Angi Bruce, Director of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, called into the Weekday Wake-Up on Tuesday, March 3 with her monthly report. Director Bruce discussed public meetings recently held in Jackson and Pinedale regarding the Elk Feedground Management Plan and specific pieces of legislation being discussed by lawmakers that would impact the G&F and hunters.

(0:00) Cameron Bridger Valley thanks for starting your day with the weekday wake (0:04) up on the SVI radio network. It is 836 this morning live on SVI radio Swift 98 (0:12) and the spur guest interview for today is director Angie Bruce monthly report (0:17) from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department director good morning still (0:21) dry in Cheyenne I assume just like everywhere else around the state right (0:25) oh good morning Duke actually yesterday and today we’re getting a nice subtle (0:30) much-needed rain so it’s like spring but we are getting some moisture which is (0:36) wonderful to see good deal excellent well I appreciate your time as always and a (0:41) number of things to bring up today first we had the elk feed ground management (0:45) plan that we talked about recently and it sounds like the first of the public (0:49) meetings have been held in Pinedale and Jackson with some more up-and-coming (0:52) maybe just recap last week’s first initial public meetings in Pinedale and (0:56) Jackson and how those went and what the community feedback was absolutely Duke (1:01) we had a meeting in Pinedale about 20 some folks there and then on Saturday (1:06) close to 80 so good turnout I was lucky to get a go to the Jackson one in here (1:11) firsthand the comments as you know this is an extremely complex management issue (1:17) includes you know for federal agencies the town of Jackson’s predators change (1:23) in weather patterns lots of different ownership in these 21 feet grounds but (1:29) at the end of the day the common thing that everyone who came to the meeting (1:33) had was that we all wanted healthy sustainable elk populations and so that (1:39) is our goal here it’s really thinking through today and the next 10 years of (1:45) how we manage these feed grounds to do just that and they specifically were two (1:51) plans related to the Jackson herd and then the Pinedale herd and those (1:58) specific feed grounds in 2024 the Commission approved a feed ground plan (2:03) this stems off of those with very specifics for these particular feed (2:08) grounds we don’t manage one single feed ground exactly the same as another so (2:12) that’s where this comes into play adding those details and really it’s to prepare (2:17) us for any situation thrown at us I mentioned those other federal partners (2:22) and other agencies because of the fact that some of this is not within our (2:28) control we do everything to coordinate and partner with our federal agencies but (2:35) you know we have to think worst-case scenario best-case scenario and develop (2:40) an internal plan for our staff to use as they manage these feed grounds that’s (2:44) really what the meetings were about to get input on those draft plans and to (2:49) hear from people got lots of great input a lot of people concerned about CWD and (2:55) the feed grounds and what the science says as far as that spreading and what’s (3:00) the likelihood we also heard quite a bit about wanting to open up parts of the (3:06) Grove on for predator hunting specifically wolf hunting and then we (3:12) heard specifics from landowners regarding where the elk are today versus (3:16) where they were 10 years ago 20 years ago that was extremely helpful as well so (3:21) lots of good input that meetings were very effective and we’ll take that (3:26) input and modify these playbooks or this guidebook for our staff to use now as (3:32) you continue to look at each feed ground individually like you mentioned I (3:36) assume that a meeting would be held at some point I haven’t seen one scheduled (3:41) or at least announced yet an alpine but I assume that that may be down the road (3:44) that would be taking place absolutely so we’ve drafted two of these and they’re (3:50) based on the herd so they include several feed grounds depending on that (3:54) elk herd but in the future there’ll be four more so we’re we’re sort of checking (4:01) them off as we go through these two will be done first we’re learning lots by (4:04) these two so I figured that the next four will go a little smoother and a (4:09) little easier after we get these under us. Director Angie Bruce with the Wyoming (4:13) Game and Fish Department related to these elk feed grounds and the elk herds (4:16) we mentioned how dry of a winter it’s been have you seen that impact the feed (4:22) grounds at all or are elk still using the feed grounds are they leaving it (4:26) early have you seen anything like that this year is it has it been kind of the (4:30) same? No with the dry conditions we’re obviously feeding a lot less (4:36) because it’s you know the forage is not covered up with snow so that drastically (4:42) changed our feeding protocol this year as far as how much we needed to feed now (4:47) what I’m really worried about though is this lack of moisture and you guys have (4:51) it over there too I saw quite a bit of snow in the mountains but down below (4:57) there wasn’t so I’m really worried about fire wildfires taking up more forage but (5:03) just the condition of that going into spring and summer and then what that (5:08) means for elk and other big game as we go into next winter history tells us that (5:14) is not good for their nutrition and their reproductive success but we will (5:19) see.

Director switching gears and talking with the legislative session of course (5:24) that’s ongoing and starting to wrap up over the next few days any specific (5:28) bills impacting the Game and Fish and outdoor enthusiasts across the Wyoming (5:32) that you’re keeping an eye on? Absolutely so it has been a rather light year for (5:38) us I will have to say usually we track 30 to 50 bills and I think we only had (5:43) about 13 this year being a budget session that makes sense but some of them (5:47) do have some impacts to the department our hunters and so we’re testifying on (5:53) those we’re trying to get that message across of how they impact the department (5:57) as executive branch we cannot say we’re supportive or not supportive for a bill (6:01) that would be lobbying that’s not a role we are allowed to play but we can (6:06) inform and so we’ve been very active this last month doing that one of those (6:11) license in particular that’s heard a lot about is Senate file 25 landowner license (6:17) limits in limited quota hunt areas what this bill would do is it would give the (6:22) ability to our Game and Fish Commission to set a cap on landowner license so in (6:29) those limited quota areas where sometimes we only issue a certain number (6:33) say a hundred license we’ve had incidents in the past where landowners (6:38) have gotten every single one we value landowners and what they bring to the (6:43) table and providing habitat but we also want our general public to have an (6:48) opportunity to draw this bill would have give the Commission a tool that (6:53) they could look at that in the future so very much interested in seeing that one (6:57) is on its last reading in the house today so it could be maybe signed later (7:05) today or tomorrow even another one we’re looking at Senate file 26 game and fish (7:10) property tax it’s on its last reading in the house today as well this aligns (7:17) with other state agencies so currently our hunters and angler dollars pay for (7:22) taxes on our regional office in our headquarters office in this bill would (7:27) not have that happen into the future so we would still pay on our wildlife areas (7:33) our houses etc but these public facilities would no longer be taxed (7:38) therefore saving the department just over $400,000 a year so several bills (7:45) we’re looking at also one that has already been been signed and through is (7:51) called leashed dogs for tracking black bears Senate file 27 exactly what it (7:59) says is the ability to recover your harvest using a leashed dog you already (8:04) can do that with other big games so this puts it right in line with the current (8:08) statute with other species excellent director Bruce Wyoming game and fish (8:12) director anything you’d like to bring up all we have you on the air today yeah (8:17) just a couple notes so hunter safety course registration is now open this is (8:22) the time I know I know it’s spring and it’s not fall but this is a time to get (8:26) your hunter safety course if you haven’t there’s a few varieties of types but go (8:32) online encourage people to think ahead if their kids are interested in hunting (8:38) and getting them in the course as well just want to put a plug in that for (8:42) hunter safety courses are now available excellent and of course you can find (8:45) all the details on those on the Wyoming game and fish website at WGFD.YO.gov (8:50) director thank you so much we appreciate your time thank you Duke have a good day (8:55) you as well it’s all part of the weekday wake up this morning on SVI radio (8:59) attention parents