The Casper Journal has an article on the new guidelines issued by Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, which include allowing hunting of the gray wolf (should the federal government delist it this year) and the sage grouse (limited to the northeast area of the state).

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Powder River Basin Resource Council, and others have voiced concerns about the new guidelines.

On the subject of gray wolves, the Wyoming Business Report reports that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the comment period to solicit opinions about removing the gray wolf from the endangered species list in Wyoming.

According to the release from the Service:

Following the recent approval of four documents that clarify Wyoming’s approach to wolf management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening the comment period on May 1 regarding our proposal to remove the gray wolf population in Wyoming from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife.

If this proposal is finalized, the gray wolf would be delisted in Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the nonessential experimental population designation would be removed, and future management for this species would be conducted by the appropriate State, Tribal, or Federal wildlife managers.

Comments can be made online at regulations.gov. In the Enter Keyword or ID box, enter FWS–R6–ES–2011–0039, which is the docket number for this rulemaking. Then, in the Search panel at the top of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the box next to Proposed Rules to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on “Submit a Comment.”

By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R6–ES–2011–0039; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203.

Comments must be received within 15 days, on or before May 16, 2012. The Service will post all comments on www.regulations.gov. This generally means the agency will post any personal information provided through the process.

Hunting wolves and sage grouse approved (Casper Journal)

Wolf comment period reopens (Wyoming Business Report)

Gray Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains -- News, Information and Recovery Status Reports (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)