Winter weather forces changes to Wyoming’s fall hunting seasons

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As winter weather continues to impact wildlife across the West, wildlife managers in Wyoming are adjusting hunting season proposals for big game in the southern, central and western portions of the state. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) presented the proposed changes in public meetings last month, according to a press release.

The changes take into account forage availability, disease prevalence and winter mortality. As GOHUNT has previously reported, winter is hitting wildlife hard this year and states have had to euthanize animals succumbing to starvation and offer supplemental feeding stations to help others survive.

“As we have seen this week, we are still experiencing extreme winter conditions and significant wildlife mortality in many areas of the state,” said Rick King, WGFD chief game warden. “The department may make additional regulation changes for the Commission's considerations up until the time we present them. Our 2023 season proposals will reflect a very conservative approach.”

The new draft regulations will be posted online and presented to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission during the season-setting meeting on April 18. The public can attend this meeting, which will be held online and in-person in Casper.

Initial season proposals were presented during public meetings around the state in March. After considering the ongoing impacts of winter and the overwhelming public concern, wildlife managers modified their recommendations in areas with extreme winter mortality.