Wapiti: Video captures truck-based big game hunt near homes

A video recorded Saturday in the Wapiti area shows a group of hunters operating a gray pickup truck near U.S. 14/16/20. The footage depicts a man using the vehicle's hood to support a rifle while firing at deer in a field. A house and at least one other structure are visible in the background.

The videographer shared the clip with Cowboy State Daily and requested anonymity. They stated that the Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed the hunters had permission from the landowner to be on the property. However, the videographer noted that the shooters were positioned close to residential areas and a busy highway.

Wyoming Game and Fish did not respond to a request for additional details by the time of publication. The agency typically handles allegations of hunting regulation violations. The Park County Sheriff's Office handles cases of reckless endangerment involving firearms.

Monte McClain, a spokesman for the Park County Sheriff's Office, said no weapons-related complaints were filed in October. McClain watched the video and noted it is difficult to determine if a violation occurred because the clip does not clearly show the direction of fire. He stated that under state statute, shooting on private property is allowed if a safe backstop exists.

Paul Ulrich, a founding member of the Wyoming Sportsmanship hunting ethics group, described the behavior as disgusting. Ulrich said the video likely depicts unethical conduct, specifically the use of the truck as a shield to conceal the hunters from the deer. He urged the public to report similar incidents.

"It is disgusting. We need to double down on educating hunters and the general public and highlighting this sort of bad behavior," Ulrich said. "I’m incredibly grateful to the individual who recorded this video. If you see something, say something."

Retired federal game warden Tim Eicher identified the use of the truck hood as the most clear potential violation. Eicher explained that shooting off a vehicle is legally equivalent to shooting from a vehicle under Wyoming big game statutes. He noted that while it is legal to use vehicles for hunting predatory animals like coyotes, the presence of deer in the video suggests big game was the target.

H.R. Longobardi, a retired Game and Fish warden, said the hunter appeared to get excited and should have been more careful. Longobardi acknowledged that the hunter did exit the vehicle to shoot, which is a positive step. However, he stated that a case could be made for a violation because the hunter crept up and shot again using the vehicle as a support.

Jim Zumbo, an outdoors writer who lives in the Wapiti area, said the region attracts hunters because of abundant deer and elk. Zumbo noted that much of the land is private and often leased to hunters. He emphasized that shooting near buildings is a common safety concern for those experienced in big game hunting.

"People just need to use their heads when they’re shooting," Zumbo said. The location of the video is near where state Rep. Nina Webber was previously implicated in a reckless shooting case during a 2022 elk hunt, a matter in which charges were later dropped.