Hunters and Activists Both Opposed Wyoming 'Mountain Lion Eradication' Bill

Due to overwhelming opposition, a measure that would allow unlimited hunting of Wyoming’s mountain lions is dead. (Photo by creativex)

The president of the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association (WYOGA) has testified in opposition to a measure that would allow unlimited killing of the state’s mountain lions.

According to buffalobulletin.com, WYOGA President Lee Livingston acknowledged that quite a few big game outfitters support carte blanche cougar killing and believe excessive lion numbers impacted their ungulate quarry. Despite the split, Livingston testified in opposition to a measure that would inhibit Wyoming biologists’ ability to manage the 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.”

More than 40 people either came to the Wyoming Capitol or were waiting online to voice their opinions to the Legislature’s House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee about House Bill 286, “Mountain lion hunting season-changes.”

All were opposed, except two.

The primary sponsor, Rep. Mike Schmid, a Republican from La Barge, and a co-sponsor, Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, a Wheatland Republican, claimed that the bill was needed to save the mule deer population, which is threatened by a number 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 told the committee he’s seen five mountain lions in the last four years, which is more than he saw throughout his childhood.

Rep. Karlee Provenza, a Laramie Democrat, pushed back.

“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 said 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 said the implications and pitfalls of the proposal are clear.

“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.”

Luke Worthington, who presides over the Wyoming Houndsman Association, 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.”

During the one-minute allotment time granted to commenters, pro-hunting groups and those who oppose carnivore hunting spoke out against the extremity of Schmid’s measure.

“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.”

Due to the overwhelming opposition, no lawmaker moved to advance the bill. Since it failed to clear its assigned committee, the measure appears to be dead.