(Image: Courtesy Illustration Zach Key | Cowboy State Daily)
Wyoming mule deer hunters are eating this year’s tag in support of the state’s mule deer population that was devastated by the winter season. In what is known as winterkill, long and particularly harsh winters can have a negative impact on mule deer populations.
With scarce resources and food availability, both young and old deer have a difficult time surviving until the spring thaw. This year’s winterkill not only affected mulies, it’s being reported that Wyoming’s antelope herds were also decimated. Areas such as the Wyoming Range near La Barge were hit particularly hard where initial reports are showing a near 50% decrease in mule deer population.
In an effort to support the local populations, the “Let a Deer Walk” program was introduced in an effort to coerce Wyoming hunters into forgoing (read: eating) their 2023 tag in exchange for an entry into a draw for over $100,000 worth of prizes.
“It’s insane. I’ve been getting attention from outlets all over the country,” avid outdoorsman Zach Key of La Barge told Cowboy State Daily. “The response is overwhelmingly positive. Out of the couple thousand phone calls I’ve gotten, I’ve had maybe 10 that were negative.”
In order for a tag to count in the draw, all current tags must be mailed in ahead of the August 15th deadline. From there draws will be made for a variety of prize packs including a custom truck build, ATVs, guided hunts, a whole beef cut and wrapped and the “redneck survival kit’ that includes a new electric chainsaw, 12-gauge shotgun and a Yeti cooler.
