Wyoming

Wyoming Tops In The Nation For Outbound Cigarette Smuggling

Published

1 year ago

December 6, 2024

Wyoming Tops In The Nation For Outbound Cigarette Smuggling

Wyoming has the highest U.S. rate of outbound cigarette smuggling, the Tax Foundation reports.

The group released a study last week, announcing that 49.2% of Wyoming’s cigarette consumption goes to smugglers taking the product outside the state, based on 2022 data.

That’s the highest percentage of outbound smuggling for any U.S. state, based on each state’s cigarette consumption, meaning that Wyoming doesn’t have the highest volume of smuggled-out cigarettes, but that its sales have the highest chance of landing in black or grey markets in other states.

The study consists of estimates comparing states’ tax data to U.S. Census Bureau consumption surveys.

Adam Hoffer, director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation, told Cowboy State Daily on Friday that it’s worth noting how small Wyoming’s market is.

“Wyoming is a relatively small consumer of cigarettes, compared to somewhere like California,” he said. “So, small changes in consumption patterns can really swing that smuggling estimate.”

Hoffer, who wrote the Tax Foundation’s recent report, said that the group’s analysts have been “a little intrigued by Wyoming for several years.”

The state’s high smuggling rate is also augmented by the nearness of “more restrictive states,” like Utah and Colorado.

Utah’s 2022 inbound smuggling estimate is 20.46%, the report says — meaning about one-fifth of the cigarettes consumed in Utah were smuggled into it. It taxes cigarettes at $1.70 per pack.

Colorado’s inbound smuggling rate is similar, 19.86%. It taxes cigarettes at $1.94 per pack.

The Tax Foundation noticed an uptick in inbound smuggling in Colorado, plus an increase in outbound smuggling in nearby Wyoming, after Colorado doubled its per-pack tax rate in 2021.

In 2020 when Colorado’s cigarette tax was 84 cents per pack, its inbound smuggling comprised 7.96% of the state’s consumption, the group reported in 2022.

Wyoming’s outbound smuggling at that time comprised 24.35% of its own sales, and the state did not show the highest percentage in that area as it does in the more recent study.

Wyoming considered nearly doubling its cigarette tax rate in 2022, but the House Revenue Committee shut down that effort in 2023, by voting down a bill the joint version of that same committee had advanced before the lawmaking session.

Some Other Smuggler Favorites

Delaware sits in second place after Wyoming with 34.43% of its cigarette consumption going to out-of-state smuggling. New Hampshire is third, at 31.43%.

At 60 cents per pack, Wyoming doesn’t have the lowest cigarette taxation rate in the nation.

Of the 15 states besides Wyoming that show outbound cigarette smuggling, five of them have a lower tax rate per-pack than Wyoming, though all of them have indicated less outbound smuggling than the Cowboy State, according to the study.

For example, Missouri, which is No. 7 for outbound smuggling at 14.67%, only taxes cigarettes at 17 cents per pack.

But again, Hoffer noted, Missouri’s overall market is much larger than Wyoming’s so none of these figures undermine Missouri’s potentially large outbound smuggling volume.

“(Missouri) borders so many states that it is the hub of outbound cigarette smuggling for that region of the country,” said Hoffer. In other words, Missouri feeds its region with cigarettes.

“Probably (Missouri has) more net outbound smuggling than Wyoming, but it’s a smaller percentage of what’s consumed (there),” added Hoffer.

Idaho, the fifth-place state for outbound cigarette smuggling at 27.01%, taxes the product at 57 cents per pack, the study says.

North Dakota only taxes cigarettes at 44 cents a pack, yet ranks ninth for outbound smuggling at 13.83%.

Georgia taxes the product at 37 cents a pack, yet has an outbound smuggling rate of 3.14%, says the study. In the case of Georgia, outbound smuggling doesn’t make as much sense as in other areas, said Hoffer.

“Georgia borders North Carolina and is not far from Virginia,” Hoffer said. “If you’re going to smuggle form Georgia you’re probably only going to do so into Florida.”

North Carolina’s cigarettes are taxed at 45 cents per pack, and Virgina’s at 60 cents per pack, both low figures on the scale. Florida taxes them at $1.34 per pack.

Incoming

New York has the highest rate of inbound smuggling, the study says, with an estimated 54.3% of cigarettes consumed in the state coming from smuggled sources in 2022. The state taxes cigarettes at $4.35 per pack.

Next are California (46.7% smuggled of total consumed), New Mexico (41.2%), Massachusetts (39.7%) and Washington 36.8%).

Those four states tax cigarette packs at $2.87, $2, $3.51 and $3.03, respectively.

The Tax Foundation’s study also discusses other factors in the smuggling world, like flavor bans.

Massachusetts banned menthol cigarettes in June 2020. In the following year, its sales dropped by almost 24% compared to the year preceding the ban, says the study.

“This decline translates to $135 million less in cigarette tax revenue for Massachusetts,” the study notes.

Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.

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Wyoming

Meyer’s Late Score Lifts Wyoming past Air Force – SweetwaterNOW

Published

10 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Meyer’s Late Score Lifts Wyoming past Air Force – SweetwaterNOW

Naz Meyer. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-UW Media-Athletics

LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.

The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.

“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”

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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.

Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.

Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.

Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.

Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.

The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.

Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.

A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.

Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.

Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.

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Wyoming

Wyoming High School Basketball 2A State Tournament 2026

Published

22 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming High School Basketball 2A State Tournament 2026

The 2-time defending champ Tongue River girls, along with both teams from Big Horn will represent Sheridan County in the small school version of March Madness.

Click here to see results from the regional tournaments.

