The Wyoming Game and Fish Department will be undergoing some changes thanks to several bills recently passed by the Wyoming Legislature that will have an immediate impact on both the public and the state’s wildlife populations.
As a part of this legislation, the Game and Fish Department will be changing the way hunting and fishing licenses are issued. Formerly, a Wyoming fishing license was valid from the date of purchase to the end of the calendar year. The new method will allow fishermen/women to hold their license for 365 days after the day of purchase. This is a welcomed change, especially to out of state student fishermen/women who would arrive in the fall and buy a license, only to have it expire a few months later.
“About 50 percent of the people in Wyoming hunt and fish,” Renny MacKay of Wyoming Game and Fish said. “It’s [the new license law] something that other states have implemented and it’s a customer service option that we’ve been looking at for awhile.”
In order to improve customer service, Game and Fish will now permit hunters to wear fluorescent pink in place of blaze orange if the hunter so desires.
“I really appreciate that Game and Fish is making it easier for people to get out and enjoy our state,” Trent Bronnenberg, a sophomore from Cody and lifelong hunter, said. “The new fluorescent pink option and the improved fishing license law open up more possibilities and improve on hunter safety.”
The legislation also implemented a new license plate option that allows drivers to purchase special wildlife plates for $150 plus an annual $50 fee. This program aims to put these funds towards conservation projects associated with the Wyoming Department of Transportation such as wildlife corridors and crossings.
“I think it provides a great incentive for people to purchase the plates by putting the money towards wildlife conservation,” Bennet Daniels, an avid fisherman from Littleton, Colorado and engineering major, said.
Another immediate change is in the regulations to grizzly bear and mountain goat hunting. Currently, licenses are available on a once-in-a-lifetime basis. Some areas where bear and goat are permitted are home to a limited population of the game. The new legislation would allow hunters in these zones to perhaps be an exception to this rule. Despite this change, the regulations are being closely monitored during a public comment period as the recent delisting of the grizzly bear sparked public outcry.
The legislature requested a joint resolution to the Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and the Director of the National Parks Service Dan Smith to impose a conservation fee for those visiting Yellowstone National Park. This money would be given back to Wyoming, Idaho and Montana to be used for state conservation efforts. The resolution is currently awaiting a response from Zinke and Smith.
“Game and Fish is responsible for managing some species that park viewers really care about,” said MacKay. “Hopefully folks in the park service have heard that our legislature would like them to consider this and see if park visitors can contribute more to the wildlife they enjoy.”
As a whole, MacKay is optimistic that several of these bills will improve state conservation work.
“I hope folks who care about wildlife appreciate the work of the legislature this year,” MacKay said. “As you look at those bills, if you appreciate wildlife and hunting or fishing in Wyoming, there are some bills that passed that are going to be positive for you.”
