In the Press Release 11/16/09 issue:

POACHER TO PAY $30,030, LOSE HUNTING AND TRAPPING PRIVILEGE FOR 10 YEARS
WILDLIFE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WYOMING SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR HABITAT PROJECTS
GAME AND FISH EXPANDS ELECTROFISHING ON GREEN RIVER
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE FOUND IN ELK AREA 35 NEAR BUFFALO
G&F Calendar
ASK THE GAME & FISH

POACHER TO PAY $30,030, LOSE HUNTING AND TRAPPING PRIVILEGE FOR 10 YEARS

CASPER - Casper resident Timothy J. Alme was ordered to pay $30,030 and has lost his privilege to hunt or be in the field with anyone hunting for the next 10 years after poaching two mule deer near Lusk.

On Nov. 23, 2008, Game Warden Shawn Blajszczak received a phone call from Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Andy Jackson concerning a possible poaching case.  Trooper Jackson and fellow officer Karl Southam were investigating a traffic accident involving a guard rail and a pickup truck on Highway 89 near Alpine. They discovered that the bed of the pickup truck, a white 2008 Dodge, had a lot of blood and deer hair in it. The truck was left abandoned along the highway, and a check of the license plate revealed it was registered to Timothy J. Alme of Casper.

                A consented search of Alme's residence revealed deer meat in the freezer, several sets of deer antlers and pronghorn horns in the garage and a number of deer and pronghorn carcasses in a draw on the property. Four of the deer carcasses - three mule deer and a white-tailed deer - were fresh kills and had the skull caps and antlers removed. Blajszczak determined two of the mule deer appeared to have been killed within the past week, while the other mule deer and the white-tailed deer were killed a few weeks earlier. Blajszczak and game warden Aaron Kerr collected the four carcasses and antlers that matched them as evidence. They also collected other biological evidence from the property. While executing a search warrant in Jackson, game wardens collected additional evidence from the 2008 Dodge pickup. All evidence was sent to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Laboratory for DNA analysis and genotyping.

                During an interview with Alme and his attorney, Alme confessed to poaching two mule deer along Highway 270 in Niobrara County on Nov. 14, 2008. There was no open season for mule deer in this area during that time and Alme had no license for either of the animals he shot. Alme said he was alone at the time and confessed to shooting the deer from the cab of his 2008 Dodge while stopped along the highway.

                Alme said he loaded the deer into his truck and later field dressed them at home. He said he then butchered the animals and put the meat in the freezer in his garage. Alme said all the other carcasses found in the draw on his property were legally taken and explained each kill to the wardens. Various other interviews were conducted, and other evidence was also collected.  During the investigation Blajszczak learned that one of the buck mule deer and the whitetail deer were legally harvested. 

                Alme was charged with the illegal killing of antlered big game animals without a license and during a closed season. He was also charged with shooting a big game animal from a vehicle and for hunting, shooting and killing wildlife from a highway. Alme was also issued numerous warnings for various wildlife violations as part of the plea agreement. 

In Niobrara County Court he was sentenced to two years suspended jail time, $22,000 in fines, $8,000 in restitution and $30 in court costs. He also forfeited the.270 caliber Winchester rifle, which he used to poach the two mule deer. In addition, Alme lost all trapping and hunting privileges for 10 years and cannot accompany any individual on any hunting venture during that time.  The Game and Fish Department thanks Niobrara County Court and County Attorney Ed Buchanan for their assistance with the case.

                Anyone witnessing a wildlife violation should call the Stop Poaching hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP. Tips are most helpful with specific information such as the date, time, location and specific details about the suspected violation. Also include a physical description of the suspected violator as well as a license plate number and description of any vehicles involved in the incident. Stop Poaching tips can also be reported on the department's web site at: http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/enforcement/stoppoaching/submitTip.aspx. Tips may result in a reward and informants can chose to remain anonymous.
(Contact: Robin Kepple (307) 473-3400)

-WGFD-

WILDLIFE HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF WYOMING SEEKS APPLICATIONS FOR HABITAT PROJECTS

CHEYENNE - The Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming, on behalf of the Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition (WGBGLC), is accepting applications for projects to be funded by the sales of Gov. Dave Freudenthal's 2010 complimentary big game hunting licenses.

