Wyoming
Why Airlifting Cows By Helicopter Not Practical For Wyoming Ranchers
When Wyoming ranchers need to get medical treatment for hurt cattle, a vet may come to the ranch and treat the animal on-site, or if that’s not possible, a cow could be loaded onto a trailer to get to the nearest clinic.
In Switzerland, injured cattle fly the friendly skies.
Because of the rugged landscape and general inaccessibility to where the cattle are, getting cows to vets takes a little extra effort. A video posted last week to the Nature is Amazing X feed (formerly Twitter) shows how that happens with a cow being evacuated from mountainous terrain dangling from a harness attached to a helicopter.
The scene looks like a “Jurassic Park” training video on how to feed a T. rex. While it’s certainly an attention-grabbing thing to see and might be practical in the neutral European nation, the sky is not the limit for Wyoming ranchers with sick or injured cattle.
Udderly Unnecessary
Jim Magagna, executive vice president for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, said aerial vehicles like helicopters and drones are potent tools for Wyoming ranchers to perform a host of tasks. But, airlifting livestock, as shown in the video, isn’t one of them.
“I don’t see how it would be practical,” he said of air ambulances for Cowboy State Cows. “Where would it ever happen? It’s technically doable, but I don’t foresee any real circumstances where it’s likely to be used in Wyoming.”
Topography might have something to do with it. The state of Wyoming is more than six times larger than Switzerland, but several mountain ranges densely cover the European nation.
In such mountainous terrain, the most effective way to move a cow, horse or other livestock might be by hitching it in a harness and sending it skyward. Magagna could only see one scenario where a Wyoming rancher might moo-ve an animal via a helicopter harness.
“If it’s a highly valuable animal, it’s feasible,” he said. “Perhaps a prize bull or something that was lost or needed to be transported quickly for veterinary care. It wouldn’t happen for routine livestock.”
There are a few Kobe beef ranches in Wyoming, and Kobe cows can be worth as much as $30,000 each.
Another potential scenario is if a bull or cow gets itself trapped or stuck in an inaccessible spot while grazing.
Cowboy Country
Maybe flying cattle with a ticket in bare-basic economy is worth the expense in Switzerland. In Wyoming, better solutions are built into the state’s cultural identity.
Magagna likes a conventional approach. If any livestock wander into a rugged area where aerial evacuation could be an option, there’s no reason why a Wyoming cowboy couldn’t get there, too. That’s because the theory that if a cow can get there, it can get out is usually true.
“If the livestock are still mobile, getting up there by horseback and bringing them down is the most normal method,” he said.
The simplest answers might not always be the best or most exciting, but they are often the most economical. Perhaps the Swiss enjoy using as many extravagant tools as possible, which might explain the Swiss Army knife.
But what if an animal was hurt and couldn’t be led out? Apparently, the cow being carried in the helicopter harness in the viral video was injured, a somewhat common occurrence in Switzerland, explaining the evacuation.
Magagna conceded that an injured animal in an inaccessible place might force a rancher to make a tough decision, but they’ve been making those decisions as long as humans have been ranching.
“If an individual animal was injured and wasn’t able to travel on its own,” he said, “I think it would come down to a decision of weighing the value of that animal versus the cost that would be involved in an aerial transport.”
Humanely euthanizing an injured animal might not be the neutral solution preferred by Switzerland, but Wyomingites are pragmatic by nature. That approach is why Magagna believes Wyoming’s ranchers will avoid high-flying ideas for tried-and-true, grounded solutions.
“Even if the livestock owner had their own helicopter that was used to do it, I don’t see it in most cases being feasible,” he said. “I’m not saying it couldn’t be, but I don’t see how it would be practical.”
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Screenshot of airlifted cow ((YouTube)) -
This still image from a video posted to X by Nature is Amazing shows a cow dangling from a helicopter in Switzerland. (@AMAZINGNATURE via X)
Flying Deer
Helicopter transport might be too “pie in the sky” for Wyoming ranchers, but flying hoof stock can still be spotted in Cowboy State skies. Because while aerial transport isn’t practical for ranching, it is for wildlife management.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department occasionally uses helicopters to relocate wildlife. For instance, capturing and moving mule deer allows researchers to check it for disease, take biological samples and outfit it with radio collars for movement and migration studies.
