Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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Six years since launch and the Sundance Winter Festival continues to draw crowds of spectators from far and near, while an ever-increasing list of eager participants drag skis and tack to wait at the start of the skijoring course. Throughout Saturday’s event, the sidewalks were abuzz with the cheers of the crowds. The festival’s usual luck returned as the skies turned blue and the temperature was positively balmy. Revelers enjoyed good food while sipping on hot drinks and cold beer, as the rac...
The Brand Recording Unit recently completed address verification on all livestock brand records. As a result, there were some addresses on file that may not be the most up to date. You may receive an address verification letter in the mail asking you to verify your current mailing address. If you receive one of these notices, please review the information and make any necessary address changes and list all brands that need to be changed. Only the brand owner can authorize the change. Return the updated information to Wyoming Livestock Board,...
What’s different about the Black Hills? That’s a question wildlife biologists don’t yet have an answer to, but it could prove significant in the fight against Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). “The Black Hills is really unique,” says Hank Edwards, Wildlife Health Laboratory Supervisor for Wyoming Game & Fish. CWD was identified here in the early 2000s, but then “nothing happened.” In other parts of Wyoming, cases of CWD began to increase pretty dramatically after it had been identified; r...
Several trainings to obtain or renew private pesticide applicator licenses are being offered across northeast Wyoming in February and March by the University of Wyoming Extension. The four-hour training includes integrated pest management, how to properly read and understand the label, types and use of personal protective equipment and federal reporting requirements, said Jeff Edwards, extension pesticide training coordinator. The training will also count for four hours of continuing education credits (CEUs) for commercial pesticide applicator...
Site Name Elevation (ft) Current Snow Depth (in) Current SWE 30-yr Median (1981-2010) SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30 Year Median SWE (%) Bear Lodge Divide 4680 4.8 1.1 1.5 2.3 73 Blind Park (S) 6870 30.0 5.2 4.6 5.2 113 Cole Canyon (S) 5870 2.3 3.0 3.2 5.0 94 Ditch Creek 6880 22.1 3.9 2.2 3.6 177 Little Bear Run 6240 16.0 3.0 2.6 3.5 115 Mallo 6420 25.6 5.8 4.6 5.6 126 Mount Tom 5560 19.1 3.8 2.9 3.8 131 North Rapid Creek (S) 6250 25.0 4.6 4.3 4.8 107 Reuter Canyon 6280 25.7 6.8 5.4 8.1 126 Upper Spearfish 6500 27.8 6.5 3.4 6.2 1...
Q: “Do I need a license to trap or shoot a badger?” A: American badgers are classified as furbearing animals in the State of Wyoming, so a valid furbearing animal hunting or trapping license is required to take badgers. Animals classified as furbearers in Wyoming are: badgers, beavers, bobcats, marten, mink, muskrat and weasels. Each furbearing animal species has specific season dates, limitations and other regulatory requirements for legal take. Read about taking furbearers in the Furbearing Animal Hunting or Trapping Seasons brochure or tal...
Q: “When does my Wyoming conservation stamp expire?” A: The Wyoming conservation stamp is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. If you buy a stamp before your previous one expires, the stamp is valid 12 months from the previous conservation stamp expiration date. Other 12-month licenses include: fishing, game bird, small game and furbearer/trapping licenses. The 12-month license is a change from previous years when many stamps and licenses expired annually on Dec. 31. With a 12-month license, you get a whole year to enjoy rec...
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is congratulating six employees on their years of service to the State of Wyoming. The following employees celebrated work anniversaries in December: • Biff Burton, Saratoga Game Warden - 40 years • Chris Teter - Sundance Game Warden - 30 years • Robb Keith, Green River Fisheries Supervisor - 25 years • Nichole Bjornlie, Nongame Mammal Biologist, Lander - 5 years • Troy Laughlin, Green River Fisheries Biologist - 5 years • Jordan Winter, Cody Regional Access Coordinator - 5 years...
It was a record year for one of the most sought-after achievements for anglers in Wyoming. A total of 144 anglers completed the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Cutt-Slam in 2019. Established in 1996, the Cutt-Slam challenges anglers to catch the state’s four subspecies of cutthroat trout — Bonneville, Colorado River, Snake River and Yellowstone — in their respective native ranges. That number broke the previous record of 142 set in 2013. This year marked the seventh that more than 100 anglers earned the recognition. “As the popularity of the...
Grace Moore photo Keyhole State Park Superintendent Wade Henderson reports ice between four and eight inches thick throughout the reservoir with pressure fissures noted around Coulter Bay, Pat’s Point and Wind Creek among other areas warning of weak ice and open water. He also notes that, for reasons best known to the fish, they are not biting yet this winter. For those who are planning to set up and try their hand, Henderson advises practicing extreme caution if they drive vehicles (...
Photos from last week's Sundance Rod and Gun Club horn night....
Q: “What are the changes for nonresident elk and all bison applications?” A: Beginning for the 2020 application season, nonresident elk hunters and anyone who is interested in bison hunting should note two major deadline changes meant to give applicants more information before the draw. The nonresident elk application deadline still opens Jan. 2 — the first business day of the New Year — and closes Jan. 31. However, nonresident elk applicants will have until May 8 to modify or withdraw their applications. Draw results will post the third w...
