Many of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Habitat Management Areas are closing to human presence — or already have — for the season to protect wildlife on their winter ranges. The majority of WHMAs close or exercise restrictions for the winter annually. 

Protecting crucial habitat for wildlife is one of the main reasons the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission invests in land throughout Wyoming. WHMAs provide a refuge for big game that must conserve energy and rely on fat restores to survive the coldest months of the year.

 “Seasonal closures are essential for minimizing stress-causing disturbances to wintering deer, elk, bighorn sheep and other wildlife,” said Ray Bredehoft, habitat and access branch chief for Game and Fish. “Closures also reduce the human and recreational impacts to the forage, which supports the wintering wildlife.” 

The closures are for any human presence unless otherwise noted. In the northern Big Horn Basin:

The Sunlight WHMA, located northwest of Powell and Cody, closed to all human activity on Dec. 16 and will remain closed to people through April 30.

Meanwhile, the Sunshine WHMA west of Meeteetse is off-limits from Dec. 22 through May 31. Vehicles are not allowed in the area at any time, but travel on foot or horseback is allowed between June 1 and Nov. 30.

Outside of Hyattville, the upper portion of Renner WHMA and most of the Medicine Lodge WHMA will close to people from Jan. 1 through May 31. However, the lower portion of the Renner Reservoir area remains open year-round and Medicine Lodge Creek remains open to foot traffic — but only for fishing.

In contrast to the other sites, the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area located east of Lovell remains open to the public year-round.