By statute, the Governor can receive up to 20 complimentary big game licenses (5 bighorn sheep, 5 moose, and 10 elk/deer/antelope) each year. Since 2003, Gov. Freudenthal has selected the Wildlife Heritage Foundation to administer the sales of his complimentary licenses through the WGBGLC to fund projects in Wyoming.

According to  Craig Showalter, President and CEO for the Wildlife Heritage Foundation, proceeds from the sales of the licenses are put to work for wildlife through an efficient and controlled process, one that is accountable to both hunting and conservation communities.

"While sales of the Governor's licenses may occur at banquets held out-of-state, 90 percent of the proceeds raised from those sales are returned directly to Wyoming to benefit Wyoming's wildlife," Showalter said.  "And, in addition to helping raise funds, which benefit Wyoming's wildlife, those out-of-state sellers typically invest some of their proceeds back into our wildlife resource."

To date, the WGBGLC has raised approximately $2.7 million, of which $2.2 million has been dedicated to projects on the ground.   The WGBGLC Project Proposal Form and a list of past projects can be found at http://whfw.org/governor.asp 

In April 2010, the Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition will meet in Casper to select projects for 2010. Project requests can range from preserving big game migration corridors, enhancing habitats for spawning cutthroat trout, educating the public about wildlife conservation, conservation easements and permanent land management, helping collect much-needed wildlife data, and other types of projects.

Showalter said interested organizations are encouraged to apply, and the general public may also apply, if they feel they have a worthwhile project.  Applicants are reminded that no project proposals will be accepted on the old forms.  Also, proposals must be submitted in one complete package (to include maps, budget, photos, etc.) all in one attachment.  Project proposal requests for 2010 must be submitted electronically on the proper application form (revised 9-09) no later than Feb. 1, 2010 to Kevin.Hurley@wgf.state.wy.us and Melodee.Marienthal@wgf.state.wy.us

For further information, contact Melodee Marienthal at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming at (307) 777-4529.
 (Contact: Melodee Marienthal (307) 777-4529)

-WGFD-

GAME AND FISH EXPANDS ELECTROFISHING ON GREEN RIVER

PINEDALE - Fish biologists with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Pinedale recently completed this year's fish sampling on the Green River, obtaining important information on fish population trends for more than 130 stream miles from Green River lakes to Fontenelle Reservoir. 

                      Historically, fish biologists have sampled several different sections of the popular fishery between Green River Lakes and LaBarge to get a picture of the fish population and compare it to data from previous years.  This year however, biologists were able to collect data on two new sections, adding to an extensive data set that goes back to the early 1950s. 

                      "Several sections of the river have been studied for years," says Darren Rhea, Pinedale Fisheries Biologist with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  "However, other sections have received relatively little attention."  Of particular interest this year were the extreme upper section below Green River Lake and the lower section just above Fontenelle Reservoir.  Both reaches are annually stocked with trout and attract large numbers of anglers, but information on these fish populations has been lacking. 

                      This year's survey work conducted near the town of LaBarge yielded a population estimate of roughly 150 trout per mile.  Of the fish captured, nearly one-third were adult cutthroat trout, likely the result of Wyoming Game and Fish stocking efforts in the river.  "I was excited to see a relatively large number of adult cutthroat," says Rhea, "indicating that our stocking efforts are contributing to diversity and increased opportunities across several miles of the river."

                      The section below Green River Lake yielded slightly fewer fish, but indicated a greater contribution of wild reproduced fish than previously thought.  "Our management practices for this section of the river historically relied on a large number of hatchery fish," says Rhea. "Thanks to our sampling efforts, we will be better able to adjust our stocking rate to conform with natural reproduction and angling pressure."  

