PINEDALE, Wyo. — The Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) have implemented the annual recreational closure along the narrow “Fremont Lake Bottleneck,” to allow for a safer passage for thousands of migrating mule deer. The closure will be in effect from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30 and again this spring, from April 1 through April 30.
This narrow corridor is near the outlet of Fremont Lake, and is part of the designated Sublette Mule Deer Migration Route. The purpose of the seasonal closure is to minimize human disturbance to migrating mule deer.
“Data indicate deer using this migration route travel farther than any other mule deer migration ever documented, passing through many potentially life-threatening obstacles along the way,” BTNF said in a statement.
According to BTNF, in addition to the narrowness of the migration bottleneck, which is bordered by residential development to the south and by Fremont Lake to the north, a major concern with this area is the high level of human activity. Mule deer herds must cross Pine Creek or swim the lake outlet, move past the marina and multi-use trails at the CCC Ponds area and cross the paved FS111 and CR154 roads.
Efforts have also been made to eliminate non-wildlife friendly fencing in the area. Additionally, WGFD is in the process of acquiring the Luke Lynch Wildlife Habitat Management Area, located just west of the proposed closure area.
Signs will be posted at key entrances to the area to remind the public of the seasonal closure. For more information, contact BTNF Wildlife Biologist, Pinedale Ranger District, Rusty Kaiser at 307-231-5980.
