Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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U.S. Forest Service officials began closing seasonal gates and recreation sites on Tuesday to prepare for winter recreation across the Black Hills National Forest. According to a press release, 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...
Welcome to the inaugural publication of The Forestry Corner. This monthly column is jointly produced by the Wyoming State Forestry Division and the Wyoming Tree Farm Committee, a landowner advocacy group, associated with the American Forest Foundation. The mission of this periodic column is to provide interesting information about trees and forests, management assistance and to answer important and frequently asked questions. We hope the information provided will stimulate interest and support for science based sustainable forest and tree...
The newly created Crook County Natural Resource Plan officially became policy last week as the county commission passed a motion to approve it. The Natural Resource Management Plan, developed by Y2 Consultants, is intended as a tool for a local government to have an impact on federal decisions, plans, policies and programs. The plan includes an assessment of the county’s resources at the current time and outlines what the county wants to achieve on its public lands. “This has been a long process, started since March, where we’ve been draft...
Sheyanne Fosheim and Jaycee Garman with one of the Crook County Cattlewomen beef promotion signs. If you have seen some of these new signs around Crook County, they are brought to you by the Cattlewomen. Promoting beef is the Cattlewomen’s main objective and the five new big signs that have been placed around on different highways are a great way to do that. The signs were designed by Tracy Bush and paid for the by the Crook County Cattlewomen. Jenn and Lee Jay, W Bar Feeds, donated the posts a...
Black Hills National Forest Christmas tree permits are available to purchase either online at Recreation.gov or from private vendors throughout the Black Hills. Details about where to cut your tree and height restrictions may be found at Recreation.gov. Locally, the permits are available at the Sundance Travel Center. “For many families, venturing into a National Forest to cut their Christmas tree for the holidays is a treasured tradition carried on for generations,” said Scott Jacobson, Public Affairs Officer. To purchase a Christmas tree per...
One of Crook County’s elk hunting areas is the latest to join the list of Wyoming places in which chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed. Wyoming Game & Fish announced last week that the disease was confirmed in Elk Hunt Area 1 via a positive test from a targeted bull elk. Hunt Area 1 is adjacent to Hunt Area 117, where CWD was detected in 2008, and is located in the southeast corner of the county. The fatal disease affects deer, elk and moose and is caused by abnormally folded protein...
As deer season opens next week, Game Warden Chris Teter feels that hunting opportunities are likely to be a mixed bag this year in local hunt areas. Deer Mule deer numbers are good in most of the county, says Teter, and hunters who have access to private land should have luck. The white-tailed deer population has also been productive and remains high. “Doe/fawn license numbers have been kept at a liberal level and there are currently over 2100 leftover licenses available for the hunt areas north of I-90,” he says. “Hunters should note that...
Three whitetail bucks enjoy an early morning graze on a cold Tuesday morning south of Sundance....
This class of 19 students recently completed the Wyoming Game & Fish Department Hunter Education Class in Sundance. This class involves about 17 hours of class instruction, marksmanship, gun handling and the passing of a written test. The class is offered free of charge in Sundance with sponsorship by the Sundance Rod & Gun Club, books and materials by the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept., facilities provided by the Crook Co. Fair Board and time donated by several certified volunteer instructors....
Faith Honey Anderson of Devils Tower was selected to serve on the 2020-2021 Wyoming State 4-H Leadership Team. Team members go through a selection process starting with an application, then four interviews to narrow the candidates and select an eight-member team. The State 4-H Leadership Team represents Wyoming 4-H at all state events, contests and activities. Anderson is starting her ninth year as a 4-H member and a member of the Campbell County 4-H Young Leaders. She has earned membership in...
Devils Tower National Monument hosted 27,550 vehicles or approximately 74,135 recreation visits in September 2020. This is an 18% increase from September 2019, making it the busiest September in Devils Tower history. The nation’s first national monument, located in Crook County, Wyoming, is 1374 acres and was at 70% staffing this summer. So far in 2020, the park has hosted approximately 385,140 recreation visits, down 9.6% from the same period last year. However, the park was closed due to health and safety reasons related to COVID-19 for nearl...
You’re invited to come share a steak, beans, chips, cookies, biscuits, gravy, juice and coffee with the Hulett Roping Club members. It’s the club’s way of saying thank you to everyone for the successful 2020 Hulett Rodeo and show appreciation for all the help by cooking you a steak. Sun., Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hulett Recreation Grounds, they ask that you bring your own table service and come join them. The club’s annual meeting will start at 1:30 p.m. at the arena then they’ll have the queen contest for all unmarried young lad...
Work resumes this week on a project to improve accessibility at Devils Tower. Superintendent Amnesty Kochanowski said, “We want all people to be able to experience the nation’s first national monument. The accessibility project has been in the planning and design phase for nearly a decade. As it comes to fruition in 2020 and 2021, we thank the community and visitors for their patience with construction.” Ground broke in February and work completed in the visitor center area thus far inclu...
