Wyoming: Wolves Kill 19 Elk in 'Surplus Killing' Incident

by
posted on March 29, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
elk_wolf_kill_wyoming.jpg

Photo Courtesy the Wyoming Fish & Game Dept.

The ecological damage inflicted by wolf packs in the western region of the United States doesn't often reach the ears of hunters and outdoorsman in other portions of the country—it's a battle that's often fought quietly, if at all. News from Wyoming over the weekend, however, broke that trend. State wildlife officials from the Cowboy State announced that a pack of wolves had killed 19 elk near Bondurant, Wyo., in what they're calling a "surplus killing" incident.

The elk herd, largely comprised of calves, was found dead last Wednesday, March 23, by a contractor that had been hired to deliver feed. Wyoming Fish & Game official John Lund told CNN that he and his colleagues were concerned about the state of the elk, which hadn't been consumed. Wolves usually eat what they kill, or return later to do so, he said. The elk located near Bondurant were apparently killed as if for sport, and then abandoned by the predators. 

According to reports, Wyoming estimates that 1,110 or so odd elk live in the region surrounding Bondurant. Lund said that 7 percent of them had been killed by wolves in the past year. The pack believed to be behind the elk slaughter is nine wolves strong, he said.

Wyoming is no stranger to what the predatory canines are capable of. The state has tried numerous times to gain control over the wolves within its borders and institute its own management strategies, with an eye on preserving big game, but has routinely been defeated.

Latest

Robert Nosler LEDE
Robert Nosler LEDE

Nosler Announces the Passing of Robert “Bob” Nosler

Nosler has announced with deep sadness the passing of Robert “Bob” Nosler, the company's Chairman, on September 2, 2025, at the age of 79.

The FN 5.7 as a Survival Round

This company’s Sub2000 folding carbine and compact PR57 pistol can be ideal traveling companions in this caliber.

New for 2025: Savage Arms A22 and B Series Timber Tactical

Savage Arms has unveiled the A22 and B Series Timber Tactical, an addition to its lineup of precision-engineered rimfire rifles.

Review: Bansner & Company Custom Rifle Stocks

A simple modification can make a world of difference. Whether you want the full treatment for your rifle, or just a stock to give an old friend a facelift, Bansner and Company has something to fit the bill.

2025 Reintroduction: Fiocchi Texas White Wing in Bulk Pack

Fiocchi of America has announced the return of its iconic Texas White Wing shotshell—now available in a bulk four-box field carton designed with dove hunters in mind.

Grassland Conservation Funds Available in Ohio

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has $9 million in funding available for landowners who want to create grassland habitat that can support native wildlife, like northern bobwhite quail and other grassland-nesting birds.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.