models of guns, are complaining. “This is the promised land of guns,” said Weber, who co-owns Gunrunner Firearms and Pawn in Cody along with Bob Carter. Guns and Ammo in its July 21 report ranked the 50 states and Washington, D.C., which ranked last. The top 5 were Arizona, Vermont, Alaska, Utah and Kentucky. Weber said he’s not surprised Wyoming ranked so high. “Wyoming is the ideal place, not only for gun ownership but gun history ... it’s been our heritage, from day one.” “If you’re a gun dealer like me or a gun manufacturer, there’s no better state. It’s why I brought my business here. And tax-wise, municipalities welcome gun and ammo manufacturers.” According to gunsandammo.com, the factors used in ranking “Best States for CCW (concealed carry of a weapon) include: training requirements, cost, reciprocity and the extent of locations where licensees are prohibited from carrying. “States with permitless carry were given higher scores, whereas states that both issue permits and allow citizens to carry without one are given a full 10-point score. ‘Open carry’ statutes are also considered and factor positively into these rankings.” The magazine had this to say about the Equality State: “Wyoming probably has more guns than people, but that didn’t stop a Senate committee from gutting a bill
that would have allowed for carry on all government property, including schools. “As one of the states that allows for both permitted and permitless carry, the Cowboy State gets full points in the CCW category. The only thing that hurts Wyoming’s score a bit is its use-of-force laws, which are good but not ideal. In the West, the following states ranked as follows: Colorado (37th), Idaho (32nd), South Dakota (27th), North Dakota (26th) and Montana (11th). California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York ranked 46-50, respectively. Incidentally, Texas ranked 15th. “I ship more guns to Texas than any other state,” Weber said. “Everybody loves guns in Texas. “In Wyoming, it’s more of a necessity to have a gun. Sometimes you drive 100 miles before you even see anyone.” Weber said especially in rural Wyoming, people must protect themselves against “two-legged predators” prone to violence and “four-legged predators” such as grizzly bears, wolves and mountain lions. Jeff Leisy, CEO of Wyoming Arms, LLC, on Big Horn Avenue in Cody, holds a similar opinion. Like Weber, who said his foreign customers often marvel at what they think is easy access to firearms, Leisy believes the cultural difference plays a role. “They have a different mindset when it comes to how we think about firearms,” Leisy said. “I think the other cultures and even some areas of the United States look at guns as being violent, whereas we look at them as being a tool.” He said he believes a factor impacting Wyoming’s high ranking in the Guns and Ammo report also involves population and legality. “Per capita it’s probably higher because most other states with higher populations have few registered and legal firearms,” Leisy said. “We’re
probably very high because most [gun owners] have several, not just one.” Guns and Ammo also said, “Wyoming has very few prohibited locations for carry and doesn’t restrict any type of firearm or magazine. Its gun and hunting culture is about as good as it gets, as it is thus far unspoiled by massive numbers of transplants looking to love it to death (compare with Californians moving to and changing Colorado).” One of four firearms manufacturers based in Cody, Wyoming Arms “builds a custom rifle on the AR platforms,” Leisy said. “It is a rifle that has been sold mostly as something that’s fun to go shoot, and guys from the military are familiar with it.” Brief profiles of the other Cody manufacturers follow: •“Big Horn Armory is the designer and manufacturer of the Model 89. It is the first lever action gun specifically designed for the .500 S&W Magnum. The Model 89 and all of its components are proudly made in the USA. We also offer the Sterling Target and Field Shotgun series.” (bighornarmory. com) •“Wyoming Armory has historically stood for the best in fine firearms and accoutrements for the discriminating sportsman. Whether your interest lies with competitive shooting, hunting or collecting, Wyoming Armory offers prompt service, outstanding quality and guaranteed customer satisfaction.” (wyomingarmory.com) •“Husqkemaw/Best of the West produces the award-winning television series ‘The Best of the West,’ [and] has pioneered long range hunting. With technological innovations and improved techniques, hunters have come to recognize Best of the West as an authority for ethical long range hunting. Since its inception, BOTW has field tested many products and proudly list the best of the best here at this convenient outlet.”(longrangestore. com)
Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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Life and death in Guide survives serious accident
(EDITOR’S NOTE: In August 2009, Racheal Lineberger was helping guide a trip up the South Fork when she was kicked in the face by a horse. This is her survival story.)
By RACHEAL LINEBERGER Special to the Enterprise I’m looking straight up at the sky. I’m looking straight up at the sky and a dog is licking my face. I’m looking straight up at the sky, a dog is licking my face and something is wrong. Terribly wrong. These are the thoughts that immediately came to my newly conscious mind. Six years ago the mountains nearly took my life – would have taken my life – if it weren’t for the impeccable decisionmaking skills and common sense of my co-workers, my clients and myself. It was August and I was working as a wrangler on a pack trip up the South Fork of the Shoshone. Camp was only about three hours in, at Needle Creek. On this particular day, Shorty, another employee, and myself were taking our clients an hour up-river to fish for the day. Our destination lay encircled by cottonwood trees at the base of a shale slope, right by the river. After several hours on the river, the fishermen were beginning to work their way back to us when a massive rockslide broke loose directly across the river. The sound of car-sized boulders sliding, bouncing and crashing echoed off the steep canyon walls. I had tied my young mare in a
A picture of Racheal Lineberger’s fractured jaw. grouping of trees by herself earlier, and the noise was causing her to have a meltdown. All the stock was spooked, stomping their feet and snorting, but Shorty and I jumped up to bring the frightened mare a buddy. He grabbed a big sorrel draft-cross gelding we call CheeseMo, and headed that way. I was close behind, right hand extended toward the rump of CheeseMo. Then I was looking straight up at the sky while a dog licked my face. That’s when I knew. The first thing that saved my life that day was pure luck. Had he kicked me two inches higher or lower I probably would have died, but his hind hoof collided squarely on the point of my chin. After God, I thank the retired Los Angeles Police Department officer who was a client on the trip. He heard a noise he later described as a shotgun blast and immediately noted the time on his watch as he rushed back to the horses. He was able to tell the doctors I was unconscious for exactly 42 seconds.
