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.
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