by Oil City StaffJune 17, 2025
- https://oilcity.news/wyoming/outdoors/2025/06/17/cow-moose-shot-killed-by-angler-in-bighorn-national-forest/
By Wyoming Game and Fish
SHERIDAN, Wyo. — On June 14, Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel received a report that a cow moose had been shot in a confrontation with an angler on the North Tongue River in the Bighorn National Forest near Bear Lodge Resort.
When game wardens responded, they found the moose deceased from her injuries.
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The game wardens interviewed the angler who said he had encountered the moose at close range in thick willows. He fired multiple shots at the moose when she became agitated and charged him.
Wardens searched the surrounding area and found two young-of-the-year moose calves that they believed the cow was defending. Due to their inability to survive without their mother, the calves were euthanized.
The North Tongue River and nearby areas are prime moose habitat. These areas are also popular with anglers and other recreationists who can take steps to prevent conflicts with moose and other wildlife.
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Game and Fish warns that while moose can be found in many areas of the Bighorn National Forest and adjoining lands, they spend significant time in riparian areas – the areas in and around rivers, streams and ponds. Pay particular attention to your surroundings while in these areas, watching and listening for movement.
Despite their large size, moose can be difficult to spot in thick vegetation such as willows. Make noise and move carefully through areas with low visibility. People are urged to be especially watchful during times of low light, such as early morning or late evening, as their dark coloring makes moose hard to see.
Exposing the Big Game 
What a fucking waste; I know moose can be dangerous, but her calves had to be killed also and she was defending them; not sure why a fisherman would be carrying a gun.
Probably because he was a Wyoming hunter in other seasons. The question is, why did he feel compelled to fish in areas where defensive moose or bears would likely be? Tose kinds of willow thicket are easy to recognize, but rather than avoid them, he chose to go there (knowing he was fully armed, “just in case.”) It is a sickening testament to their lack of value of life that the “Game” Department shot the calves, rather than bringing them to a rehab center until they were weaned and could be released back to the wild.
Oh yeah, Wyoming hunter of course; I’m sure he’s hailed as a hero by saving himself and killing the moose. Yes, why weren’t the calves sent to a rehab center??
Well, he’s the macho king of all he surveys. /sarc
Then when hunting season rolls around, they’ll blame the wolves for the lack of moose. That’s how it works out there.