Wyoming fee hikes

[Darkwolf]

Wyoming Fish and Game Department, Regulations
3030 Energy Lane,
Suite 100,
Casper, Wyoming
82604


Re: Proposed Nonresident License and Preference Point Changes

Dear Sir or Madam,

I have received your State Game Department’s letter regarding proposed changes to your drawing system and to the fees for the preference points. In it, you asked me, as the affected party of the proposals, to comment on them.

I have no especial problem with that part of the proposed system of placing part of the draws for licenses under a preference point system. The fees suggested by the Fish and Game Commission, however, are another matter. For Elk, Deer and Antelope, the Commission proposes to charge a fee of $40 per preference point, and for Moose and Sheep the fee is to go from $7 to $75. I can only be left with the impression that the Commission is trying to reduce the numbers of non-resident hunters with these fee rates. To put this in perspective, a non-resident hunter is being asked to pay, for a point, what a resident pays for an elk license or almost twice what he pays for a deer or antelope license. For one point towards a moose draw, the non-resident is expected to pay 80% of a resident’s fee for the tag itself.

I understand that it is a tradition in western states to have non-residents foot the costs of conservation by making them pay higher fees, and that residents maintain this privilege by being enfranchised to vote and thus, influence the state governments.

With respect to these proposed changes though, I find that my only way to vote is with my wallet. If the fees are set as proposed, and placed out of the reach of all but a wealthy few, then I will just not be able to enter the draws. I work for a living and a $75 service fee for entering information into a computer is far outside both my ability and my willingness to pay. I was saving up for the $1200 license, the $4000 guiding service and the costs of transportation and lodging for this planned trip. Since, in the meantime, I cannot afford the point fees and since it is a waste of time to enter the license draw without them, there is no sense in maintaining these plans. This, especially since the proposed changes also make me feel uncomfortable about applying again for another antelope tag, as I have done several years running, or in the purchase I have made of a recreational property near the Medicine Bow National Forest.

I have been left with the feeling that I am unwelcome as a sportsman in your state and I question spending any more vacation time and money with such a reception.




C.C. This Letter to:

Gov. Dave Fruedenthal
Jane Flag, Board of Outfitters
North American Hunting Club


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I just figured I should make my feelings known.

I know Non-resident fees are higher, but the fees just for purchasing a PREFERENCE POINT are bloody onerous. Coming from BC, I can hunt moose up here, but a hunt for a Shiras Moose in Wyoming was a dream hunt of mine for some time. I feel bad for other hunters in the US that have few other options.

To tell the truth, the suggested fee hikes seem more like openly turning game animals into a commodity for the highest bidder.



Oh, well, not like it makes any difference, right?