Muley Fanatic Foundation recently shared a press release containing a letter addressed to Wyoming legislators regarding Senate File 0118. Together with other sportsmen groups, Muley Fanatic explained how the bill proposes transferable landowner tags and forces a move towards privatization of wildlife. They also expressed their concerns about why this would be an issue. The following is the content of the letter:
Dear Wyoming Legislators,
On behalf of numerous outdoorsman organizations representing sportsmen in all corners of Wyoming, we are deeply concerned with Senate File 0118 proposing transferable landowner licenses. Not only does this bill violate the first pillar of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, but it creates a system that removes opportunity from Wyoming hunters and allocates tags to the highest bidder. Wyoming wildlife belongs to all and is held in public trust. This bill will monetize and privatize our public wildlife by handing over resident opportunities to the wealthy few who can afford it. This is not the Wyoming way.
In Wyoming, we take care of our neighbors. Wyoming's hunters and landowners have a long-standing relationship working together to take care of each other while responsibly managing wildlife and respecting the landscape. Wyoming understands that private lands provide wintering ground and sanctuary for the state's wildlife and already has an extremely generous landowner benefits program. Landowners are offered landowner-specific tags ahead of the general application pool that are valid for the entire hunt area, not just their private land. Sporting dollars are also used for programs that provide fiscal incentives for allowing access and cost offsets for wildlife damages. In fact, Wyoming pays the highest dollar amount to landowners in their damages program compared to any other state.
If transferable landowner tags became the law, this would drive a wedge between sportsmen in Wyoming and landowners, as some landowners would undoubtedly sell those tags to the highest bidder. Take a look at New Mexico, where by law, 84% of tags should go to residents through a public draw. However, after landowner licenses are accounted for, a mere 55% of elk licenses remain allocated for the resident draw. Implementing a transferable landowner tag system will activate many landowners sitting on the sidelines to jump into the application game to sell their tags. In many hunt units in Wyoming, transferrable landowner licenses could take up all of the available limited quota licenses before residents or non residents have an opportunity to draw.
"The sciences of wildlife management require engagement in all three aspects of science, biological, social and political. The transfer of landowner licenses to monetize our wildlife resources will never be supported by the Muley Fanatic Foundation," Joshua Coursey said.
Additionally, transferable tags may make landowners less inclined to offer public access through programs like AccessYes and more inclined to lease these rights. Transferable tags could also increase pressure in general hunting units because fewer licenses would be available for residents to draw in limited quota units. This could negatively impact the overall hunter experience in already overcrowded general hunt areas.
In conclusion, transferable tags hurt the hardworking sportsmen of Wyoming who live and work here year-round, waiting for their opportunity to pursue big game in world-class hunt areas. Transferable tags benefit the wealthy that are willing to pay landowners high prices to bypass the normal license allocation system. Let's put Wyoming first by taking care of our working class and not catering to out-of-state interests or deep pockets.
Supporting sportsmen groups:
Joshua Coursey, Muley Fanatic Foundation
Jess Johnson, Wyoming Wildlife Federation
Josh Metten, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Sabrina King, Wyoming Chapter Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Katie Cheesbrough, Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation
Levi Wood and Elise Huysman, Wyoming Game Wardens Association
Joe Kondelis, American Bear Foundation
Tom Hurley, Bowhunters of Wyoming
Charles Whitwam, HOWL
Reader Comments(0)