Game and Fish public meetings to discuss elk hunting licenses
Meeting in Pinedale May 8th
by Wyoming Game & Fish
May 3, 2018
The current system for giving out hunting licenses to elk hunters has not been changed in nearly 30 years. Over the past several months the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has heard different opinions on whether the system and percentage split of licenses between residents and nonresidents should stay the same or be altered. Now the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is inviting people to come and learn more about the existing system and talk about license allocation without any proposed changes on the table. Game and Fish will also take any other comments on licensing for future consideration.
"We hope people will come and offer their thoughts and learn more about Wyoming’s licensing system and how the funds that are generated by big game licenses support wildlife management. Our upcoming meetings are designed to foster discussions about all big game license allocations. So, join us and share your thoughts with Game and Fish personnel. Comments are also welcome online if you can’t attend a public meeting," said Doug Brimeyer, deputy chief of the Wildlife Division.
Right now, the system allocates licenses differently for nonresidents and residents. Each January, Wyoming opens a month long application period for nonresident elk applications. The application period is short and the draw is earlier than most other Western states to help nonresidents plan their hunts. Game and Fish issues up to 7,250 full-priced elk licenses in the draw. While this number was established by Commission regulation in 1989, the actual allocation of general licenses to nonresidents varies annually. Each year, wildlife managers provide a preliminary quota of elk licenses for the state; non-residents receive 16 percent of limited quota licenses with the remaining 84 percent of limited quota licenses reserved for residents. The number of general licenses available for non-residents in the draw is the difference between 7,250 (the Commission regulation) and the number of limited quota licenses issued in the random draw. This year in the nonresident draw, 4,493 general licenses were available, up slightly from 4,443 in 2017.
The application period for Wyoming residents runs from January through May. During this period, resident elk hunters apply for the pool of limited quota elk licenses (84%). These licenses are awarded through a random draw. Residents also have the option to purchase a general elk license over-the-counter, if they have not met their license limits for elk. Residents do not have preference points for elk. During 2017, residents were issued 18,871 licenses in the initial draw and also purchased 26,717 general licenses.
The meeting schedule to hear thoughts from the public is:
Date and time Town Location
May 7, 6-8 p.m. Laramie Laramie Game and Fish Regional Office
May 7, 6-8 p.m. Jackson National Museum Wildlife Art
May 8, 6-8 p.m. Sheridan Best Western Sheridan Center
May 8, 6-8 p.m. Pinedale Pinedale Game and Fish Regional Office
May 9, 6-8 p.m. Green River Western Wyoming Community College
May 9, 6-8 p.m. Lander Inn at Lander
May 10, 6-8 p.m. Cody Cody Auditorium
May 10, 6-8 p.m. Casper Casper Game and Fish Regional office
May 16, 10-11 a.m. Facebook Live Facebook Live on the Game and Fish website
Interested people can also submit comments on the website. The online public comment period will start at 8 a.m. May 7 through 5 p.m. June 6.
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