In the Press Release 08/16/10 issue:

EXPO POSTERS, POETRY AND ESSAYS SPOTLIGHT YOUNG ARTISTS AND AUTHORS
LADIES SHOTGUN CLINIC TO BE HELD IN CASPER
BOATER SELF CHECKS KEY TO PREVENTING AIS INTRODUCTION
G&F Calendar
ASK THE GAME & FISH

EXPO POSTERS, POETRY AND ESSAYS SPOTLIGHT YOUNG ARTISTS AND AUTHORS

CHEYENNE - Wyoming wildlife heritage and scenery were the focus of students' artwork and writings for the 2010 Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Hunting & Fishing Heritage Expo Poster, Poetry and Essay competition.

Students from third through 12^th grade wrote or drew their vision of Wyoming under the theme: "Wyoming's Wildlife . . . Our Legacy." The competition is open to all Wyoming students. All entrants will have their work displayed in the Wyoming People, Places and Culture gallery at the Expo, to be held Sept. 9-11 in Casper. Winning students also receive a savings bond and will be recognized at the Expo Awards and Sponsors banquet.

In the poster competition, held for third through sixth graders, the winners are:

• First Place- Sage Rehling, Boys and Girls Club of Cheyenne
• Second Place- Lexie Dockery, Lusk Elementary School
• Third Place- Kyleigh Giudice, Westside Elementary, Worland

The following students received honorable mention:

-Sydney Bentley - Lusk Elementary

-Teasa Johnson - Etna Elementary, Alpine

-Bailey Gibbons - Westside Elementary, Worland

-Isidro Sanchez - Fairview Elementary, Cheyenne

-Deangelo Figurelli - Fairview Elementary, Cheyenne

The poetry competition featured students in seventh to ninth grades. The winners are:

• First Place - Jade McGriff, Shoshoni Jr./ Sr. High School
• Second Place - Jenifer Dechert, Shoshoni Jr./Sr. High School
• Third Place - Annika Dechert, Shoshoni Jr./ Sr. High School

The following students received honorable mention:

-Katelyn Robinson, Shoshoni Jr./ Sr. High School

-Tyler Clemetson Shoshoni Jr./Sr. High School

High school students in grades 10 through 12 were eligible for the essay competition. The winners are:

• First Place - Ashley Ringler, Powell High School
• Second Place - Brandi Swedland, Encampment High School
• Third Place - Mackenzie Rakness, Encampment High school

"The Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo contests are a fun and creative way for students to combine an interest in wildlife and the outdoors with a passion for writing or drawing," says Game and Fish Department Conservation and Education Manager Wendy Hayes. 

  The Expo is a free event for all ages and skill levels. For more information, contact the Casper or Cheyenne Game and Fish office.

-WGFD-

LADIES SHOTGUN CLINIC TO BE HELD IN CASPER

CASPER - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department hopes to trigger more interest in women participating in the outdoors with its annual Ladies Shotgun Clinic to be held Sept. 12 at the Casper Skeet and Trap Club.

The clinic is open to women age 15 and up of all skill levels, including women who have never touched a gun before and would like to learn how to shoot in a safe and supportive environment. It's also for beginning or intermediate shooters who would like some pointers or need help refining their skills.

Participants will handle 12, 20 and 28 gauge shotguns and ammo, learn safe firearms handling and storage, and practice shooting, all under the watchful eye of experienced instructors. Participants receive one-on-one instruction from experienced shooters, both male and female.

Hunter Education Coordinator Jim Dawson says shooting and hunting challenge participants to develop skills and discipline and provide opportunities to learn about wildlife and their habitats.

"The ladies' clinic offers a welcoming environment for ladies wanting to learn the skills necessary to be a successful shooter," says Dawson. "The class is designed to be supportive, friendly and non-competitive. We hope that ladies can learn a new sport they'll enjoy for a lifetime or simply feel more comfortable around firearms."

The clinic begins at 9 a.m. and will run until noon. Shotguns, clay targets and eye and ear protection are provided, but participants can bring their own equipment. Students are also encouraged to bring a lawn chair to relax between their shooting practice.

The clinic is offered after the 2010 Wyoming Hunting & Fishing Heritage Expo, Sept. 9-11 at the Casper Evens Center. There will be no other Expo activities held on Sunday, Sept. 12. 

The Casper Skeet and Trap Range is located across to road, to the north of the Casper Events Center at 700 JC Way. Pre-registration is not required. For more information, please contact Jim Dawson at (307) 777-4531 or Margaret James at (307) 777-4538.
(Contact: Margaret James (307) 777-4538)

-WGFD-

BOATER SELF CHECKS KEY TO PREVENTING AIS INTRODUCTION

CHEYENNE - Thousands of aquatic invasive species inspections have been conducted this summer as inspection crews have traveled the state to set up check stations at Wyoming's lakes and reservoirs.

The number of waters and launch points far exceed what inspectors can cover, and not every boater who heads out will encounter an AIS check station. With that being the case, a good deal of the prevention of AIS introduction into Wyoming will be tied to the self-checks boaters do before launching their boats in Wyoming.

The purpose of a boater self-check is to ensure they are not transporting mussels or other AIS into Wyoming waters. To facilitate an effective self-check, a boater can use a self-check form, which is available at all watercraft check stations, the Game and Fish website, regional offices and in small kiosks on signs at many boat ramps in Wyoming. The self-check form guides the boater through a self-inspection and ensures the boat is "Drain, Clean and Dry."  

   "The majority of our Wyoming boaters never take their boat out of state and their boating activities are confined to nearby lakes and reservoirs. As a result our boaters present a low risk of infecting Wyoming waters with AIS," said WGFD AIS Coordinator Beth Bear.

Drain, Clean and Dry still applies to all boaters. This will limit the spread of existing AIS in Wyoming, like whirling disease and New Zealand mudsnail, as well as prevent the spread of invasive mussels if they are detected in our waters.

The real danger lies when a boat is used in an out-of-state water where AIS is present and is brought back into Wyoming or when a boat is purchased from another state. "We have had a number of these instances this summer," said Bear. "Instances where boaters have contacted us, telling us where their boats have been and requesting inspections before they launch." She adds this level of concern will be key to preventing AIS introduction in coming years.

The WGFD website http://gf.state.wy.us has a listing of all waters on a state-by-state basis where zebra or quagga mussels have been found.
(Contact: Beth Bear (307) 777-4046)

-WGFD-

G&F Calendar

Aug. 15-Sept. 15 - Application period for Springer and Glendo Pheasant permits.
Aug. 16 - Deadline for limited quota fall turkey applications
Sept. 1 - Archery deer and elk open in most areas; remaining antelope areas open to archery hunting
Sept. 1 - Season opens for mourning dove, blue and ruffed grouse, snipe and rails
Sept. 1 - Season opens for cottontail rabbit; snowshoe hare; red, gray and fox squirrel
Sept. 1-8 - Early Canada goose season in Pacific Flyway
Sept. 8-9 - Wyoming Game and Fish Commission meeting, Casper WGFD office
Sept. 9-11 - Wyoming Hunting and Fishing Heritage Expo, Casper Events Center

-WGFD-

ASK THE GAME & FISH

Q.  Do youth need a license to hung doves?

A.  Youth under 14 do not need a game bird license to hunt doves. Youth that are 14 and older need a game bird license and a Harvest Information Program (HIP) permit. The HIP permit is required of all license holders. The HIP permit is available free online at http://gf.state.wy.us or for $.50 from license agents or Game and Fish offices.

-WGFD-