Bill would allow baiting of deer, other big game

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is pushing to allow baiting of big game animals to allow hunters to lure deer herds away from towns. The Legislature's Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee is sponsoring a bill in the legislative session that starts next month. It would allow the state Game Commission authority to bait deer into places where they could be killed safely. Sen. Bruce Burns, R-Sheridan, is co-chairman of the legislative committee. He says towns in the region would take advantage of the new law to allow hunters to thin out the herds of whitetail deer. Scott Edberg of the game and fish department says whitetail deer are increasingly becoming a problem in Sheridan and Johnson counties.