Hunting Technology

Where do you draw the line?

Hunting technology �Where do you draw the line?

• Hunting related technological advancements accelerated in late ‘90s and early 2000s
• 2008 WGFD internal committee report:

​

Hunting technology �Where do you draw the line?

• Continued interest combined with rapid technological advancements led to the creation of another internal WGFD team that was given the task of evaluating modern technology

​

• The work of the team was summarized in this 2017 report

​

• Great read…excellent work…!

​

​

�

Hunting technology �Where do you draw the line?

• Ethical issues – highlight the need for public involvement
• When and where should we draw the line in law?
• 2018 Hunting Technology Survey
• Conducted by WYSAC at the University of Wyoming
• Scientifically valid survey
• Another great read…!

​

Hunting technology �Where do you draw the line?

• Internal committee report and hunting technology survey results presented to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission in 2018

​

• WGFC directed the Department to approach the Wyoming Legislature to seek statutory authority to regulate certain technologies

​

• Public input helped identify the line

​

Hunting technology �Where do you draw the line?

• 2019 Wyoming Legislative Session

​

• Travel, Recreation, and Wildlife Committee brought forth House Bill 002: Regulation of hunting methods

​

• Passed with effective date of July 1, 2019

​

Hunting technology �Where do you draw the line?

• Wyoming Game and Fish Department proposed rules for the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to consider

​

• Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Regulations
• Chapter 2
• Approved April 2020
• Remain in effect today

​

​

Hunting technology �Where do you draw the line?

• What is next?

​

• Technology continues to rapidly evolve

​

• The Department desires to continue to stay engaged and informed
• Re-assess public attitudes?
• Continue to utilize a collaborative approach as we all work together to address tough issues…

​

​

Hunting Opportunity�Managing People

Hunting opportunity – Managing People

• Hunter satisfaction remains high for most big game species in most hunt areas
• Hunter satisfaction is highly correlated with hunter success…
• Other factors contribute to hunter satisfaction
• Season structure
• Crowding or perception of crowding generally reduces hunter satisfaction

Hunting opportunity – Managing People

• Season structures can be adjusted to achieve harvest goals while striving to maintain a quality experience
• The “levers”
• Hunt Areas
• License types
• Season dates
• Non-resident regions
• Quotas
• Number of licenses (Ch.44)
• Species overlap or not
• Other limitations
• Result – complex seasons, but lots of flexibility to manage people

Hunting Opportunity – Managing People

Hunting Opportunity – Managing People

• Methods to allocate opportunity using the flexibility in our system
• Examples:
• Reduce opening date crowding
• Pronghorn area 42 type 1 and type 2
• Type 1 – Sept. 25
• Type 2 – Oct. 5

Hunting Opportunity – Managing People

• Combine LQ and General license opportunity
• Example:
• Elk Area 97 and 98
• Type 1 – Sept. 20
• General – Oct. 1

​

Hunting Opportunity – Managing People

• Other examples:
• Elk hunt area 11
• Type 9 – Sept. 1
• Type 1 – Sept. 15

Hunting Opportunity – Managing People

• Other examples of utilizing flexible system
• Elk area 19 Type 2
• Split season dates

Hunting Opportunity – Managing People

• Flexibility in the system (“levers”) allows managers to address the quality of the hunting experience while striving to achieve harvest objectives.

​

• Important to start with clearly identifying the issue to address, then look at solutions

​

• Discussion…