mule deer

Another concern in the Cody region was how development, including houses and roads, is impacting available habitat.

With the Wyoming legislative session now about halfway through, we take a look at how some of this year’s hunting-related bills fared. Spoiler alert: most of them didn’t gain much traction.

A handful of people at the meeting expressed concern over how the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is managing chronic wasting disease, which is a fatal neurological condition. The disease is one of the factors leading to lower mule deer numbers in the state.

A mule deer migration corridor in northwest Wyoming is getting a close look from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The agency is proposing to officially recognize the path, and is now reviewing the public’s comments.

Wyoming lawmakers discussed next steps for both the federal Rock Springs Resource Management Plan and official state designation of the Sublette Pronghorn migration route. The main sentiment was disdain for federal government involvement.

Earlier this week, Gov. Mark Gordon brought together wildlife experts and the general public for the inaugural Sportsperson Conservation Forum. The forum took place at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois and covered topics like mule deer management and wildlife crossings. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hannah Habermann spoke with Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik about his takeaways from the event.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Department of Transportation are trying to reduce collisions between wildlife and vehicles on Highway 26 east and west of Dubois. The stretch of road is particularly deadly for deer and costly for people, too. In response, the agencies have developed a plan to help reduce the number of accidents in that area.

The Interior Department announced $3 million in grant funding to protect big game habitats and migration corridors in seven Western states. Almost a third of that money will go to Wyoming.

The final death toll from what once was one of the world’s largest herds of mule deer is in – and it’s significant.

A film called “Animal Trails: Rediscovering Grand Teton Migrations” highlights how mule deer and pronghorn travel from Grand Teton National Park to winter ranges across Idaho, Wyoming, and the Wind River Reservation. It documents how the animals depend on habitats almost 200 miles away from the park’s boundaries.