Big game herd classifications

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DECEMBER 2014 Laramie Region Monthly Summary Conserving Wildlife - Serving People Big game herd classifications Buck numbers and quality should

So far, the news has been good across the Laramie Region.

Cheyenne Game Warden Shawn Blajszczak reports that mule deer classifications indicated the Goshen Rim herd also had good fawn production.

1 DECEMBER 2014 Laramie Region Monthly Summary Conserving Wildlife - Serving People Big game herd classifications Buck numbers and quality should improve in next few years Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists and wardens took to the air throughout the Laramie Region in December for big game herd classifications. Classifications are conducted by air and ground to obtain population data and to monitor herds of big game animals such as mule deer, elk, moose and bighorn sheep. Information obtained from the classification is used to design future hunting seasons and to manage herds toward population objectives. So far, the news has been good across the Laramie Region. Saratoga Game Warden Biff Burton says early results suggest mule deer fawn production and buck numbers increased in the Platte Valley in Cheyenne Game Warden Shawn Blajszczak reports that mule deer classifications indicated the Goshen Rim herd also had good fawn production. Wheatland Wildlife Biologist Martin Hicks was pleased to discover the best mule deer fawn ratios observed in years. Hicks says hunters can look forward to seeing good buck quantity and quality a few years from now. Laramie Region Wildlife Coordinator Corey Class and Saratoga Game Warden Biff Burton take a break from classifying big game animals. Laramie Wildlife Biologist Lee Knox and Game Warden Jackie Otto prepare to take off. Otto was recently selected as the new North Gillette game warden.

DECEMBER 2014 Sheep Mountain mule deer meeting Page 2 The Laramie Region held a public meeting in December to discuss management of the Sheep Mountain Mule Deer Herd.

recommendations for the herd. Laramie Wildlife Biologist Lee Knox said the population objective for the herd is 15,000 animals, but current population estimates are just over 5,500.

2 DECEMBER 2014 Sheep Mountain mule deer meeting Page 2 The Laramie Region held a public meeting in December to discuss management of the Sheep Mountain Mule Deer Herd. Wildlife managers provided information about mule deer nutritional needs and habitat enhancements; a review of the current herd objective; and a preliminary discussion on draft management recommendations for the herd. Laramie Wildlife Biologist Lee Knox said the population objective for the herd is 15,000 animals, but current population estimates are just over 5,500. The population objective of 15,000 animals may not be realistic for this herd, he said. The Laramie Region will hold one more public meeting to review a draft of the management recommendations. This will be the final planning-stage meeting to identify information needs or bring up issues that the management recommendations document doesn t address. The date will be determined in upcoming weeks. To learn more about the Sheep Mountain Mule Deer Initiative visit: Welcome to the Laramie Region New South Laramie game warden Game and Fish is proud to welcome a new game warden in Laramie. Game Warden Bill Brinegar replaces Bill Haley, the South Laramie game warden who retired in August. Brinegar is a native of Cheyenne and graduated from East High School in He earned a bachelor s degree in Biology from Fresno State in After graduation he worked for the California Fish and Game on the anadromous fish crew on the San Joaquin River, and later as a biologist for a private consulting firm. He returned to Wyoming in 2004 when he was hired as a game warden trainee for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Brinegar was stationed in Green River for two years and was then promoted to the Rawlins Warden District in 2006, where he remained for eight years. Brinegar is delighted to be working in Laramie and to finally be back home in the southeast corner of the state. I have family in Cheyenne and I wanted to be a game warden in an area where I grew up hunting and fishing. I am very familiar with the area. It is home, he said. While Brinegar had to hit the ground running at the beginning of hunting season, he says he now has time to focus on his goals for the region. I want to work on building and maintaining relationships with the landowners and constituents in my region. A game warden is the liaison between the department and landowners. It s a very important role, he said. Brinegar believes in the responsibility of providing quality opportunities for sportsmen. He cares about doing what is right for wildlife and sportsmen. I appreciate that my role as a game warden allows me to get people to work together to solve problems, he said. He lives in Laramie with his wife Kristin, daughter Emily, and sons Owen and Will.

DECEMBER 2014 Page 3 Fish stocked in Cheyenne lakes The Laramie fish crew stocked about 900 brood cull brown and brook trout in Sloans Lake and Lake Absarraca in December.

The brown trout are three to five years old and also average a pound each and up to 14 inches in length. However, some of the older fish are about 18 inches in length.

all day, and not even a bite for that last couple hours. Warden Todd continued checking other fishermen, and everybody else seemed to be catching fish.