In those scenarios, helicopters are operated by flight and capture crews from private contractors rather than Wyoming Game and Fish personnel. Many contractors come from New Zealand, where, like in Switzerland, moving and managing livestock with helicopters is more common.
“Most of those guys are Kiwis,” Shawn Blajszczak, the Wyoming regional director of the Mule Deer Foundation, told Cowboy State Daily. “It’s extremely dangerous work.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at: ARossi@CowboyStateDaily.com
Living the outdoor lifestyle is one of the major attractions of Wyoming for residents. Hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, wildlife, and sightseeing bring millions of people to visit each year. Conservation plays a significant role in keeping those options available for everyone, and it takes many people working together to make that happen.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department relies on those who are passionate about conserving the Wyoming way of life, and there are always those who go above and beyond. That’s why WGFD is now taking nominations for the 2026 class of the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made significant and lasting lifetime contributions to the conservation of Wyoming’s outdoor heritage. Since 2004, it has recognized individuals who have worked consistently over many years to conserve Wyoming’s natural resources through volunteer service, environmental restoration, educational activities, audio/visual and written media, the arts and political and individual leadership.
Historic names like President Theodore Roosevelt, Curt Gowdy, James H. “Jim” Bridger, and Buffalo Bill Cody are among the names who have been etched into Wyoming history by being inducted into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame.
Could your name be next to those? Absolutely, if you meet the criteria.
The following represents standards for induction into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame. The Selection Committee shall use these standards as a written guide in making inductee selections. but shall not be limited to only these standards:
- Whether the nominee’s contribution was of such a nature as to have statewide, inter-state or national significance;
- Whether the nominee’s contribution affected a wide range of natural resources and their
use; - Whether the nominee’s contributions were made in a manner that will enable them to be
measured in the context of past inductee or nominee contributions, and in the historical
setting of the time in which he or she lived, or lives; - The nominee must have influenced conservation in Wyoming through a sustained and
outstanding contribution during the course of their employment, or through volunteer efforts, in at least one – and preferably several – of the following areas:- Environmental law enforcement
- Applied resource management
- Conservation education
- Conservation policy formation, legislation, and public leadership
- Conservation-oriented research
- Conservation literature, art, or journalism
- Volunteer or paid efforts in the interest of conservation
- If the nominee is a living person, to be considered, they shall be at a stage in their career where their contributions to conservation are undeniable and unlikely to be impugned by any present or future endeavors.
On top of the Hall of Fame nominations, WGFD is looking for nominations for the Wyoming Youth Conservationist of the Year award. This award honors residents 18 and under for their leadership and achievements in conservation.
The nomination process is simple and will be open until March 31.
To nominate someone for the Hall of Fame: HERE is a step-by-step guide.
To nominate someone 18 and younger for the Youth Conservationist of the Year award: HERE is a step-by-step guide.
PHOTOS: Wyoming Outdoor Weekend
Top 25 Wild Mammals That Call Wyoming Home
Wyoming is home to well over 100 mammal species.
Gallery Credit: Getty Images
Week 7 of Wyoming prep girls’ basketball is here. The push towards the postseason begins in the last week of January. Teams continue to focus on conference games, as there are no tournaments for the second straight week. At least one game is on all six days of the competition week. There are a lot of league games, but also several cross-quad and interclass matchups.
WYOPREPS WEEK 7 GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2026
Some schools that are near the border will face an opponent from outside Wyoming. The number of games also varies, as some teams play once, and a few play as many as three times this week. Here is the Week 7 schedule of varsity games WyoPreps has. If you see a game missing, please email david@wyopreps.com. All schedules are subject to change.
