CHEYENNE—Rep. Mike Schmid is continuing his quest to prohibit recreationally running over wildlife with snowmobiles, an activity that’s legal and commonplace in the corner of western Wyoming where he lives.   The La Barge Republican has tried for such a ban before, efforts that stem in par t from a constituent who put a spotlight on the practice. Daniel resident Cody Roberts, who soon faces trial, acquired the wolf that led to a felony animal cruelty charge by allegedly running it over with a snowmobile before taking it to a local bar. Rep. Mike Schmid, a Republican from La Barge, during the Wyoming Legislature’s 2026 budget session. (Mike Koshmrl/WyoFile) When the Wyoming Legislature last convened in 2025, Schmid twice worked to advance measures that would prohibit chasing and striking predatory species like red foxes and coyotes with snowmachines. The measures were opposed by some members of the livestock industry who say the tactic is needed to reduce conflict, and the lawmakers voted them down. Then, after the legislative session, the Lincoln County representative again tried and failed to get a legislative committee to study a proposed ban and sponsor a bill.  On Wednesday, Schmid filed House Bill 153, “Taking of predators on public lands,” which proposes adding a new clause to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s governing statutes.  “When on public land, no person in the state of Wyoming shall intentionally harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, injure or kill any Wyoming wildlife or predatory animals with an automotive vehicle, trailer, motor‑propelled wheeled vehicle or vehicle designed for travel over snow,” the bill language states.  Schmid told WyoFile he’s “going to keep pushing” the issue.  “It’s not going to affect coyote hunters,” he said. “They can still pursue. They just can’t use the machine as an intentional weapon.”  The proposed change to statute would apply only to public land so that livestock producers could continue to use snowmobiles in defense of their sheep and cattle, Schmid said.  The Wyoming Legislature will consider a bill that aims to end the recreational practice of running over coyotes and other wildlife with snowmobiles on public land. (David Schenfeld/Flickr CC) “We don’t want to hurt the agriculture business,” he said. “The people that probably abuse this more than anybody, in my opinion, are recreational riders that come in from out of state.”  Despite Schmid’s efforts to accommodate livestock producers, some within the industry say the bill’s language is overly broad and misses the mark. Sublette County woolgrower Cat Urbigkit, who ran against Schmid last election, remarked on Facebook that the bill is “poorly crafted” and “should be killed.” “My state representative just proved that he doesn’t represent my interests at all,” Urbigkit wrote in her post. “He is the sole sponsor of a bill that would outlaw the harassment or pursuit of predators on public land with the use of any vehicle that travels over snow. That many ranches operate on interspersed land ownership and we routinely intentionally harass predators to keep them away from our livestock apparently doesn’t matter.”  Others are supporting Schmid’s latest bid for a ban. Jackson Hole wildlife activist Lisa Robertson pointed out that lawmakers have been trying and failing to end the brutal form of hunting since 2019.  “This could be a simple solution to preventing injuries and deaths of wildlife and predatory animals caused by vehicles, including snowmobiles,” Robertson told WyoFile in a text message. “We should all be able to support this.”  House Bill 153 must receive two-thirds support in the Wyoming House of Representatives to advance. The deadline for bill introductions is this Friday. For more legislative coverage, click here. The post Fourth time’s a charm? Lawmaker tries again to ban Wyoming’s practice of chasing, striking wildlife with snowmobiles appeared first on WyoFile . ...read more read less