CHEYENNE—Rep. Bill Allemand stood silently in the gallery, his gaze transfixed on Wyoming senators a floor down.
The upper chamber’s lawmakers were debating the merits of a proposal of special significance to Allemand. At issue during the deliberations was House Bill 211, “Hunting wildlife from vehicles,” a measure the Natrona County sophomore Republican legislator brought on behalf of a constituent who was fined by a warden for shooting prairie dogs from his truck.
Allemand’s bill was “simple,” he told WyoFile, and would clarify in statute that gunning prairie dogs and some other species from trucks is legal on private land in Wyoming, a state where the grass-eating rodents are classified as “pests” and have been eradicated from most of their native range. On Monday, he left his own chamber and ventured over to the Senate gallery for HB 211’s introductory vote.
“I was not only hoping,” Allemand told WyoFile of the moment. “That morning, I was down lobbying.”
The bill was personally significant to Allemand partly because his first 10 attempts at sponsoring legislation didn’t pan out. Many of those failed efforts, he said, were “tough, controversial bills.” Like many in the statehouse, he knows that it can be a challenge to shepherd an idea through to becoming law.
Bills dying, of course, isn’t unique. Every time the Wyoming Legislature convenes, many more bills get introduced than make it the distance. They die from an assortment of causes: some are exceedingly unpopular and get voted down, others miss deadlines. Sometimes political factions kill bills to show off their might.
But Allemand’s 11th bill, brought during his third session, made the cut. There were some bumps along the way, including a committee discussion initiated by a member of the public over whether recreationally shooting prairie dogs is psychopathic. Nevertheless, HB 211 cleared that committee vote unanimously and then passed its third reading in the Senate on Wednesday.
“I texted the gentleman who asked me to run it and let him know,” Allemand said. “That’s what I like doing. I like helping people much more than I like coming down here and sitting on my butt for 40 days. That’s what makes this thing [the legislature] worth it.”
Cmon WyoFile, you can’t even get your facts right. Even when they’ve been previously reported on. Do better.
Prairie Dogs are an important part of the ecosystem and should be protected. Wildlife Biologists know this and need to start speaking against the trigger happy people that like to kill for fun. We have a few prairie dog towns on our place and they are protected, they are fun to watch and provide food and shelter for many animals.
Remember legends of the west, like Buffalo Bill Cody? Well folks, introducing the next legendary man:
“Prairie Dog Bill Allemand”
The rootin’est , tootin’est , shootin’est from the truck window wannabe cowboy you’ve ever seen!
Just when we thought all was lost, Representative Allemand saves the day with a bill of upmost importance to the State of Wyoming, the “shoot that rodent from the truck” statute. In unison, we the voters can now exhale a big sigh of relief. Allemand also accomplished another feat, taking the title of class “A” buffoonery, legislative incompetency and clearly over their heads spotlight away from Madam Chairman Tim French and SS Field Marshall Cheri Steinmetz. Crud from the bottom of the barrel eventually rises and even blind hogs can sometimes find an acorn. The day is saved! Congratulations Mr. Allemand!
Actually, Allemand is a good example of all of the rightwing christian goofballs that are running the once great state of Wyoming.
Where’s that 50% property tax cut that Allemand and the fauxFreedom Cabal ran for in 2024? You had one job, Allemand, just one task of delivering this 50% cut. You ran your mouth but didn’t deliver. Instead, you concentrate on trying to double trespass fines/penalties for alleged trespassers and make it legal to shoot prairie dogs from the comfort of ones pickup truck cab? Prairie Dogs? Allemand, your tenure in the state legislature has only exposed the buffoonery, paranoia and contempt for the common citizen (other then you and your ilk) of yourself and the rest of the unFreedom whacks. One out of eleven Bills….Prairie Dogs? Are you kidding us?
Just like the Meatloaf song “don’t be sad, 1 out of 11 bills ain’t bad…” NOT. Rep. Allemand has brought some real doozy’s to Cheyenne, bills designed to stick it to people with all of them poorly drafted, silly and non-sensical. Even his fellow freedom-for-only-themselves caucus rolled their eyes. Maybe the other legislators felt sorry for Allemand and gave him this dumb prairie dog bill like feeding treats to a barking dog. The 2025 legislative session sure exposes these clowns for who they are
It is so sad that this legislator’s proudest moment is writing legislation to allow this important species to be hunted from vehicles. What is wrong with us in Wyoming that we do not value the perfect workings of the natural world? That we cannot understand the interconnectedness of all living things? The necessity of leaving ecosystems intact? Why is it okay to erridicate a species for the possible benefit of a tiny portion of the human population? And why oh, why do Wyomingites so fear wildlife that we make it legal chase and shoot from vehicles, run over them with snowmobiles, hunt them to extinction? It is a shameful disregard for wildlife and for future generations, who may have a much different perspective. Hopefully.
I’m very impressed with Rep. Allemand finally getting a bill passed, after ten attempts. The timing of this standout bill couldn’t be more vital for the people of Wyoming. He has identified the enemy, and it’s the prairie dog. Now shooters won’t have to pack lawn chairs. I can’t wait to see what fun stuff you can get up to next year, Mr. Allemand. This is fine example of what our legislature accomplished this year.
Allemand, who claims to want to “help people” brought a bunch of whacky and senseless bills to Cheyenne, pretty much all got scoffed at. This “prairie dog” bill was the best he’s got? Says a lot about Allemand. You’ve got to wonder about these “rugged individualist” self-serving nonFreedom Caucus members who attempt to stifle the rights of the citizenry with an excess of pure constrictive BS “bills” We the people need less, not more laws and Allemand would of served us a lot better by staying at home for the past 40 days
I remember when I started as a game warden in Wyoming in the 1970s, people were allowed to legally shoot predatory animals from a vehicle. For other wildlife that were shootable, you had to get yourself off the seat and your feet on the ground. Being involved in hunter education since about 1984, I think that was a good idea since many firearms accidents occur in and around vehicles. Oh, well, I guess maybe we’re too lazy to get out of the truck to shoot anything anymore. Be safe out there.
Think about it. Your first legislative success is a bill authorizing splattering prairie dogs into “red mist” from the comfort of one’s pickup. The only direction you can go in now is down.
Amen to that, Robert!
Oh! How very important-Not. Remember, this is the same guy that collected PPP ‘loans’.