Thursday, AUGUST 21, 2025 |
Photo – Map of Pennock Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area – Courtesy Wyoming Game and Fish
County officials do not object to allowing the public into the Pennock Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
During the August 12th Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting, Chairman Travis Moore requested a motion to sign a 20-year public access easement with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department for the Pennock Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area, east of Saratoga. Before the vote, Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett asked for clarification on what the agreement would entail.
Commissioner John Johnson said without a public hearing, the Board should not offer its opinion on the matter.
Commissioner John Espy agreed that the Board should not be involved, saying the agreement is between the state agency and private landowners.
Vice Chairwoman Gwynn Bartlett said she believed the Board’s approval of the contract was necessary for Game and Fish to receive designated state funding. However, the letter stated that the Board only needed to be informed of the public access easement. Vice Chair Bartlett said that requirement has been fulfilled.
The Board of Commissioners did not vote to sign the letter of support.
The matter was discussed once again the following week. During the August 19th County Commissioners meeting in Baggs, County Attorney Ashley Davis reported that she spoke to Wyoming Game and Fish Services Division Chief Sean Bibbey about the letter. Attorney Davis said Bibbey informed her that the letter was simply to notify the Board about the renewed public access easement at the Pennock Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Additionally, by not signing the letter, Bibbey said the Board was not denying the state agency any additional funding opportunities.
Attorney Davis presented the Board with three options: the Commissioners may choose to sign the letter, decline to sign it, or request a public hearing with Game and Fish to discuss the agreement. However, the County Attorney said few local governments opt for the public hearing.
Commissioner John Espy said the Board should send a letter simply stating that they do not object to the agreement. Commissioner John Johnson agreed, adding that the Pennock Mountain hunt area is often overcrowded.
The Board unanimously voted to send a letter to Wyoming Game and Fish stating that they do not object to the public easement agreement at the Pennock Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
