SF 135: Wolf Management
2007 General Session

Sponsor: Sen. Bruce Burns (R-S21, Sheridan); co-sponsor Rep. Pat Childers (R-H50, Cody)

SF 135 would have amended current state statutes to remove the current trophy game status bestowed upon gray wolves in the federally designated wilderness areas surrounding Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway between the two parks. The bill would have directed the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to designate areas in the state where gray wolves would be classified as trophy game animals, and annually to set hunting seasons and regulations within those areas. Outside of the areas designated by the WGFC, wolves would be classified as predators, legally killed without regulation or reporting.

The areas designated by the WGFC, and the hunting seasons and associated regulations would have had to reasonably ensure that seven breeding pairs of wolves were maintained in Wyoming primarily outside Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. SF 135 contained an appropriation of $2.4 million from the general fund to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to manage gray wolves through June 2008.

SF 135 was drafted, as was HB 213 in the House, to act essentially as a placeholder in case the state and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service arrive at some compromise on Wyoming’s wolf management plan during this legislative session.

The Senate passed SF 135, 22-7 (1 excused). The bill was referred to the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee, which let the bill die with no recorded action when HB 213 was passed.

The votes listed below are the Senate third reading (final passage) votes on SF 135. Motives for votes on this bill are difficult to characterize, since some senators may have voted for the bill not necessarily because they supported its terms but simply to keep it alive in case it was needed as a compromise vehicle.

LINK TO ENGROSSED VERSION