The Rawlins BLM District submitted this project as part of BHA’s ongoing efforts to remove outdated fencing and improve wildlife-friendly fence infrastructure across the West.

On Saturday, August 15, sixteen dedicated volunteers and two BHA employees came together on the north side of the Shirley Mountains with one goal; take down a mile of old barbed wire fence. After many of the crew spent the night camping at nearby Prior Campground, everyone was ready to hit the ground running and get to work.

By the end of the day, the team had removed the mile of old fencing, helping restore the landscape and eliminate a potential hazard for wildlife moving through this rugged Wyoming country. A great crew, a beautiful campsite, and a full day of hard work made this another successful BHA stewardship project!

   

Many of the Wyoming Backcountry Hunters & Anglers board were in attendance for this event and all the volunteers were from Wyoming. Talking with some of the volunteers I learned that this area is quite sought after for elk tags. Seeing many pronghorn on my drive in made it seem like a great area for speed goat hunting as well. In fact, the land surrounding the project holds most migrating big game present in Wyoming as well as Sage Grouse making it a great area to focus on fence removal efforts.

   

The morning started off over coffee and homemade blueberry muffins while the group got to know each other. After a brief safety talk we all headed to the project and went to work. The group split up for the morning and got busy rolling up the rusty barbed wire. The fence had certainly seen better days with some long sections already laying on the dry ground.

 

The group made quick work of rolling up bundles of the wire, pulling t-posts, and moving the old material to a dump trailer the BLM had provided. By noon most of the heavy lifting was complete, we all broke for a quick lunch break sandwiches, chips, and cookies to refuel the tanks. After lunch the whole group hiked to the end of the fence and finished out the last few hundred yards. Once the trailer was fully loaded with 3,200 pounds of rusty steel we all headed back to camp to enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

Back at camp people got cleaned up and had some time to socialize before we started dinner. Lots of talk about the closely approaching hunting seasons, who had what tag and where. As an Idaho resident I enjoyed hearing about what everyone here in Wyoming was excited for this coming fall and got some great tips on pronghorn hunting myself.

Dinner was served up, a wild game potluck with all the fixings. Cured venison summer sausage with cheese, Alaskan smoked salmon dip, and ripe summer fruits for appetizers. Venison red sauce with spaghetti and Italian wedding soup for the main courses. With everyone full we enjoyed the evening watching a thunderstorm roll in over the plains.

It is the hope that BHA will continue to work with Rawlins BLM to find more fencing projects in the area. If you missed this one and want in on the next one, make sure to keep an eye on the Wyoming Chapter BHA page. Thank you to all the volunteers who made it out for the weekend, the work can’t be done without you!

 

If you aren’t yet a member, consider joining BHA to help continue the fight for our public lands, water, and wildlife.