U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR), introduced the Cape and Antler Preservation Enhancement (CAPE) Act.
The CAPE Act provides discretion to the National Park Service (NPS) to donate the cape, hide, horn, and antlers obtained from non-native species during wildlife management activities to volunteers or others authorized by the park service.
“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation works to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife, their habitat, and our hunting heritage. Utilizing the meat from the animals we harvest is an important part of our ethic as sportsmen and women, but so is celebrating the memories of our time outdoors,” said Blake Henning, chief conservation officer of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. “The CAPE Act would enable the National Park Service to convey the hides and horns and antlers from the animals that are culled to the volunteers who help do the culling. The status quo of leaving these parts behind is wasteful, particularly when many of the volunteers would preserve and value them as memories.”
“This bill will provide an opportunity for those who assist with the removal of non-native mountain goats in Grand Teton National Park to possess the inedible portions along with the meat,” said Brian Nesvik, director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
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(Photo source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Aarin Sensirirak)