A management plan for Crook County’s natural resources is now ready for public scrutiny and the comment period will remain open for the next month, with public meetings planned at the end of September. The plan has been in development since April under the guidance of Y2 Consultants and a six-person steering committee. A Natural Resource Management Plan is intended as a tool for a local government – in this case the Crook County Commissioners – to have an impact on federal decisions, plans, policies and programs. The plan will include an asses...
When WYDOT made the decision to close the rest area in Sundance earlier this year, the consequences for campers and RVs were perhaps unforeseen by most. “We’ve lost the local public dump station,” said Doug Ramsey last week, speaking to the county commissioners on behalf of the Sundance Rod & Gun Club. Whether local or traveling through, RV owners no longer have a place to empty their gray and black water tanks. Not only is this an inconvenience, it’s also a potential health hazard if owners seek alternative sites, such as ponds and creeks....
A Wyoming Game and Fish Department authorized and approved Hunter Education Class is scheduled in Sundance just in time for prospective new hunters to get certified before fall wild turkey and deer season in the Black Hills. Even if you never hunt, the class provides students of all ages valuable information about firearm and archery safety, wildlife management, habitat conservation, outdoor survival, law and regulations, respect and responsibility to wildlife, property owners and hunting companions and much more. Wyoming law requires...
Goats too often get a bad rap. Sure, goats eat the inedible, escape fortified enclosures to ravage gardens, eerily and randomly collapse with syncope, scale trees and terrorize unsuspecting passersby, and embody the devil himself. But is the humble goat’s pernicious reputation justified? Not if you’re on goatherd-weed-control patrol. Carolina and Greg Noya run a truly epic herd of 800 nanny goats in northeastern Wyoming at the foot of Devils Tower (no association with the goat-headed Prince of...
Park staff have observed that three peregrine falcon chicks have fledged from their nest on Devils Tower. The confirmation of chicks leaving the nest means that all rock climbing routes have reopened on the tower. Each year, some climbing routes are temporarily closed during the spring and summer to protect falcon nesting sites and to protect climbers from adult falcons who will defensively dive to protect their young. Protected nesting locations such as Devils Tower have been crucial in the recovery of peregrine falcons. Falcons experienced...
PINEDALE — As gray wolves keep pushing through the edges of Wyoming’s trophy game management area, the federal agency Wildlife Services responds to requests from Wyoming Game and Fish to manage their predations. “Game and Fish manages the trophy game area and handles livestock predations,” said Wildlife Service-Wyoming Manager Mike Foster. “We work for Game and Fish.” A helicopter was seen reportedly carrying one large wolf slung underneath as it flew to the Dell Creek elk winter feedground last week. Foster confirmed that WS made two separat...
Open Painting, Drawing, Sculpting – Amateur: Grand Champion – Kent Hatling; Advanced Amateur: Grand Champion, Best of Show – Viktoriia Peterson, Reserve Champion – Katalina Pfeil; Children 10 and Under: Grand Champion – Bridger Hatling, Reserve Champion – Tanner Hatling; Junior Ages 11 to 18: Reserve Champion – Riley Banker Open Crafts – Adults 19 and over: Best of Show – Katalina Pfeil, Grand Champion – Viktoriia Peterson, Reserve Champion – Viktoriia Peterson; Children 10 and Under: Grand Champion – Tatum Marchant, Reserve Champion – Jude...
Ed and Barb Mignery’s motivation to manage their forest for overall health and sustainability for future generations, increased resilience to wildfire and insect infestations and for the benefit of wildlife, earns them the Wyoming Tree Farmer of the Year award from the American Tree Farm System (ATFS). They are exceptional role models and volunteers to the local natural resource managers, local school students and forested landowners. To experience some of the unique habitat zones on the M...
The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust (WSGLT) has announced that Ogden Driskill will be the recipient of the 2020 Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award. Driskill is being recognized for his exceptional support of agricultural land conservation, private property, and water rights. Driskill was nominated by Wyoming representative Tyler Lindholm, candidate for U.S. Senate Cynthia Lummis and his daughter Andrea Wood. The Bucholz Conservation Award is given in memory of the late Dr. Kurt Bucholz, DVM,...
Grab your rod, choose a bait and head to the water. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently stocked 6000 channel catfish into 19 community fishing ponds statewide. The fish are considered “jumbo-sized” at 13 to 14-inches and make great table fare. The catfish come from the Wyoming Women’s Center in Lusk from their in-house aquaculture program. It is the first time Game and Fish has worked with the Women’s Center aquaculture facility to raise and provide fish for the state, and the collaboration has benefits for anglers. “Game and Fish...
