Remote trail cameras collect important information about mule deer near Cody
Wildlife managers in the Cody Region have put to use multiple new trail cameras recently donated by local sportsmen’s groups.
Wildlife Biologist Tony Mong said the cameras will be used in conjunction with other techniques currently used to monitor mule deer populations in the Cody area.
The cameras were placed along migration routes delineated from the Eastern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem mule deer project in the Clarks Fork (Hunt Areas 105, 106, 109) and Upper Shoshone (Hunt Areas 110-115) mule deer herd units.
Mong will analyze the photos to collect sex and age class information, timing of migration, estimate winter mortality of fawns and in the future, evaluate annual and potentially seasonal body condition of deer.
“These cameras are a step towards the future of data collection for mule deer in the Cody area,” Mong said. “Special thanks to Mule Deer Foundation and Wyoming Outdoorsmen for donating this important tool.”
Over the course of the fall, thousands of pictures of mule deer have been collected by these cameras. In addition to the mule deer images, the cameras have been effective in capturing many other species including elk, fox, coyote, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, snowshoe hares, dusky grouse and wolves.
Mong plans to discuss the results of the camera data at the upcoming season setting meetings in March in Cody.
A remote trail camera on the North Fork west of Cody captures this image of a migrating mule deer buck.
Typical migrating behavior of mule deer is to “string out” single file along the migration route.
Many migration routes are used by other species as well, including this migrating bull elk.
This grizzly bear has spent the summer and fall packing on weight to prepare for hibernation.
Even in the deepest snows of winter, trail cameras show us that it is not a “barren” landscape. Furbearers such as this pine marten spend their winters staying warm and finding food.
This dusky (blue) grouse took the opportunity to strut his stuff in front of the camera.
Wildlife Biologist Tony Mong said the cameras will be used in conjunction with other techniques currently used to monitor mule deer populations in the Cody area.
The cameras were placed along migration routes delineated from the Eastern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem mule deer project in the Clarks Fork (Hunt Areas 105, 106, 109) and Upper Shoshone (Hunt Areas 110-115) mule deer herd units.
Mong will analyze the photos to collect sex and age class information, timing of migration, estimate winter mortality of fawns and in the future, evaluate annual and potentially seasonal body condition of deer.
“These cameras are a step towards the future of data collection for mule deer in the Cody area,” Mong said. “Special thanks to Mule Deer Foundation and Wyoming Outdoorsmen for donating this important tool.”
Over the course of the fall, thousands of pictures of mule deer have been collected by these cameras. In addition to the mule deer images, the cameras have been effective in capturing many other species including elk, fox, coyote, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, snowshoe hares, dusky grouse and wolves.
Mong plans to discuss the results of the camera data at the upcoming season setting meetings in March in Cody.
Typical migrating behavior of mule deer is to “string out” single file along the migration route.
Many migration routes are used by other species as well, including this migrating bull elk.
This grizzly bear has spent the summer and fall packing on weight to prepare for hibernation.
Even in the deepest snows of winter, trail cameras show us that it is not a “barren” landscape. Furbearers such as this pine marten spend their winters staying warm and finding food.
This dusky (blue) grouse took the opportunity to strut his stuff in front of the camera.
Tony Mong 307-527-7125