Seasonal Prairie Dog Shooting Prohibition - Thunder Basin National Grassland

Signed Forest OrderMapBackground & JustificationResponse to CommentsRegulatory CertificationsRescission of Emergency Order

Order Number MBRTB-2023-DRD-095

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE 
THUNDER BASIN NATIONAL GRASSLAND DOUGLAS RANGER DISTRICT 

PERMANENT SEASONAL PRAIRIE DOG HUNTING PROHIBITION

PROHIBITION 

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R § 26l.50(a), the following act is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Douglas Ranger District of the Thunder Basin National Grassland described in detail below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A ("Restricted Area"): 

1. Hunting prairie dogs in the Restricted Area from February 1 to August 15 of each year. 36 C.F.R. § 261.58(v).

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.    Persons with a special use authorization or other Forest Service authorization specifically exempting them from this Order.

2.    Any Federal, State, or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

RESTRICTED AREA

The Restricted Area is in Campbell, Converse, and Weston Counties, Wyoming, and includes the following sections, township, ranges, and sections: 

• Township 39 North, Range 68 West
  • Section 1 Wl/2
  • Sections 2 and 3 all
  • Section 4 all except Nl/2NEl/4 and Nl/2NWl/4
  • Section 9 Nl/2NEl/4
  • Section 10 El/2 and Nl/2NW1/4
  • Section 11 all except SE1/4SE1/4
  • Section 12 NWI/4 and Nl/2SW1/4
  • Section 14 Nl/2NW1/4
  • Section 15 NE 1/4NE 1/4 
• Township 40 North, Range 68 West
  • Sections 1 -10 all
  • Section 11 all except SEI/4SE1/4
  • Section 12 NWI/4
  • Section 14 NWl/4
  • Section 15 all except SE1/4SW1/4, SEl/4
  • Section 17 all except Wl/2SW1/4, SE1/4SW1/4
  • Section 18 NW1/4NW1/4, El/2NWI/4, NEl/4
  • Section 21 Sl/2SW1/4, SW1/4SE1/4
  • Sections 27-29 all
  • Section 32 all except SWI/4SW1/4
  • Section 33-35 all  
• Township 40 North, Range 69 West
  • Sections 1-3 all
  • Section 4 all except NW1/4NW1/4
  • Section 8 NE1/4NE1/4
  • Section 9 Nl/2NWI/4, SE1/4NWI/4, Wl/2NE1/4, NE1/4NE1/4
  • Section 10 all
  • Section 11 all except SE1/4SW1/4, Sl/2SE1/4, NE1/4SE1/4
  • Section 12 N ½
  • Section 13 SW1/4NW1/4, SWl/4, Sl/2SE1/4
  • Section 14 S 1/2N 1/2, S 1/2
  • Section 15 S 1/2N 1/2, S 1/2
  • Sections 22 and 23 all
  • Section 26 NWl/4, Nl/2NE1/4, and NW1/4SW1/4
  • Section 27 all except Sl/2SW1/4 and SW1/4SEI/4 
• Township 41 North, Range 67 West
  • Sections 18-19 all
  • Section 30 Nl/2
• Township 41 North, Range 68 West
  • Section 4 Sl/2SW1/4
  • Section 8 SE1/4NE1/4 and SEl/4
  • Sections 9-10 all
  • Section 11 W ½
  • Section 13 all
  • Sections 14, 15, and 17 all
  • Section 18 all except W 1/2NW 1/4, NE1/4NW1/4
  • Sections 19-35 all 
• Township 41 North, Range 69 West
  • Section 13 El/2SE1/4
  • Section 23 El/2SE1/4
  • Section 24 S 1/2 and El/2NE1/4
  • Section 25 all 

IMPLEMENTATION

1.    This Order will be effective on April 5th at 12:00 AM and shall remain in effect until rescinded.

2.    A map of the Restricted Area is attached and incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A.

3.    A violation of this prohibition is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $ I 0,000 for organizations, by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571(b)(6), 3581(b)(7).

4.    Further information regarding this Order may be obtained at the Douglas Ranger District Office in Douglas, Wyoming, (307) 358-4690, and at the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland Forest Supervisor's Office in Laramie, Wyoming, (307) 745-2300.