2018 hunting forecast

Hunting season is getting underway and Wyoming Game and Fish has released their predictions for the 2018 hunt.

With more fawns being born in 2017, the harvest looks good for antelope this year.

Overall, the numbers look good and hunters can expect buck quality to be comparable to last year with good to excellent hunting success.

Deer had a better fawn survival rate in 2017 than they have in years past, mostly due to the mild winter and a wetter springs providing plenty of feed.

The mule deer numbers are still down some as they struggle to recover from the 2016-17 winter.

Elk hunters this year should have an excellent season. Game and Fish predicts, if the weather conditions remain good, that the harvest should be first-rate. An additional 1,030 elk licenses were issued statewide due to increased elk populations.

Moose, however, are still struggling, even in the Dubois areas where counts are below desired levels.

The chances of a moose kill this year are about the same as last year so hunters should see a reasonably good harvest.

In 2017, several 40+ inch bulls were harvested, indicating there are still plenty of mature bulls available for harvest.

Lambs this year were shockingly low for Big Horn Sheep in some regions. There are fewer rams available to hunt, but the success rate should be fairly good. Hunters could actually see some very large rams.

For more detailed information go to https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Hunting/Hunting-Guide.