The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has announced that it will host in-person meetings to discuss feed ground management. Last fall the “Elk Feedgrounds – A challenge we can take on” program began. Phase I of this program was a series of shared-learning sessions. Now it’s time to start Phase II of the program. Phase II begins with six public meetings that will be held across the state. During the course of these meetings, the Department will outline public and stakeholder involvement.
In-Person Meetings on Feed Grounds
The meetings will be run by Tara Kuipers Consulting, an independent firm based in Cody. These Phase II meetings will build off the information gathered in Phase I. All of the planned meetings will start at 6 p.m., attendees will need to make the meetings in person, there will be no online options. Below we will list the dates and where each meeting is taking place.
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
During the last several years elk feed grounds have become a hot-button topic in wildlife management. We at ehuntr have covered a number of stories regarding feed grounds. The concentrations of elk that use the feed grounds have caused concerns of transmission of disease. Likewise, the feeding of wild animals has created social, economic, and political considerations.
“Phase II is designed to have more in-depth engagement with various stakeholder groups on elk feed grounds management. We will provide additional opportunities for shared-learning on issues that were identified by participants as an outcome of Phase I.”-Scott Edberg, Game and Fish deputy chief of wildlife and chair of the elk feed grounds steering team.
In the long term, the Dept. hopes that this new process will create a better-managed plan for years to come. It is expected a completed plan will go in front of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission in the spring of 2023.
