NEWS

Game and Fish hosts Phase II feedgrounds meetings for the public

Meetings will be in-person, no online option

6/28/2021 3:19:36 PM

Cheyenne - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is transitioning to Phase II of the public collaborative process on feedground management. Elk Feedgrounds - A challenge we can take on began last fall with shared-learning sessions. This summer, Phase II begins with six public meetings held across the state to outline stakeholder and public involvement. 

“Phase II is designed to have more in-depth engagement with various stakeholder groups on elk feedgrounds management,” said Scott Edberg, Game and Fish deputy chief of wildlife and chair of the elk feedgrounds steering team. “We will provide additional opportunities for shared-learning on issues that were identified by participants as an outcome of Phase I.”

All planned public meetings will begin at 6 p.m. and will be held in-person:

July 27 - Laramie, Laramie Game and Fish Office, 1212 S. Adams St.
July 28 - Rock Springs, Rock Springs Public Library - Ferrero Room, 400 C Street 
July 29 - Casper, Casper Game and Fish Office – Pronghorn Room, 3030 Energy Ln.
Aug. 3 - Afton, Afton Wyoming Civic Center – Room 125 A and B, 150 S. Washington St.
Aug. 4 - Pinedale, Sublette County Weed and Pest, 12 S. Bench Road 
Aug. 5 - Jackson, Jackson Hole Conference Center, 920 West Broadway 

Meetings will be facilitated by Tara Kuipers Consulting, an independent firm based in Cody. 

Phase II will build off the information provided in Phase I. Recordings of the Phase I presentations can be found on the Elk Feedgrounds Public Collaborative webpage as well as a summary report of Phase I.

“We had a great dialogue with the public in Phase I and are excited to build upon that momentum in Phase II,”  Edberg said. “We look forward to the public’s ideas and feedback. The department is interested in multiple perspectives to inform the feedgrounds management plan.” 

Elk have utilized feedgrounds in northwest Wyoming since the early 1900s. Approximately 12,000 elk are supplementally-fed during the winter months on 22 Game and Fish-operated feedgrounds in Teton, Sublette and Lincoln counties. An additional 8,000 elk are fed at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. High concentrations of elk create concern for the transmission of disease to wildlife and cattle. Supplemental feeding is a complicated and often contentious issue with biological, social, economic and political considerations.

Ultimately, the Game and Fish led-process will produce a long-term management plan for elk feedgrounds managed by the department. The draft management plan is tentatively planned to go in front of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for approval in the spring of 2023. 

To learn more and get involved visit the Elk Feedgrounds Public Collaborative webpage.

The State of Wyoming supports the Americans with Disabilities Act. Anyone needing auxiliary aids should contact the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at 307-249-5811. Every effort will be made for reasonable accommodations. 

 

(Mark Gocke, Public Information Specialist - 307-249-5811)

- WGFD -

  • meetings
  • information


WYDOT receives $24.3 million federal grant for Kemmerer wildlife crossing project

Funding will be used for an overpass, several underpasses and fencing along a 30-mile stretch of US 189 south of Kemmerer

Continue reading...






Checking your CWD test results is easy

Hunters who had tissue samples from their deer, elk or moose collected for chronic wasting disease testing can check the results on the Game and Fish website

Continue reading...




Wyoming teen recognized as one of the state’s youngest Ultimate Anglers

Lander angler is the third 15-year old to accomplish this feat

Continue reading...








Keep your mule deer wild

Wildlife managers remind residents to resist the urge to feed backyard deer this winter

Continue reading...




2024 Wyoming Wildlife calendar now available

Marvel at the charismatic animals of Wyoming with the magazine's annual calendar issue calendar

Continue reading...






Email Newsletter

Email Newsletter Sign Up

Stay up to date on all Wyoming Game and Fish news either by email or text message. Click the link below to get started.

Sign Up Today

SHOP WYOMING GAME & FISH STORE   SHOP NOW!

Conserving Wildlife - Serving People