Sorry Wes, but you must be thinking about some other group. Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife tries to address issues critical to Wyoming's Sportsmen & Sportswomen. Perhaps you might be interested in reading our goals & objectives.
WYOMING SPORTSMEN FOR FISH & WILDILFE
2010 GOALS & OBJECTIVES
?Grizzly Bear
a)Seek and obtain funding/partners for a grizzly bear DNA study to prove that the current methodology used to determine the number of grizzly bears in the GYE is too conservative.
b)Restore grizzly bears as a recovered species.
c)Either obtain hunting for grizzly bears in Wyoming or obtain increased protections for Wyoming Citizens forced to kill in self-defense.
d)Work with Industry Producers to develop a new manner to deliver bear spray that works for hunters.
e)Push back against those that imply the application of lethal force against bear attacks are inappropriate and dispel the myth that bear spray in its current form is a viable or realistic option for hunters.
f)Balance current grizzly bear mortality reporting methods by removing biased assumptions which arbitrarily and capriciously increase grizzly bear mortality rates and threaten the relisting of a recovered population.
?Wind Energy
a)Ensure that areas outside the core sage grouse zone do not become sacrificial zones to wind energy development.
b)Ensure that wind energy doesn't further restrict or diminish access for hunting.
c)Ensure that mitigation exists for impacts affecting recreational opportunities.
d)Ensure that exit strategies are in place in the event that wind energy fails to either materialize or be sustainable.
e)Ensure that best available science is used when determining where transmissions lines are to be placed and/or wind farms created.
?Access
a)Explore and develop programs to address large blocks of private property where no hunting is allowed.
b)Explore ways to increase access for resident hunters.
c)Evaluate other state programs and their effectiveness at increasing access for resident hunters.
d)Explore opportunities to simultaneously increase access and youth hunter participation/retention.
e)Recognize and increase awareness of the threat vast acreages of beetle killed trees pose to public land access and recreational opportunities.
f)Explore opportunities to address removal of beetle killed trees.
?Predation
a)Ensure that whenever hunting opportunities are reduced due to excessive predation that predation issues are also addressed.
b)Ensure that when necessary quota restrictions are lifted in areas where predation factors are responsible for reductions in hunter opportunity.
c)Increase opportunity for harvest of Trophy Game animals by creating a reduced price license fee for areas where predation is reducing hunter opportunity.
d)Increase the number of Trophy Game animals an individual may take annually in areas where predation is reducing hunter opportunity.
e)Address impacts caused by winter ranges closures and the safe haven it creates for lions.
f)Encourage the Department to extend hunting seasons when quotas are met earlier than predicted or expected.
g)Ensure that the Department is assisting local predator management boards with identification of areas where predation factors are suppressing hunter opportunity and that appropriate actions are taken to restore lost hunter opportunity.
?Public Involvement Process for Wildlife Management
a)Address the public?s perception that season setting meetings are a waste of time, energy, money, and valuable state resources.
b)Explore and establish a better process where hunters can address management practices besides length of season and the number of permits being issued.
c)Educate sportsmen and sportswomen as to how the current process works and how they can use it to address their concerns and issues.
d)Increase public participation and involvement.
e)Encourage the G&F Department to think more outside the box rather than continuing to do the same thing while expecting a different outcome.
?Recover Mule Deer Population
a)Re-evaluate license allocation and percentage split between resident and non-resident hunters.
b)Identify obstacles preventing large scale habitat projects from being implemented.
c)Elevate priority of mule deer recovery with Federal Agencies; primarily BLM.
d)Explore ways to increase partnerships to improve mule deer habitat.
e)Explore opportunities to simultaneously increase access (opportunity) and youth hunter participation/retention.
?Youth Mentoring Program
a)Increase resident youth hunter opportunity, participation and retention.
b)Lift quota for resident youth antelope hunters.
c)Work with WY G&F Department and other interested hunting partnerships to establish a mentoring program with its primary purpose being that of increasing youth hunter opportunity, participation and retention.
d)Identify landowner?s desirous of participating and expanding the Youth Mentoring Program.
?Continue Monitoring Past Objectives
a)Continue working with WY G&F Department to ensure that wolves are once again delisted and managed according the desires of Wyoming?s Citizens.
b)Continue demonstrating support for continued supplemental feeding of elk where warranted through WY SFW?s Annual Hay Day event in Jackson.
c)Continue supporting one of Wyoming?s Crown Jewels; the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust.
