In the Press Release for 08/01/2003 issue:
 Hot, Dry July Prompts Fire Ban On G&F Lands
Stoval Beverage and Miller Brewing Providing Hunting and Fishing Spots
Leftover Doe/Fawn and Cow/Calf Licenses Sales Start Aug. 15 at License Agents
Wyo Girls School One of Many To Take in Hunting, Fishing Heritage Expo
G&F Calendar
ASK THE GAME & FISH
Hot, Dry July Prompts Fire Ban On G&F Lands
CHEYENNE – Record heat combined with a prolonged July dry spell has prompted the Game and Fish Department to ban open fires, barbecue grills and fireworks beginning Aug. 1 on all lands and facilities administered by the department.
The judicious use of gas stoves is still permitted at G&F habitat management and access areas, but open fires and barbecue grills are being prohibited to help guard against a range or forest fire breaking out. The ban is in effect until further notice.
“With improved grass growth this year due to the wet spring, the ban is extra-warranted this year because there is more fuel to start and carry a fire following this hot, dry July,” said Bill Gerhart, G&F assistant habitat supervisor.
The G&F will be posting signs on its lands to inform users of the emergency ban.
“We recognize many anglers and hikers enjoy campfires, but with the extreme fire danger the risk is too great to our areas and adjoining lands,” Gerhart said.
This is the fourth summer in a row the G&F has enacted fire restrictions.
Gerhart adds that this summer’s fire ban does not change the G&F’s long-term commitment to improve wildlife habitat through prescribed burns.
“The Game and Fish is not abandoning its support for prescribed fires when the conditions are right, because prescribed fires under proper conditions improve the health of vegetation communities and wildlife habitat,” he said. “But conditions aren’t right in summer and certainly not this summer.”
The G&F thanks the public for their cooperation with the emergency ban. Anyone with questions should contact the nearest G&F regional office or call (307) 777-4600.
Fire restrictions have also been placed on the Medicine Bow and Bridger-Teton national forests, Thunder Basin National Grassland, Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, along with Johnson , Sheridan, Crook, Sublette, Lincoln, Albany and Laramie counties. Fire restrictions are also in place on Bureau of Land Management property in Natrona, Converse, Platte and Goshen counties.
With the potential of fire conditions getting worse, more counties and agencies could be adding restrictions. Campers are urged to check with local national forest and the BLM offices about possible restrictions.
-WGFD-
Stoval Beverage and Miller Brewing Providing Hunting and Fishing Spots
CASPER -- Hunters have a good reason to lift a glass after the hunt is over.
Bill Stoval of Stoval Beverage of Casper recently donated $6,175.25 to the Game and Fish Department’s Access Yes Program on behalf of Miller Brewing Company and its Wyoming distributors. The donation will be used to secure walk-in and hunter management areas, which are free to the public.
The donation was generated from the purchase of Miller High Life regular and light beer. Miller distributors donate 5 cents for each case of the product. Miller Brewing Co. then matches the distributors’ proceeds which totals 10 cents for the easements. Many Miller products are purchased by sportsmen and women enjoying Wyoming’s great outdoors.
“It is a way to give back to the people who are buying Miller products,” said Bill Stoval.
Wyoming’s distributors helping to raise the donations to improve hunting and fishing access are Jackson Hole Distributing in Jackson, Metz Beverage in Sheridan and Gillette, Orrison Distributing in Cheyenne and Teton Distributors in Worland and Rock Springs.
Access Yes donations go directly to the purchase of hunting and fishing easements. Donations can be made by sportspersons when they purchase or apply for hunting and fishing licenses. Organizations or individuals interested in helping provide access can also make direct contributions.
“Donations from organizations like Miller Brewing Co. allow us to provide hunting and fishing access onto private areas”, said Matt Buhler, G&F state access coordinator. “Support generated through the sale of Miller products will assist the Game and Fish Department with providing hunting and fishing access around the state.”
In 2003, the Private Lands Public Wildlife Access Program is providing some 425,830 private acres through the Walk-in Hunting Areas and over 644,000 private acres through hunter management areas. Additionally, walk-in fishing areas provide access to 110 lake acres and 82 stream miles of fishing around the state. The total number of public acres that are now accessible are too numerous to count.
-WGFD-
Leftover Doe/Fawn and Cow/Calf Licenses Sales Start Aug. 15 at License Agents
CHEYENNE -- Leftover reduced price doe/fawn antelope and deer and cow/calf elk licenses go on sale Aug. 15 at license agents in the respective hunt areas with some new rules to make sales more equitable and consistent across Wyoming.
