Why change the population objective?
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is re-evaluating the population objective for the Sheep Mountain Mule Deer Herd Unit, which consists of deer hunt areas 61, 74-77. Population objectives are established based on biological data of the population and the habitat while also considering landowners, hunters, land management agencies and general public input. Game and Fish managers strive to maintain big game herds near their established population objective in order to maintain biological and social carrying capacities.
Below are the current and proposed management objectives for the herd unit.
Current Management Objective: 10,000 (+/- 20% 8,000-12,000) Mule Deer
Current Management Strategy: Recreational (Maintain buck ratios at 20-29 bucks per 100 does)
2025 Population Estimate: 4,200 (+/- 20% 3,800 - 4,600)
Proposed 2026 Objective: 5,000 (+/- 20% 4,000 - 6,000)
Proposed 2026 Management Strategy: *no change*
The Department proposes to change the population objective from 10,000 (+/- 20% 8,000-12,000) to 5,000 (+/- 20% 4,000 - 6,000) while maintaining a recreational management strategy (managing for 20-29 bucks:100 does). This proposed decrease in objective provides a biologically attainable number that’s sustainable and meets the herd unit's actual carrying capacity on the landscape. Human related development in winter range habitat and overall limited amount of available winter range has likely prevented this population from ever reaching 10,000 mule deer. Recent sightability survey abundance estimates in 2021 (3,300 mule deer) and 2025 (3,300 mule deer) along with historical population and habitat data have shown that a population estimate of 10,000 mule deer is likely biologically unobtainable. With the current population estimate at 4,200 mule deer, the proposed objective would still direct the Department to strive to manage for more mule deer.
You are formally invited to an open house meeting at the WGFD Laramie Regional Office on June 16th from 6:00 - 7:30pm to discuss this objective. Please complete and return surveys by June 16th. If you have any questions, please contact Keaton Weber, Laramie Wildlife Biologist at 307-399-2507.