In response to a widely condemned incident in Daniel, Wyoming, where a wolf was reportedly tortured after being run over with a snowmobile, a coalition of Wyoming hunters is advocating for the “Clean Kill Bill.”
The proposed legislation aims to establish felony penalties for individuals who intentionally torture wildlife in Wyoming. The initiative is led by Wyoming Sportsmanship, a newly formed group including prominent figures such as outdoorsman Paul Ulrich, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kite, and Muley Fanatic Foundation President Josh Coursey.
The bill is sponsored by Representative Andrew Byron, R-Jackson, chairman of the Wyoming House Travel, Recreation and Wildlife Committee, and co-sponsored by Senator Bill Landen, R-Casper, chairman of the Senate Travel, Recreation and Wildlife Committee. Byron emphasized the need to address the absence of laws specifically targeting wildlife torture, stating, “Wyoming learned there is a deficiency in our statutes… we need to address that deficiency with a strong bill that specifically takes on wildlife torture.”
A survey conducted by Wyoming Sportsmanship indicates substantial support for the bill, with 78% of approximately 600 likely general election voters in Wyoming in favor, including 74% of hunters surveyed. Ulrich expressed optimism about the bill’s prospects, noting widespread agreement on the need for meaningful action to prevent future incidents.
This legislative effort reflects a broader movement to ensure ethical hunting practices and the humane treatment of wildlife in Wyoming.
