A measure to upend the state’s science-backed approach to managing mountain lions and usher in an era of unlimited killing divided the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association.
“Quite a few” big game outfitters supported carte blanche cougar killing, and were of the mind that “excessive lion numbers” impacted their ungulate quarry, WYOGA President Lee Livingston recalled of the discussion among members of his association’s board. The split aside, Livingston testified on Tuesday in opposition to a measure that would inhibit Wyoming biologists’ ability to manage a species on behalf of the public.
“In the end, we came to the conclusion that wildlife management is better left in the hands of wildlife managers,” Livingston told lawmakers. “There have been many in this building that railed against biology from the bench. We don’t want to see our [hunting] seasons starting to be set by legislation rather than by wildlife managers.”
Livingston was succinct, perhaps out of necessity. More than 40 people either came to the Wyoming Capitol or were queued up online to tell the Legislature’s House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee what they made of House Bill 286, “Mountain lion hunting season-changes.”
All but two of them were opposed.
The primary sponsor, Rep. Mike Schmid, a Republican from La Barge, and a co-sponsor, Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, a Wheatland Republican, argued that the bill was necessary for the sake of mule deer, a species that’s in retreat from a complex confluence of factors.
“We can’t control accidents, we can’t control diseases when it comes to fawn losses,” Schmid said in support of his bill. “But we can manage predators to a certain degree.”
Haroldson offered the committee personal anecdotes. He’d seen more mountain lions of late — five in the last four years — than he saw in his childhood years.
Rep. Karlee Provenza, a Laramie Democrat, pushed back on the “storytelling.”
“There are far more concerning things that are impacting our [deer] populations,” she said. “Look at the habitat loss that our mule deer are facing. Look at the severity of the weather that our mule deer are facing.”
Muley Fanatic Foundation Founder Josh Coursey piled on. Calling HB 286 a “mule deer bill” is “alarming, to say the least,” he said.
“Sound wildlife management must be the beacon for how we, as a state, operate,” Coursey told lawmakers.
Representatives for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department were blunt about the implications and pitfalls of the proposal on the table.
“This bill removes the Game and Fish Commission’s authority over managing mountain lions,” Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said. “It removes the department’s ability to provide science-based hunting season recommendations to our commission.”
“Finally,” she added, “it gives the federal government an open door to question our ability to manage mountain lions.”
Commenters struck similar chords.
Luke Worthington, who presides over the Wyoming Houndsman Association, spoke on behalf of mountain lion hunters. He scolded what he branded “an eradication bill” and “a perfect example of ballot box biology.”
“A bill like this takes all the public comment away from the sportsmen,” Worthington testified. “You’re going to hear from everybody: Deer hunters, lion hunters, everybody.”
In one-minute snippets — the length chairman Andrew Bryon, R-Jackson, allotted commenters — the opposition streamed in. The extremity of Schmid’s measure even united odd bedfellows, bringing together pro-hunting groups with those who oppose carnivore hunting, like the Cougar Fund.
“We stand aligned with all the previous comments,” Cougar Fund co-founder Cara Blessley Lowe testified. “We support the Wyoming Game and Fish, we support the research they’re doing, and we come alongside asking for you to vote no.”
Even a 17-year-old encouraged a no vote. House Bill 286 “undermines” Game and Fish’s processes, East High School student Colton Schick told lawmakers.
“Bypassing this established process, we risk compromising wildlife management practices that are based on sound scientific principles,” Schick testified. “Furthermore, there’s no evidence increased lion take will benefit [the] mule deer population.”
The carousel of opposition brought the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife Committee right up to the end of their midday meeting time. Given the option, no lawmaker — not even co-sponsor, and committee member, Rep. Bob Wharff, R-Evanston — moved to advance the bill.
Having failed to clear its assigned committee, the measure appears to be dead.
Great article and should apply to all apex predators and sub species .
There is history from Colorado that states Wasting disease started in Co and for the reason certain people and organizations culled the wolves out of why they are needed..to help control the health of herds of elk, moose, etc. Wasting disease spread to other states due to the lack of the natural workings of the planet.
Erik Volvar said legally classifying some wildlife as predators is the anti
Thesis of sound wildlife management…no one is managing the killing. That is clearly a abdication of government responsibility and violation of the “public trust.”…..the full quote is in WYO FILE I believe.. Burgundy is out of line..science says at least 2500 grizzly are needed to keep the species from becoming more endangered
I recognize and support the value of public comment but I think the WGFD should be allowed to do the job they are trained for, have the technology to evaluate, have the staff to support. Common sense prevail?