Non-Varsity Opponent
Final Score: Burns C 41 1A Guernsey-Sunrise 22
Interclass
Final Score: 3A Lyman 50 2A Kemmerer 17
Final Score: 1A #1 Burlington 65 2A Greybull 29
Out-of-State Opponent
Final Score: Morrill, NE 60 1A Lingle-Ft. Laramie 50
Final Score: Teton (Driggs, ID) 51 4A Jackson 35
Final Score: 1A Saratoga 51 North Park (Walden, CO) 17
Final Score: Harding County, SD, 68 1A #5 Upton 19
Non-Varsity Opponent
Final Score: 1A Arvada-Clearmont 56 Buffalo Freshmen 38
New basketball rankings are available from WyoPreps on Wednesdays.
Class 4A
Final Score: #1 Cheyenne East 56 Cheyenne South 8 (conference game)
Final Score: Cheyenne Central 55 #3 Laramie 47 (conference game)
Class 4A
Riverton at Evanston, 4:30 p.m. (conference game)
#4 Thunder Basin at Campbell County, 6 p.m. (conference game)
Class 3A
#4 Wheatland at Burns, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Powell at #5 Lovell, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Class 2A
#3 Wyoming Indian at Wind River, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Class 1A
#3 Southeast at Lingle-Ft. Laramie, 5 p.m. (conference game) [at EWC in Torrington]
St. Stephens at Meeteetse, 5 p.m. (conference game)
Interclass
2A Kemmerer at 3A Mountain View, 5:30 p.m.
Out-of-State Opponent
2A #2 Sundance at Harding County, SD, 5:15 p.m.
2A Big Piney at Rich, UT, 5:30 p.m.
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Class 4A
#2 Green River at Rock Springs, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Campbell County at #5 Sheridan, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Kelly Walsh at Natrona County, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
#1 Cheyenne East at #3 Laramie, 6 p.m. (conference game)
Cheyenne Central at Cheyenne South, 6 p.m. (conference game) [at Storey Gym]
Star Valley at Jackson, 6 p.m. (conference game)
Class 3A
#1 Cody at Worland, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
#3 Lander at #2 Pinedale, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Newcastle at #4 Wheatland, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Buffalo at Powell, 5:30 p.m.
Douglas at Glenrock, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Lyman at Mountain View, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Torrington at Rawlins, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Class 2A
Moorcroft at #4 Tongue River, 2 p.m.
#1 Big Horn at Wright, 5:30 p.m.
Greybull at Shoshoni, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Thermopolis at Rocky Mountain, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Class 1A
#5 Upton at Midwest, 2 p.m. (conference game)
#2 Cokeville at Farson-Eden, 3 p.m. (conference game)
Fort Washakie at Saratoga, 4 p.m. (conference game)
Kaycee at Hulett, 5 p.m. (conference game)
#1 Burlington at Riverside, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
#4 Little Snake River at Encampment, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Casper Christian at Arvada-Clearmont, 5:30 p.m. (conference game)
Interclass
1A #3 Southeast at 2A #5 Pine Bluffs, 5:30 p.m.
Class 4A
#5 Sheridan at #4 Thunder Basin, 3:30 p.m. (conference game)
Class 3A
Rawlins at Newcastle, 2:30 p.m. (conference game)
Worland at Buffalo, 3 p.m.
Douglas at Burns, 3:30 p.m. (conference game)
Glenrock at Torrington, 4:30 p.m. (conference game)
Class 2A
#1 Big Horn at Rocky Mountain, 1:30 p.m.
#4 Tongue River at Greybull, 2:30 p.m.
Wright at Moorcroft, 2:30 p.m.
Class 1A
Fort Washakie at Encampment, noon (conference game)
H.E.M. at Casper Christian, noon
Meeteetse at Dubois, 1 p.m. (conference game)
Rock River at Midwest, 1 p.m.
Riverside at St. Stephens, 1:30 p.m. (conference game)
Kaycee at #5 Upton, 3 p.m. (conference game)
Interclass
2A Wind River at 1A Saratoga, 1:30 p.m.
1A Lingle-Ft. Laramie at 2A #5 Pine Bluffs, 2:30 p.m.
2A Thermopolis at 3A #5 Lovell, 4 p.m.
Out-of-State Opponent
Grace, ID at 1A #2 Cokeville, 2:30 p.m.
Lusk versus Rock River high school basketball 2026
Game action between the Tigers and Longhorns
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Lisa Shaw
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