Wyoming

Wyoming Rancher Worries More Elk Tags Will Make Herds Hide From Hunters

Published

11 months ago

April 23, 2025

Wyoming Rancher Worries More Elk Tags Will Make Herds Hide From Hunters

At first glance, it might seem that an abundance of elk is a good problem for Wyoming hunters and outfitters to have.

But things get complicated when it gets down to the nitty-gritty of elk tag allocations, providing hunting access and balancing the allure of high-dollar trophy bull hunts with the need for average Janes and Joes who just want to shoot a cow elk to fill their freezers.

The current quandaries are encapsulated in Elk Hunt Area 123, situated southeast of Gillette in Campbell and Weston counties.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday voted to increase the number of Type 6, reduced-price cow elk tags there. The commission also voted to issue 150 Type 1 bull elk tags for the 2025 hunting season.

Hunters can also use Type 8 cow elk tags in Area 123. Hunters can buy as many Type 8 tags as they want, to kill cow elk on private property.

‘Those Elk Are Going To Leave’

Kyle Wendtland has hunted elk for many years in Area 123 and was the environmental manager for three coal mines in the region.

He also works closely with Shane Farella, the owner and manager of the Keeline Ranch in Campbell and Weston Counties. Some of his property is at the southern end of Hunt Area 123.

The ranch is a haven for elk, including some huge trophy bulls.

Wendtland and Farella told Cowboy State Daily they worry that if Game and Fish puts too much pressure on elk in Area 123, it could ruin things for public land hunters there.

“If you saturate that limited amount of public land with hunters, those elk are going to leave, and they’re not going to come back,” Wendtland said.

A Small Area With A Big Punch

As Wyoming elk hunt areas go, Area 123 is small. (Elk Hunt Area 7, mostly in Albany County, is the size of some small countries.)

Hunt Area 123 is estimated to hold about 1,200 to 1,500 elk.

It’s been a hidden gem, where there’s typically been a high rate of satisfaction for local, public land hunters, Farella said.

And tucked away on private property such as his, there’s opportunity to bag gigantic trophy bull elk, he said.

Well-heeled hunters have paid north of $30,000 for Game and Fish Commissioners’ elk tags and chosen to hunt bulls on his property, he said.

Commissioners’ and Governor’s hunting tags are limited items, auctioned off each year, with the funds going back into the Game and Fish budget.

Commissioners’ tags are good only in whichever hunt area the purchaser chooses. Governor’s tags are good throughout the entire state.

Bull tags are issued in Hunt Area 123 once every three years, and Farella said the quality of bull elk on his property has attracted commissioners’ tag holders a few times.

At one time in the past, “we went to once every other year for bull tags, and the bull size and quality fell,” Farella said.

During bull seasons, he’ll outfit groups of three to five hunters on his property, looking for the best of the best when it comes to trophy bulls.

“We typically don’t kill bulls under the 350-class,” he said.

He was referring to the official trophy measurement system authorized by the Boone and Crockett Club (B&C). It involves compiling measurements of the length and girth at several points along an animal’s antlers.

A total score of 350 inches, B&C, is impressive for an elk. Scores of 400 or more are outright monsters, and rare in Wyoming.

But Farella said some 400-class bull elk have been killed in Hunt Area 123.

Don’t Want A Repeat Of Southeast Wyoming

In parts of Wyoming, elk herds ballooning well beyond the Game and Fish’s target populations has become a serious problem.

Ranchers have grown weary of elk gobbling up forage on their pastures, raiding haystacks, tearing up fences and otherwise causing trouble.

However, some hunters complain that landowners aren’t granting them enough access to go shoot the elk and trim down their numbers.

When it comes to big game numbers in Wyoming and the West, elk herds out outpacing other species.

Mule deer continue to struggle, and Wyoming’s vaunted Sublette antelope herd isstill reeling from catastrophic winterkill losses in 2022 to 2023.

But elk numbers are booming. So much so, that game managers fret that hunters can’t kill elk fast enough in parts of Wyoming.

In Hunt Area 123, Game and Fish is trying to avoid the sort of elk population booms that have hit hunt areas 6 and 7 in southeast Wyoming.

“We’re trying to be aggressive. We’re trying to get this (Elk Hunt Area 123) herd managed,” Game and Fish Sheridan area regional wildlife manager Dustin Shorma told the commission on Tuesday.

We’ll See How It Goes

Farella said he doesn’t mind an abundance of elk on his property.

And so far, enough of the elk cross from his property and on to public land to keep local cow elk hunters satisfied, he said.

He’s concerned that if Game and Fish allows too much hunting pressure on Area 123, it could ruin opportunities on public land and tempt more hunters to trespass on his property and other ranches.

And if elk get pushed too hard by too many hunters, they might take refuge on reclaimed coal mine properties in the area, he added.

