Photo by Jeff Vanuga
A quick email can help ensure better funding for wildlife in Wyoming
Simply put “Support HB 136 and HB 137″ in the subject line
By Sophie Osborn
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming’s wildlife need your help this week.
Despite enacting significant cost-cutting measures and streamlining its operations over the last few years, the department faces significant budget shortfalls unless the Wyoming Legislature passes important legislation related to license fee increases.
Without these increases—which will help offset state budget cuts and increased costs—the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s ability to manage for healthy and sustainable wildlife populations in Wyoming will be compromised.
For more information, please visit the agency’s website here.
The Legislature needs to hear from us.
Why we need to better fund the Game and Fish Department
Aside from its vital contribution to the quality of life that we all enjoy in Wyoming, the state’s wildlife—and the recreational opportunities it provides—generates more than 1.1 billion to Wyoming’s economy and contributes significantly to the state’s 2.9 billion annual tourism industry.
Wyoming’s sportsmen and conservation groups have joined forces to support these critical proposed license fee increases (click here or on the image to the right to see the letter). License fees currently provide 60 percent of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s funding.
In an effort to ensure that too much of the cost of wildlife management doesn’t fall on the state’s hunters and anglers, the Wyoming Outdoor Council will be working with the Game and Fish Department after the legislative session to develop alternative sources of funding for the future.
What you can do
Passage of the much-needed additional funding for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is at serious risk unless we voice our support for the following bills:
Two House bills—HB 136 and HB 137—amend Game and Fish license fees. They also provide for an annual adjustment to fees based on a consumer price index—a method used by many other states.
Legislative action will be taken on these bills on January 16th or 18th.
So please contact your legislator (contact information for all legislators can be found here) and members of the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee TODAY or TOMORROW, if you can.
When sending an email simply put “Support HB 136 and HB 137″ in the subject line.
You might note: One of the most important obligations of our State Legislature is to make sure that the Wyoming Game and Fish Department has the resources necessary to manage our state’s wildlife.
Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee Members:
|
Senator |
Party |
District |
Hometown |
Email Address |
Phone |
| Bruce Burns (Chair) | R | S21 | Sheridan | Bruce.Burns@wyoleg.gov | (307) 672-6491 |
| Paul Barnard | R | S15 | Evanston | Paul.Barnard@wyoleg.gov | (307) 799-6480 |
| Leland Christensen | R | S17 | Alta | Leland.Christensen@wyoleg.gov | (307) 690-0903 |
| Bernadine Craft | D | H17 | Rock Springs | Bernadine.Craft@wyoleg.gov | (307) 382-1607 |
| Ogden Driskill | R | S01 | Devils Tower | Ogden.Driskill@wyoleg.gov | (307) 680-5555 |
|
Representative |
Party |
District |
Hometown |
Email Address |
Phone |
| Kathy Davison (Chair) | R | H20 | Kemmerer | Kathy.Davison@wyoleg.gov | (307) 877-6483 |
| David Blevins | R | H25 | Powell | Dave.Blevins@wyoleg.gov | (307) 754-9541 |
| Richard Cannady | R | H06 | Glenrock | Richard.Cannady@wyoleg.gov | (307) 436-9794 |
| John Freeman | D | H60 | Green River | John.Freeman@wyoleg.gov | (307) 875-7378 |
| Gerald Gay | R | H36 | Casper | gerald.gay@wyoleg.gov | (307) 265-5187 |
| Lynn Hutchings | R | H42 | Cheyenne | Lynn.Hutchings@wyoleg.gov | (307) 316-0858 |
| Allen Jaggi | R | H18 | Lyman | Allen.Jaggi@wyoleg.gov | (307) 786-2817 |
| Samuel Krone | R | H24 | Cody | Samuel.Krone@wyoleg.gov | (307) 272-0082 |
| Garry Piiparinen | R | H49 | Evanston | Garry.Piiparinen@wyoleg.gov | (307) 677-5222 |
For more information, please contact Sophie Osborn at the Wyoming Outdoor Council: 307-742-6138 or sophie@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.