Houndsmen and other hunters say that would eradicate the species
A proposed bill aims to lift “most of the current restrictions” around hunting mountain lions in Wyoming, creating what some are calling an “open season.” House Bill 286, which was introduced last month, would lift hunt limits and eliminate specific hunt areas. It would also allow anyone with a valid antelope, deer or elk license to harvest a mountain lion – even if they don’t have a mountain lion tag.
While Rep. Mick Schmid, R-La Barge, a sponsor of the bill, said the bill’s purpose is to help the state’s mule deer herds, a good portion of hunters aren’t on board, saying passage of the bill “would lead to a slaughter of the big cats,” according to the Cowboy State Daily.
“I think just stripping all hunting regulations is something that could end up in eradication, which is never conservation,” said Neale Jones of Jackson.
Cody Vivatson, a Wyoming hunter who pursues mountain lions with dogs, launched a petition against HB 286, which has 663 signatures as of Monday, Feb. 3.
Currently, mountain lions are classified as a trophy game species – not a predator species. They can only be hunted with a valid license and during specific seasons. Quotas are established and, once met, areas closed to maintain sustainable populations.
HB 286 would allow for year-round lethal mountain lion hunting and trapping 24/7.
Schmid doesn’t think lifting the restrictions would do much more than add a few more mountain lion harvests, noting that “[a]t one time, Wyoming had over 500,000 mule deer…Game and Fish annual reports indicate that there were 345,000 mule deer in 2019 and 293,000 in 2021.”
Add to the decline, the 2022-2023 winter where “another 15% of Wyoming’s mule deer died statewide,” said Schmid, pointing out that the prized Wyoming Range mule deer herd lost about 80% of its deer to winterkill.
He believes that “it’s important to help mule deer in every way possible” and that “increased mountain lion hunting is ‘part of the answer,’” according to the Cowboy State Daily.
What do you think? Should there be year-round mountain lion hunting? Or should there be set seasons with established restrictions to keep harvests and numbers in check?