If the elk camp out and eat too much of the reclaimed forage, it could hamper mining companies’ ability to be released from federal reclamation bonds, Farella stated in a letter to the Game and Fish Commission.

“These regulatory requirements include not only vegetation production, but also diversity index requirements, and sagebrush density requirements. In the event these lands receive intensive or excessive grazing by wildlife, it could negatively impact the ability for these lands and the coal operators to obtain final bond release,” he wrote to the commissioners.

Wendtland and Farella said they’ve tried to warn Game and Fish against putting too much pressure on Hunt Area 123.

But with the commission’s decision on Tuesday, a busier hunting season this fall seems inevitable.

It will be a matter of seeing how it plays out, Wendtland said.

“They’re going to go forward with this this year, and I think they will be willing to sit down with Mr. Farella after a year’s time,” he said.

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

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Wyoming

Outdoor Fun Awaits At Local Parks With Izaak Walton League’s Hiking Series From April To September

Published

4 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Outdoor Fun Awaits At Local Parks With Izaak Walton League’s Hiking Series From April To September

Hiking can be an activity that you enjoy doing on your own, but sometimes you need a little extra inspiration, and a group hike is exactly what you need. If you’re looking for a group to explore the outdoors with, the Charles E. Piersall chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America hiking group may be what you’re looking for.

The mission of the IWLA:

To engage the community in the conservation, restoration, and promotion of environmental protection, we focus on the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife. This commitment is essential for a sustainable future, and activities like hiking help foster a connection with nature

The group is open to all ages, and even your pup can join in on the fun if they’re on a leash. There is a series of hikes planned beginning on April 1. Nope, this isn’t a prank; it is a real chance to meet other outdoor lovers and take in some of the area’s best hiking trails. The hikes are scheduled on the odd Wednesdays from April to September, weather permitting.

Join us to connect with others who appreciate the beauty of outdoor hiking and environmental advocacy hiking. Remember to bring drinking water, snacks, good walking shoes or boots, and a jacket. A walking stick or hiking poles can also be helpful.

Here are the hikes they have planned for this summer.

April 2026

Wednesday, April 1, 6 pm, Morad Park to Paradise Valley:
Wednesday, April 15, 6 pm, Edness K. Wilkins State Park:
Wednesday, April 29, 6 pm, Tate Pumphouse, Golf Course loop:

May 2026

June 2026

July 2026

Wednesday, July 1, 6 pm, Muddy Mountain, North Face:
Wednesday, July 15, 6 pm, Muddy Mountain, Beaver Ponds:
Wednesday, July 29, 6 pm, Casper Mountain, Biathlon:

August 2026

September 2026

16 Types Of Hikes Explained

7 Trails To Hike In Central Wyoming

There’s no doubt about it, the entire state of Wyoming is covered in amazing hiking trails. If you’re visiting central Wyoming here are 7 trails that you should check out. I’ve organized them from easier to harder, ending with Laramie Peak.

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Wyoming

Wyoming Reporter Now Facing An Additional 10 Felony Charges

Published

16 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming Reporter Now Facing An Additional 10 Felony Charges

The Platte County Attorney’s Office has nearly doubled the possible penalties for a Wyoming reporter accused of forging exhibits in an environmental case tied to her staunch opposition to a wind farm.

The 10 new counts against April Marie Morganroth, also known as the Wyoming-based reporter Marie Hamilton, allege that she convinced her landlords that she’d been approved for a home loan to buy their property, and grants to upgrade it.

Hamilton was already facing 10 felony charges in a March 9 Wheatland Circuit Court case, as she’s accused of submitting forged documents and lying under oath before the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council.

That’s an environmental permitting panel that granted a permit to a NextEra Resources wind farm, which Hamilton has long opposed. She’s also reported on NextEra’s efforts and the community controversies surrounding those.

Then on Wednesday, Platte County Attorney Douglas Weaver filed 10 more felony charges: five alleging possession of forged writing, and five more alleging forgery.

The former is punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines; the latter by up to 10 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines.

Hamilton faces up to 65 years in prison if convicted of all charges in her March 9 case. The March 25 case would add up to 75 years more to that.

Both cases are ongoing.

Hamilton did not immediately respond to a voicemail request for comment left Thursday afternoon on her cellphone. She bonded out of jail earlier this month. The Platte County Detention Center said Thursday it does “not have her here.”

The Investigative Efforts Of Benjamin Peech

Converse County Sheriff’s Lt. Benjamin Peech investigated both cases at the request of Platte County authorities, court documents say.

When he was investigating evidence that Hamilton submitted forged documents and lied under oath for Industrial Siting Council proceedings, Peech also pursued Hamilton’s claim that she owned property on JJ Road, and that she’d bought it with a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan.

The property, however, is registered under Platte County’s mapping system to a couple surnamed Gillis, says a new affidavit Peech signed March 19, which was filed Wednesday.

Peech spoke with both husband and wife, and they said they had the home on the market to sell it, and Hamilton contacted them in about July of 2025.