8 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
Shorty cut off a shirtsleeve and soaked it in a stream, allowing the laceration on my chin to stay moist and viable for stitches. They hoisted me onto my mare and we made for camp. Parts of that day are fuzzy to me, but riding into camp and looking into my dad’s eyes was not one of those parts. He immediately assessed my condition. After asking me a litany of questions, he decided I did not have a closed head injury, but I did have a pretty messed up jaw. He broke out the satellite phone he always carries in the backcountry and dialed my mom. You can imagine how that conversation went. “Does she have all of her teeth?” she asked. “I don’t know. Racheal, can you feel any teeth?” I shook my head no. By now my face was the size of a pumpkin. Not the wimpy kind, the kind that crafty moms set their children on top of for photo shoots every fall. “Do I need to call for a helicopter Ron? How bad is she?” “Racheal do you need a helicopter, you have to decide now.” I shook my head no. Fresh horses were saddled and Shorty and I were on our way. The only thing I remember as we rode across the many miles of tallis slope with the evening sun beating down on me was how tired I was. It was the most consuming thought I have ever had in my life. We stopped at every stream to rinse my mouth out and rewet the bandage. For over three hours
the backcountry
the only thing I told myself was how imperative it was I stay awake. By the time we reached the trailhead, I was completely out of shock and the pain and throbbing were setting in. I thought the jarring of crossing the last creek might do me in. But my mom was waiting for us as we arrived. I started to dismount when every muscle in my hips and lower back seized. The dehydration and exhaustion had finally caught up with me, and I had to fall into their arms to get down. I crawled into the back of the truck for the hour-long drive to the emergency room. Cody could not do much for me. I took some pain medication, endured a CAT scan and then headed to Billings. The scans showed I had shattered both temporomandibular joints and fractured my mandible. To simplify: Both balland-socket joints of my jaw were shattered and it looked as if someone had hit me with an axe right in the middle of my chin. It was a perfect, complete break in half. The series of events after this revelation all run together for me. I had surgery early the next morning to repair my mandible. The doctor secured a plate with screws to bring the two halves of my jaw back together. Sometime the next day my dad came up and the room began to fill with plants and stuffed animals of varying sizes, shapes and colors. I cannot express to those who supported and prayed for me during that time how eternally grateful I am to each and every one of you. It brings tears to my eyes, even as I write this, to think of the kindness and love I witnessed. I was able to go home for a while after that. I remember sleeping and eating
Racheal Lineberger and her family have guided pack trips for many years. an absurd amount of Mary Lou Moon’s homemade ice cream. My jaws were wired shut, but loosely. I was still able to drink things with small chunks of fruit or chocolate in them; I had no idea what a luxury that was. The next time I went to Billings I saw a new doctor who actually wired my jaws shut, like not-even-an-ice-chipcould-get-through tight. I stayed like this for 8 1/2 weeks, but miraculously it worked. When the wires were cut my jaw held. X-rays showed my body had rebuilt makeshift joints to replace the old ones. It took months of physical therapy to regain full function of
my jaw. It took years for the swelling to completely leave my face. My dad still religiously packs his satellite phone, and I constantly speak to my horses to let them know where I am. The mountain taught me a valuable lesson that day that made me a better horsewoman. I am thankful for that every single day. I was able to live through the experience because of our preparedness and training; I learned from it because of my willpower and unwavering support of family and friends. (Racheal Lineberger graduated from Cody High School in 2014.)
Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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Cody native Ronnie Singer (left) and Ben Metier of Iowa harvested three Mergansers on the Clark’s Fork River public access area last year.
RONNIE 10 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
Singer
Attention Hunters!
528 N. 15th St. • Cody • 587-4662
Quality Meat
Creating custom Jewelry pieces
Elk teeth an additional hunting trophy By DEVA BAILEY Staff writer You name it and jeweler Larry Gorchesky of the Golden Buffalo probably can make it, especially when it comes to elk ivory jewelry. For the last 35 years he has noticed an increase in the popularity of this particular style of western jewelry. “This is definitely for this area,” Gorchesky said. “It’s pretty western and I’m also a professional big game hunting guide. I’m kind of guiding in the hills on the hunts and at the same time harvesting an elk by removing the ivory.” Gorchesky said jewelry from the ivory is an extra “trophy.” “Instead of mounting the animal it’s something additional to do,” Gorchesky said. Both cow and bull elk have two ivory teeth located in the upper part of their jaw. Gorchesky said they can create almost anything from the ivory. “[We can make] earrings, necklaces, pendants, rings, belt buckles, bolos, money clips, etc.,” Gorchesky said. If you bring your elk ivory into the Golden Buffalo, Gorchesky said there is a specific process to customize it. “If you were going to come in and design something with me, we would make a wax model,” Gorchesky said. “We have your ivory and we visit about what you might like or what you want to add to it. The wax tells us what it’s going to weigh and that way we can tell you what it’s going to cost.” Gorchesky also does custom carvings, which he adds to the piece. “Sometimes I put antlers on the side or sometimes we put gem stones on them,” Gorchesky said. He has books of possible designs to look at when creating jewelry. “If you don’t have any ideas on what you want to do, you can work through looking at different things and come up with an idea,” Gorchesky said. “It usually takes from
Elk ivory can be used to make a variety of keepsakes. two weeks to a month, depending on how busy we are,” The piece is made almost completely from the wax model. “The wax is what is going to be in the flask that I pour the gold into after it gets evaporated in a kiln,” Gorchesky said. Customers can add embellishments to the ivory and cut it into a variety of shapes and can make pieces in yellow gold, white gold or sterling silver. “Every ivory is unique, too,” Gorchesky said. “So when I make the piece, it is pretty much made for that ivory.” Each piece of jewelry is made to the request of the customer. “If you come to me we try and personalize it,” Gorchesky said. “That way nobody else has their ring.” Gorchesky said it is nice because the ivory comes in pairs, so you don’t have to make all the pieces at once if you don’t have the money for it. “We try not to sell them for more than you want,” he said. “If you have a pair of teeth and you only want to make a pendant, we recommend that you save the other tooth to satisfy another occasion later.”
