Wyoming Game & Fish Announcements
Lethal Take Permit Issued for Escaped Game Farm Elk
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department issued a lethal take permit for the removal of elk/red deer hybrids that recently escaped from an Idaho game farm in early September. The lethal removal of these animals will address potential disease and hybridization concerns within Wyoming’s wild elk populations.
Department employees intend to kill any suspected escaped animals. Any hunter harvesting an elk with any type of ear tag is encouraged to report the harvest to the nearest Game and Fish employee. The public should report any sightings of elk with silver ear tags by calling the Jackson Regional Office, (800) 423-4113 or the Stop Poaching Hotline at (800) 442-4331.
The department will continue to monitor this situation and will remove any suspected elk from winter ranges during the coming months.
Wyoming Game & Fish Stop Poaching Program
The “STOP POACHING” program is a joint effort between the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Wyoming Wildlife Protectors Association. The program is an opportunity for you to help protect you wildlife resource. It pays cash rewards to those who report poachers. A toll-free telephone number is provided and callers are not required to reveal their names, testify in court or sign a deposition.
Rewards are paid when an arrest is made or a citation is issued. A minimum reward of $300 is paid for information on a big game or endangered species case. No less than $100 is paid for information used in small game and fish investigations. Up to a $5,000 reward may be offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those violating W.S. 23-3-102(d).
The toll-free "STOP POACHING" telephone number is 1-800-442-4331. Out of state tips are encouraged by calling (307) 777-4330.
Since the program began in 1980, more than 5,000 “workable” calls have been received. Between 20 and 25 percent of the calls have led to arrests. More than $130,000 in rewards have been paid, with more than 1,000 cases being successfully closed. During 2000, an all time high of 533 poaching reports were taken on the "STOP POACHING" hotline.
New Game and Fish Rule creates Preference Point Only Application Period
A new Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Rule, outlined in Chapter 44, established a new preference point only application period on September 8, 2006
Hunters wishing to apply for only a preference point, but no big game licenses in a given season, must now do so between July 1 and Sept. 30.
“Because of the new preference point system, we received an increased volume of new applications to process during the 2006 big game application period,” says Jean Cole, Game and Fish license manager. “The preference point only application period will cut down on the number of applications we handle during the critical time of the big game application period.”
Because the rule takes effect immediately, hunters who have not yet applied for or received a preference point in 2006 can still apply for their point through Sept. 30, 2006, including nonresident deer, antelope, elk, moose and bighorn sheep and resident moose and sheep. Preference point applications are available on the Game and Fish Web site at http://gf.state.wy.us. Contact: Teresa Cole for further information
