Public Land Prospectors in the Snowy Range
“How Public Land Prospectors add an extra layer of complexity to the Mule Deer Foundation’s habitat work in the Snowy Range of Wyoming.”
What is a Public land Prospector?
You read that right. I said “Prospector” like the old timey gold diggers. Our younger readers may remember them as the bad guy from Toy Story 2.
Wyoming has a long history of public land gold panning or “Prospecting.” Gold Panning or recreational prospecting is generally legal on all federal lands in Wyoming. Many recreational prospectors utilize hand panning as the preferred technique with limited success. Hand panning is the process of physically crouching over a flowing body of water with a metal pan or sifting device and searing for gold flakes within the sediment.
By all accounts, prospecting on U.S. Forest Service land in Wyoming is a wonderful outdoor activity for all ages. For more information on how you can get involved in this public land activity, please visit The Wyoming Prospectors Association – http://www.wpagold.com
What is the Habitat Project?
MDF Biologist Aidan Downey with the Laramie USFS district is in the midst of a meadowland restoration project. The Forest Service identified the project area as a probable rest area for migrating Mule Deer between the summer and winter range. By converting this 5 miles of road into a wet meadow ecosystem, we can create a haven of secluded habitat. This area will be crucial for Mule Deer moving between winter and summer range in the area.
The work area for this project is in the Mullen Scar, where a wildfire intensely burned the area in 2020. By restoring native grasses, forbes, and shrubs along this old road, we can restore a natural slope to the area which will help prevent landslides and eventually encourage the natural healing cycle after a fire. These native plants and meadow areas also make great calorie sources for Mule Deer and other wildlife.
How will MDF protect public access to recreational prospecting?
The USFS is legally bound to provide reasonable access for recreational prospectors in the area. The Mule Deer Foundation agrees with this decision by the Forest Service. The MDF is creating a narrative that goes beyond conservation, we connect herds to landscapes, people to the wild, and individuals to an intentional way of life. We applaud the Wyoming Prospectors Association’s commitment to this lost art and their connection to the landscape.
The Mule Deer Foundation will find a way to integrate Mule Deer habitat and recreational mining into this project for the benefit of all parties. We are not only restoring a landscape but improving it while maintaining access to this traditional resource. MDF will find a way to work interconnectedly with all parties. Whether through new trail building or route design, we will preserve the cultural heritage of the landscape. This project will improve the snowy mountain range and the Mullen Scar area for wildlife and outdoor recreation for years to come.
Good Luck!
Good luck this fall. Send pictures or stories from the field to Web@muledeer.org to be featured on our website or in our magazine. If this article, or any of our articles helped you become a better conservation steward, join the mule deer foundation. Click here to join: https://muledeer.org/product-category/membership/
Trevor J Hubbs https://www.instagram.com/trevorhubbs/
Trevor is the Communications Manager for the Mule deer Foundation. He grew up hunting and fishing the eastern edge of the Ozark mountains for quail, ducks, and bucks. Trevor is a contributor for “Fur, Fish, and Game”, Lethal Minds Journal, Strung Magazine, and Shooting Sportsman among others.
