In the Press Release 02/08/10 issue:
 MARCH 1 IS DEADLINE FOR MOOSE, BIGHORN SHEEP, MOUNTAIN GOAT APPLICATIONS
APPLY NOW? - OR BUILD PREFERENCE POINTS?
NEW BIRD CHECKLIST AVAILABLE
WALK-IN FISHING AREAS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS
G&F Calendar
ASK THE GAME & FISH
MARCH 1 IS DEADLINE FOR MOOSE, BIGHORN SHEEP, MOUNTAIN GOAT APPLICATIONS
CHEYENNE - Applications for moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat will be accepted until 5 p.m. March 1, 2010.
The March 1 application deadline applies to both residents and nonresidents and is a departure from the standard Feb. 28 deadline because Feb. 28 falls on a weekend this year.
Drawing odds vary depending on species and hunt area. Preference points have been available for both moose and bighorn sheep for 15 years and 75 percent of the quotas for each species are issued in the preference point drawing. The remaining 25 percent is issued in a random drawing without regard for preference point totals. Preference points are not available for mountain goat licenses, but goat licenses are limited to one in a lifetime.
Hunters can research drawing odds from previous years for the various species and hunt areas on the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us. Applications are taken online or through conventional mail. Application booklets are also available at Game and Fish regional offices and license agents or by calling (307) 777-4600.
Hunters who choose not to apply this year can still purchase a preference point online or through the mail between July 1 - Sept.30.
(Contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540)
-WGFD-
APPLY NOW? - OR BUILD PREFERENCE POINTS?
CHEYENNE - Is it better to buy a preference point or wait until more points are accumulated to apply for a moose or bighorn sheep license? That question is asked numerous times each year by both resident and nonresident hunters looking to bolster their chances for drawing one of these coveted licenses.
The preference point system for moose and bighorn sheep was implemented 15 years ago and was designed to eventually improve the drawing odds for licenses. By now, most hunters who got in on the ground floor have drawn licenses for these species. In many areas, those who have several points less than the maximum have also drawn licenses. To make an informed decision on whether to apply for a license or purchase a point requires a basic understanding of how the drawing works and information on the drawing odds for the different hunt areas.
Applicants with the highest number of preference points receive priority in the preference point draw with at least 75 percent of the quota. The remaining 25 percent of the license quota is allocated to a random draw. All hunters, without regard to preference point totals are placed in the random draw.
For an example of how this works, suppose an area has a total quota of 16 bighorn sheep licenses. Under Wyoming statute, 75 percent of that quota (12 licenses) would go to residents with the remaining 25 percent (four licenses) issued to nonresidents. Out of the 12 resident licenses, nine would be issued in the resident preference point draw to those who had the highest point totals. The remaining three are issued in the random draw. For nonresidents, three would be issued in the nonresident preference point draw and one in the random draw.
If an area has a small quota, there may not be any licenses available for the random draw. For example, if an area had a total quota of four licenses, three would be issued to residents and one to nonresidents. Since the total resident quota is three and the nonresident quota is one license, all licenses would be issued in the resident and nonresident preference point draws and no quota would be available for a random draw. If a nonresident wanted at least a mathematical chance of drawing a license in the random draw, an area with a much larger quota should be selected.
For many hunters, drawing a moose or sheep license is like winning the lottery. And like the lottery, you can't win if you don't play. If only a preference point is purchased there is no chance of drawing a license, but it will build points to enhance drawing chances in future years. If an application is made for a license, there is always a small chance in the random draw providing there is sufficient quota. Hunters should keep in mind that if a person fails to apply for a preference point or license for two consecutive years, all preference points will be deleted from the person's record. The application period to apply only for preference points is July 1-Sept.30.
Drawing odds and quotas for the previous year are available on the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us. Click on hunting, then on drawing odds. Hunters with questions on drawing odds and the application process can call (307) 777-4600.
(Contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540)
-WGFD-
NEW BIRD CHECKLIST AVAILABLE
LANDER - Birders, take note. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has a bird checklist available that contains 426 species of birds that have been known to occur in Wyoming. It is designed to enhance opportunity of wildlife enthusiasts to view and understand Wyoming's wildlife and wildlands.