Elk ivory jewelry is often a meaningful gesture to others. “I have a lot of people who build ensembles for their loved ones over time,” Gorchesky said. This style of jewelry has become increasingly popular for men. “Guys love it because they hate to shop,” Gorchesky said. “They know they have three Christmases taken care of by one year doing an ivory ring, the next year doing a pendant and the next year doing earrings.” Gorchesky said husbands will often start with a plain ring and add diamonds on each anniversary for their sweetheart. “For one you don’t have to spend all the money on one piece right away,” he said. “We set it up so we can add to it later. I call it the ABCs; the anniversaries, the birthdays and the Christmases.” The wax model tells the price of the piece according to the weight. “There’s no surprises that way,” Gorchesky said. “We never tell somebody it’s going to be this price and when they show up to pick it up it’s more.” And elk ivory jewelry isn’t just for the guys. “I get a lot of girls that hunt and come in and design their own jewelry,” he said. For Gorchesky, it is rewarding to see his work cherished for years. “I am so personally attached to all the people that have my pieces,” he said. “For me that’s one of the biggest rewards in this trade ... That people will have a piece of me, not just a piece of jewelry.” The jewelry he makes is special to him – and others. “I get to appreciate touching a lot of people’s lives doing this,” Gorchesky said. “Jewelry is very meaningful ... More so on the ivory because maybe it represents the very first elk [they shot]. Maybe it’s not the biggest elk on the mountain, but it’s their first.”
Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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BILL
Bailey
Bill Bailey harvested this elk last year up the South Fork. 14 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
Enjoy your hunting experience in the Bighorn Basin-Be Safe!
Ready for opening day By AMBER PEABODY News editor Bird hunting seasons are just around the corner and Ryan Cowger can’t wait. Cowger hunted big game when he was younger, but when he tried bird hunting, he was hooked. “When I moved back to Cody [from Arizona], a friend invited me duck hunting,” he said. “It’s a different type of hunting. You can go out multiple times to harvest the birds.” And it’s not just duck hunting he enjoys. He also hunts pheasants and doves. “I enjoy all bird hunting and the different challenges each one has,” he said. “They’re a moving target, so you learn how to lead them and shoot at different angles.” Up first is dove hunting, opening in early September. Cowger usually tries to get out at least once during the season. “With doves you sit in a field and wait for them to fly by,” he said. “They’re a little target and are hard to hit.” When duck season rolls around in early October, Cowger tries to get out on opening day or shortly thereafter. The best time to hunt ducks is in the early morning hours, so Cowger and his friend head out before dawn to set up decoys. Then they wait for the sun to start rising before calling the ducks in. “Once we waited and watched 200 ducks land on our decoys,” he said. “We limited out and shot six ducks in 45 minutes. “He has a dog so it was fun to watch the dog work. That’s an experience you don’t often get in a season.” Not all hunts are so successful. “You can throw the decoys and nothing lands on them,” he said. “In pheasant hunting you can walk and not see a bird or see all hens.” Pheasant season rolls around in
Ryan Cowger took up bird hunting several years ago when he was invited to go duck hunting. November and Cowger and a friend always go out hunting near Powell on opening day. “When a pheasant jumps up, you make sure it’s a rooster and then hope to shoot it,” he said. Cowger eats what he harvests; doves and pheasants make for excellent eating. “Pheasants taste like chicken,” he said. “You can cook it on a cast iron
16 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
skillet and you’re good to go.” Because duck tends to be more gamey tasting, Cowger often smokes it or will mix it with hamburger. “I dress it up when I can,” he said. Cowger also uses the feathers to tie flies for fishing, another hobby that keeps him busy when the temperatures start to drop. “I try to use as much as I can and not waste it,” he said.
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www.northforkanglers.com Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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Adam Miles harvested this bull elk in a designated archery area outside Cody in 2014.
ADAM Miles 18 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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shown are recommended shown for use are recommended only by riders 16 for years use only andbyolder. ridersYamaha 16 years recommends and older. that Yamaha all ATV recommends riders takethat an all approved ATV riders training takecourse. an approved For safety training andcourse. trainingFor information, safety andsee training your information, see your dealer or call the ATV Safety dealer Institute or call theatATV 1-800-887-2887. Safety InstituteATVs at 1-800-887-2887. can be hazardousATVs to operate. can be For hazardous your safety: to operate. AlwaysForavoid yourpaved safety: surfaces. Always Never avoid paved ride onsurfaces. public roads. NeverAlways ride onwear public a helmet, roads. Always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective eye protection clothing. and Never protective carryshown. passengers. clothing. Never Never engage passengers. in stunt Never riding. engage Riding stunt alcohol/ riding.drugs Riding anddealer. mix. alcohol/ Avoid drugs excessive don’tspecifi speed. mix. cations Avoid And excessive besubject particularly careful Andwithout beonparticularly *Manufacturer’s suggested retail price Prices maycarry vary due to supply, freight, etc.inand Actual prices set bydon’t the Product and tospeed. change notice. careful on difficult terrain. Showndiffi with cultoptional terrain. accessories. Shown with ©2015 optional accessories. Motor ©2015 Corporation, Yamaha U.S.A. Motor AllCorporation, rights reserved. U.S.A. • YamahaOutdoors.com AllSErights • YamahaOutdoors.com Availability subject to production, stocking, andYamaha Demand. MSRP for base Kodiak model. Kodiak 700 EPS shownreserved. from $8,899. Professional rider depicted on closed course. ATV models • Completely newby riders model is new standard in ultra-reliable ATVs delivering class-leading performance, features see & your value shown are recommended for use only 16 years and older. Yamaha recommends that all ATV riders take an approved training course. For safety and training information, • Completely new model is new standard in ultra-reliable ATVs delivering class-leading performance, features & value dealer or call•theAll-new ATV Safety Institute at708cc 1-800-887-2887. ATVsdelivers can be hazardous to operate. Forinyour safety:power Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on public Always wear a helmet, DOHC engine smooth, best torque, optimized for all roads. daywithout worknotice. • Compact *Manufacturer’s suggested retail shown.DOHC Prices 708cc may varyengine due to supply, freight, etc. Actual set by theclass dealer. Product&and specifications subject towork change • price All-new delivers smooth, best inprices instunt class power & alcohol/ torque, optimized for excessive all dayspeed. •beCompact eye protection and protective Never carry passengers. Never engage riding. Ridingcapacity and drugs don’t mix.®Avoid And particularly careful on styling with clothing. heavy-duty front & rear racks & 700 1,322 lb. towing •Professional Ultramatic Transmission is industry’s most durable Availability subject to production, stocking, and Demand. MSRP for base Kodiak model. Kodiak EPS SE shown from $8,899. rider depicted on closed course. ATV models ® Transmission is industry’s most durable styling withShown heavy-duty front & rear©2015 racksYamaha & 1,322 towingU.S.A. capacity • reserved. Ultramatic diffi cult terrain. with optional accessories. Motorlb. Corporation, All rights • YamahaOutdoors.com