It scares me when we have open game season. Many of our species, like the carrier pigeon, are eradicated. Who are we to slaughter out of the making of the human animals. Why don’t you MOVE the excess animals to other states? Duh!! We are the ones responsible for the decline of mule deer, not the mountain lion. Get real
This bill sponsored by Mike Schmid is yet another example of an attempt by the former and disgraced Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioner to ignore science based decisions by wildlife professionals in the sound and scientific management of wildlife species in Wyoming. Having served for nearly a year on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Chronic Wasting Disease Working Group (CWDWG) with then Commissioner Schmid, along with thirty-one other Wyoming citizens and thirteen Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel, I witnessed first hand Mike Schimd’s divisiveness and outright refusal to follow the provisions of the CWDWG Group Charter. Mr. Schmid also missed critical CWDWG meetings, offering no excuse for his absence. Counter to the provisions set forth by the Group Charter, then Commissioner Schmid conduct his own “polling” of members of the group on their views of the proposed plan, an act in my opinion to divide the group and disrupt the process as Schmid was opposed to the plan. Many members refused to participate in his private polling, recognizing his futile and failed effort to derail the work of the CWDWG. And when the CWDWG Plan was submitted to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for approval, then Commissioner Schmid employed extraordinary procedural tactics, as a member of the Commission, to kill the plan. Common sense prevailed and the Commission approved the CWD Plan despite Schmid’s many repeated attempts to undermine the plan and its approval. It is my understanding that to this day, Schmid and his family members continue their efforts to undermine the implementation of the approved Wyoming Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan (WCWDMP), by sowing distrust for the plan among the hunting community. And lets also not forget that disgraced former Commissioner Schmid was removed from the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission by Governor Gordon because as the Governor stated “Schmid unfortunately exhibited a pattern of actions and statements that undermined the decisions and effectiveness of the board.” Schmid in my opinion did the same thing during his tenure as a member of the CWD Working Group. He undermined the design and effectiveness of the group and the final CWD Plan. This is the same Mike Schmid who spoke out against the designation of critical big game migration corridors which have existed for centuries. I believe Schmid also made claims that big game populations have also “benefited” from massive oil and gas developments in western Wyoming that have decimated historic mule deer winter ranges and caused massive and precipitous declines in mule deer numbers in western Wyoming. Rep. Schmid, was a co-sponsor of SF118 which would have allowed the privatization of Wyoming’s wildlife. Given the clear and present danger that Rep. Schmid poses to Wyoming, it’s wildlife and our hunting heritage, I urge the residents of HD20 in Lincoln and Sublette County to remove Rep. Schmid from the Wyoming Legislature at their earliest opportunity.
I do not live in Wyoming but I 💯 concur with this statement!
The appalling self-interest of hunters have done nothing to help our indiginous wildlife! I am sick and tired of bloodthirsty killers falsely proclaiming the “We have to save Bambi”, rhetoric! Killing apex predators is what keeps their “Bambi’s” in decline. Humans are the downfall of many animal species, not apex predators!
Excellent explanation as to why this nonsensical bill was even introduced in the Wyoming legislature. Mr. Schmid apparently abandoned all logic and science to try and impose his will at Wyoming Game and Fish and failed. All that happened after he left that post was he entered the legislature to try to impose his personal views by writing this bill that is contrary to both science and common sense. Hope this nonsense stays as dead as it appears.
this is good news indeed. i recently read mark elbroch’s 2024 book, The Cougar Conundrum, full of research, management options, and why there are so many myths about cougars. i recommend this book.
I miss the days when we could vote, and then know that whichever party the elected folks were from we could trust that they would work together to solve Wyoming’s problems. Those days are over with the zealots in charge. We The People must show up, day after day, to stop the madness that they have brought to Cheyenne.
Republican here, but if a state is worried about the population of deer would not banning hunting be a better way to increase the numbers? Here in MN the cull is upwards of 250000 yearly, I can’t see cougars eating anywhere near that amount in Wy if the numbers are remotely close. Oooops, I forgot the money collected by the Govt in fees, moot point
Finally, the state has done something to protect what little wildlife you have left.
Good to hear about a positive result for wildlife conservation for a change in Wyoming. But too bad the situation is about defending against demands for eradication and not for positive enhancements to wildlife conservation.
So refreshing to read about how the public can prevail when people speak up. Thanks.
A bill such as this is completely irresponsible to begin with. Did the sponsors even consult with biologists before drafting it? Couple that with the possibility of finally delisting grizzly bears from the Endangered Species List and you have just given the anti-hunting groups one more argument to oppose delisting which will focus on this bill. Again, irresponsible.
Great news. If it were open season allowed. Six months time lions would be wiped out. Lions account for virtually zero cattle/sheep/livestock kills. Lion attack risk to tourist/hunters is nil.
This is an absolute truth! Open season would be over before it started and the cats decimated beyond return. The greed, gluttony and gloating of unlimited hunting would be revealed and would be too late to repair what is left, if any.
It has been proven in the past that these hunters cannot police themselves. To call it what it is, wildlife killing addicts; people who care about America’s native wildlife need to always step up and protect and preserve our natural resources!