Wyoming Lawmaker Proposes All-You-Can-Kill Elk Permits for Ranchers

A Wyoming legislator proposed issuing an unlimited number of elk permits to ranchers in an effort to reduce the overpopulation of elk in eastern Wyoming.

Rep. Bill Allemand, R-Midwest, introduced the proposal during a meeting of the Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee on Tuesday during the committee’s meeting in Laramie. According to Cowboy State Daily, the committee had extensive discussion about the overabundance of elk in parts of the state, especially Albany and Laramie counties.

Allemand introduced the idea of issuing unlimited “lethal take” permits to ranchers, which they could either use themselves or hand off to people of their choosing. The permits could be used to shoot as many elk as the holder wants on the property, with $20 going back to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for each elk killed.

Under the proposal, the lethal take permits would be good from Aug.1 until April 1 of the following year.

Allemand initially introduced the lethal take permit program as an amendment to another bill the committee was considering, and then as a stand-alone bill. It failed both times. Allemand told Cowboy State Daily that he may still try to introduce his proposal as a stand-alone bill during the upcoming 2024 Legislative session.