Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 12:00 am
Nature Explore Classroom hosts open house
Wyoming's first Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom will host an open house at 2 p.m. July 11 at Laurie's Inn, 1901 E. 24th St. in Casper.
The classroom will give children opportunities to explore and learn with nature in a safe environment. Nature Explore is a collaborative program of the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions Educational Research Foundation.
RSVP to Laura Stadfield at 307-333-5406 or e-mail wyosplitsecond@yahoo.com.
Some elk, deer and antelope licenses still available
The 2009 drawings for elk, deer and antelope licenses are now in the books, and, as usual, many hunt areas still have licenses remaining.
Some of the areas have reasonable public access either through public federal and state lands or the Game and Fish hunter management and walk-in area programs. There are also many licenses remaining in hunt areas that are predominantly private lands where public access is difficult. Hunters are advised to obtain permission from landowners before applying for licenses in private land areas.
A listing of the areas with issue-after licenses remaining for each species is found on the Game and Fish Web site {M3gf.state.wy.us.
Issue-after licenses will be sold on a first-come first-served basis, similar to the way the leftover reduced price and regular price licenses were issued following the regular and supplemental drawings in 2008. The date for sale of the remaining full price issue-after licenses will be at 8 a.m. July 7.
Issue-after reduced-price licenses will be sold beginning at 8 a.m. July 21. Reduced-price licenses are typically doe/fawn licenses for deer and antelope and some cow/calf elk licenses and may be purchased in addition to regular full-priced licenses. They are denoted by a Type 6 or 7 in the regulations.
Hunters who have questions on applying for licenses or public access in the different hunt areas can contact the Game and Fish at 307-777-4600.
Hunter Management Area permission slips coming
Hunters who have obtained a license in one of the hunt areas with access through the Game and Fish Hunter Management Area program can get permission slips for most of these areas beginning July 14.
A 2009 list of these areas is posted on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Web site{M3, gf.state.wy.us. Click on Public Access, then Private Lands/Public wildlife/ Hunter Management Areas. Each area has a listing of the species available and the license types that can be used.
Permission slips may be obtained online or through the mail. Mailed applications must include a photocopy of the hunting license, information on the vehicle to be used while hunting and a 7.5- by 10.5-inch self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to: Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Access Permission, 3030 Energy Lane, Casper WY 82607. Permission slips are limited in some areas and are issued on a first-come first-served basis.
For more information, call 307-777-4600.
Sign up now for Hunter Education Instructor Academy
Wyoming residents who would like to become hunter education instructors should sign up for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department annual Hunter Education Instructor Academy July 17-19 at the Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp near Dubois.
The camp is limited to 24, and Hunter Education Coordinator Jim Dawson said a handful of slots are still available.
Attendance at the free camp is an expectation for all new hunter education instructors and is designed to increase effectiveness of the state's hunter education program.
"Those attending will receive instruction on hunter responsibility and ethics, wildlife management, teaching firearms skills and firearms safety, wildlife issues and laws and survival," Dawson said.
Meals and lodging are provided at the camp. Contact Sheridan Voycheske or Caroline Weinberger at 307-777-4563 to register.
Devils Tower lifts June 2009 climbing closure
The June Voluntary Climbing Closure at Devils Tower National Monument ended Wednesday. The 1995 Devils Tower National Monument Climbing Management Plan established an annual voluntary closure for all climbing routes on the Tower out of respect for traditional cultural activities of American Indians. Since 1996, the average number of climbers in June has dropped 85 percent.
American Indians have long regarded the Tower as a sacred site, and many feel that recreational climbing desecrates the Tower. Traditional cultural activities occur at the park throughout the year; however, June is an especially significant time when many ceremonies take place.
Sandy Beach is at capacity
As of Monday, Glendo State Park�s popular camping area, Sandy Beach, is at capacity and is expected to remain that way through the end of the Fourth of July weekend.
All of the reservable and walk-up campsites are currently full, according to Superintendent Dusty Humphreys.
"We don't anticipate those campsites to open up until after the holiday weekend," Humphreys said.
People with reservations at Sandy Beach can expect to have their campsite open and available to them.
Fireworks prohibited at state parks and historical sites
With the Fourth of July on the horizon, Wyoming State Park and Historic Site visitors are reminded that fireworks are prohibited at those venues.
Park rangers are authorized to confiscate fireworks from visitors at any time, and persons caught shooting off fireworks can be fined and/or asked to leave the facility.
Special displays, such as the fireworks event at Keyhole State Park, can be approved by the superintendent through a special use permit. Contact State Parks headquarters at 307-777-6323 with questions.
Fittje fishing is July 18
The 9th annual Hunter Lewis Fittje Memorial Fishing Derby to benefit the Hunter Fittje Scholarship Fund is from 9 to 11 a.m. July 18 at Yesness Pond. Registration fee is $5.
Contests and prizes are for registered participants 0 to 9, but everyone is welcome for the fun and fishing.
Participants should take fishing gear, bait, a lawn chair and sunscreen. Some fishing gear is available to borrow.
Send registration of $5 each to Tyrone Fittje, 210 Daffodil St., Casper, 82604; or register at the event beginning at 8 a.m.
Please make checks payable to the Natrona County Education Foundation.
For more information, call Tyrone or Linda at 266-5735 or 267-5735.
Center plans free mountain hike
The Bureau of Land Management National Historic Trails Interpretive Center staff is conducting a guided hike at Muddy Mountain on from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 11. Interpreters will discuss Muddy Mountain�s unique natural history, including plants, animals and geology.
The hike is approximately 3 miles on easy to moderate trail. Hikers will meet at the Trails Center at 10 a.m. and caravan to the site in their own personal vehicles. Wear sturdy shoes or boots, and bring water and snacks.
The program is free, but space is limited. To make reservations, contact Jason Vlcan at 261-7780.
The 1,260-acre Muddy Mountain Environmental Education Area is a popular recreation area south of Casper. The interpretive nature trail has 28 interpretive signs and is handicap accessible. Two overlooks on the trail provide a unique view of the valley below.
Naturalist night speaker series starts in Jackson
Several special evening programs will be offered at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center this summer as part of a Naturalist Night speaker series.
The visitor center is located at 532 N. Cache St. in Jackson, Wyoming. All programs will be offered at 5:30 p.m. and are free of charge.
* July 14: "Coyotes." Franz Camenzind from the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance will highlight his six years of field research on the ecology and behavior of free-ranging coyotes in Jackson Hole.
* July 28: "Whitebark Pine." Grand Teton National Park Ecologist Nancy Bockino will discuss the changing condition of whitebark pine and the future of the species.
* Aug. 11: "Bighorn Sheep." Aly Courtemanch of the University of Wyoming�s Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit will give an overview of a local project studying bighorn sheep habitat use, seasonal distribution, movement, and survival of both adults and lambs.
* Aug. 25: "Wolves and Wolf Management in Wyoming." U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wolf Biologist Mike Jimenez will discuss wolf biology, predator-prey relationships, wolf-livestock conflicts, and the current wolf population status and legal challenges.
* Sept. 8: "Bears." Wyoming Game & Fish Biologist Mike Boyce will discuss human/bear conflict prevention, bear encounters, and grizzly bear population trends and range expansion.
* Sept. 22: "Elk Migration and Habitat Use." National Elk Refuge Biologist Eric Cole will discuss the seasonal migration patterns of the Jackson Elk Herd, including some of the latest research that allows scientists and managers to accurately track elk movements and habitat use.
For more information, call 307-734-9378.