Upcoming public meetings on chronic wasting disease in southeast Wyoming

Since the first chronic wasting disease cases were identified in Wyoming in the mid-1980s, herds in the southeast portion of the state have borne the brunt of this always-fatal disease. The Laramie Mountains mule deer herd, which covers hunt areas 59, 60, and 64, has one of the highest rates of CWD in Wyoming. In recent years, sampling conducted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has found CWD in around 26 percent of hunter-harvested bucks.

In the coming weeks, state wildlife managers will be holding a series of local public meetings to discuss CWD impacts and management strategies for the Laramie Mountains herd. If you have a connection to deer in this part of the state — as a hunter, landowner, or wildlife lover — we strongly encourage you to come out and learn about what Game and Fish is doing to address herd health and the long-term outlook of our big game populations.

June 14, Wheatland, First State Bank Conference Center
June 15, Laramie, WGFD regional office
June 16, Cheyenne, WGFD state office
June 28, Sybille Canyon, Tom Thorne/Beth Williams Wildlife Research Center
June 29, Glendo, Town Hall

All meetings start at 6 pm. There is also an option to join the June 16 meeting via Zoom by registering at this link.

The Outdoor Council is a strong supporter of the Game and Fish Department’s CWD management plan, which was the result of a collaborative process that drew from the best available science on this challenging issue. Public input is key to developing and implementing management strategies that benefit wildlife while also meeting the needs of local communities: If you’re able, please take this opportunity to learn more about the science of CWD, ask questions, and share your thoughts.

If you can’t attend a meeting, you can email martin.hicks@wyo.gov with questions or comments. And if you have questions, would like some more resources or reading material, or are looking for ways to get involved, please reach out to kristen@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.