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shown are recommended for use only by automatic riders 16 yearsCVT and and older. features Yamaha recommends all ATV riders take braking an approvedfortraining course. For safety and training information,suspension see your all-wheelthat downhill engine optimal control • New class-leading for automatic CVT and features all-wheel downhill engine braking for optimal control • New class-leading suspension for dealer or call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. ATVs• can hazardous to operate. For your safety: Always avoid paved surfaces. Never ride on roads.maintenance Always wear a • helmet, all-day comfort Newbe rear sealed wet brake provides strong, reliable stopping power & public reduced Kodiak 700 New rear sealed wet brake strong, reliabledrugs stopping power reducedspeed. maintenance • Kodiak 700 on eye protection and protective all-day clothing. comfort Never carry• passengers. Nevermodels engage in stuntprovides riding. Riding and alcohol/ don’t mix. Avoid&excessive And be particularly careful available in three great available in three©2015 greatYamaha models difficult terrain. Shown with optional accessories. Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaOutdoors.com
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Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 19
Keep horses healthy By RACHEAL LINEBERGER Special to the Enterprise Somewhere in the mountains the first leaf turns yellow and falls from an aspen tree and a shudder runs through our bodies. From that moment forward our dreams are filled with crisp hoarfrosted mornings and bugling elk. Before this hunting season, make sure your vet bag is packed with these mountain-horse must-haves to ensure your most important hunting asset is sound and able to carry out this year’s big kill. • Penicillin: Use for literally anything. Basically penicillin makes all the bad germs and infection get sick and die. I start horses on 20 cc of penicillin for everything from signs of a cold to an open laceration to a puncture wound. No matter what injury your animal has sustained, penicillin will only help. It is inferred that by carrying this you will also need 20 cc syringes and 18 gage needles. • Bute, or phynalbuteazone: It is an anti-inflammatory/pain killer. I give one to two grams for anything that is swollen and/or causes them any pain. This could be a twisted ankle, a solid kick from a fellow horse, or a puncture/cut. • DMSO, or dimethyl-sulfoxide: This helps a horse’s body absorb fluid. This is great for hematomas, kidney sores, pressure sores or wither sores. I use it liberally at any sign of swelling and soring and I continue to use it until the sore has absorbed. It is important to keep this away from you and your horse’s mouth and eyes, and never put it on an open sore. • Gall Sav: This stuff is a lifesaver on working stock. Its motto is: “Be sure to work the horse” – and they mean it. It is formulated to heal cinch sores by making the horse tougher to prevent soring in the future. I lather it on even the smallest
Racheal Lineberger says it’s important to be prepared when riding horses in the backcountry. cinch sores and make sure not to go easy on the horse. • Vet Wrap: This is good for an open wound on the leg. You can clean out the wound, doctor it accordingly and wrap it up at night to make sure your horse doesn’t get it dirty or hung up again. Let the wound breathe during the day while you can keep an eye on him. Vet wrap is also good for sweating a leg injury. If the animal’s leg swells up from something you can’t see from the outside starting him on penicillin and wrapping that leg in vet wrap so it will sweat is the best course of action. The swelling should be visibly reduced in three– five days. • Electrolyte paste: Many horses
20 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
are only used hard during hunting season; that’s the whole reason you feed and house them the other nine months of the year. However, this can cause a problem when it comes to the physical condition of your stock. Just like us, animals have to prepare and get into shape for the big hunt. Pushing them too far or loading them too heavy can result in an electrolyte deficiency and shock. This paste can save a horse’s life when this happens. Give the animal as much time off as possible and use the paste and constant water to get them back to full strength. (Racheal Lineberger graduated from Cody High School in 2014.)
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Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 21
JOE Joe Keele harvested this elk in 2014 in Colorado.
Keele Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 23
‘Luck of the draw’ By AMBER PEABODY News editor Bruce Wollschlager has had good luck hunting deer. On his office wall are three impressive mounts – two large mule deer and a mule whitetail cross. “They were all the luck of the draw,” he said. “I was in the right place at the right time.” He got the mule whitetail cross about 20 yeas ago on a friend’s farm near Douglas. “I was hunting mule deer and he stood out,” Wollschlager said. “He was standing with five other bucks and there was no other deer like it.” After he took the shot and got closer, he thought, “What the heck is this?” The deer has one mule deer antler and one white-tailed. He also has a white-tailed face. “He’s not a monster for a mule deer but for a whitetail he is,” Wollschlager said. “I thought he needed to be mounted and showed off. He got the biggest mule deer about 15 years ago up the South Fork when a friend invited him to hunt on the last day of the season. “I had given up for the year but I dug my gun out and went along,” he said. They hunted all day and were heading back to the truck when they spotted three does head into the trees. “We had to drop down and come back up into a meadow just outside the trees,” he said. They spotted the three does, and then his friend saw a buck in the trees. “All I could see was the horns,” he said. “I couldn’t tell how big he was.” He “huffed and puffed” up the draw to get into position and took his shot. “When I walked over I got the surprise of my life,” he said. “I couldn’t believe he was that big.” A non-typical, it scored at 224 4/8.
Bruce Wollschlager shot two large mule deer (above) and a mule/white-tailed cross (right) in his last deer hunting outings. The following year Wollschlager harvested a typical mule deer northwest of Cody. “We were out hunting and he just happened to stand up in front of us,” he said. “When I saw him I thought ‘wow.’” Wollschalger hasn’t done any deer hunting since then, though he said he would like to get a typical whitetailed.
