Wyoming grizzly hunting season suspended

Post date: Sep 5, 2018 2:20:10 PM

September 4, 2018 Staff and News Reports

OutdoorNews.com

(Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks)

Cheyenne — In response to a federal judge’s ruling, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has suspended the grizzly bear hunting season pending further direction.

U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen recently issued a 14-day temporary restraining order halting grizzly bear hunting that was scheduled to begin on Sept. 1 in Wyoming and Idaho.

“This is unfortunate. Game and Fish has a robust grizzly bear management program with strong regulations, protections and population monitoring for grizzly bears,” said Scott Talbott, director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “We believe in state-led management of wildlife and involving the public in decisions like the creation and implementation of a conservative hunting opportunity for those who want that experience. We will now await further information about whether the bears will remain under state management or if they go back to federal management.”

At any point over the next two weeks, the judge could take several steps: make a ruling on the case, extend the temporary restraining order prohibiting hunting,or terminate the order and reinstate the scheduled hunting seasons.

Game and Fish will continue to lead grizzly bear management, research, monitoring, conflict mitigation and education, but the judge’s ruling shuts down the planned 2018 hunting season. Game and Fish has already been notifying individuals who were issued 2018 grizzly hunting licenses of the season suspension.