Prominent Wyoming Mule Deer Advocate Picked To Serve In Trump Administration

Kemmerer-area resident Josh Coursey, a prominent Wyoming outdoorsman and wildlife conservationist, has been picked to serve in President Donald Trump’s administration.

Coursey told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that he couldn’t disclose what position he will fill in the Trump administration. 

He confirmed that for the duration of his appointment, he’ll relocate to the Washington, D.C. area. 

As a Wyoming native, Coursey has always enjoyed the outdoors, and said that in that regard, temporarily giving up his Wyoming residency will be rough. 

However, he sees it as a matter of duty.

“When your country calls, you either answer, or you don’t. And I’m a firm believer in service to my country,” he said. 

Coursey is scheduled to fly out to Washington D.C. on April 29 and will start his tenure with the Trump administration on May 1. 

He’s the latest Wyomingite to be picked by Trump this year.

Former Wyoming Game and Fish Director Brian is awaiting final approval from the U.S. Senate to take over as the new director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Others include former Big Horn legislator Cyrus Western, Cheyenne attorney Karen Budd-Falen and former legislator Hans Hunt, who's now a senior legislative advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

At The Forefront Of Wildlife Conservation

Coursey is well-known in wildlife conservation circles. 

In 2012 he co-founded the Muley Fanatic Foundation with Joey Faigl of Rock Springs and has served as the group’s president and CEO.

The foundation has focused on mule deer conservation and habitat preservation. 

Coursey is leaving his position with the Muley Fanatic Foundation and will be missed, board member John Grossnickle said.   

“There is no doubt that Josh will be missed, you cannot replace a Josh Coursey. However, the foundation that has been built through his leadership and passion will ensure that the mission of the Muley Fanatic Foundation will continue for many years to come. The current team is filled with rock stars who have the same passion and work ethic as Josh,” he said. 

Future Of Mule Deer Looking Better

Mule deer are an iconic species, and favorite of hunters and wildlife watchers in Wyoming and across the West. 

But they’ve been struggling for years, because of habitat loss, disease and other problems. 

During the brutal winter of 2022-2023, as much as 80% of the treasured Wyoming Range mule deer herd was wiped out – including all of that year’s fawns. 

The Muley Fanatic Foundation, along with other private organizations and the Game and Fish have been pushing for the herd’s recovery. 

Coursey said that as he departs for D.C., he’s grateful for everything that’s been done for the Wyoming Range mule deer herd and is optimistic about its future.

“We just have to have a lot of time and patience now,” he said. “Four or five years from now, we could really see a rebound of that herd.”

Coursey has also been involved in numerous other wildlife conservation efforts. 

He co-chaired the Chronic Wasting Disease working group in 2020, the Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition since 2017 and Governor Mark Gordon’s Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce from 2021-2023. 

Coursey also served on the Bureau of Land Management Resource Advisory Council, Gov. Gordon’s Rock Springs Resource Management Plan Taskforce and the Wyoming State Shooting Complex Taskforce in 2024. 

He launched the Wild Things & Wild Places podcast on July 4, 2023.

Still Hopes To Get Outdoors

Relocating from Wyoming to the D.C. metro area will be a culture shock, but Coursey said he hasn’t given up on outdoor adventures. 

He said he has connections with hunters and anglers back East and hopes to get out into the countryside whenever opportunities present themselves. 

“They’ve told me, ‘Josh, you’re really going to start hunting turkeys now,’” Coursey said.

Coursey said that during his tenure in D.C., he hopes to visit Wyoming as often as possible – even if he can’t hunt and fish here again until he re-establishes his residency. 

“I’ll go along on hunts with friends and family. I can take pictures and help pack meat out,” he said. 

Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.