Laurie Van Fleet, nongame wildlife biologist in the Game and Fish Lander office said the Game and Fish is appreciative of birders who return their checklist at the end of each year. "Return of the lists is an important tool for biologists", Van Fleet said. "It is another tool that allows us to track populations through incidental observations and compare the species that have been sighted from one year to the next." When a checklist is returned, a new one is sent by return mail.
"With spring coming and the migrations getting underway, this is an excellent time to get a checklist started for this year," Van Fleet said. "Next to each species, the checklist has a slot where birders can list the date and location of the observation. It helps increase awareness of birds occurring in Wyoming and provides an organized method for recording observations."
Compiled into a booklet format, the checklist divides the state into six regions and lists distribution information for various species within those regions. Information on abundance or status and seasonal information and preferred habitats is included.
Van Fleet said there is a similar checklist for birds in the Jackson area. The Jackson checklist is available at the Jackson Game and Fish office, the Interagency Visitor's Center and Grand Teton National Park Visitor's Center. The Wyoming Bird Checklist is available at any Game and Fish regional office or by calling 307-777-4600. Both checklists were revised in 2008 with updates to species distribution and status information.
(Contact Laurie Van Fleet (307) 332-2688)
-WGFD-
WALK-IN FISHING AREAS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS
CHEYENNE - Walk-in area fishing atlases for 2010 are now available at Game and Fish offices and license agencies throughout the state. The atlas contains maps which show the fishing areas and list the species of fish available in each area.
The walk-in program has been responsible for establishing access to streams and lakes and ponds throughout Wyoming. Walk-in fishing areas are part of the same public access program that provides walk-in and hunter management area access for hunting on private lands.
According to Game and Fish public land access coordinator Matt Buhler, fishing areas now available through the walk-in fishing access program encompass 4,944 acres of lake/pond access and nearly 97 miles of stream access on private lands. Buhler said that many of these areas allow anglers to get through private lands to get to public lands where much more access is available.
Buhler reminded anglers to respect the private lands they are using. "There is a great opportunity to get outside and take advantage of the fishing areas provided to anglers through the walk-in fishing program," Buhler said. "This opportunity is provided only because private landowners choose to enroll their property for fishing access."
The walk-in fishing areas supplement the more than 100 places to fish that anglers can access through Game and Fish public access easements and Game and Fish wildlife habitat management areas. In addition, Wyoming has extensive public fishing opportunities on National Forest, Bureau of Land Management and Wyoming State lands.
The walk-in atlas contains 58 fishing spots in11 drainages. In addition to WGFD offices and license agents, atlases can be found on line at http://gf.state.wy.us . Fishing atlases are valid for the calendar year.
The walk-in program is funded, to a large extent through the Game and Fish AccessYes program. The AccessYes program is comprised of contributions from anglers and hunters made at the time of license purchases and applications.
"All access locations in a walk-in or hunter management area are brought to you through donations made to AccessYes," Buhler said. "All donations go directly to the easements for your access."
(Contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540)
-WGFD-
G&F Calendar
Feb. 22 - Season opens in Central Flyway for Light Goose Conservation Order
Feb. 28 - Crow season closes
March 1 - Landowner coupon deadline
March 1 - Application deadline for wild bison priority listing
March 1 - Resident/ nonresident application deadline for moose, bighorn sheep and mt. goat licenses
March 1 - Season closes for cottontail rabbit; snowshoe hare; red, gray and fox squirrels
March 15 - Nonresident application deadline for deer and antelope licenses
-WGFD-
ASK THE GAME & FISH
Q. What is the minimum age to apply for preference points?
A. To apply for a preference point an applicant must be at least 11 years old at time of application, and at least 12 years old by Dec. 31 of the year of application. This shares one similarity with the minimum age for applying for a big game license which requires an applicant to be 11 years old at the time of application, but the difference is the applicant must be at least 12 years old when hunting.
-WGFD-
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