Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
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The University of Wyoming Extension will offer eight private pesticide applicator education programs at various locations in northeast Wyoming Jan. 25 through March 14, 2024. Private applicator licenses are required for anyone who applies or supervises the application of Restricted Use Pesticides (RUPs). The four-hour private applicator education programs provide an overview of certification requirements, pertinent regulations, pesticide safety and handling, proper disposal practices and more....
Winter took its time coming this year, but the snow made itself felt as the week began, ushering in frigid temps that promise to continue for the next few days....
On New Year's Day, Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites hosted a record number of participants during their annual First Day Hikes with 1132 attendees hiking more than 2000 miles. This reflects a 206% increase in participation from 2023. Locally, Keyhole State Park welcomed 48 hikers to the event. "Each year, our agency strives to enhance this annual event in ways that will continue to encourage both returning and first-time guests to join us outdoors for this special occasion, and we were,...
Sundance Rod and Gun Club recently held their annual Horn Night. In the youth category, the Best Elk was Cash Peterson, Best Deer was Silas Speidel, Best Turkey was Brady Bock, Best Antelope was Silas Speidel. Best Overall was Elk Nick Ferderer, Best Deer was Silas Speidel, Best Turkey was Brady Bock and Antelope was Duane Ferderer. Winner of the Grand Slam (best average score of all four species) was Brian Bock. In the fish category, Best Rainbow was Parker Seely and Best Walleye was Mike...
Wyoming State Parks has announced the launch of a new reservation and permit sales system that it says will offer a more streamlined experience for recreationists looking to enjoy the state’s outdoor opportunities. The new website allows you to refine your needs when staying in a state park, from the type of camping or lodging you’d prefer through to the type of camping equipment you will bring. Once you select from the available options, you can view maps detailing exactly where each available site is located and additional information, suc...
Site Name Elevation (ft.) Current Snow Depth (in.) Current Snow Water Equivalent (in.) 30-year Median SWE Last Year’s SWE Current Percent of 30-year Median SWE Blind Park Snotel 6870 8 1.3 3.2 * 41 Cole Canyon Snotel 5870 5 1.3 2.5 * 52 Ditch Creek 6880 5.5 0.6 1.9 * 32 Little Bear Run 6240 1.7 0.2 1.7 * 12 Mallo 6240 8.8 1.1 3 * 37 Mount Tom 5560 6.8 0.6 2.3 * 26 North Rapid Creek Snotel 6250 11 2.9 3.2 * 91 * No data collected. Submitted by Sherry Burr, NRCS...
Wyoming Game & Fish announced this week that, despite breaking records for high-risk watercraft inspections this year, the state’s waters appear to still be free from invasive mussels. According to the announcement, the department inspected over 73,000 boats across the state. Personnel decontaminated 1154 watercraft and found mussels on 64 of them, both the highest number since the Aquatic Invasive Species program began in 2010. “This year we saw another increase in high-risk watercraft moving through Wyoming’s check stations,” said Josh Le...
Seasonal gates and recreation sites that are not open through the winter on the Black Hills National Forest were closed on Friday, December 15. Gates are closed to provide seasonal refuge for wildlife, protect natural resources and provide for public safety as some roads are converted to snowmobile trails. Seasonally closed roads and trails are identified on the current Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM). Snowmobile trails are open from December 15 to March 31 annually. Wheeled vehicles are not allowed on the snowmobile trails during that time...
The assessment phase is now complete for the Black Hills National Forest Plan Revision process and a total of 20 revised, forest-wide resource assessments have been released. The 20 assessments evaluate existing information about current and relevant ecological, economic and social conditions, trends and sustainability on the Forest, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The purpose of conducting assessments is to identify the need to change the Land Management Plan. These will be used, according to the USFS, alongsi...
To guide how climbing opportunities are managed in national forests, grasslands and parks, public input is requested on new guidance for U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and National Park Service (NPS) personnel. The public comment period is open until January 16. The guidance covers all climbing types, including rock climbing, snow and ice climbing, mountaineering, canyoneering and caving. It affirms that this is an appropriate use of public lands, including wilderness, and that it should be managed in a way that protects cultural and natural resour...
The most popular creature in town this week makes a break for the safety of the trees. Happy Thanksgiving!...
This is the time of year to celebrate old and new traditions with family and friends, like venturing into your favorite national forest to harvest your own Christmas tree. Black Hills National Forest Christmas tree permits are now available for purchase either online at Recreation.gov, from your local Forest Service office or from private vendors throughout the Black Hills. To purchase a permit online, visit Recreation.gov and search for Black Hills National Forest Christmas Tree Permit. It is important to carefully read the overview and...