There are doe/fawn antelope licenses available in 88 areas, doe/fawn deer in 60 areas and cow/calf elk licenses in 43 areas.
A new regulation passed by the Game and Fish Commission July 28 requires the licenses to be sold purely first-come, first-served without preference to resident or nonresidents. Customers are allowed to submit applications for up to six hunters.
License agents who accept phone, mail, fax or applications by any other electronic means, cannot do so before noon Aug. 15.
“These new sales regulations will standardize the sale of these licenses across the state,” said Jean Cole, G&F license sales supervisor.
If someone is purchasing doe/fawn licenses for a resident friend, a signed application is needed because a signature is required to verify residency.
Resident doe/fawn licenses are $20; $14 youth. Resident cow/calf elk $30; youth $20. Nonresident doe/fawn $50; youth $30. Nonresident cow/calf $200; youth $100.
For information about doe/fawn and cow/calf license availability and location, call (800) 842-1934 or (307) 777-4600 out of state, or visit the G&F Web site at gf.state.wy.us.
-WGFD-
Wyo Girls School One of Many To Take in Hunting, Fishing Heritage Expo
SHERIDAN – The Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo is free and open to all, but for some the privilege to attend is earned.
The students at the Wyoming Girls School in Sheridan are usually not keyed into our natural environment nor interested in outdoor recreational activities. Indeed, the girls are delinquent, and generally have few positive influences in their lives.
But in 2001, a science teacher who is passionate about the outdoors escorted a group of commendable girl’s school students to attend the Expo. They made a day trip to Casper and reported a wonderful time. In 2002, a grant from Bowhunters of Wyoming allowed 11 more girls to make a two-day trip to the Expo.
“The immediate change in the girls was positive and cannot help but have a long-term affect on them,” said principal Ginger Stout. “When kids’ natural energy and enthusiasm are directed toward positive activity, it’s obviously less necessary to re-direct them from the negative. We are grateful for the opportunity and look forward to participating in the Expo with even more of our girls.”
The girls were first chosen by their counselors who felt they had earned the privilege to attend. The girls’ ability to interact with girls from other dorms was then considered, and they were asked why they wished to attend. Some had previous exposure to outdoor activities, but most had not. A sincere interest was necessary -- the need to just "get out" was not acceptable.
Bowhunters’ generous donation was used for meals and the opportunity to participate in activities on both Saturday and Sunday. A Casper church provided warm hospitality and a comfortable floor.
For most of the girls, all of the activities were a first experience. Canoeing, archery, compass orienteering and fly tying were just a few of the activities the girls enjoyed. They were fascinated by the customs of the American Indian, and they loved creating songs with a nature author. The activities also increased their awareness of career opportunities in natural resources.
Last year 103 schools brought students to the Expo. Teachers interested in bringing their class the Sept. 5-7 event this year should call (888) EXPO-WYO. This year’s Expo promises to be an exceptional three days for anyone interested in hunting, fishing and the outdoors. Some of the many free activities offered include wildlife photography, hunting and fishing skills, canoeing, rifle and shotgun shooting and archery clinics.
For more information on the Expo contact any G&F office or check out the G&F Web site at http://gf.state.wy.us.
-WGFD-
G&F Calendar
July 28-29 -- G&F Commission meeting in Sheridan.
July 31 -- Resident and nonresident early sandhill crane and Canada goose application deadline.
July 31- Aug. 7 – Public meetings on proposed changes to big game application dates/procedures, regulations on G&F lands, possession of wildlife and Wildlife Violator Compact.
Aug. 14 -- Deadline for written comments on above proposed regulation changes to be received by G&F Casper Office.
Aug. 15 -- Resident and nonresident fall turkey application deadline.
Aug. 15 -- Doe/fawn antelope and deer and cow/calf elk licenses go on sale at selected license agents.
-WGFD-
ASK THE GAME & FISH
Q. “I lost my hunter education card and was told it will cost $5 for a duplicate. What is the reason I will be charged?
A. For many years, anyone who lost their Wyoming card could get a duplicate for free. But, the requests began escalating to about 1,500 a year, which takes a sizable amount of time to process. Some hunters have received as many as five free duplicates. The fee is hopefully an incentive for people to take better care of their cards.
-WGFD-
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