24 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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Taylor Hensen harvested this antelope in September 2014 in the McCullough Peaks area. 26 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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G N I T N HU I O N S T A L V IO
Follow rules when out in field
Every year as hunting seasons get underway, Game and Fish offices receive numerous questions about various game laws and what hunters can and cannot do while in the field. Some of the questions come from new residents who are not familiar with Wyoming law and how Wyoming laws might differ from previous residences. Most Wyoming laws are a matter of common sense, but some laws and regulations are violated more frequently than others. Following is a list of five common violations that crop up every hunting season.
pon attached. And each license has the tagging instructions printed on the coupon. When the animal is killed, detach the tag from the license and date the carcass coupon by cutting out the entire day and month of the kill. Sign the license and attach to the carcass before leaving the site of the kill. The coupon may be removed during transportation to prevent its loss, but it must be in possession of the person accompanying the carcass. You must detach, sign and date the tag to comply with the tagging regulation. If any one of these is omitted, then a violation has occurred.
Failure to tag
Shooting from a vehicle
Every big and trophy game license has a carcass cou-
28 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
Simply put, it is illegal to shoot any wildlife – except
predatory animals – from any motorized vehicle. This includes off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. To legally fire a weapon, a person must be out of the vehicle. Hunters holding a handicapped hunter permit are exempt from this requirement.
Shooting from a road
It is illegal to shoot or attempt to kill any wildlife from any public road or highway. No person shall fire any firearm from, along or across any public road or highway. A public road is defined as any road open to vehicular traffic to the public. The road surface, the area between fences on a fenced public road or highway and the area 30 feet perpendicular to the road surface on unfenced public roads is considered the public road. Two-track trails on public land are not public roads.
Failure to retain evidence of sex
Many Wyoming licenses require the taking of a specific sex of animal. There are also season dates in different hunt areas when only a specific sex of animal can be taken. To satisfy the proof of sex requirement the regulation states: “in areas where the taking of any big game animal is restricted to a specific sex of animal, either the visible
external sex organs, head or antlers shall accompany the animal as a whole or edible portion thereof.”
Trespass
Wyoming law states no person shall enter private land to hunt, fish or trap without written permission from the landowner or person in charge of the property. The license must bear the signature of the landowner or agent of the landowner on whose property the hunting is taking place or legitimate proof that permission to hunt has been granted. It is the responsibility of hunters to know if the land is public or private. To assist in this, the Bureau of Land Management has maps showing public and private lands. Maps can be obtained from the BLM by calling (307) 775-6256. Many Wyoming sporting goods businesses also carry BLM maps for their local area. For hunters with GPS units a micro SD chip is available from the Game and Fish (307-777-4600) that shows land status and hunter location. Wyoming laws and regulations can be found in every set of regulations for each species. Persons with questions on these or any other Game and Fish laws and regulations can call the Cody Game and Fish office, (307) 527-7125.
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Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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R A BEAware
Stay safe in grizzly country
By TARA HODGES G&F Information and Education specialist Hunting in grizzly bear country can present unique and challenging experiences. Hunters should realize they may be predisposed to sudden encounters and conflicts with bears and that proper preparation and mental preparedness is the key to reducing risk. Quietly pursuing game in the field, masking human scent, moving into the wind and being active during dusk and dawn increase the probability that you will surprise a bear at close range and, in turn, a bear will behave defensively. Also, activities such as handling a game carcass in the field or in camp and calling elk may bring in a bear. Despite these predispositions, with preparation and the proper knowledge, there are many ways to avoid conflicts with bears in the field including: • Always hunt or call with a partner and stay within sight of each other. • Remain alert and watchful for bear activity; avoid “tunnel vision” while pursuing game. • Learn to recognize bear sign such as scat, tracks, and diggings. • Know where seasonal food sources are present and either avoid or be especially cautious in those areas. • Be aware that the presence of ravens and other scavengers is a good indication carcasses or gut piles are nearby and a bear may be as well. • Carry a defense readily accessible. The knowledge of how to use your defense should be automatic. Take special precautions when handling game carcasses in the field and in camp. The best way to minimize conflicts over a carcass is to pack and remove the game meat out of the field as quickly as possible. While field dressing game, have your hunting partner act as a sentinel to watch for an approaching bear and have a defense readily available. If you must leave the carcass for any amount of time: • Separate the carcass from the gut pile with as much distance as possible. • Quarter and hang the carcass in a tree at least 10 feet from the ground and 4 feet from the trunk. • If you must leave the carcass on the
ground, place it in plain view so when you return, you can see if a bear is present or if it has been disturbed prior to making your approach. Placing something conspicuous on the carcass may help you detect if there has been a bear at the carcass. • When returning to a carcass that has been left overnight, use caution. Stop and view the carcass from a distance with binoculars. Approach the carcass upwind and make sufficient noise to alert a bear of your presence. •If you detect disturbance from a distance or if the carcass has been buried, a bear has probably been to the carcass or may be bedded nearby. •Never attempt to scare off a bear from a carcass it has claimed. •In camp, store game meat, capes and dirty tools/clothes at least 100 yards from your sleeping area.
Bear encounters
In most situation bears will avoid humans. If you encounter a bear in the field and it does not avoid you, you need to determine if the bear is exhibiting predatory or aggressive/defensive behavior. In most situations, grizzly bears act defensively to protect their personal space, a food source or their offspring. A defensive bear often displays stress behaviors such as moaning, woofing, jaw popping or paw swatting. Remember, the bear is acting aggressively to defend something and if you are not perceived as a threat, the bear should leave the area. If you encounter an aggressive/defensive bear at close range: • Try to remain calm, slowly back out of the area and have a defense ready. • Do not run or challenge or shout at the bear • Avoid direct eye contact, as this might be perceived as challenging the bear. • If the bear begins to approach, stand your ground and use bear spray if available. • If a bear makes contact or is about to make contact, drop and cover by lying flat on your stomach and inter-lacing your fingers and placing them on the back of your neck. Do not fight back. Unlike defensive bear attacks, a bear acting in a predatory manner is not defending anything. Predatory behav-
ior often is recognized when a bear appears to be intensely interested in you or deliberately approaches you without displaying any stress behaviors. If a bear enters your tent, it is behaving in a predatory manner. In a predatory bear attack, you should fight back by any means necessary; do not drop and cover.
