Comment period opens on Wyoming grizzly hunts
A draft regulation outlining draft plans for a grizzly bear hunting season is now out for public comment.
The measure adds to an existing regulation that was passed in 2017 to establish grizzly bear management regulations. The comment period will include a number of public meetings across the state. A final recommendation will go to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission at a public hearing scheduled May 23 in Lander.
In addition to hunting, the proposed management plan includes research, education, population monitoring and conflict management.
“We believe this proposal reflects the public support for using hunting as a component of grizzly bear management and has many provisions that will recognize this opportunity and keep the grizzly bear population recovered for generations to come,” said Brian Nesvik, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s wildlife division chief and chief game warden. He added that management for the other three large carnivores in Wyoming (mountain lions, gray wolves and black bears) contains an element of hunting.
The draft quota inside the demographic monitoring area, which is the area experts deemed as suitable habitat, is 12 bears with a very conservative 2 bear female sub-quota. Allowable mortality limits are developed using a pre-set formula outlined in a cooperative agreement between the states of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming.
The regulation also outlines a closed area next to Grand Teton National Park to support a wildlife viewing area in support of the state’s tourism economy.
Public comment meetings have been set at these times and locations.
Date Time City/Town Location
March 22, 2018 6:00 PM Casper Game and Fish Office
March 27, 2018 6:00 PM Dubois Headwaters Arts & Conference Center
April 2, 2018 7:00 PM Sheridan Game and Fish Office
April 2, 2018 6:00 PM Laramie UW Berry Biodiversity Conservation Center
April 3, 2018 6:00 PM Green River Game and Fish Office
April 10, 2018 6:00 PM Cody Holiday Inn
April 12, 2018 6:00 PM Pinedale Game and Fish Office
April 17, 2018 6:00 PM Jackson National Museum of Wildlife Art
Written comments may be sent to:
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Wildlife Division
Attn: Regulations
3030 Energy Lane
Casper WY 82604
