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$24.3 Million Granted for Mule Deer Crossing
By Tyrel Logan
Wyoming Department of Transportation is about to give wildlife, especially mule deer, a break outside of Kemmerer thanks to a federal grant that will provide funding for a wildlife crossing. To be specific the money will fund a total of five underpasses, one overpass and fencing improvements along a 30 mile stretch of road between Evanston and Kemmerer.
While Wyoming leadership is working up a sweat patting themselves on the back for this I personally have to wonder if it’s too little too late? Don’t get me wrong, helping out our struggling mule deer herd is a wonderful thing, at least for the ones that are left.
In his recent “letter to the editor”, former Wyoming Game and Fish Department feedground manager Ron Dean pointed out how the State mismanaged the people of Wyoming’s mule deer herd last winter and is now under scrutiny for not implementing a feeding program to at least try to help those starving mulies.
Mr. Dean points out the language the agency is using to shape public opinion on their feeding stance and policies as we head into another Wyoming winter which could, if it’s like last year’s, spell complete annihilation for western Wyoming’s mule deer population. Words like “CAN, COULD, MIGHT” “…indicates speculation without supporting evidence….”
Now that seems like propaganda to me but what do I know, I’m just a rancher whose haystacks have supported wintering mule deer for as long as I can remember, and I have sets upon sets of sheds from bucks who spent 10 years or more wintering out in our hay yards.
I also thought it was funny that Utah fed their deer and recorded the results which seem to be exactly the opposite of what WYGFD claims to be true. Fed mule deer survived – 81% of fed adults and 48% of fed fawns survived through July according to Utah Game and Fish records. Things that make me go, “hmmmm.”
I’m happy we are building wildlife crossings for the little bit of wildlife we have left but I fear what the future holds for both my kids and the wildlife of Wyoming if our state continues to mismanage one of our most precious resources.
Source Links
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/12/12/letter-to-the-editor
https://oilcity.news/general/2023/12/05/wydot-receives-24-3m-federal-grant
Ike Eastman had the great pleasure of having long time friend Baker Levitt on the podcast. Baker has some great insights on the progression of building a business from the ground up. Baker has a long history of being apart of some great business stories including Kill Kliff. So sit down, break out your note pad and take some notes entrepreneurs!
I kind of have a problem with the Federal government giving any money to a state that is only giving 10-15% of their licenses/tags to nonresident hunters. I can understand residents getting more and cheaper tags for state and private land but why should they be given any advantages over a nonresident that wants to hunt federal ground? The answer I have always heard is the state owns the wildlife. If that is the case let the state pay to protect their wildlife not the rest of us. I love to hunt and am all about managing/protecting the wildlife. I have been hunting in Idaho for over 20 years now even when the wolves were wiping out the herds. Now the licenses and tags to archery elk hunt have risen to $960 and getting a tag is far from a guarantee. I live in Wv and there is no limit on nonresident licenses and tags in my state. I guess I’ve become disgruntled with the western states because of the prices and tag limits. Their DNR’s don’t want us there. They just want our money. Problem is guys like myself love hunting the wild places and will pay the exuberant fees and travel a thousand miles (2,400 miles each way in my case)or more to enjoy the experience. I’m in no way blaming the residents. I hope they can understand why I don’t like seeing my tax dollars going to these programs that have very little pay back to the non resident.