Wyoming Game and Fish Department discuss antler sheds and fishing

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - As part of the last legislative session’s efforts to create sideboards around shed hunting.

Two bills emerged to help hunters in the outdoors, going into effect soon.

“This season will be kind of status quo normal as before, and next year, we’ll really see these changes take effect,” said Breanna Ball, Public Relations Officer for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Shed antler hunting season is about to kick off on May 1st in the western part of the state.

Gov. Mark Gordon recently signed two new bills that address shed antlers.

The first bill that will go into effect next year allows residents to collect antlers seven days ahead of non-residents on designated lands.

The second bill requires non-residents to obtain a conservation stamp before their collection; this bill goes into effect on July 15th.

Next, anglers should be aware of increased water flows from the Gray Reef Reservoir along the North Platte river until March 29th.

“The flushing process will improve spawning habitat for the trout population and increase food production of macro and vertebrates for these fish,” said Ball.

Game and fish experts say that before flushing, the fish population was about 400 trout per square mile. After flushing, the number jumped to 3500 trout per square mile along the North Platte river.

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