Cook Lake is once again open for recreation, but the dam project is not quite finished yet. Delays due to weather mean that the site will likely close again in the spring to wrap up construction, says District Ranger Mike Gosse. “The Cook Lake project is done for this year, but not completely finished yet. The wintery weather we had in October caused delays in getting the project 100 percent finished,” he says. “The Bureau of Reclamation crew did a great job in working through some tough condi...
A 73-year-old hunter from Riverton got turned around in what he’d thought was a familiar part of Boundary Gulch last week. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Crook County Sheriff’s Office and Crook County Volunteer Search & Rescue, he was rescued and brought to safety. When the hunter was finally located on November 19, he had managed to travel five miles from his starting point through treacherous terrain. The hunter knew the area, having been to Crook County a number of times before. It...
It wasn’t until 1955 when hunters could harvest the historic wild turkey in Wyoming. Hunters’ interest has continued to gain momentum since. With both fall and spring seasons to chase gobblers, hunters’ stealthy pursuits provide excellent food for their families and mementos of feathers, beards and spurs to commemorate the hunt long after. It all started in 1935, when the Wyoming Game and Fish Department swapped sage grouse with New Mexico for 15 Merriam’s turkeys – nine hens and six toms. The imports were released on the George Waln Ranch on...
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is encouraging anyone who finds or harvests an animal with a radio collar or transmitter to return that collar as soon as possible to any Game and Fish office or employee. “Many animals from deer to moose are fitted with collars that collect data, which are important to wildlife research,” said Tim Woolley, statewide wildlife and habitat management supervisor. “You can still harvest an animal that is wearing a collar. We just need the collars returned so we can use them again and know the animal we were...
The interim report from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s chronic wasting disease (CWD) working group is now available to the public. The report represents a consensus of recommendations from the 31 Wyoming citizens charged with examining CWD management in the state. The report comes after three work sessions that included information and presentations on CWD from experts, in-depth discussions amongst working group members, five public meetings and input collected online from the public. It includes nine recommendations and 43 sub-recommen...
Q: “I understand the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is no longer printing paper conservation stamps next year. What do I need to know about this change?” A: Yes, beginning in January of 2020, the Game and Fish is no longer printing a paper version of the conservation stamp. The 2020 printed stamp will be known as the “Collectible Conservation Stamp.” This collectible stamp will have no legal authority for hunting and fishing licensing requirements. However, Game and Fish still requires a conservation stamp for anyone in the field, per lic...
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department needs help from hunters this fall to collect lymph node samples from deer and elk for chronic wasting disease (CWD) testing in targeted areas across Wyoming. Hunters are a very important component in helping Game and Fish understand the disease and achieve CWD monitoring goals. Game and Fish is targeting deer hunt areas 17, 18, 23, 26, 34, 61, 74-77, 88, 89, 105, 106, 109, 121-123, 132, 133, 157, 168 and 171. Elk focus hunt areas include 8-12, 88-91, 97, 98, 110, 114 and 125. “We are asking hunters in t...
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to recognize youth who have made significant contributions to the outdoors. The department is accepting nominations for its newly-created Wyoming Youth Conservationist of the Year. The award honors a Wyoming resident 18 years or younger who has demonstrated leadership and accomplishment in any aspect of conservation, either individually or as part of a group. “Wyoming youth are making fantastic contributions to our state’s outdoors and wildlife in many ways,” said Brian Nesvik, Game and Fish direc...
This class of 20 students recently completed the Wyoming Game & Fish Department Hunter Education Class held 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...
JACKSON — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will eliminate the legally embattled Alkali Creek elk feedground in coming years as the threat of chronic wasting disease looms. The Bridger-Teton National Forest feedground, the lowest elevation of three in the Gros Ventre River valley, had been studied and then authorized for long-term use in 2015. But four environmental groups hit the forest with a lawsuit, winning in 2018. Rather than appealing or spending years studying the feedground’s impacts to address the judge’s concerns, the Forest Servi...
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is offering its game warden exam online for individuals interested in applying to be a game warden in Wyoming. The deadline to apply for the exam is Dec. 2, 2019. To qualify for the exam, applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree, or receive their degree by April 1, 2020, in wildlife management, range management, biology, zoology, ichthyology or other closely related field. Applicants who pass the exam and other minimum qualifications may be offered an online interview. Selected candidates from the o...
Q: “How can I tell the difference between a gray wolf and a coyote?” A: Gray wolves and coyotes are the largest of the five canid (dog-like) species found in Wyoming and are easily distinguishable in most circumstances. Here are some of the key differences that can help you figure out which you saw: • Habitat: Gray wolves primarily inhabit forested mountain regions in northwest Wyoming whereas coyotes can be found in all habitats throughout the state. • Size: Wyoming gray wolves weigh around...
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will be closing the 2019 watercraft registrations and preparing for the 2020 season during the month of October. Watercraft registrations will resume again Nov. 1 at Game and Fish offices and online, with one-year registrations valid through 2020 and three-year registration valid through 2022. Boaters will still be able to purchase 2019 aquatic invasive species stickers during October if needed. Boat registration fees are: • One year registration: $30 • Three year registration: $80 • One year regis...
