Here's a very interesting read about the WG&F budget and revenue:
At a time that the State of Wyoming is struggling to find ways to shore up the budget, the Game and Fish Department continues to find ways to afford major expenditures, from construction …
www.powelltribune.com
Here's an interesting section of an article that explains the importance of nonres to the WG&F!
The breakdown of revenue is surprising. The department brings in about $56.3 million in licenses and fees and 77% of that comes from non-residents. At first glance, the large amount of licenses and fees generated from nonresidents could lead to the misconception that the state is being flooded by out-of-state hunters and fishermen. But one statistic that stands out is the money collected for preference points.
Non-resident hunters invest more than $12 million in preference points each year, while residents put a little more than $100,000 into future hunts. While residents only need preference points for moose and bighorn sheep, non-residents also need them for elk, deer and pronghorn.
The percentage of non-residents receiving licenses differs for each species, but in most cases it’s less than 20% of the available hunting licenses, said Sara DiRienzo, public information officer for the Game and Fish.