Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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The toughest winter in a while might have been easier on Crook County's ranchers if it hadn't come on the heels of several years of drought. "Cold and snow is a problematic thing, whether you're talking for calving or just wintering cattle and yearlings," says Wade Crawford of Crook County Veterinary Service. "You end up having to feed more hay, which was in limited supply last year." Two to three years of dry weather meant that nobody had much extra feed for their animals, he says. "What we...
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30 Year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30 Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 17.2 4.8 2.1 1 229 Blind Park Snotel 6870 34 7.5 6.6 4 114 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 33 7.4 4.7 3.7 157 Ditch Creek 6880 21.5 3.8 3.5 2.4 109 Little Bear Run 6240 21.6 4 3.6 2.1 111 Mallo 6420 33.4 6.1 6.5 3.3 94 Mount Tom 5560 25.4 4.9 4.3 2 114 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 30 6.5 5.8 4.7 112 Reuter Canyon 6280 36.8 9.1 8.2 3.6 111 Upper Spearfish 6500 30.6 8.4 6...
Wyoming Game and Fish’s Casper Region has scheduled a series of public meetings this month to present and discuss the proposed hunting seasons for 2023. These meetings are a way to learn about local wildlife populations, ask questions and visit with local biologists and wardens. Crook County’s meeting will take place in Sundance in the courthouse basement on March 20 at 4 p.m. If you are unable to make this meeting, other nearby opportunities include the Weston County Library meeting room in Newcastle on the same day at 7 p.m. and the Nio...
A mature bull takes a break from grazing on a newly-melted patch of forage on Monday evening south of Sundance....
A midweek storm last week caused temperature drops of more than 40 degrees in part of Crook County, bringing bitter cold as well as several inches of snow. The snow mostly began to fall across the Black Hills and parts of western South Dakota and northeast Wyoming before widespread snow moved across the area the next day, on February 21. This continued until Wednesday, with snowfall amounts between six and 12 inches across the area. While the winds were not especially strong during this storm, gusts of up to 45 mph were recorded, causing the...
Spring may seem a long way away from underneath February’s snowdrifts, but the Wyoming Game & Fish Department will be prepared when it arrives to protect Keyhole Reservoir from an infestation of zebra mussels. Game & Fish has been concerned about this possibility since an infestation of the invasive creatures was reported at Pactola Reservoir, just 30 miles from the Wyoming border. This was the closest location where the species has yet been found, which the department concluded was a significant increase to the risk to the state’s waters. Not...
The Sundance Winter Festival may have attracted its largest crowd yet when it returned to Main Street on Saturday. After a couple of years of cancellations caused by a lack of snow, and a brief period in which its future was in question due to a lack of volunteers, organizer Tony Barton estimates that up to 3000 people attended, which was the biggest turnout he can remember. "I was really pleased at how well this community came together to get this event back downtown. I was fortunate to step in...
The snow may be coming down more often than it has over recent years, but the National Weather Service (NWS) is not predicting it will cause flooding when the spring arrives. According to the outlook for the Rapid City Hydrologic Service Area, the severe drought conditions that led into winter – along with lower streamflows and minimal frost – have reduced the chance for spring floods, despite the abundance of the snowpack. At this time, there is below average potential for flooding in northeastern Wyoming. The NWS predicts less than a 5% chanc...
Ice sparkles on a gate as the sun rises Tuesday morning, casting a serene glow over snow that fell the day before....
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-Year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current % of 30-Year Median SWE Bear Lodge Divide 4680 14.1 3.4 1.8 0.4 189 Blind Park Snotel 6870 24 5.3 4.7 2.6 113 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 21 4.5 3.2 2 141 Ditch Creek 6880 16.1 2.9 2.4 1.4 121 Little Bear Run 6240 17.5 3.3 2.7 1.3 122 Mallo 6420 26.9 5.9 4.7 1.8 126 Mount Tom 5560 23 4.4 3.3 1.5 133 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 21 4.6 4.7 3 98 Reuter Canyon 6280 29.2 7.3 6 2.9 122 Upper Spearfish 6500 24 5.4 4 1.8 1...
A young bull endures Monday morning's frigid -32 degree weather south of Sundance as area temperatures plunged well below zero. The National Weather Service recorded a wind chill low of -51 degrees east of Pine Haven....
POWELL — The first suspected case of avian flu killing a mammal in Wyoming has been sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s wildlife lab for verification. A red fox, one of three suspected cases recently sent to the state lab, tested positive. All scavenging mammals, including pets, are in danger of contracting the disease according to state officials. Last week, for the first time, three grizzly bears suffering from the virus were “humanely euthanized” by Montana officials. Game and Fish large carnivore program manager Dan Thompso...