3 DECEMBER 2014 Page 3 Fish stocked in Cheyenne lakes The Laramie fish crew stocked about 900 brood cull brown and brook trout in Sloans Lake and Lake Absarraca in December. The fish were culled from the breeding stock at Story Fish Hatchery. The brook trout are all four-year-old fish and average about one pound and about 14 inches. The brown trout are three to five years old and also average a pound each and up to 14 inches in length. However, some of the older fish are about 18 inches in length. Good things come to those who wait and wait Some good changes to fishing regulations While checking fishermen at Wheatland #3, Laramie Game Warden Kelly Todd talked to a man who said he had no luck all day, and not even a bite for that last couple hours. Warden Todd continued checking other fishermen, and everybody else seemed to be catching fish. Suddenly there was a shout and everyone looked to see a large rainbow trout being reeled in by the man who said he had no luck all day. The trout was 24.5 inches long and weighed about five pounds. Photo by Kelly Todd If you enjoy fishing for bass in the Laramie Region, then 2015 is your lucky year. Size limits for bass have been liberalized on several waters in southeastern Wyoming. Festo Lake and Hawk Springs Reservoir have had the bass size limit removed completely, and the 15-inch minimum size limit at Grayrocks Reservoir has been removed. Anglers at Grayrocks can now keep three (3) bass, but only one can be over 12 inches in length. Also new is a change that allows importation of live baitfish (fathead minnows) into the state from approved commercial hatcheries. This should increase the number of live baitfish available to anglers. Other changes include new laws allowing the use of corn for bait and the use of artificial lighting devices while fishing. The regulation will continue to prohibit the use of artificial light when spear gunning for game fish. The new fishing regulations booklet listing all changes is now on the Game and Fish website wgfd.wyo.gov. Printed copies are now available at license selling agents. The new changes are highlighted throughout the booklet.

DECEMBER 2014 Page 4 Goshen County 2-Shot Goose Hunt Hunting for elk Forever Wild Families

Nelson (at right). Goshen County hosted the 27 th Annual 2-Shot Goose Hunt on Dec. 13.

Only three out of 40 teams took four geese, and only six teams came in with three geese.

Greenwald s land west of Lingle. The team took four geese.

49 pounds. Also shown is guide Grant Harpstreith (at right). Photo by Rob Hipp.

well at Table Mountain WHMA as part of the Water Delivery Enhancement System project.

4 DECEMBER 2014 Page 4 Goshen County 2-Shot Goose Hunt Hunting for elk Forever Wild Families participants Caylee and Jordan Martin went on an elk hunt with WGFD employees Ian Tator and Mark Nelson (at right). Goshen County hosted the 27 th Annual 2-Shot Goose Hunt on Dec. 13. The weather was cold and foggy that morning in Torrington, and the hunting was a bit hit or miss. Only three out of 40 teams took four geese, and only six teams came in with three geese. First place contestants were Seth Brush (at left) and Jarod Bower (center), hunting on Bryan Greenwald s land west of Lingle. The team took four geese. Brush was also credited for killing the largest goose for the day, which weighed in at pounds. Also shown is guide Grant Harpstreith (at right). Photo by Rob Hipp. New well drilled at Table Mountain WHMA John s Pump Service of Torrington completed drilling a new well at Table Mountain WHMA as part of the Water Delivery Enhancement System project. The water from the well will help keep the Table Mountain ponds full. Once the well was completed, Wyrulec Company of Lingle installed a three-phase electric line to power the well s pumps. Photos by Jerry Cowles.

DECEMBER 2014 Page 5 Laramie Region law enforcement After pleading no contest to the charges of taking a mule deer during a closed season and wrong species of deer, Cheyenne resident Kurt Rangitsch

The case was initially reported by Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Gabriel Testerman, who discovered a buck mule deer in the back of Rangitsch s truck and concluded it to be a possible violation.

Rangitsch had a deer area 15 type 3 license valid for white-tailed deer only. Rangitsch, who had been hunting deer in Wyoming since 2002, said he thought the deer was a white-tailed deer.

