Meeting Held To Work On Plans To Boost Platte Valley Mule Deer Population

Hunters, conservationists and state officials are working on plans to boost the Platte Valley mule deer population that has thinned out in recent years. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department hosted a public meeting Monday to discuss the problem and find possible ways to improve the state's management plan for the deer. The state officials said there are many reasons for the sluggish numbers including predation, changes to their migration routes and a loss of their habitat due to human and natural causes. The deer are highly coveted targets by hunters in the southeastern part of the state, but the herd’s population has fallen below the state’s recommendations. Will Shultz, the department’s wildlife biologist in Saratoga, said the herd’s population is at about 16,000, which is 4,000 less than the ideal population.