Wyoming

Bills targeting predator torture, snowmobile hunting could make infamous wolf stunt a felony – WyoFile

Published

10 months ago

January 24, 2025

Bills targeting predator torture, snowmobile hunting could make infamous wolf stunt a felony – WyoFile

CHEYENNE—Sophomore representative Andrew Byron’s appointment to chair the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee was a real honor.

The new authority also came with a readymade controversy.

In taking the helm at the outset of the session, Byron inherited a controversial bill set in motion by a Wyoming man’s decision to strike an adolescent wolf with a snowmobile, muzzle and collar it, then parade the badly wounded animal through a Sublette County bar for hours. Global outrage ensued and hadn’t abated last fall, when the previous configuration of the Travel, Recreation and Wildlife Committee signed off on a bill that explicitly sanctioned the practice of recreationally running over wildlife with snowmobiles but stiffened penalties for keeping struck, wounded animals alive.

Byron, a Republican whose district spans from southern Teton County into Lincoln County, didn’t like the proposal and he’d heard from many others who shared his misgivings.

Rep. Andrew Byron, R-Jackson, during the Wyoming Legislature’s 2025 budget session. (Mike Koshmrl/WyoFile)

“There were a lot of frustrations,” he told WyoFile. “None of the parties have come to me and said they were happy with the result.”

Using his new power as committee chair, Byron stymied the bill, keeping it in the metaphorical drawer (which, he said, “used to exist”). Then the real estate agent and fishing guide introduced his own, related measure, House Bill 275, “Treatment of animals,” which leadership referred to his committee.

The proposed law comes down hard on anyone who “knowingly, and with intent” causes “undue suffering, tortures, torments or mutilates any living wildlife, including predatory animals and predacious birds, after reducing the living wildlife to possession.” Such behavior would be classified as “felony animal cruelty” and carry penalties of up to six years in prison, loss of hunting and fishing privileges and forfeiture of equipment, including firearms and vehicles used in the act.

“I think we need to send a message loud and clear,” Byron said. “This was a big eyesore for the state. It was a big eyesore for sportsmen. It was an embarrassment.”

Allegations that a Wyoming man captured, tortured and killed a wolf have sparked outrage across the world and prompted a wave of social media posts. (collage by Tennessee Watson/WyoFile)

Notably, HB 275 does not propose any changes to statutes that allow for running over animals with snowmobiles or other motorized vehicles. The bill does, however, stipulate that snowmobilers who intentionally strike animals must “make a reasonable effort to immediately kill the injured or incapacitated animal.”

The proposal has already collected a diverse and powerful group of supporters. The all-Republican cast of cosponsors transcends the well-defined factions in the modern GOP, and include: Reps. Mike Schmid of La Barge, Daniel Singh of Cheyenne, J.D. Williams of Lusk, and Sens. Eric Barlow of Gillette, Lynn Hutchings of Cheyenne, Bill Landen of Casper, Tara Nethercott of Cheyenne and Jared Olsen of Cheyenne.

Landen chairs the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee on the Senate side, which bodes favorably for the bill.

Prospects unclear

But whether HB 275 makes it into law depends largely on whether it is met favorably by the broader Wyoming Freedom Caucus and its Wyoming Senate allies, which enjoy majorities in their respective chambers of the statehouse. In the House, the first chamber the legislation must navigate, legislative leaders and the state Freedom Caucus, which sometimes issues recommendations, have yet to weigh in on the bill.

“There’s no directive to tell anybody how to vote on that,” said Rep. Chip Neiman, the Republican speaker of the House. “That is strictly each individual legislator’s responsibility.”

If a Freedom Caucus recommendation did emerge, it would not come until HB 275 reached the floor. When issued, bill recommendations are based on a measure’s “effect,” whether it’s “constitutional,” whether it’s “conservative” and whether it’s “fiscally responsible,” according to Rep. John Bear, a past chair of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus who now chairs the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee.

“I’d say that’s kind of the hierarchy of how those recommendations come down,” Bear told reporters at a recent press conference.

Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, during the Wyoming Legislature’s 2025 budget session. (Mike Vanata/WyoFile)

Although legislation stemming from the wolf torture incident has not been a Freedom Caucus priority, Neiman, who lives across the state from Sublette County in Hulett, knows that the world is watching.

