Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Wildlife managers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are seeking the public’s opinions and ideas for managing two elk herds in southwest Wyoming, the Sierra Madre and Petition Elk Herds. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department periodically reviews wildlife herd objectives to determine if they are appropriate. The Sierra Madre Elk Herd is comprised of elk hunt areas 13, 15, 21, 108, and 131. The Petition Elk Herd includes hunt area 124.These hunt areas are located primarily between Rawlins, Baggs, and Encampment. Baggs Wildlife Biologist Tony Mong said the review period was extended to this year so more information could be collected.
“We started the elk objective review in April of 2012 when we looked at the Sierra
Madre Elk Herd,” Mong said. “It was then that we made the decision to extend the review to 2013 to allow for additional data collection, which includes hunter and landowner surveys, radio telemetry location data, and a new method of population estimation occurring in late February. Because of this extended review we will hold meetings to give people an opportunity to take a look at the new information and give comments/opinions on the Sierra Madre Elk Herd. In addition, we will be discussing the Petition Elk Herd population objective.” The Meeting dates, times and locations are : Monday, January 28, Saratoga, 6:00 pm, Saratoga Town Hall (will also be discussing Snowy Range Elk and Moose) Tuesday, January 29, Laramie, 6:00 pm, Fire Hall #3 in West Laramie (will also be discussing Tuesday, February 5, Baggs, 6:30 pm, Snake River Community Center Wednesday, February 6, Rawlins, 6:30 pm, Jeffrey Center