Area 66 Mule Deer Working Group hosts public meeting

 

 

Area 66 Mule Deer Working Group hosts public meeting

  

CASPER – As part of the Mule Deer Initiative, the Area 66 Mule Deer Working Group will host a public meeting on Thursday, Mar. 19 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Casper Game and Fish Office, 3030 Energy Lane. The meeting is open to the public and anyone interested in mule deer and their management in Hunt Area 66 is invited to attend.

“We invite and encourage the public to attend and participate in the process. We want to hear any ideas people might have on helping improve mule deer populations and their habitat in Area 66”, says Dusty Porter, chairperson of the citizen-working group. “We are taking the public’s ideas and using them to help us form our recommendations to the Game and Fish.”

“The group has learned about the decline of mule deer across Wyoming and the western United States and now we are working with the Game and Fish to address some of these issues and concerns for this particular herd,” says Porter. “Issues like poor habitat due to years of drought, continued poor fawn production and survival, as well as predation and disease are all having an impact on this herd.”

Wildlife managers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department organized the citizen-working group in Casper to explore, discuss and make recommendations to address factors affecting mule deer and their habitat in Area 66. “We are having good success with Mule Deer Initiatives across the state, and we are confident this group will provide valuable public input here as well,” says Justin Binfet, Game and Fish wildlife management coordinator in Casper.

The Area 66 Mule Deer Initiative Working Group consists of Dusty Porter, Paul Threlkeld, Jim Wetzel, Pete Garrett, Randy Morrison, Chris Mikels, Brian Scott, Steve Garrett, Miles Bundy, Jeff Muratore, Rhen Etzelmiller, Matt Withroder, Justin Binfet, Heather O’Brien and Ryan Kaiser.

If you are unable to attend the public meeting, but would like to submit comments or suggestions regarding mule deer issues in Area 66, please email them to wgfarea66muledeer@wyo.gov , feel free to contact any member of the working group for more information, or call the Casper Game and Fish Office at (307) 473-3401.