                      At times, anglers have expressed concern over the use of electrofishing and what effect it might have on the fish population. However, Rhea assures anglers that electrofishing is generally harmless and has little to no effect on the Green River fishery.

                Electrofishing is a common scientific survey method that has been used by fish biologists throughout the country for many years, and requires USFWS certification to be used in Wyoming.  Boats, equipped with generators and electrodes that dip into the water, slowly float downstream producing an electrical current that temporarily immobilizes the fish causing them to float to the surface.  This allows fish biologists to catch them with a dip-net and drop them into a live well on the boat.  Within minutes, the fish recover and are back to normal. 

"Electrofishing is generally harmless to trout, which are captured and removed from the electric field immediately" says Rhea.  "Unfortunately, some other non-target fish such as white sucker (non-native invasive) and occasionally mountain whitefish (native) do experience some mortality."  Mortality of a few individuals of these species is not uncommon and anglers will occasionally report seeing dead fish along the bottom of the river immediately after electrofishing work has been completed.  "Though the mortality of some native whitefish is undesirable, these population estimates are a very important management tool allowing us to monitor fish populations.  Additionally, years of evaluation have shown no negative lasting impacts to those native fish populations."  

One other consequence of electrofishing is that captured trout are temporarily displaced downstream within holding tanks aboard the biologist's watercraft.  Though they may not immediately return to the exact location of their capture, studies have demonstrated that most trout will return to their favorite spot within a matter of a few days, showing strong fidelity for specific locations in the river. 

"Anglers occasionally will report that fish were not in the same spot or disappeared from the river following the completion of electrofishing,"  says Rhea, "Actually, the fish are all still there and doing well, they may just have moved around a little bit and given enough time will return"  

Rhea encourages interested anglers to stop by the Pinedale Game and Fish Office or give him a call to discuss electrofishing and fisheries management of the Green River.  Interested persons  may contact the Pinedale Game and Fish Office at 1-800-452-9107 (in-state only) or 307-367-4353 for more information on the Green River or other Pinedale area fisheries.
(Contact: Mark Gocke (307) 733-2321)

-WGFD-

CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE FOUND IN ELK AREA 35 NEAR BUFFALO

BUFFALO - A bull elk harvested from elk hunt area 35, southwest of Buffalo, has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, a wildlife disease known to affect some moose, deer and elk.

                "This is the first time we have found elk with CWD in elk hunt area 35," says Warren Mischke, Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Sheridan Region information specialist. "This area overlays deer hunt areas 27 and 28. A whitetail deer tested positive for CWD in deer area 27 in 2008."

                    Department personnel collected tissue samples from the elk on Oct. 21. Personnel in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Laboratory in Laramie analyzed the samples and verified the positive result on Nov. 9.

                There is still no evidence that CWD is a human health risk. After a review of available scientific data, the World Health Organization in December, 1999 stated, "There is currently no evidence that CWD in cervidae (deer and elk) is transmitted to humans." In 2004, Dr. Ermias Belay of the Center for Disease Control said, "The lack of evidence of a link between CWD transmission and unusual cases of CJD, (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a human prion disease) despite several epidemiologic investigations, suggest that the risk, if any, of transmission of CWD to humans is low."  Nonetheless, to avoid any risk, both organizations say parts or products from any animal that looks sick or tests positive for CWD or other TSEs should not be eaten.

-WGFD-

G&F Calendar

-WGFD-

ASK THE GAME & FISH

Q.  Is it legal to hunt crows in Wyoming?

A.  Yes it is, but it must be done during the crow season which runs from Nov. 1-Feb. 28.  There is no bag limit and no license is required.  Crows may be taken by firearms, bow and arrow or falconry.  Keep in mind that the season applies to crows only.  A similar species, the raven, is protected year round. Crow hunting regulations along with a drawing showing the difference between crows and ravens is found on page 5 of the 2009-2010 Late Migratory Game Bird Regulations.

-WGFD-