2015 hunting forecast for Southern Big Horn Basin

Wyoming Game and Fish has released the 2015 hunting forecast for the souther part of the Big Horn Basin.

Antelope

Pronghorn hunting in the southern Bighorn 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 15-Mile herd (hunt areas 77, 83, 110), there has been 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.

Mule deer and

white-tailed deer

Mule deer hunting in the southern portion of the Bighorn 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 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 118 and 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 Bighorn 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.

Elk

Based on 2014/15 winter trend count flights, some elk areas in the southern Bighorn Basin have fewer elk due to record high harvest during the past couple of years.  Although elk numbers may be declining, population is 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. Hunters are encouraged to take advantage of these great elk hunting opportunities and are reminded to collect blood from harvested elk for brucellosis sampling.  Game and Fish will be collecting blood and tissue samples from harvested elk as well.