More news from Rob Shaul who is attending the WWTF meetings in Casper.
“One word at Senator Larry Hicks. I've received several emails thanking me for my efforts on 90/10. Let's be clear .... I'm late to this fight. Sen. Hicks has been fighting, alone, for 90/10 and resident hunters for years before I became involved. He's the hero in the trenches and all our efforts are to support him and the other State Representatives and Senators working to fight their fellow Wyomingites to change hunting tag allocation to 90/10.
Understand our fight is with those who make money from Wyoming Wildlife - the Outfitters, Lodging/restaurant industry and Landowners/Stockgrowers. Resident hunters don't make any money from hunting. All we get is hard-earned opportunities and lifetime memories.
Again, I'll be in Casper for the first day of this week's meeting (Wednesday). I'll be the ugly guy sitting in the back getting dirty looks from most the members of the Taskforce, especially Pat Crank. Please stop by and introduce yourself if you happen to attend.
Migration Corridor Lawsuit
Last week, through the nonprofit I founded, Mountain Pursuit, myself and the Board Vice President, Sheridan native James Howell, sued Governor Gordon for his failure to identify and protect two big game migration corridors in western Wyoming - those for the Wyoming Range Mule Deer and Sublette Pronghorn Herds. We used the Wyoming Constitutional right to hunt as the basis for our lawsuit.
In February/March 2019, the G&F was on the final step of designating both these corridors when the Stockgrowers Association, Petroleum Association of Wyoming, Mining industry and others sent a letter to the department asking it to delay designation over their concerns about mitigation steps to protect the corridors. Gov. Gordon, at the behest of industry, stepped in and took the process away from the wildlife professionals at the G&F department and eventually, in February 2020, signed an executive order setting up a new wildlife corridor designation process which gives the Governor the final say. Since that time, the designation process for both these corridors has been stalled.
I'm not at attorney, and we filed pro se, so I have no idea how the Court will rule. But at least Gov. Gordon knows hunters are paying attention and willing to fight for wildlife. At best, we'll win, and hunters, via the Constitutional provision, will have a very powerful tool to fight for wildlife in Wyoming.
All for now ... I'll send another note later this week or early next with and update from what happened at the first WWTF meeting.
Respectfully,
- Rob Shaul
First Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce Meeting Tomorrow, June 16 I'm driving to Casper tonight to attend the first day, Wednesday, but you can also watch/attend online via Zoom. The meeting is being held at the Hilton Garden Inn. Wednesday's meeting runs all day and begins at 9am. Thursday's meeting is 1
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