Wildlife Concerns Overlooked in State’s Approval of Cody-Area Shooting Complex Site

A state-funded shooting complex slated for construction near Cody, Wyoming, has moved forward despite internal warnings from wildlife biologists about its potential impact on key wildlife habitats, WyoFile reports.

The 2,036-acre project site—nestled into the foothills of the Absaroka Range—overlaps both “crucial” year-round mule deer range and designated sage grouse “core” habitat, prompting wildlife officials to recommend a different location.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s concerns, outlined in a July 2024 memo obtained through a public records request, were not publicly discussed before the site was approved. The department highlighted potential harm to mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and sage grouse due to increased human activity, construction, and noise. Despite the warning, the state task force charged with selecting a location voted 8–4 in favor of the Park County site just a week later.

“We are not aware of any formal comments submitted to the task force,” said Dan Smith, Chief Warden for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, noting that a formal review may be required later depending on state leasing procedures.

While some lawmakers, like former task force member Rep. Pepper Ottman, raised questions during deliberations, those concerns were not thoroughly addressed during public discussion. Ottman ultimately voted for an alternate location near Gillette.

Supporters of the Cody site argue that wildlife will adapt to the facility, and some point to examples like the Cameo Shooting Complex in Colorado where deer and other species continue to occupy the area.

“Anywhere you go in Wyoming, you can call it habitat,” said former Park County Commissioner Lee Livingston, a backer of the proposal. “Overall, I think it’s probably about the best location it can be in that Cody area.”

Others in the community disagree. Former Game and Fish employee Greg Mayton expressed concern about what he sees as a top-down effort that downplayed input from regional wildlife managers.

“It wouldn’t look good if Game and Fish was against this site,” he said.

Former Cody town councilor Andy Quick voiced opposition as well, citing habitat fragmentation and the loss of recreational access.

“It’s just one more step in the wrong direction,” he said.

The site plan includes a visitor center, rental services, archery ranges, and space for long-range shooting up to a mile. Proponents say the facility will become a destination for shooting sports enthusiasts and generate economic activity for the region.

Still, the site’s overlap with wildlife habitat raises questions about the future of both the facility and the species that use the land. The Upper Shoshone Mule Deer Herd, which relies on the area for winter range, remains well below its population target.

If Game and Fish’s wildlife stipulations are formally included in the state lease, the shooting complex may face seasonal restrictions—such as halting activities between November 15 and April 30 to protect mule deer, and between March 15 and June 30 in sage grouse breeding areas. Additional noise mitigation could be required to prevent disruption of sage grouse mating behavior, which has been shown to be sensitive to persistent noise.