Camping in bear country
When you are camping, maintain a clean camp. This is the key to human safety and the law on most Forest Service land in northwest Wyoming. Bears have a highly evolved sense of smell and are strongly attracted to human food, garbage, livestock feed and game meat. When a bear gains access to attractants in a camp, it is likely to become food-conditioned. Food-conditioned bears are less likely to avoid humans and can become destructive and even dangerous in their attempts to obtain human foods. A bear that has received a food reward from a camp likely will return or stay in the area and might become a problem for other people. Attractants should be stored in vehicles, hard-sided campers or trailers or bear boxes provided at most Forest Service campgrounds. Remember that attractants include stoves, grills, coolers, pet food and toiletry items as well as human food and garbage. It is best not to burn or bury any trash or left-over food in a fire pit. In a backcountry camping situation, hang food and other attractants from a tree or meat pole, at least 10 feet above the ground and 4 feet from the vertical support. Meat and food storage poles are provided at many popular campsite locations and should be located at least 100 yards from your sleeping area. With the proper preparation and knowledge, hunting in bear country can be an extraordinary and rewarding experience. Mental preparedness, utilization of techniques to avoid bear encounters, and the knowledge of what to do in a bear encounter are all essential components of a safe and successful hunt in bear country. For more information on staying safe in bear country, visit wgfd.wyo.gov.
Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 33
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Elaine Haberland took this late season white-tailed deer south of Meeteetse on the Wood River.
ELAINE
Haberland Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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Recover, cool game quickly By BOB MEINECKE Enterprise outdoors columnist I get a kick out of those TV hunting reality shows. You know, the ones where they shoot the animal at dusk, or lose the blood trail after wounding the animal with a peripheral hit and decide to wait until morning to recover the defunct critter. There are variations on the theme, but they all focus on leaving the dead animal for an extended time, untended and recovering it several hours later. Granted, there will be occasions when that is a necessary thing, but from most of the shows I’ve seen I think it is the result of two factors. One, they don’t know how to shoot or to trail wounded game animals and two, they shoot the animal at last light. Unless a positive kill shot and subsequent recovery can be made, you never take that shot. Why? Simply because even in an hour or two depending on the animal, how agitated it was and the temperature, the meat can sour. Of course, most of these hunters don’t plan on eating their game anyway. No indeed, they expect praise and acclaim because they have it processed and donated to charity for the poor folks to eat. It’d be a heck of a lot different if they had to sit down to a plate of gamey tasting meat for dinner and were forced by circumstance to have to gag it down. Sometimes marinating it in vinegar overnight can soften the gamey taste quite a bit, but it’ll still be there somewhat. One thing most meat or sustenance hunters learn right out of the starting gate is that the quicker the critter has its insides put outside, the better the quality of the dinner. It’s something the hunter must tend to and do it neatly, as perforated intestinal walls and leaking organs can really screw up the taste of the meat and introduce bacteria that contaminates it. But this is about souring. As it ap-
plies to hunting and domestic production also, the bigger the critter, the more heat retention and the quicker the meat sours. I was taught to call it bone souring, but regardless of what you call it, it is the rotting and decomposition of the muscle tissue, uncontrolled. And the meat is the reason you hunted down and shot the animal to begin with. Or should be, in my mind. Supposedly everyone who hunts knows that if you don’t cool the animal down quickly, you risk losing the meat. Unlike domestic beef or pork, where decomposition can be controlled and is necessary to flavor the meat, wild game tends to ripen quickly and taste, well, wild. Poorly shot animals that have taken several hours to be tracked and finished off are especially vulnerable to this, as are those animals in a state of alarm when they’re being shot. Think of those hunters who run antelope for several hundred yards, blazing away like pre-teen children at a carnival shooting gallery, before they connect fatally with one and it drops out of the herd. When the carcass of any large animal does not cool fast enough, bacteria explodes and the muscle tissue starts to rot from the skeletal structure outward. Once bone souring starts, like gangrene, there’s little you can do to stop it. Bigger animals like elk and moose and fat, furry critters like black bears are especially susceptible to this. If you don’t get the meat cooled to under 80 degrees within the first couple of hours, you risk spoiling the whole of the animal. With deer and similar animals, it means dressing out the critter as soon as possible. If it’s warm out it means yanking the skin off as soon as the gutting is done. With large critters, such as elk, it can mean separating the quarters and even some of the muscle groups, propping them up or hanging them in the shade.
But that’s pretty much common sense anywhere you can hunt, or should be. Out here in Cody Country we have an even more significant reason for rapid recovery. A carcass left unattended can result in a lost animal. I’m talking about wolves, mountain lions, coyotes, and yes, grizzly bears. Trust me, the last thing you want to do is to try to shoo a bad-ass bruin off a critter’s carcass even if it’s legally yours, or bump unknowingly into a protective bear while going to recover your kill. It doesn’t take all that long either. My son Greg once shot a large racked muley way back down a steep ridge. Retrieving his pack and returning to the kill, he managed to get most of it loaded while under the studious gaze of a large grizzly sitting on the edge of the timber waiting for him to finish. Leaving for the first trip of what should have been two trips out, he noticed that after he’d covered less than 100 yards, the big griz waltzed over and took possession of what was left. Intelligently, he didn’t contest possession and didn’t make a return trip. The unusual thing here was that, generally speaking, the big bears usually won’t wait until you vacate the area. Since you’re in their back yard, they figure that anything you shoot rightfully belongs to them and, if you want to argue, that’s okay too. They’re willing to fight you for it. Since a grizzly can smell an Oscar Meyer wienie buried at the bottom of a cooler from two miles away on a windy day, they know exactly where your critter expired and are on their way even while you are punching your tag. When hunting in our beautiful backyard, the quicker you recover and cool your game, the better it’s going to taste. If you’re one of those who decide to take a unsportingly long shot or take a shot at a questionable angle at last light, then you should either get your own reality TV series or take up cribbage. Just saying.
Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 37
Patch, a 7-month-old English Setter, points out a covey of wild chukar. The dog is owned by Pat and Doreen Shellady.
PATCH the English Setter 38 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 39
2015 HUNTING
OUTLOOK
Gear up for hunting seasons By GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT The Cody region hunting forecast will generally be favorable in most areas.
Antelope
Pronghorn hunting in the southern Big Horn Basin will likely be similar to 2014. Although pronghorn numbers are still below target levels in both the Copper Mountain herd (Hunt Areas 76, 114, 115) and the 15Mile herd (Hunt Areas 77, 83, 110), we did see some improvements in fawn production in 2014 and 2015, which should translate to better hunting in the future. Hunting seasons will remain fairly conservative in most areas to help these herds grow. Damage issues on private crop lands have mostly subsided in recent years; therefore, the 2015 hunting season will have fewer doe/fawn licenses in most Hunt Areas. Type 1 or 2 license hunters shouldn’t have a problem finding a buck to harvest. Although the 2014-15 winter moderated by mid-January, it began with several severe cold periods which may have resulted in normal overwinter mortality. Hunters should expect conservative seasons for the next several years to allow these herds to increase. Hunt Areas 78, 80, 81 and 82 should have similar seasons as in 2014, with about the same opportunity, and for hunters with a license, hunting should be good.
Deer
Mule deer hunting in the southern portion of the Big Horn Basin will continue to be tough for most Hunt Areas in 2015. Mule deer numbers remain below target levels for all herds. For the past few years, these deer populations have struggled with several harsh winters, long term declines in habitat conditions and persistent disease issues. Doe/fawn license quotas have been eliminated in all but a few areas
Mule deer numbers remain below target levels for all herds in the southern Big Horn Basin. to lessen harvest. Some limited quota areas such as Hunt Areas 37, 119 and 125 should see fair to good hunting, while areas such as 116, 118, 120 along with some general license areas will likely be tough hunting. The 2013 Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) outbreak caused a significant die-off of white-tailed deer in most areas in the southern Big Horn Basin, so most Hunt Areas had fewer white-tailed deer licenses in 2014. White-tailed deer numbers have improved in some areas since then, so opportunity will improve. Because of public input during the Owl Creek/Meeteetse mule deer initiative, and the public’s concern over expanding white-tailed deer numbers, more white-tailed deer hunting opportunity will occur in Hunt Areas 116-120. For the northern portion of the Big Horn Mountains, buck numbers have been holding steady, but the overall population still has not increased to
mid-2000 levels. In 2014, buck harvest decreased slightly compared to 2013. Buck hunting will be fair to good, and doe hunting opportunity will be slightly greater in the Paintrock herd (Hunt Areas 41, 46 and 47) and Greybull River herd (Hunt Areas 124 and 165), but greatly reduced along the Shoshone River (Hunt Areas 122 and 123). These doe/fawn licenses were reduced due to fewer crop damage complaints, but many of those licenses have been kept in areas with chronic agricultural damage, despite the population being under population objective. Although overall buck:doe ratios are good (24 bucks:100 does), mule deer hunters may have fewer older buck deer available in the North and South Forks of the Shoshone River this season. Deer populations are below desired levels and buck harvest was relatively high during the 2012 and
Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 41
Quality bull elk hunting is expected in most areas. 2013 hunting seasons. A poor fawn crop in 2014 and significant losses during the 2014-2015 winter will translate into fewer yearling bucks in 2015, which should be noticeable to hunters. Opportunities to harvest a mature buck deer in Hunt Areas 105 and 106 will be good in both the later portion of the general season and the November limited quota season in 2015. Recent changes in hunting season structures increased the percentage of older age class bucks in Hunt Area 109, but weather is necessary to trigger deer movements into the area. The creation of a new non-resident deer region will make it necessary for non-resident deer hunters to choose between hunting migratory deer on public lands west of Cody (Region F) or hunt deer on primarily private
lands in the interior of the Bighorn Basin (Region X). This will also make it easier to achieve deer management goals in these areas, which are to build deer numbers in Region F and minimize deer densities and damage to irrigated private lands in Region X.
Elk
Based on 2014-15 winter trend count flights, some elk areas in the southern Big Horn Basin have fewer elk due to record high harvest during the past couple of years. Although elk numbers may be declining, G&F are still over target levels in all the southern Basin elk herds and therefore, there will be ample opportunity for elk hunting in the these areas, along with some very good bull quality hunting in most areas.
42 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
Hunters are encouraged to take advantage of these great elk hunting opportunities and are reminded to collect blood from harvested elk for brucellosis sampling. G&F will be collecting blood and tissue samples from harvested elk as well. The elk population in the northern Big Horns remains healthy and this fall there will be a good opportunity again to harvest an elk. Bull hunting should be good for those hunters with a Type 1 tag, and success usually depends on weather and snow conditions. More licenses and longer seasons for cows (extended into December) should help cow elk hunter success in 2015. While the elk distribution in Hunt Area 41 over the past few years may have discouraged many hunters, longer seasons again in 2015 should
give hunters a better chance at harvesting an antlerless elk. Elk numbers near Cody are either at or above population targets. Season changes adopted in 2013 for Hunt Areas 55, 56, 59 and 60 will remain in place for 2015. This includes the conversion of Hunt Area 55 to limited quota hunting, a shorter two-week general license season for non-wilderness areas in Hunt Areas 56 and 59, and a rifle opening date of Sept. 20 for Hunt Area 60. There will be fewer antlerless elk licenses in Hunt Area 61 since elk numbers are closer to population objective. The opportunity to hunt bull elk on a general license in Hunt Area 66 will be limited to the later half of August and the month of September in 2015. As a reminder, Hunt Areas northwest of Cody (Hunt Areas 51, 53 and 54) were changed dramatically in 2014 in an effort to better manage migratory and non-migratory elk population segments. Review the 2015 elk hunt area map closely prior to applying for your license, or call the Cody Regional office for more detailed explanation.
