Governor’s big game license sales top $1.5 million
by Governor Freudenthal’s office
February 14, 2007
(Cheyenne, Wyoming) - A program which puts proceeds from the sale of Governor Dave Freudenthal’s complimentary big game licenses toward wildlife conservation projects has topped $1.5 million.
In 2003, the governor’s licenses raised $325,000; in 2004, $399,390; in 2005, $351,221; and in 2006, $403,650. So far in 2007, four licenses have generated $105,500.
By statute, the governor can receive up to 20 complimentary hunting licenses each year in the form of bighorn sheep, moose, elk, deer and antelope licenses. Since he took office in 2003, Freudenthal has turned over his big game licenses to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming to administer on behalf of the Governor’s Office and the Wyoming Governor's Big Game License Coalition.
The foundation authorizes other wildlife and sportsmen’s organizations to arrange for auctions of the licenses. Those groups may retain no more than 10 percent of the proceeds. Ten percent may be retained by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation as an administration fee, 10 percent is transferred to an account designated for “all wildlife conservation projects” and 70 percent is transferred to appropriate conservation project accounts to be spent on the types of game for which the license was sold.
The coalition has approved 118 projects since the program began, and of those, 88 have been completed. Projects funded so far include ones improving forage, restoring sagebrush, conducting prescribed burns, diverting trumpeter swans from power lines, promoting education, monitoring wildlife populations and enhancing riparian areas.
”I’m delighted that the sales of these licenses are providing a direct benefit to our wildlife,” Freudenthal said. “It’s important that we take steps now to preserve this habitat so that our children and grandchildren will also be afforded the same opportunities to enjoy Wyoming’s wildlife.”
On April 18 in Casper, the coalition will hold its annual meeting to discuss and approve the next round of projects. A total of 27 requests were submitted.
For further information about the program, including how to apply for funding, contact Marlene “Mo” Brown at the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Wyoming at (307) 777-4529, http://www.whfw.org.
|
