ALERT: Public comment period open for BIG Wyoming changes!

Last week in the office we were talking about the upcoming July 7, 2022, Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce meeting. There is a big potential for Wyoming to shake things up in terms of hunting opportunities in that state

There are a lot of items that will be discussed at the meeting and now is your chance to submit your comments! I’ve already started to work on my responses to all their comments and now is your time to voice your thoughts. Residents and nonresidents should submit their comments.

Feel free to comment on this article to place all your ideas and concerns as it might help out someone else making a comment to the task force, but keep in mind that if you want Wyoming to hear from you, make SURE you submit your comments through the link below and fill out their comment form.

NOTE: the comment deadline is July 1 at 5 p.m. MDT.

Submit your comments here

Items in the meeting:

Comment #1:

The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce is considering a recommendation that, if adopted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, would limit the number of type 1 antelope licenses to one (1) per person (current regulation allows two (2) per person). This recommendation is being considered in the interest of potentially providing more hunter opportunity to more sportspersons each year. Should the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce recommend this change to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission?

Comment #2

The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce is considering a recommendation that would establish ‘High-Demand (HD) Antelope, Deer, and Elk hunt areas. On an annual basis, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission (herein after the “Commission”) shall designate and publish high-demand and standard-demand hunt areas for antelope, deer, and elk. These hunt areas shall be determined by averaging the previous three years of resident drawing odds for each individual unit for Type 1, 2, and 9 licenses. High-demand, or HD hunt areas, shall be those whose three-year average is 30% or less, and all others shall be designated as standard-demand, or Standard Demand (SD) areas. Should the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce recommend this change to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission?

Comment #3

The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce is considering a recommendation that would create a ‘90/10 Quota Split in HD areas – Status Quo Split in SD areas. The Commission shall establish regulations that designate 90% of available Type 1, 2, and 9 licenses in HD Units to residents and 10% to non-residents. This quota split will be only for the initial drawing. Any licenses remaining unallocated after the initial drawing shall be made available in the Leftover Draw. In all SD areas the quota split shall be as it is currently established by Commission Rule, with 80% of Type 1, 2, and 9 Deer and Antelope licenses available to residents, 20% to non-residents, and 84% of Type 1, 2, and 9 Elk Licenses available to residents and 16% to non-residents. Should the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce recommend this change to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission?

Comment #4

The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce is considering a recommendation that would create a ‘Waiting Period After Holding a HD Unit Type 1, 2, or 9 License’. The Commission, through its rules and regulation, shall establish guidelines that impose a mandatory waiting period for any individual, excluding a qualified landowner holding a landowner license, who possessed a Type 1, 2, or 9 antelope, deer, or elk license for a HD Unit. Those individuals shall be ineligible to apply for another Type 1, 2, or 9 license for the respective species in any HD area for a period of 3-years after drawing one of these licenses. Should the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce recommend this change to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission?

Comment #5

The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce is considering a recommendation that would create an ‘Outfitted Non-Resident License Pool Drawing’. The Wyoming Legislature shall establish in statute, and direct the Commission to develop and promulgate any necessary rules and regulations, an Outfitted Non-Resident License Pool Drawing. Through statute, rule, or regulation change, eliminate the non-resident “special license” designation, and create a pool of an equivalent amount (40%) of the available non-resident licenses that shall be awarded in a competitive drawing. Only non-residents who are contracted with a registered Wyoming Outfitter shall be eligible to enter into this drawing. Increase the license fee for this pool in amounts sufficient to cover the anticipated reduction in revenue associated with other actions by the legislature. Should the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce recommend this change to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission?

Comment #6

The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce is considering a recommendation that would establish a ‘Resident Preference in Leftover License Drawing’. The Commission shall establish rules/regulations, and direct the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, to implement a system where residents receive preference over non-residents in a competitive drawing for any unsubscribed (leftover) licenses from the initial drawing. Should the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce recommend this change to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission?

Submit your comments here