Moose
Moose numbers in Hunt Areas 9 and 11 in the Absaroka Mountains are still at low densities, but hunters who are lucky enough to draw a license should have good success. Harvest success for these moose areas still runs above 85 percent, with most hunters harvesting a mature bull. The 2015 season should again have good success with several nice (+45�) bulls being available.
Big Horn Sheep
In 2014, Hunt Area 5 experienced the lowest hunter success (77 percent) in the past 15 years. Although the average age of harvested rams remained between seven and eight years, the time it took a hunter to harvest a ram almost doubled (13.2 days), compared to seven days in previous years. In addition, the winter of 2010-11 was severe enough in Hunt Area 5 for Game and Fish biologists to believe higher than normal win-
Harvest success for moose in Hunt Areas 9 and 11 are above 85 percent. Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
| 43
Big horn sheep license quotas were reduced in Hunt Area 5. ter mortality and/or stress related diseases occurred. Several classification/trend flights were conducted in Hunt Area 5 since then, and about a 40-50 percent decline in the number of sheep compared with the previous 10-year-average was observed. Because of these declines, the license quota in Hunt Area 5 was reduced, and those hunters lucky enough to draw a license will have to put in more effort compared to previous years, especially if looking for an older age-class ram. The Type 6 ewe/ lamb licenses in Hunt Area 5 were eliminated for the 2015 season. Overall, big horn sheep hunting in the Absaroka Mountains should
be good for those lucky enough to draw a license. In 2014, the average age of harvested rams in Hunt Areas 1-5 was 7-8 years old. As a result of recently documented winter losses, license adjustments have been made in Hunt Areas 4 and 5 to preserve the age distribution of harvested rams. Hunt Area 12 big horn sheep herd in the northern Big Horns continues to increase and do well, and several older class rams were observed during the summer flight this past year. Four licenses for Hunt Area 12 sheep are being offered for the first time this year. Past hunters have all harvested mature rams so hunting should be very good for the three
44 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
resident and one non-resident hunter lucky enough to draw the coveted Hunt Area 4 licenses for this small herd.
Mountain goat
Mountain goats in Hunt Area 1 are currently doing well and hunter success is generally 90-100 percent. Drawing a license is the hardest part of hunting mountain goats in Wyoming. The creation of Hunt Area 3 increased opportunity for hunters to hunt a goat in hard to access backcountry and the past three years hunters have had relatively good success there. Hunters are encouraged to har-
vest male mountain goats (billies), as mountain goat populations are generally not very productive and experience relatively high natural mortality. The 2015 season should again see high success rates in the Beartooth goat herd.
Upland game birds, fall and spring wild turkey and waterfowl
Success for upland game bird hunting in 2015 for the southern portions of the Big Horn Basin looks to be favorable. Several chukar, hun, sage grouse and pheasant broods have been observed this summer with good numbers of chicks. Upland bird hunting in 2014 was better than predicted so there are a few more birds out there to help with 2015 production. Bird hunters are
reminded that hunting has little to no effect on upland bird populations, and that weather and habitat play a much more significant role than hunting. A general license spring turkey hunting season occurred in 2015 for Area 4 (excluding the Yellowtail WHMA). Because of this general season, hunters should expect to see a few more hunters in the field this coming spring; however, after a year or two hunter numbers will likely drop off since access to private land where most turkey hunting occurs will limit opportunity. G&F are seeing an expanding population of turkeys into new country, so if hunters do a little scouting and ask for landowner permission, they should be able to find a spot to hunt with some turkeys.
Turkeys are expanding into new country.
Hunter success for mountain goats is generally 90-100 percent in Hunt Area 1. Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
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LEONARD
Liebert
Leonard Liebert harvested this moose in Area 27 in 2014. 46 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
Brucellosis surveillance efforts rely on voluntary collection of blood samples from harvested elk.
Take roll to prevent disease In cooperation with the Wyoming State Veterinarian’s office, Game and Fish will conduct brucellosis surveillance in the Big Horn Mountains for a third year by collecting blood samples from hunter harvested elk. Game and Fish is asking successful elk hunters to assist by collecting blood samples from elk immediately after harvest. “This is an opportunity for hunters to take an active role in helping us learn more about brucellosis infection in elk in the Big Horn Mountains,” said Tim Woolley, wildlife management coordinator with the Game and Fish in Cody. “The information gathered may also be used to keep livestock producers informed regarding the presence and distribution of the disease. “In 2012, two seropositive elk were discovered in hunt area 40 in the Big Horn Mountains and two additional seropositives were found in the same hunt area in 2013,” Woolley added. “In 2014 two seropositive bull elk
were identified in hunt 39 and hunt area 41 and an additional seropositive cow elk was identified in hunt area 40. Animals that test seropostive to brucellosis do not necessarily carry the disease; they could have just been exposed to the bacteria at some time in their life.” Brucellosis surveillance efforts across the state rely on hunters voluntarily collecting blood samples from harvested elk. “Thanks to hunters, last year we received 646 blood usable samples from elk harvested across the entire Bighorn Mountains,” Woolley said. “We encourage hunters to continue to collect and provide samples to aid in surveillance efforts.” To collect a useable blood sample, hunters should follow these tips: • Carry your sample kit with you in the field; collect the blood sample as soon as possible. • Blood should be collected from the neck, heart, or chest cavity. • The blood sample never should
48 | Hunting Guide • Fall 2015
be frozen; it should be kept cool. • Fill out the data section on the instruction sheet, providing specific information regarding the location and major drainage of your harvest. • Follow the packing and shipping recommendations. Use the postagefree mailer and drop it in the nearest post office box or drop by the Cody or Sheridan Regional Offices. • Ship the sample as soon as possible (in one to two days) to prevent spoilage. A video about how to collect a blood sample from a harvested elk can be found on the Game and Fish Department’s website at wgfd.wyo.gov/ Wildlife-in-Wyoming/Wildlife-Disease/ Brucellosis. Game and Fish will mail blood sample kits to elk hunters holding limited quota licensees for hunt areas in the Bighorn Mountains. If you do not receive one or are hunting in a general area, blood kits are available at game warden stations and the Sheridan or Cody Game and Fish regional office.
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