Wyoming Game & Fish is reminding the public that authorization is needed before you are permitted to recover road-killed wildlife – and you may not do so from the interstate. Obtaining approval to salvage a deer, elk, antelope, moose, wild bison or wild turkey that has been killed due to an unintentional road collision can be done through the Wyoming 511 app or via the Game & Fish website. You can receive authorization through the app even without cellular service. Recovering roadkill has been legal in Wyoming since 2021, when a bill c...
As a new year begins, the county commissioners have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Crook County’s interests are represented in the updated management plans under development by the U.S. Forest Service for the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF) and, separately, by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for lands in northeast Wyoming. Forest Plan The BHNF management plan has caused considerable concern over recent months after many – including the commissioners – felt that the draft assessments being used to develop the update were...
With the recent snowfall across the Black Hills National Forest, Ranger Districts will be focusing efforts on burning thousands of hand and machine slash piles. Piles are created from timber sale slash and tree thinning operations. Piles are only ignited when managers are confident that the project can be undertaken safely with considerations to snow cover, wind, temperature, available staffing and smoke dispersal. Public and firefighter safety is always the number-one priority in all burning operations. Firefighters continually monitor and...
(Above) Winners of each category, left to right: Rod Malo (best Northern Pike), Cash Peterson (best youth elk), Hunter Idler (best youth whitetail), Zoe Shoun (best turkey overall), Terry Speidel (best antelope), Bruce Speidel (best mule deer), Scott Tschetter (best walleye), Andy Miller (best whitetail), Randy Gill (best cutthroat trout); not pictured: Doug Gustafson (best elk) and Eli Gill (best youth antelope)....
The Sundance Winter Festival will be coming back to Main Street after all – a change of plans that prompted a positive reaction from the city council last week. “I can’t tell you how happy that would make me,” commented Mayor Paul Brooks on hearing the news from Tony Barton, who is volunteering as organizer through the Sundance Chamber of Commerce. The rest of the council was equally vocal in support. The council heard during November’s meeting that it would not be possible for the popular festival to take place downtown. The only way to ke...
In anticipation of what promised to be one of the bigger blizzards to hit this region in recent years, the U.S. Forest Service began its road closures a little early this week. Not long after, roads and schools began to close as the winds gusted and the snow steadily fell. For more, see page 5....
Due to an impending winter storm, staff began closing seasonal gates and recreation sites that are not open through the winter on the Black Hills National Forest, Mon., Dec. 12, ahead of the regularly scheduled Dec. 15 date. Gates are closed to provide a seasonal refuge for wildlife, protect road and trail surfaces and other resources, and provide for public safety as some of the roads are converted into part of the snowmobile trail system. Seasonally closed roads and trails are identified on the current Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Black...
The Bureau of Land Management Newcastle Field Office has announced plans to burn slash piles this winter on BLM-administered lands in Crook and Weston counties. Burning may continue as conditions permit through April 2023. In Crook County, BLM will burn approximately 700 acres of slash piles in the Moore Canyon, Proctor, Jackpot, and Goldie Divide project areas. All prescribed burn projects are conducted in accordance with approved burn plans and burning is contingent on fuel moisture and weather meeting appropriate treatment condition on...
When Cindi and Brandon Baudhuin asked for help to create a unique hunting experience for a 13-year-old boy who is battling a form of bone and soft tissue cancer, a group of local outdoorsmen did not hesitate to answer the call. As it turned out, fate was also listening in. Thanks to a series of coincidences, the passionate young hunter was able to take his first lion right here in Crook County. Oconto River Kids The Baudhuins volunteer with Oconto River Kids, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit with...
Wyoming Game & Fish (WGF) has announced that the watercraft check station at Coulter Bay has been closed for the season to allow recreationists to enjoy Keyhole Reservoir for its more winter-based activity: ice fishing. Regulations came into effect a couple of months ago to protect Keyhole Reservoir from the growing threat of invasive zebra mussels, which had been documented at Pactola Reservoir in South Dakota in July. This was considered concerning as it was the first time zebra mussels had...
Last month, Devils Tower staff attended a high-angle rope rescue course. This course was instructed within the monument by "Rigging for Rescue" out of Ouray, CO. The two-week seminar included detailed instruction on high-angle rescue systems and how to use technical equipment for practical use. The first week was fundamentals of rope rescue, followed by self-rescue and small teams response during the second week. Throughout the training, they dedicated many hours to rescue scenarios. These pract...
A pair of turkeys wander the snowy streets as teh holiday season draws near. We wish all our readers a warm, safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving!...
This is the time of year to celebrate old and new traditions with family and friends, like venturing into your favorite national forest to harvest your own Christmas tree. Black Hills National Forest Christmas tree permits are now available for purchase either online at Recreation.gov, from your local Forest Service office or from private vendors throughout the Black Hills. To purchase a permit online, visit Recreation.gov and search for Black Hills National Forest Christmas Tree Permit. It is important to carefully read the overview and...
