KEMMERER — Alex Poncelet is the new Kemmerer Game Warden. He replaced Chris Baird, who transferred to another position within the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Poncelet graduated with a bachelor's degree in conservation law enforcement and a minor in wildlife management from the University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point. He began his employment in Sheridan as a habitat and access technician. After fulfilling that contract, he worked at the Sheridan Bird Farm, delivering pheasants.

He later interviewed and was hired on as game warden in the Sheridan region and worked briefly in Torrington before transferring to Kemmerer in April.

Originally from Minnesota, Poncelet had to adjust to his new surroundings and learn about the Wyoming Game and Fish regions.

“The Kemmerer district was of interest to me because of its diverse landscape and wildlife. It takes a while to grasp what is really going on in a region. Now that I am in the Green River region, I am learning how things go here. Every region is so unique and different.”

Pulling up a map, Poncelet explained that Lincoln County is split into three game warden districts.

“The Kemmerer district line follows the Hamsfork to town, and Highway 189 to the Carter Road,” he said. “That is part of the area I oversee.”

Although Poncelet has an expansive territory, he has the support of colleagues.

“I try to talk to my coworkers on a regular basis,” he said. Sometimes this camaraderie comes in the form of riding horseback to check bear baits together. 

A typical workday for Poncelet varies. This time of year is bear season, so he is checking bear baits. As summer approaches, he shifts to watercraft management and fishing enforcement will be underway, as well.

“Every time of year brings different things to do,” Poncelet told the Gazette. “It keeps you on your toes.” 

Poncelet said during the season-setting meeting, Game and Fish reduced antelope and deer licenses for hunting this year.

“The doe and fawn licenses have been taken off the table,” he said, “because that is where the reproduction comes from. We reduced buck tags to type 1 and that is based off mortality rates in the different hunt areas.” Type 1 includes antlered mule deer or any white-tailed deer.

He said some people have decided not to hunt this year, but they have reduced tags to keep things at a manageable level.

“If people want to get out and hunt, we encourage them to do so,” he said.    

Poncelet said a big perk to his job is being outside.

“I can go for a horseback ride or hike and, it is work, but doesn’t feel like it. People seem to have a good outlook about the Game and Fish Department and the community has been very welcoming,” the new game warden said.

Game wardens are typically in the field gathering data and doing surveys. Part of their job is to update biologists on wildlife movement patterns.

“If we spot diseases,” he said, “we gather evidence and samples to send to the lab. We do work with the biological and wildlife side of things as well as deal with the public and law enforcement.”