2A Boys:

First Round:

Thursday, March 5th: (All games played at Casper College)

(#2E) Big Horn vs. (#3W) Shoshoni – Noon

(#1W) Thermopolis vs. (#4E) Sundance – 1:30pm

(#2W) Wyoming Indian vs. (#3E) Wright – 6:30pm

(#1E) Pine Bluffs vs. (#4W) Rocky Mountain – 8pm

Friday, March 6th: (All games played at Ford Wyoming Center)

Consolation Round:

Big Horn/Shoshoni loser vs. Thermopolis/Sundance loser – Noon LOSER OUT!

Wyoming Indian/Wright loser vs. Pine Bluffs/Rocky Mountain loser – 1:30pm LOSER OUT!

Semi-Finals:

Big Horn/Shoshoni winner vs. Thermopolis/Sundance winner – 6:30pm

Wyoming Indian/Wright winner vs. Pine Bluffs/Rocky Mountain winner – 8pm

Saturday, March 7th:

Friday Noon winner vs. Friday 1:30pm – Noon at Ford Wyoming Center Consolation Championship

Friday 6:30pm loser vs. Friday 8pm loser – 3pm at Natrona County High School 3rd Place

Friday 6:30pm winner vs. Friday 8pm winner – 7pm at Ford Wyoming Center Championship

2A Girls:

First Round:

Thursday, March 5th: (All games played at Casper College)

(#2W) Wyoming Indian vs. (#3E) Big Horn – 9am

(#1E) Sundance vs. (#4W) Shoshoni – 10:30am

(#2E) Tongue River vs. (#3W) Greybull – 3:30pm

(#1W) Thermopolis vs. (#4E) Pine Bluffs – 5pm

Friday, March 6th: (All games played at Ford Wyoming Center)

Consolation Round:

Wyoming Indian/Big Horn loser vs. Sundance/Shoshoni loser – 9am LOSER OUT!

Tongue River/Greybull loser vs. Thermopolis/Pine Bluffs loser – 10:30am LOSER OUT!

Semi-Finals:

Wyoming Indian/Big Horn winner vs. Sundance/Shoshoni winner – 3:30pm

Tongue River/Greybull loser vs. Thermopolis/Pine Bluffs loser – 5pm

Saturday, March 7th:

Friday 9am winner vs. Friday 10:30am winner – 9am at Ford Wyoming Center Consolation Championship

Friday 3:30pm loser vs. Friday 5pm loser – 10:30am at Ford Wyoming Center 3rd Place

Friday 3:30pm winner vs. Friday 5pm winner – 5:30pm at Ford Wyoming Center Championship

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Wyoming

Wyoming Crow Hunters Can Blast All They Want, But Nobody Eats The Birds

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Crow Hunters Can Blast All They Want, But Nobody Eats The Birds

Mention of bird hunting might conjure up images of hunters and their dogs huddling in freezing duck blinds or pounding the brush in hopes of kicking up pheasants. But crow hunting is a thing in Wyoming too.

“It’s about the sport of it,” Dan Kinneman of Riverton told Cowboy State Daily.

He started crow hunting when he was 14 and is about to turn 85. He’s never tried cooking and eating crows or known anybody who has.

Instead, shooting crows is essentially nuisance bird control, as they’re known to wreak havoc on agricultural crops.

“All the ranchers will let you hunt crows. I’ve never been refused access to hunt crows. They all hate them,” he said.

In Wyoming, crow hunting season runs from Nov. 1 to Feb. 28. No license is required, and there’s no bag limit. Hunters can shoot all the crows they want to.

It’s a ball for hunting dogs too, Kinneman said.

“My yellow Labrador retriever, he doesn’t care whether it’s a crow or duck. In fact, he likes crow hunting more than duck hunting, because there’s more action,” he said.

Crow hunting requires skill, patience and a good set of decoys, an experienced Wyoming hunter said. The upside is, there’s no bag limit, hunters can blast all the crows they want. No one eats them, though.

Don’t Expect It To Be Easy

Kinneman said that in the days of his youth, crow hunting was as simple as driving around and “shooting them out of trees with rifles.”

However, as the number of people and buildings potentially in the paths of bullets grew, such practices fell out of favor. Crow hunting became more regulated.

And it evolved to resemble hunting other birds, such as waterfowl.

Meaning, hunters started setting out decoys, hiding in blinds and using calls to tempt crows to within shotgun range.

Kinneman is no stranger to hunting of all types. He’s taken numerous species of big game in Wyoming and elsewhere. And in July 2005, he shot a prairie dog near Rock Springs from well over a mile away.

He hit the prairie dog from 2,157 yards away. A mile is 1,760 yards.

But bird hunting has always been his favorite.

“It’s my life,” he said.

He has a huge collection of duck, goose and dove decoys. And two tubs full of crow decoys.

The uninitiated might think that going out and blasting crows would be a slam dunk.

That isn’t so, Kinneman said. He likes crow hunting for the challenge of it.

“Hunting crows is hard. They are a lot smarter than ducks and geese,” he said.

Pick Up After Yourself

Even though he doesn’t eat crows, Kinneman said he never just left them littering the ground where he shot them.

“I never let them lay out there. I always picked them up and disposed of the carcasses,” he said.

That’s good ethics and it shows respect for the ranchers, he said.

“Leaving them (dead crows) out there would be no different than just leaving all of your empty shotgun shells out there,” he said.

“You have to pick up after yourself, or the ranchers won’t let you back onto their land,” he added.

Slow Year

At his age, Kinneman isn’t sure how much longer he’ll be able to get out crow hunting. And this year has been a total bust.

“I love doing it. But this year there are no crows,” he said.

The Riverton area is along major crow migration routes.

Picking a good hunting spot is a matter of “finding a flyway” that the crows are on and then setting up a spread of decoys and a blind along the route.

But with an unusually warm winter, the crow flyways have been practically empty, he said.