PINEDALE, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Kemmerer and Pinedale Field Offices have closed BLM-administered public big game winter ranges to all motorized vehicle travel, starting Jan. 1 through Apr. 30, 2025.
According to a BLM press release, this annual closure is necessary to protect elk, moose, pronghorn and mule deer from disruptive human activities during difficult winter months, which often see increased mortality rates for these species.
In the Kemmerer Field Office area, the following will be closed:
- The Slate Creek area south of Fontenelle Creek, west and north of Highway 189 and east of the crest of Slate Creek Ridge
- The Rock Creek area south of County Road 204/Pine Creek Road, west of the crest of Dempsey Ridge, west of Fossil Butte National Monument and north and east of Highway 30
- The Bridger Creek area south of Highway 30, west of Fossil Ridge, west of the Bear River Divide, north of the Uinta-Lincoln County line, east of the Utah-Wyoming border and southeast of Highway 89
In the Pinedale Field Office area, the following will be closed:
- The Ryegrass, Bench Corral, Deer Hills, Calpet and Miller Mountain winter ranges, including lands north of Fontenelle Creek, east of the U.S. Forest Service Boundary, west of U.S. Highway 189 and south of Horse Creek
- The Mesa winter range including lands east of County Road 110/East Green River Road, north of County Road 136/Paradise Valley Road, west of the New Fork River and south of U.S. Highway 191
The BLM confirms that all motorized vehicles such as snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, pickups and sport utility vehicles are prohibited during this time. Use of these areas by non-motorized means such as walking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and mountain biking is allowed.
Highways and county roads are not subject to this closure. Motorized vehicle use on public land the remainder of the year is always limited to existing roads and two-track trails, the BLM writes.
Local and federal agencies, including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Department of Agriculture Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, the Lincoln and Uinta County Sheriff’s Offices and the BLM are excepted from these closures when performing official duties.
The BLM also notes that operators of existing oil and gas facilities performing maintenance and pumping, as approved in their permits, livestock operators conducting permitted activities, utility companies conducting emergency maintenance after notifying the BLM and other users who have been granted an exception by submitting a written application to the BLM for review and approval are also excepted from these closures.
Signs will be posted at key locations entering the closed areas.
