Another step toward grizzly bear hunting

State officials have taken another step toward hosting a grizzly bear hunt later this year. On Thursday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission directed the department’s Wildlife Division to develop regulations for a grizzly hunting season this fall. “The sportsmen of Wyoming have spent about $50 million to help recover the grizzly,” said commissioner Patrick Crank, of Cheyenne, adding, “We’ve recovered the grizzly bear. It’s an amazing success story. I think it’s time we move forward with the department drafting regulations [for hunting].” Brian Nesvik, chief of the Wildlife Division and chief game warden, presented a report on the department’s work to discuss the issue with the public, pointing to support for the hunts. “Overall, there was support across the state for a hunting season. Certainly, there were views on both sides of the issue, but there is a population right now that is robust and healthy enough to be able to support a conservative, regulated hunting season,” Nesvik said at the meeting in Douglas. Immediately following the report, and without questions, commission president Keith Culver asked if there was a consensus to develop hunting regulations; his colleagues voted unanimously to do so...more