“There are outside entities that have got their eyeballs looking at Wyoming,” the House speaker told reporters.

Those parties, Neiman said, are watching to see how Wyoming responds: “Are [we] going to let this happen and walk away and turn a blind eye?” he said. “These guys [in the Legislature] are out here trying to figure out how we can really address it.”

Behind the scenes

The push for HB 275, dubbed the “Clean Kill Bill,” is backed by a newly formed advocacy group, Wyoming Sportsmanship, which is led by Jonah Energy vice president and flyfishing guide Paul Ulrich.

“This isn’t saying you can’t hunt a predator — of course you can,” Ulrich said in a press release. “But it is saying that when you take that animal, you will dispatch it as a sportsman — without torture, abuse and reprehensible actions.”

Josh Coursey, who leads the Muley Fanatic Foundation, and Marilyn Kite, a former Chief Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court, are partnering with Ulrich on Wyoming Sportsmanship, which is a registered nonprofit. The group even assembled a video featuring footage of the tortured wolf to promote their proposal.

In December, the organization commissioned Cygnal to conduct a survey gauging what voters and various groups made of the legislation. There was strong support: 78% of Wyoming residents liked the proposed change. Two-thirds of respondents even said they’d be more likely to vote for a state legislator who supported the bill.

As of midday Friday, only HB 275 and House Bill 3, “Animal abuse-predatory animals” — which was developed between legislative sessions, but has been kept in Byron’s drawer — have been introduced in response to the wolf torture incident.

It’s highly likely that more are coming.

Byron’s heard of up to six different bills related to the incident that are being considered.

Bill to ban ‘biling’ over wildlife?

Schmid, the representative from La Barge and HB 275 co-sponsor, is bringing one aimed at the Wyoming pastime of hunting coyotes and other predators with snowmobiles.

“It should be out today,” Schmid told WyoFile on Friday morning. “All I’m trying to do is make it illegal to use any over-the-ground motorized vehicle — ATVs, side-by-sides, or snowmachines — as a weapon to maim or kill any wildlife, including predators, on public ground.”

Rep. Mike Schmid, R-La Barge, during the Wyoming Legislature’s 2025 budget session. (Mike Koshmrl/WyoFile)

The livestock industry has pushed to keep snowmobiling over animals legal.

“I’ve talked with a number of livestock producers across the state — in particular, sheep producers — who have said that they view it as one of their most effective tools,” Wyoming Stock Growers Executive Vice President Jim Magagna told WyoFile last year.

Magagna’s lobbying was effective while the “Treatment of Predators Working Group” was working up the legislation that became HB 3. Gov. Mark Gordon even intervened, telling the ad hoc panel to, “Punish unacceptable behavior and deter acts of animal cruelty without interfering with the ability to manage predators.”

Schmid, who’s a former Wyoming Game and Fish commissioner, will attempt to placate those concerns and “protect the private landowners and ranchers.”

“If they need to use a snowmachine to manage their stock and their operations,” he said, “they’re allowed to do that on their private lands.”

Schmid’s forthcoming bill is inspired by the ethical code he adheres to as an avid hunter.

A coyote runs from people chasing it on snowmobiles. Videos that show people running down wildlife while riding snowmobiles can be found online with relative ease. (YouTube screenshot)

“I hear, ‘Well, it’s just a coyote,’” Schmid said. “But it is a living creature and it deserves the same respect as a bull elk or an iconic mule deer buck. That’s my opinion.”

“I just believe that’s not a way to treat an animal,” he added. “This wolf incident brought it to light, and it’s time to make a change.”

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Wyoming

Cowboys out-shoot Cal State Fullerton for 92-82 home win Saturday

Published

11 hours ago

November 9, 2025

Press Room

Cowboys out-shoot Cal State Fullerton for 92-82 home win Saturday

LARAMIE, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming Men’s Basketball team advances to 2-0 after besting Cal State Fullerton 92-82 Saturday. The Pokes and the Titans shot at a near identical efficiency from the field, but it was the three ball that gave Wyoming the upper hand.

