Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

CODY — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will conduct six open-house meetings throughout the Big Horn Basin and one final meeting in Worland to discuss 2016 hunting season proposals for game birds and big game.

During the open houses, Game and Fish personnel will be available to discuss the proposed 2016 hunting seasons for local hunt areas. A formal meeting, during which statewide seasons may be discussed, will be held from 6-8 p.m. March 21 at the Washakie County Fairgrounds in Worland.  In addition to hunting season proposals, herd unit population objectives for the Beartooth Mountain Goat herd, (hunt areas 1 and 3), Badger Basin and Bighorn Antelope herd (hunt areas 79 and 80), Medicine Lodge Elk herd (hunt areas 41 and 45) and Shoshone River Deer herd (hunt areas 121, 122 and 123) will be discussed.

Wildlife Management Coordinator Tim Woolley said that public input is valued and an important part of the season setting process. “We encourage the public to take this opportunity to participate in wildlife management by attending a local meeting,” Woolley said. “To accommodate those who can’t attend a meeting in-person, online commenting forms and other related information will be posted under the public meetings tab at wgfd.wyo.gov.”

Meetings, all from 6-8 p.m., are scheduled for March 10, Park County Fairgrounds in Powell; March 14, Big Horn Federal Bank in Cody; March 15, Greybull Town Hall; March 15, Meeteetse Senior Center; March 16, Big Horn Federal Bank in Thermopolis and March 17 Lovell Fire Hall.

Written comments may be submitted at the meetings, online, or by mail to: Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Attn: Regulations 3030 Energy Lane, Casper, WY 82604. Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, March 25.

The State of Wyoming supports the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Every effort will be made for reasonable accommodations by contacting the nearest Game and Fish office.