Wyoming Hunters Asked to Collect Elk Blood Samples

The state is monitoring for brucellosis during the 2026 elk hunting season in the Bighorn Mountains.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Hunting

Gouache-painted illustration of leather hunting gloves holding a glass vial in a forest, representing wildlife health monitoring. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is asking elk hunters to submit blood samples from harvested animals to monitor for brucellosis. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should hunters participate in state-led wildlife disease monitoring programs?

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is requesting that elk hunters collect blood samples to help track the prevalence of brucellosis in local wildlife. This effort is focused on specific hunt areas across the Bighorn Mountains during the current season.

Why it matters

Brucellosis is a serious bacterial disease that can cause elk, bison, and cattle to abort their calves. Monitoring programs help track the spread of this infection among regional wildlife populations.

Surveillance activities are specifically targeting elk hunt areas 33-38 within the Sheridan Region. Hunters must handle blood samples using latex or nitrile gloves and ensure samples remain cool, though they should not be frozen.

The players

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

This state agency manages the conservation and regulation of fish and wildlife populations throughout Wyoming.

The details

Hunters are asked to take blood samples immediately after harvesting an animal and must include a completed information card when submitting the sample. Collected material can be turned in to department personnel, dropped off at regional offices, or sent via mail.

The brucellosis monitoring and blood sample collection occurs during the 2026 hunting season.

Culture Shift

This program reflects the broader trend of citizen science in wildlife management, where recreational hunting is leveraged for essential population health tracking. Participation in such initiatives helps bridge the gap between outdoor recreation and conservation-led disease surveillance.

Elk hunters in the Bighorn Mountains should prepare for the sample collection process by packing necessary supplies like gloves and a cooling vessel. Following the department instructions ensures that harvest data remains viable for critical health research.

The takeaway

Participating in state-led surveillance programs allows hunters to directly assist in protecting livestock and wildlife health. Hunters should verify their specific hunt area requirements before heading into the field this season.