(Fremont County, WY) – A proposed fee increase to the annual conservation stamp is slated to go before the 66th Wyoming Legislature in the coming days.
If passed, HB0122-Hunting and fishing access-reliable funding would bump the fee up from $12 to $21 – creating an anticipated revenue of $1.6M, according to the Legislative Services Office.
The $9 from the fee increase would go to a dedicated Wyoming Game and Fish Department fund for their Access Yes Program which currently relies upon donations.
Access Yes works with landowners to provide free hunting and fishing opportunities on private and inaccessible public lands, according to the WGFD.
Allocation of the anticipated revenue breakdown – “not less than 85% of the above revenues collected shall be used annually for the purchase of access easements or other agreements to provide public access to federal, state, and school trust lands. The bill also indicates that not greater than 15% shall be used annually to provide for wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system.”
Sponsoring the bill is Sheridan County Representative Cyrus Western and Fremont County Representative Lloyd Larsen is a co-sponsor among others. Organizations behind the bill not only include the WGFD, but the Lander-based Wyoming Wildlife Federation.
Click here to read the detailed WWF bill breakdown.
Click here to learn more about the WGFD Access Yes Program.