December 2022 - 44
More than 10,000 years of rich, cultural history is present at Medicine Lodge State Park. This site is well known for its Native American petroglyphs and pictograms. (Photo by Heather Jolley/
Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites)
PRESERVING HISTORY
Though secondary to the primary purpose
of protecting wildlife habitat and populations,
many recreation and public access opportunities
are offered at Medicine Lodge.
The year after purchasing the property,
the Commission entered into a unique
arrangement with Wyoming State Parks to
safeguard the area's archaeological resources,
a concern that was identified at the March
1971 Commission meeting. State Parks was
granted management of approximately 500
acres at the south entrance that hosts 32
campsites, a picnic area, horse corrals and
three small museums.
" We have received over 50,000 visitors each
year for 2020 and 2021, " Park Superintendent
Heather Jolley said. " Prior to 2020, the average
annual visitation was just over 34,000. Medicine
Lodge State Park serves as a major hub for
recreation in the Bighorn Mountains. We have
many visitors bring UTVs and horses, with
the intent to explore the mountains around us
for fun and hunting. Fishing is another major
attraction to the park. "
For more than 10 years the Medicine Lodge
Archaeological Site has been host to the annual
summer Medicine Lodge Outdoors Day that
44 | December 2022
attracts families from throughout the Bighorn
Basin for a day learning safe, ethical outdoor
recreation skills. Game and Fish, Forest Service
and Wyoming State Parks personnel work
together to teach youth archery, air rifle, muzzleloader
and fly-fishing, as well as camping,
outdoor navigation and survival.
Hunters arrive during the fall for a short
mule deer season that takes place in October,
followed by elk hunting from October
to December. There also are opportunities
to harvest white-tailed deer along the irrigated
meadows along Medicine Lodge Creek
between September and December.
" It seems to streamline processes, " Sorensen
said about the partnership that allows two
state agencies to pursue their separate goals on
one property. " State Parks operate the campground
and historical sites which serve their
mission, and our working relationship helps
to maintain and improve the habitat and road
conditions in the bottom of the canyon. State
Parks also helps us monitor the area and assist
us in seasonal closures. It is a great partnership
and works well for both agencies. "
- Christina Schmidt is the information and education
specialist in the Sheridan Region and a regular
contributor to Wyoming Wildlife.
December 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2022
December 2022 - 1
December 2022 - 2
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