The Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced Monday that many of the department's Wildlife Habitat Management Areas are closed for the winter. The closures are to human presence in order to provide protections for wildlife on their winter ranges.

“Seasonal closures are essential for minimizing stress-causing disturbances to wintering deer, elk, bighorn sheep and other wildlife,” said habitat and access branch chief for Game and Fish Ray Bredehoft in a press release. “Closures also reduce the human and recreational impacts to the forage, which supports the wintering wildlife.”

Most areas are closed to all human presence, as where others are vehicle limited where foot and horse traffic is still permitted. Dates for re-opening in the spring have already been set for some areas.

A full list of closures can be found online at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website. 

More From KGAB