Conjunctivitis or "pink eye" similar to the infection that occasionally infects cattle with sore, red and mattered eyes, has infected some yearling mule deer bucks north of Farson.

The infection necessitated the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to shoot 15 young bucks near the Buckskin Crossing area north of Farson and five near Fremont Lake north of Pinedale since late November. The deer had been rendered blind or nearly blind by the infection. The heads were sent to the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory for examination.

"By removing the deer from the population it helps break the cycle of the disease, and it's the humane thing to do because the deer will begin to starve," said Scott Edberg, game warden supervisor in Pinedale. "This appears to be the worst pink eye outbreak in the area since 1981-82." But the G&F believes the outbreak was not widespread enough to significantly reduce the deer population because only a portion of the yearling bucks were infected. Surveillance of the Buckskin Crossing area December 16-17 failed to detect any more infected deer, and the G&F believes the outbreak probably has run its course.

Although it can be many years between pink eye outbreaks in a deer herd, outbreaks typically occur in late fall when young bucks have face-to-face contact while sparring during breeding season, according to Tom Thorne, wildlife veterinarian and G&F Services Division chief.

Outbreaks transmitted by flies have also been documented some years in late summer.

Thorne said a December pink eye outbreak poses no threat to domestic livestock because flies are dead and face-to-face contact between deer and cattle is unlikely. The disease can also infect elk, moose and bighorn sheep, but has not been detected this fall in those species. He also assures hunters that pink eye does not affect venison quality.

Anyone spotting a big game animal that is sick or acting strangely is urged to call the nearest G&F office.


Wyoming — Question/Answer

Question:
I have a brother living out-of-state who would like to come big game hunting with me. What do I need to do?

Answer:
You don't need to do anything except possibly help with selecting the area you like to hunt. The first thing is to get him a nonresident application booklet. If your brother applied for a license in 1999 or 2000, he should have already received a booklet. If he needs a booklet, have him call or write: (307) 777-4600; Game and Fish, Attn: Hunting applications, 5400 Bishop Blvd., Cheyenne, WY 82006. The booklet is also on the G&F website http://gf.state.wy.us. Nonresident big game licenses are issued via drawing and there are several application deadline dates depending on the species. The elk deadline is Jan. 31 and if deer or antelope is the choice, the deadline is March 15.


Oregon — 2001 Hunting Rules

Oregon's 2001 hunting regulations will be distributed to license outlets in mid to late January, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, electronic versions of the new rules will be available on the agency's website in early January. The address is: http://www.dfw.state.or.us.


Montana — TIPMONT Calls Soar

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reports that calls to TIPMONT, the 800 "crime
stopper" number for reports of natural resource crimes, soared during this
year's big game season.

"TIPMONT was busier than any other time of year with calls from hunters and others reporting possible big game violations or following up on previous calls to TIPMONT," said Shelly Hiron, FWP TIPMONT coordinator.

Hiron estimates that TIPMONT averaged 70 calls on weekends during big game season. Even with two people answering the TIPMONT hotline, callers sometimes had to leave a message. "We want to assure people who did leave a voice message that we do take the information they leave and process it the same way we would if we had talked to them in person," Hiron said. In addition to phone calls, TIPMONT received more web site tips than in any past big game season. The TIPMONT web address is: fwp.state.mt.us. At the bottom of the home page, click on "Report Violations," then click on "click here to report violations."

According to Hiron, calls to TIPMONT this big game season originated mainly from the Bitterroot Valley and Missoula area; the Elkhorn Mountains and Helena area; the Bozeman to Three Forks area, and the Billings to Big Timber area.

Callers who observe a crime involving big game, fish or vandalism in state parks may call 1-800-TIPMONT (1-800-847-6668) to report it or use the TIPMONT web site. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.


Idaho — Elk Feeding Contingency Plan Approved

Heavy snow where forest fires burned a significant part of Unit 28 last summer could trigger emergency feeding of elk.

Meeting in Orofino December 6-8, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved a plan by Salmon Region staff to feed elk where the 210,000-acre Clear Creek fire burned in late summer. The plan sets criteria based on snow depth and other factors that could call for feeding.

Fish and Game staff will monitor snow conditions, animal condition and mortality in the Panther Creek/Clear Creek area of Unit 28. Range vegetation there did recover substantially as fall rains followed the fires.

Snow depths of less than 18 inches on south slopes will be considered normal. Depths of 18-24 inches will warrant close monitoring of elk body condition and mortality as well as snow-crusting conditions. More than 24 inches of snow may bring on supplemental feeding operations.

Two potential feeding spots have been identified and details of a feeding operation have already been planned.


Utah — Wildlife Pays for the Use of Habitat

As in past years, Walt Donaldson, supervisor for the Northeastern Region of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, recently delivered Payment In-Lieu of Taxes checks to Uintah, Duchesne and Daggett counties.

The three checks totaled $52,668.72 or $9,647.42, $38,338.30 and $4,683.00 respectively.

"The 'PILT checks' or 'Payments In-Lieu of Taxes' are another way that wildlife and sportsmen pay their share," Donaldson said. "These payments, in accordance with contractual agreements with the counties, are payments for lands the UDWR owns. Many of these lands were given to the UDWR to hold as a public trust as mitigation for dams and other community and private developments. Other lands were purchased from willing sellers to protect essential wildlife habitat, especially big game winter ranges and quality fisheries. Most of the PILT payment monies came from sportsmen through license dollars and taxes they pay on fishing and hunting equipment."

Wildlife and the wildlife habitat found on these lands also pay for themselves in other ways. According to the "1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation," more than $701 million was spent in 1996 on wildlife-associated recreation (hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, etc.).

"Of that total, trip-related expenditures were $286 million and equipment purchases totaled $358 million. The remaining $58 million was spent on licenses, contributions, land ownership and services."

This information fits well with the "Economic Analysis of Wildlife in Utah" prepared by the office of Demographic and Economic Analysis, Utah Office of Planning and Budget 1991. They wrote: "Expenditures for wildlife-associated recreation in Utah are sizable and comparable to gross measurements of other important industries in the state. From this standpoint, wildlife should not be ignored as an economic activity. Wildlife is more than a leisure activity; it is an economic resource."