The Pokes and the Titans shot 44% and 43% from the field, respectively. While the Pokes were much less efficient than the Titans from the charity stripe, Wyoming balled out from three. There, they shot 38% as a team, while Cal State Fullerton shot just 18%.

Wyoming’s Naz Meyer continues to prove he belongs, as he led the Pokes in scoring and was second on the team with rebounds with 18 and 5. Guard Demarion Dennis was close behind with 16. Khaden Bennet rounds out the list of Pokes scoring in double digits with 15.

“So many good things that we did tonight and tip of the cap to Fullerton, as they came ready to play,” Wyoming Head Coach Sundance Wicks told UW Athletics post-game. “We have to keep proving we will be a hard team to play against. They got us in transition, and their pace had us on our heels in the first half. But we won the Possession game by 10 and that’s winning basketball.”

Leland Walker versus Cal State Fullerton Nov. 8, 2025 (Garrett Grochowski, Oil City News)

Leland Walker, who joins Wyoming from Florida Atlantic, shared the wealth with a team-high six assists. All in all, all but two Pokes got points on the board for Wyoming.

The Titans jumped to an early 5-0 lead as the game began, keeping the Cowboys without any field goals for the first three minutes. It was a layup from Walker that got the Pokes their first bucket of the afternoon.

Dennis fueled the Pokes offense while they crawled their way back up to even with the Titans, finally tying the game 7-7 just under the 16-minute mark in the half. Titans Joshua Ward and Jaden Henderson kept the score close until Wyoming jumped to a game-high 10-point lead with 7:53 left in the half.

It was ultimately Wyoming’s three-point game that gave them the advantage, especially in the second half. In the first, the Pokes were just 4-15 from three. They drained eight more on 15 attempts after the break.

Missed free throws from the Pokes helped the Titans stay in the game as well. Wyoming was just 59% from the stripe to Cal State Fullerton’s 72%. Regardless, any Titan run was quickly snuffed-out by Wyoming’s well-rounded offense.

The Pokes built a sustainable five-point lead going into crunch time and drained the free throws Fullerton drew trying to get last-minute possessions, fluffing the lead to the game’s final 92-82 box score.

The Cowboys will next face Austin Peay State University Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Laramie. For more information, see the Cowboys’ schedule here.

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Abou Magassa versus Cal State Fullerton Nov. 8, 2025 (Garrett Grochowski, Oil City News)

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Wyoming

Wyoming Family Bags Five Huge Mule Deer In One Incredible Season

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2025

Press Room

Wyoming Family Bags Five Huge Mule Deer In One Incredible Season

If there is one lesson to be taken away from a Wyoming family’s magnificent mule deer hunting season, it’s that putting in the work scouting an area ahead of time can pay off big time.

Ryan and Jannette Hansen — along with their sons Tanner, 17, Brock, 15 and Parker, 13 — all shot huge bucks in the same southwest Wyoming deer hunt area.

The family lives in Mountain Home in Uinta County, and spending time outdoors has been a way of life for them. Ryan and Jannette both grew up hunting.

The couple also has two adult sons that have left home and were also raised as avid hunters.

But even amid such a legacy, the Hansens’ 2025 deer hunting season was exceptional.

Ryan told Cowboy State Daily that it partly came down to luck, and sheer tenacity while hunting.

However, he credits the family putting in the work ahead of time. Once they drew tags for the hunt area, they spent months scouting it.

They put in countless hours getting to know the terrain, hiking all over the place, observing deer’s movements, and picking out which bucks they wanted to go after once the hunting season started.

“It wasn’t just a case of, ‘Hey, let’s go drive down the road and see if we can shoot a deer,’” he said.

“We really put in the work ahead of time. We put in the effort, and we were rewarded and blessed for our efforts,” Ryan added.

Parker Hansen got this mule deer buck during a family hunting trip in southwest Wyoming. (Courtesy Ryan Hansen)

One Heck Of A First Deer

Their hunt area “has it all” in terms of terrain and deer habitat, Ryan said.

Vast sage flats, rugged canyons, thick timber, mountain slopes; it’s all there, and the deer thrive in it, he said.

The family started hunting there during the September archery season but didn’t get any deer.

Mule deer are notoriously difficult to hunt with a bow, Ryan said.

