CHEYENNE - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking all moose hunters in areas 1, 34, 38, 42 and 43 - the Snowy Range and Bighorn Mountains - to have their animal tested for chronic wasting disease.

The request stems from a hunter-harvested moose in northern Colorado testing positive for CWD this week. This was the first time a wild moose has tested positive for the disease, although moose have been infected with CWD in laboratory experiments. With this development, the Game and Fish wants to check all moose from areas where deer or elk have tested positive for CWD in Wyoming in the past.

Hunters in these areas can bring their moose to one of the Game and Fish Departments CWD check stations, Game and Fish offices in Cody, Sheridan or Laramie or the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory in Laramie.

Although moose are members of the deer family, veterinarians believe moose are much less susceptible to CWD because they are less likely to congregate in groups or herds than deer and elk.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that has been diagnosed in wild deer and elk in 10 states and two Canadian provinces. Animals show no apparent signs of illness throughout much of disease course. In terminal stages of CWD, animals typically are emaciated and display abnormal behavior.

There is no confirmed link between CWD and any human illness.

Moose hunters with questions about the testing should contact Game and Fish veterinarian Cynthia Tate at (307) 742-6681 ext 171.
(contact: Cynthia Tate (307) 742-6681 ext 171)

CODY – Grizzly bears are blessed with a good crop of whitebark pine cones – their favored pre-hibernation food – this fall, but suffered seven human-caused mortalities and moderately lower cub production in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this year, reports the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team.

                Although hunter/grizzly bear conflicts are usually lower in years of good whitebark pine cone production, Mark Haroldson, biologist for the study team, cautions hunters to still be vigilant in grizzly country. “Hunters and other outdoor recreationists should be aware that bears will be searching for whitebark pine seeds in mid- to high-elevation conifer stands,” he said.

                He encourages hunters to keep an eye out for grizzly sign, including scat and tracks, and to pack their big game carcasses out as soon as possible. If game must be left, the meat should be moved away from the gut pile and hung in a tree at least 10 feet high and 4 feet from the trunk.

                “Please be courteous; don’t create a problem for the next user by leaving unburned garbage in fire rings or horse feed on the ground,” Haroldson said. “Bears will find these leavings and may become conditioned to the site.”

                Surveys conducted by the study team revealed whitebark pine trees were averaging 17 cones per tree in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

                Haroldson reported the seven human-caused mortalities were all male bears. Four were management removals, two road kills and one accidental mortality involving an orphaned cub.

                Preliminary observations this year indicate at least 30 females or sows with cubs born this year, which is somewhat lower that usual. Haroldson believes with high counts of females with cubs in 2003-04, fewer females were available for breeding this year. Poor whitebark pine cone production last year may also have contributed to reduced cub production this year.

                Literature about safely recreating in grizzly bear country is available at wildlife and forest service offices in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

 (contact: Dennie Hammer (307) 527-7125)

LARAMIE – Thanks to a cooperative agreement among private landowners, the Wyoming State Land Board and the Game and Fish Department, a walk-in area has been established providing hunting access to Battle Mountain in the southwest corner of the Sierra Madres east of Baggs.

           Bart Morris, the Game and Fish regional access coordinator for southern Wyoming, says the new 620-acre walk-in area is not listed in the 2005 atlas because it was just recently established.

The area provides foot and horseback access to hunt all legal species in the area, including elk and deer. All rules for the area are posted in the parking area along Wyoming Highway 70 and include:

         -- Access is restricted to foot and horseback traffic only.

-- Access is limited to individual hunters only and does not include access for any commercial activity, including outfitting for hunters.
 

 -- Do not hunt on adjoining private lands not enrolled in the Walk-in Area Program

-- Do not litter. Please pack your trash out.

-- Only landowners owning the private lands within the walk-in area may allow other activities, such as trapping, antler hunting, photography, etc.

-- Please deposit landowner coupons for big game animals harvested on deeded land in the drop boxes provided.

-- Please obey all Game and Fish laws and regulations. Report any violations to the Stop Poaching Hotline at (800) 442-4331.

“The Battle Mountain Walk-in Area is a combination of Wyoming State Lands and private lands owned by Salisbury Livestock Co., Todd Kaisler and C Lazy J Ranch,” Morris said. “These private landowners and the State Land Board have entered into walk-in area agreements with the Game and Fish to allow hunting by foot and horseback on the lands. “

           He adds a developed parking lot is planned for the area in 2006.

(contact: Bart Morris (307) 745-5180 or Lucy Wold (307) 875-3223)

CHEYENNE – The computer drawings for the Springer and Glendo special pheasant hunts were held Sept. 29 and some openings are still available for each hunt.

                Openings are available Oct. 22 (47) and Oct. 30 (68) to the first youth to report those days to the Springer check station south of Yoder.

                The Wyoming Game and Fish commission defines “youth” as a pheasant hunter who did not turn 18 by Oct. 1, 2005.  Adults are encouraged to accompany all youth hunters and are required to be with kids under 14.

                Openings for hunters of all ages are available Oct. 20 (7), Oct. 25 (14), Oct. 26 (17), Nov. 2 (9) and Nov. 3 (9).

                On the other days of the Springer hunt “stand by” hunters of all ages are permitted on the area as other hunters check out. No more than 110 hunters are allowed on the area at a time.

                The following permits are available at the Glendo Special Pheasant Hunt for all ages of hunters: Nov. 28 (11) and Dec. 5 (40).

                Since there is no check station for the Glendo hunt, the permits are available as processed through the G&F’s Cheyenne office. Hunters who did not draw another day of the Glendo hunt should mail or deliver another application at least 10 days prior to the hunting date.  Applications are available at license agents or G&F offices.

                Hunters are reminded the $10.50 pheasant special management permit is required for the hunts and a state park permit is required for Glendo locations other than the County Line area.

(contact: Jeff Obrecht)

Sept. 30 – Deadline for written comments on regulations governing private fish hatcheries, fishing preserves and private fish stocking.

Oct. 1 – Duck and goose season opens in Central Flyway of Wyoming

Oct. 3 – Sage grouse season closes.

Oct. 10 – G&F Commission Conference Call Meeting, 8 a.m., contact Connie Coleman at (307) 777-4501 for more information.

Oct. 11 – Bates Hole/Shirley Basin Sage Grouse Working Group Meeting, Casper G&F Office, 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 14 – Comment deadline on late migratory game bird regulations.

Oct. 20 –Nov. 4 – Springer Special Pheasant Hunt.

Oct. 24 -- Big Horn Basin Sage Grouse Working Group, Worland BLM Office, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Nov. 10 -- Deadline for written comments on proposed chronic wasting disease plan.