5 DECEMBER 2014 Page 5 Laramie Region law enforcement After pleading no contest to the charges of taking a mule deer during a closed season and wrong species of deer, Cheyenne resident Kurt Rangitsch was sentenced to two years revocation of hunting privileges, $3,000 in restitution, $1,010 in fines, and six months unsupervised probation. Rangitsch must also retake a hunter education class. The case was initially reported by Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Gabriel Testerman, who discovered a buck mule deer in the back of Rangitsch s truck and concluded it to be a possible violation. Cheyenne Game Warden Shawn Blajszczak and Wheatland Game Warden David Ellsworth determined that Rangitsch had shot a large mule deer buck on Nov. 30, 2014, in deer hunt area 15 near La Grange. Rangitsch had a deer area 15 type 3 license valid for white-tailed deer only. Rangitsch, who had been hunting deer in Wyoming since 2002, said he thought the deer was a white-tailed deer. Special thanks to Trooper Testerman, Ken Brown with the district attorney s office, and Game and Fish Department s Laramie Region Wildlife Investigator John Demaree for assistance in solving and prosecuting this case. Mule deer buck poached by Cheyenne resident Kurt Rangitsch In other parts of the region, Medicine Bow Game Warden Jake Kettley contacted two elk hunters off of Highway 487 after one had shot a cow elk. The hunters said they thought they were on the Shirley Basin HMA in hunt area 7. They were cited for hunting in the wrong area as they were well into area 16. Teamwork was the name of the game when HMAP Coordinator Kyle Berg, Access Coordinator Jason Sherwood, and Game Warden Jackie Otto helped Warden Kettley with a case involving an individual from Casper who shot two cow elk on the McFarlane HMA. The man accessed the HMA from a walk-in area that is only open for antelope hunting. The following day he drove into the HMA and went past a road closed sign. He was issued citations for trespassing and driving past a road closed sign. Access Coordinator Jason Sherwood also worked several cases this month, including one where a man s elk spoiled while he was working out of state, a man who accidentally harvested a spike elk on a cow-only hunt, and a bull elk that was found by Biologist Hicks after it was shot during a cow-only season. The bull was shot on the Cross C Ranch adjacent to the Tunnel Road early in the morning of December 20. The elk had been quartered and the meat was taken. Tips on anyone who harvested an elk in Area 7 that day or regarding suspicious vehicles observed in the area that day would be appreciated. Stop Poaching Tips needed on white-tailed deer case Cheyenne Game Warden Shawn Blajszczak received a call about a poached fawn white-tailed deer off of Horse Creek Road north of Iron Mountain on Dec. 13. When Warden Blajszczak arrived he discovered a fawn white-tailed deer that was shot and left to waste. The deer was shot in the head with a high powered rifle the previous day. Unfortunately, not much evidence was found on scene. Warden Blajszczak encourages anyone with knowledge of this poaching or any other poaching to call the stop poaching tip line at 1 (877) WGFD TIP, ( ). Informants can choose to remain anonymous. New bighorn sheep study December saw the beginning of a new bighorn sheep research study the Tom Thorne/Beth Williams Wildlife Research Center at Sybille. The focus of the study is to develop sheepside testing that can identify which sheep in a herd are chronically shedding respiratory pathogens. If these sheep can be identified, removing them may improve the overall health of the herd and improve lamb recruitment. This is a collaborative study with Dr. Karen Fox of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Two University of Wyoming students assist in sampling Travis, the resident bighorn sheep ram at the wildlife research center at Sybille.

Sharp-shinned hawk This male sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) has been spotted near the Game and Fish Department headquarters office in Cheyenne in recent weeks.

Sharp-shinned hawks are common in woodland areas and open lowlands throughout the United States, southern and western Canada, Mexico and Central America.

Access Coordinator Jason Sherwood says shoveling snow is all in a day s work.

Christmas. Medicine Bow Game Warden Jake Kettley and HMAP Coordinator Kyle Berg also joined in the wintry fun.

It is a semi-automated test that uses an antigen (killed Brucella abortus bacteria) in a microtiter plate in an instrument that scans each well for agglutination.

can be seen with the naked eye. The on the left.

els making it much more sensitive than the old card test. Although the RAP test has been used for some time in cattle and swine, it is only now being routinely used for wildlife.

6 Sharp-shinned hawk This male sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) has been spotted near the Game and Fish Department headquarters office in Cheyenne in recent weeks. The sharpshinned hawk s primary prey is small songbirds such as sparrows and warblers. They are agile fliers and easily speed through dense vegetation to surprise their prey. Sharp-shinned hawks are common in woodland areas and open lowlands throughout the United States, southern and western Canada, Mexico and Central America. Northern bird populations will migrate to the South, but sharp-shinned hawks may be present year-round in Wyoming. BRRRR! Access Coordinator Jason Sherwood says shoveling snow is all in a day s work. He assisted with HMAP elk hunts in the Laramie Peak area, and jumped in to lend a hand with vehicles that became stuck or disabled during particularly bad weather the weekend after Christmas. Medicine Bow Game Warden Jake Kettley and HMAP Coordinator Kyle Berg also joined in the wintry fun. New brucellosis test A new test is being used to screen blood samples for antibodies to brucellosis. The new test is called a RAP which stands for Rapid Automated Presumptive test. It is a semi-automated test that uses an antigen (killed Brucella abortus bacteria) in a microtiter plate in an instrument that scans each well for agglutination. Agglutination occurs when antibodies in the test serum Positive control serum samples are shown on combine with antigen complexes that the right while test serum samples are shown can be seen with the naked eye. The on the left. Test antigen is pink, giving the automated instrument is able to detect these complexes at very low lev- assay its characteristic color. els making it much more sensitive than the old card test. Although the RAP test has been used for some time in cattle and swine, it is only now being routinely used for wildlife. As part of an effort to standardize brucellosis testing in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the USDA/APHIS has pushed this assay very hard on regional diagnostic laboratories. The RAP instrument and the antigen were supplied free of charge to the WGFD. The RAP is now the standard screening test for brucellosis, replacing the Card, Standard Plate Test and the Rivanol tests. Regular visitors Laramie Game Warden Kelly Todd snapped this photo of a nice flock of wild turkeys on a recent trip to Hawk Springs. Turkeys are frequently seen from U.S. 85 in and around the town. Wyoming Game and Fish Dept. Laramie Region Office 528 S. Adams St. Laramie, WY (307) wgfd.wyo.gov

Pheasant hunters welcome season

WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT OCTOBER 2015 LARAMIE REGION Conserving Wildlife - Serving People Pheasant hunters welcome season Pheasant hunters welcomed the 2015 season with the Springer Special Pheasant