Game and Fish target Hunt Areas in the Big Horn Basin for brucellosis surveillance

CODY - It’s hunting season in the Big Horn Basin, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking successful elk hunters in targeted Hunt Areas to help in brucellosis surveillance. In return, they have a chance to win great outdoor gear.

Each year Game and Fish ask hunters to collect blood samples from harvested elk to help track the distribution and prevalence of brucellosis. Hunters play a critical role in brucellosis monitoring in Wyoming. 

Within the Big Horn Basin this year, Game and Fish is targeting Elk Hunt Areas 39-41, 45, 49, 55, 56, 58, 59-61 and 64-66. 

Game and Fish plans to mail between 8,000 and 9,000 blood collection kits to elk hunters with limited quota licenses within targeted surveillance areas this year. Only limited quota license holders are selected at random to receive blood kits and not general license holders. If you are hunting in a targeted area and do not receive a blood kit, they are available from regional Game and Fish offices, field personnel and several convenience stores throughout the Big Horn Basin. Hunters can visit the Game and Fish website to learn how to collect a usable blood sample from an elk.

Hunters who submit usable blood samples and other information about elk they harvest from targeted areas will be entered into a raffle to win high-quality outdoor equipment. These prize packages include a grand prize, along with first, second and third tier packages. Prizes are listed on the Game and Fish website and the drawing will be held in spring of 2026.

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that occurs in elk and bison throughout the area surrounding Yellowstone in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. The disease has been shown to slightly reduce pregnancy rates but not limit population size of elk. The primary management concern is the possible transmission of brucellosis from elk or bison to domestic cattle. 

Game and Fish encourages hunters to wear latex gloves and avoid opening the reproductive tract or extremely swollen joints when field dressing elk, as these are areas where bacteria may exist. Hunting seasons are designed to end before the risk of disease transmission to sportspersons is elevated after early February.