“We had a lot of failed stalks, and a couple of missed shots,” he said.

“Anybody that kills a mule deer with a bow is definitely a stud in my book. In all of our books,” he added.

The rifle hunting season ran from Oct. 15 to Oct. 31, and the Hansens took full advantage of it.

Parker got the first buck, on opening day of rifle season.

He made a great shot at 463 yards, and it was his first deer ever.

When asked by Cowboy State Daily how he plans to follow up getting a big buck as his first deer, Parker gave a simple answer.

“Get a bigger deer,” he said.

Parker’s buck was at the bottom of a steep canyon.

“That was definitely a hard pack out. It was literally straight up and out of that canyon,” gaining about 700 feet in elevation, Ryan said.

Tanner Hansen got this mule deer buck during a family hunting trip in southwest Wyoming. (Courtesy Ryan Hansen)

One Buck After Another

Jannette shot her buck the next day, at 250 yards. Packing that deer out was easier than Parker’s buck had been but still challenging, Ryan said.

“I’m glad I had Tanner, he’s my pack horse,” he said.

Tanner told Cowboy State Daily that packing out big game animals comes naturally to him.

“It’s something I love to do, I’m a hiker,” he said.

The day that Brock dropped his buck didn’t start out so well.

“He woke up sick, throwing up,” Ryan said.

Brock still insisted on going hunting. As the morning progressed, he started feeling a little better.

“When we stopped for lunch, he got worse again,” Ryan said.

Jannette considered taking him home. But on the drive out they spotted a nice buck, which disappeared into some timber.

They decided to go after it. Ryan practically had to carry Brock because his son was so weakened by sickness.

But Brock was still excited to get the opportunity. They found the buck again and everything came together when Brock made a 160-yard shot.

He told Cowboy State Daily that the adrenaline rush of getting a chance at such a quality buck helped him forget his illness for a short while.

“It was because he was so big,” Brock said.

The family returned home, and Tanner and Ryan went back out by themselves.

They hunted all day with no luck. As evening settled in, they were high on a ridge when Tanner finally spotted a buck he wanted to go after, far below.

“He bombed off the top of that ridge and went right after him (the buck),” Ryan said.

Ryan went back to the truck and drove to where he knew Tanner would probably come out after pursuing the deer.

“It was about 10 miles of driving to get back to where he was,” Ryan said.

Tanner tracked the buck, and when it jumped from cover, he made a 250-yard shot.

Father and son packed the deer out in the dark, with headlamps to light their way.

Jannette Hansen got this mule deer buck during a family hunting trip in southwest Wyoming. (Courtesy Ryan Hansen)

A Bittersweet Ending

Only Ryan’s deer tag was left unfilled. The rest of the family returned for the weekend and they hunted together, but to no avail.

With the season coming to an end and his family back home, Ryan headed out for the last couple of days with a good family friend.

They moved to a different section of the hunt unit, and when Ryan’s opportunity finally came, he dropped his buck with a 150-yard shot.

The deer hunting season that is sure to become a family legend was finally over.

“I was relieved that we were done. But kind of sad at the same time. It was a culmination of everything we had done,” Ryan said.

Brock Hansen got this mule deer buck during a family hunting trip in southwest Wyoming. (Courtesy Ryan Hansen)

A Freezer Full Of Venison

Jannette told Cowboy State Daily that she’s immensely proud of her family’s hunting accomplishment, and she doesn’t take living in Wyoming for granted.

“My nieces and nephews live in the city, and they don’t even go outside,” she said.

“Living in Wyoming is such a huge blessing in and of itself, for sure. It was a blessing for us to go out as a family and get all five deer,” she added.

The boys decided to get European mounts of their bucks. That being, a simple trophy mount, with just the animal’s cleaned skull and antlers.

Ryan and Jannette plan to have a taxidermist do full shoulder mounts of their bucks, together on a double pedestal.

“It will be a ‘his and hers’ double buck taxidermy mount,” Ryan said.

For the family, the hunt isn’t just about the trophies and bragging rights. Hunting is still about being solidly connected to the time-honored tradition of providing themselves with fresh venison.

“Those deer don’t go to waste. We eat every bit of them,” Ryan said.

Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.

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