Hamilton told the pair that she and her husband wished to buy the property and were pre-qualified for a USDA loan through Neighbor’s Bank, wrote Peech.

But the property didn’t meet the standard of the loan, Hamilton reportedly continued. Still, she’d been approved for a USDA grant to work on the problems with the property and bring it up to the standards to qualify for the loan, she allegedly told the homeowners.

Papers

Hamilton provided the couple and their realtor with letters from USDA showing her loan pre-approval and grant approvals, the affidavit says.

During the lease period that followed, Hamilton was late “often” with rent and didn’t provide the couple with work logs until pressed, Peech wrote.

In early 2026, the lieutenant continued, the homeowners became concerned and asked Hamilton about her progress improving the property.

Hamilton reportedly sent the homeowners two invoices from contractors, showing she’d paid for work to be done. She said the wind had delayed that work, wrote Peech.

The affidavit says the Gillis couple sent Peech the documents Hamilton had reportedly given them, along with supporting emails showing those had come from one of Hamilton’s email addresses.

The Loan approval documents showed the respective logos for USDA Rural Development and Neighbor’s Bank at the top of each page, the lieutenant wrote, adding that the documents assert that Hamilton and her husband had been approved for the loan.

“There was then a list of items that needed to be completed — 14 items — prior to Final Loan Approval,” related Peech in the affidavit.

A signature at the bottom reportedly read, “Sincerely, USDA Rural Development Neighbors Bank Joshua Harris Homebuying Specialist.”

Grant Document

The documents purporting Hamilton had received a grant also showed the USDA Rural Development logo at the top of each page, with the names of Hamilton and her husband, other boilerplate language and a description of a $35,000 home buyer’s grant.

The project was about 65% complete at the time of review, the document adds, according to Peech’s narrative.

Peech describes more documents: a January notice, an invoice bearing the logo and name of “Cowgirl Demolition and Excavation, LLC,” and another invoice bearing the logo and name of “Pete’s Builders Roofing and Restoration.”

Real Estate Agent

Peech spoke with the Gillises’ real estate agent, Kay Pope, and she said she’d tried to verify the USDA grant and pre-approval by calling Susan Allman, who was listed in the documents as the Casper-based USDA agent. Pope left several messages without response, the affidavit says.

Pope spoke with Hamilton’s real estate agent, and he said he’d spoken to Allman, and he gave Pope a phone number.

Cowboy State Daily has identified Hamilton’s real estate agent and tried to contact him for further clarification.

Pope called that number and left messages without response, wrote Peech.

Peech then called a USDA Rural Development office and spoke with a Janice Blare, deputy state director, he wrote.

Peech sent the three USDA letters to Blare and gave her “all of Hamilton’s names and aliases,” he added.

The lieutenant wrote that Blare later told him the USDA investigated the letters and determined no evidence existed to show the USDA had issued them.

No records existed either, of Hamilton “using all her alias permutations” or her husband within either the USDA loan program or grant program, wrote Peech.

The USDA didn’t have an office at the address listed in two of the letters. The address pertains, rather, to a dirt lot. The USDA Rural Development office didn’t have a program titled “Rural Communities Home Buyer Program” as listed on two of the letters.

On Nov. 6, 2025, the date of the first letter purporting Hamilton had been approved for the grant program, all U.S. government offices including USDA were on furlough, noted Peech from his discussion with Blare.

A person named Susan Allman didn’t appear in USDA’s employee records, Blare reportedly added.

The Phone Call

Peech called the cellphone number one of the letters listed for Allman, “and this was disconnected,” he wrote.

The number Hamilton’s real estate agent had given was a voice over internet protocol number that Bandwidth LLC operates but is assigned to Google, added Peech.

Meanwhile, Converse County Investigator Amber Peterson spoke with the construction and roofing companies listed in the documents.

Chad Derenzo of Pete’s Roofing confirmed the logo and name listed on the documents were his company’s own — but said his company hadn’t issued the bid listed in those documents, according to the affidavit.

“Their company had never contracted to do work for Hamilton or at the… JJ Road address,” the document says.

The invoice also bore an address in Torrington, Wyoming, and his company doesn’t have a Torrington office, said Derenzo, reportedly.

Jessica Loge of Cowgirl Demolition and Excavation gave similar statements, saying the documents bore her logo, but her company hadn’t issued the bid or contracted with Hamilton.

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

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Wyoming

Wyoming State Parks announces pause on potential visitor center project at Sinks Canyon State Park

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Wyoming State Parks announces pause on potential visitor center project at Sinks Canyon State Park

(Lander, WY) – The Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources (SPCR) is announcing a pause on a possible visitor center project at Sinks Canyon State Park following public engagement efforts conducted in late 2025. On Dec. 1, 2025, Wyoming State Parks, in partnership with Sinks Canyon WILD, hosted a public forum and gathered […]

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