The Bureau of Land Management Newcastle Field Office plans to burn slash piles this winter on BLM-administered lands in Crook and Weston counties. Burning may continue as conditions permit through April 2024. All prescribed burn projects are conducted in accordance with approved burn plans and burning is contingent on fuel moisture and weather meeting appropriate treatment conditions on site. Smoke may be visible from the surrounding areas during burning operations and days following as slash materials consume. The purpose of the planned burns...
Regional Forester Frank Beum has selected Shawn Cochran as the new permanent Forest Supervisor for Black Hills National Forest. Cochran has served the last five years as Forest Supervisor on the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. He replaces acting forest supervisor Ivan Green. Cochran reports to the Black Hills National Forest effective Jan. 14, 2024. "We are happy that Shawn has accepted the position of Forest Supervisor on the Black Hills," said Beum. "Keeping the important work of the Black Hills National Forest moving forward...
Frost-covered trees brings a touch of beauty to a cold and foggy day on East Main Street Friday morning, after the first snow of the season....
Wyoming Game and Fish is asking residents to properly dispose of pumpkins instead of leaving them out for wildlife to eat. While it may seem harmless to leave pumpkins out, it is quite the opposite, especially for mule deer whose digestive system cannot process unnatural foods. This often leads to sick animals. Additionally, pumpkins left outside can attract scavenging animals, from raccoons to bears. “This time of year we get many calls about sickly deer fawns and much of this can be attributed to these deer eating foods that offer little nutr...
Wyoming Game & Fish (WGF) has released its law enforcement statistics for the year of 2022, showing that both the regions that encapsulate Crook County saw a modest decrease in violations. Sundance forms part of the Casper region, while Moorcroft, Pine Haven and Hulett sit in the Sheridan region. Within the Casper region, WGF has seven district game wardens, one access coordinator, a regional game warden and a regional wildlife supervisor. In 2022, law enforcement documented 522 violations in this region, which was a decrease of 20% from the...
The Black Hills National Forest is seeking nominations for positions on the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board which was established in 2003 for the purpose of providing advice and recommendations on a broad range of forest issues such as forest plan revisions or management, forest monitoring and evaluation, recreation fees, and site-specific projects having forest-wide implications. The nomination period closes December 1, 2023. The committee is comprised of 16 members who represent the following categories of interests: 1. Economic...
A crew of young and old trail a herd of cows and calves headed for the sorting pens south of Sundance early Tuesday morning on the Kara Creek Ranch....
Hunters will begin receiving surveys through the mail or online this week from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. The intent is to gather feedback on this year’s hunting season to inform wildlife managers when making future decisions. Licensed hunters are selected by random sampling for antelope, deer and elk, but nearly everyone who holds a license for moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, turkey, furbearer, sandhill crane, small game, upland game, migratory game bird, light goose conservation order or s...
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis and all members of the Senate Western Caucus on which she serves as chairman, as well as U.S. Senator John Barrasso, voted to override President Joe Biden’s veto of the resolution that questioned the listing of the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species. In total, 47 senators voted for and 45 against, failing to meet the two-thirds majority required to overturn the veto. “The Biden administration’s heavy-handed interpretations and ongoing abuse of the ESA continues to punish private property owners rathe...
Individuals wearing orange vests will be out and about in the Black Hills National Forest over the next year collecting input on traffic within the forest. Contract employees will be stationed in developed and dispersed recreation sites and along forest service roads and will be out in all types of weather conditions near signs that say “Traffic Survey Ahead.” The National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey began on October 1 and will go through September 30, 2024. The information gathered is useful for forest planning as well as local com...
Wyoming Game & Fish is reminding hunters of a regulation change this season that affects youth deer license-holders. Due to low populations, a full-price, youth deer license does not permit the harvest of mule deer does or fawns during an antlered deer season. This year, youth hunters possessing a full-price, youth deer license may take an antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer (including does and fawns) during an antlered deer season in accordance with the species limitation of their license in the hunt area(s) where their license is vali...
As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, boating season is winding down in Wyoming – and so are the check stations that protect local water bodies from invasive aquatic species. Check stations will begin to close or reduce their hours this month, but the Wyoming Game & Fish Department still requires that any watercraft transported into Wyoming until November 30 undergo a mandatory inspection by an authorized inspector. “Boaters who need to get their watercraft inspected between now and the end of November can stop by a Game and Fis...
Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik, Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder and Governor Mark Gordon joined forces last week to announce a collaborative initiative to expand conservation education opportunities for Wyoming’s youth under Game and Fish’s Inspire a Kid campaign. “Wyoming’s conservation heritage is a through-line that goes back generations,” Governor Gordon said. “Ensuring students have opportunities to experience hands-on learning and gain crucial outdoor skills and knowledge should be part of our commitm...
