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The delayed opening will help minimize stress and protect big game animals
4/25/2023 3:49:15 PM
Cheyenne - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has announced an emergency extended closure of the shed antler and horn hunting regulation to protect big game on winter ranges. The emergency regulation extends the current closure until 6 a.m. May 15 on designated lands, excluding Teton County. “Big game animals have experienced a tough winter and are highly vulnerable to human-caused disturbances, such as being moved around by people on the landscape gathering antlers,” said Rick King, Game and Fish chief of wildlife. “The unnecessary use of energy and undue stress can increase mortality. Postponing the shed antler collection in some areas of the state will help minimize stress, protect big game and increase their chance of survival.” A map of the affected land is online and the boundaries are detailed within the emergency regulation. Anyone found violating the closures or illegally gathering antlers may be cited. Teton County is not included in the closure extension. The primary species affected by the harsh winter in western Wyoming are pronghorn and mule deer and there are relatively few pronghorn and mule deer that winter in Teton County. Also, the large influx of antler hunters who come to Teton County to collect antlers on U.S. Forest Service lands adjacent to the National Elk Refuge requires a coordinated interagency effort to manage. After a meeting of all the partner agencies, it was decided to move forward with the standard opening at 6 a.m. on May 1 for Teton County. Some Game and Fish Commission-owned wildlife habitat management areas in the western and southern portions of the state will also remain closed to human presence. The opening of the following wildlife habitat management areas will be postponed until 6 a.m. May 15:
(Breanna Ball, Public Information Officer - (breanna.ball1@wyo.gov))
- WGFD -
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