01/10/2024
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CLOSING SOON!
I just want to get this out of the way…MAN do I hate constantly having to write into these comment periods because the “powers to be” want to take something away…something I feel is so near and dear to me. I’ve wrote into two seperate public comments in the last couple of days. As irritated as I am, I have tried to not let these public comment opportunities pass by. Most of the time it falls on deaf ears, and I know that, but at least I can say I tried.
Alright, now that I’m off my soap box, here’s the latest issue. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has submitted their application for a renewal of “special use permits” to the US Forest Service. These special use permits were to continue using the land for elk winter feed grounds, specifically the Dell Creek Feedground and the Forest Park Feedground.
It was met with a press release from the fish and wildlife service about the dangers of Chronic Wasting Disease and how the forest service plans to “phase out” elk feed grounds.
Without getting too far in the weeds, if we lose these elk feed grounds, their own scientists say we’ll lose 23% of the elk population. If ALL the feedgrpunds get phased out, we will lose as much as 80% of our prosperous elk herd.
Killing elk before the die of CWD…. It just doesn’t make any sense to me. We have known about CWD for over 70 years and it has NEVER decimated a heard…ever. The fear mongering of CWD has flat ran out of gas for myself and others I know. I won’t say it’s not “real” but my opinion is that it’s very much a scare tactic for hunting to also be “phased out” of how animal populations are kept within a healthy level.
Before I get too fired up, please don’t hope someone else fixes this for you. Write in and make your voices heard!
I know that sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming to write in but please feel free to use my words, or even make it as simple as “I oppose the phasing out of these feedgrounds.”
January 16th is the last day to write in! I will add the link in the comments section.
A big thanks to Zachary Key for always spreading the word on these issues!
-TW