WG&F host elk meetings

Establishing an elk management hunting permit for hunters in feedground areas of western Wyoming, increasing nonresident cow/calf elk license fees and adjusting the mountain lion quotas in three areas are highlighted proposals to be presented at Wyoming Game and Fish Department public meetings across Wyoming this month. Although Sublette County is in the middle of the affected area, there are no meetings scheduled for this area.

The proposed $10-permit, designed after the pheasant management permit, would be required for all elk hunters in hunt areas 70-72 and 74-98 in western Wyoming. The permit would be stamp-sized so it could be placed on the back of an elk license. The WG&F Commission is also considering raising the nonresident cow/calf elk license to $200 and the youth license to $100.

Mountain lion quotas would be increased to seven in area 1 in the Black Hills, to 25 in area 15 between Buffalo and Casper and decreased to 12 in area 26 in Greys River/Star Valley, in the proposals. Other changes in mountain lion regulations being proposed are establishing a female mortality quota of three in area 12 south of Rock Springs, reducing the female quota to seven in area 26 and closing the season in area 21 on March 31.

WG&F will host an open house in Alpine from 5 - 8 p.m. on June 17 to discuss these proposals. The meeting will be held at the Alpine Town Hall.

Written comments will also be accepted through June 28 and should be mailed to Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Attn: Regulations, 3030 Energy Lane, Suite 100, Casper, WY 82604. Copies of the proposed regulations are available by writing the same address.

The WG&F Com-mission will consider the proposed regulations at their July 25-26 meeting in Evanston. All comments will be presented to the commission prior to the meeting.