TUESDAY, September 22, 2026|
Photo – Sewell Ranching – Courtesy Wyoming Game and Fish Department
A Carbon County ranching family was recognized for their outstanding practices in wildlife management, habitat improvement, and conservation techniques.
Yesterday, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced the 2026 Landowners of the Year. Among the five winners are James and Jen Sewell of Sewell Ranching, located roughly 40 miles south of Rawlins. The Sewells bought the McCarty Canyon Ranch in 2020, which includes 9,200 acres of mule deer, elk, and pronghorn seasonal-range habitat. The property also falls entirely within a sage-grouse conservation zone.
Wyoming Game and Fish wrote that since taking ownership of the ranch, the Sewells have worked toward improving livestock fences for wildlife movement and access to migratory routes. Since 2022, they have also partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture to convert 10 miles of internal fencing to wildlife-friendly specifications.
In addition, Sewell Ranching has enhanced over 1,400 acres of wildlife habitat in and around Little Savery Creek, an important tributary to the Little Snake River.
Wyoming Game and Fish stated that the Sewell’s efforts benefit not only migrating mule deer, but also the approximately 7,500 sportsmen who hunt in the Sierra Madre and Baggs regions.
Sewell Ranching is joined by Miles and Karen Daily and Wendy Cecil, who worked to improve the section of the Horse Creek that runs through their properties, BMG Ranch and J&H Livestock near Boulder, Wyoming, Two Bar Ranch outside of Casper, and Gary and Carol Thronveit and Mike Ujifusa of Washakie County, who opened 871 acres of their land to Game and Fish’s Walk-In Hunting Area program.
Game and Fish Interim Director Eric Wiltanger is quoted as saying, “In partnership with these landowners, we are able to continue improving wildlife habitats across the state, and we are thrilled to formally recognize their dedication later this month.”
The 2026 Landowner of the Year award ceremony will take place during the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s meeting at 11:00 a.m. today in Evanston. The ceremony will also be available to stream live.
