Posted 7-4-08

Wyoming Game and Fish News

APPLICATION PERIOD NEARS FOR LEFTOVER ELK, DEER, ANTELOPE LICENSES

Cheyenne (Game and Fish) – Hunters who missed the earlier application periods for elk, deer and antelope licenses could still have an opportunity to hunt this fall by participating in the upcoming drawing for hunt areas and license types that were under subscribed in the initial draws.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reports that more than 9,100 antelope, 4,000 deer and 4,300 elk licenses are available in the second draw. Access in areas with remaining licenses is a mixture of public and private lands. Some areas have large amounts of national forest while others are predominantly private. The majority of remaining antelope licenses are for hunt areas where public access is limited. Many of the deer licenses are also on private land areas, but several of the nonresident regions with leftover licenses have large amounts of public land access. Many of the elk licenses are for hunt areas within national forest lands and most of the remaining licenses are for antlerless elk only. However, remaining elk licenses also include a number of areas with archery only licenses and a handful of areas with licenses that allow the taking of either antlered or antlerless elk. Hunters are urged to research areas with leftover licenses, and where necessary, obtain access before applying.

The application period is July 10-21 with the drawing tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1. The second drawing is open to both residents and nonresidents. Applicants may apply online or through conventional mail.
Questions on hunt areas with available licenses, a listing of areas with licenses remaining and applications can be obtained by calling (307) 777-4600. A listing of hunt areas and applications is also available on the Game and Fish Web site http://gf.state.wy.us.

Licenses remaining after the Aug. 1 drawing will be sold “as processed” through Game and Fish offices and automated license agents. (Contact: Al Langston, (307) 777-4540).

PREFERENCE POINT APPLICATION PERIOD UNDERWAY

CHEYENNE – Resident and nonresident moose and bighorn sheep hunters and nonresident elk, deer and antelope hunters are reminded that the preference point only application period is now underway. Applications for preference points will be accepted through Sept. 30.

The preference point only application period is for all qualifying big game hunters who did not apply for a license this year and nonresident elk, deer, and antelope hunters who did not draw their first choice license and did not mark the preference point box on their license application.

Preference points may be purchased through conventional mail or online at http://gf.state.wy.us. Applications can also be obtained online or by calling (307) 777-4600. Hunters with eligibility questions or other inquiries about preference points can call (307) 777-4600. (Contact: Al Langston, (307) 777-4540)

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 2008 Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Hunting & Fishing Heritage Expo Poster, Poetry, and Essay competition.

Students from third through twelfth grades wrote or drew their vision of Wyoming under the theme, “Our Wildlife, Our Kids, Our Future.” 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. 11-13 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– Kaci Jo Skrukrud, Lusk Elementary – Roxanne Fish, teacher
Second Place– Matthew Miller, Gillette 4J Elementary – Corina Crump, teacher
Third Place– Quincy Webb, Lusk Elementary – Roxanne Fish, teacher
Honorable Mention– Harlie Jo Dreesen, Lusk Elementary – Roxanne Fish, teacher
Honorable Mention– Colby Larson, Cody Eastside Elementary – Christi Barhaug, teacher

The poetry competition featured students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades. The winners are:
First Place– Tyler Looney, Shoshoni High School – Cathleen Galitz, teacher
Second Place– Haley Pince, Shoshoni Junior High – Cathleen Galitz, teacher
Third Place– Nicholas Wright, Shoshoni Junior High School – Cathleen Galitz, teacher

High school students in grades ten through twelve were eligible for the essay competition. The winners are:
First Place– Elizabeth Keyser, Encampment K-12 School – Doug Tieszen, teacher
Second Place– Anna Katen, Cheyenne East High School – Lisa Husbeck, teacher
Third Place– Tori Smith, Cheyenne East High School – Lisa Husbeck, teacher

“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.

Winning posters, poetry, and essays are available for viewing on the Game and Fish Web site at http://gf.state.wy.us by clicking on the Expo graphic. The Expo is a free event for all ages and skill level.

APPLICATION PERIOD UNDERWAY FOR FALL TURKEY, EARLY SANDHILL CRANE

CHEYENNE – Beginning July 1, the Game and Fish is accepting applications for early season sandhill crane permits and limited quota fall turkey licenses.

Applications must be received at the Game and Fish Cheyenne office by July 31 for the sandhill crane permits and Aug. 15 for the fall turkey licenses. Applications can be made online http://gf.state.wy.us or through conventional mail. Unlike other applications, residents and nonresidents can apply for sandhill crane permits together as a party. The maximum party size is two. Sandhill crane permits are free, but waterfowl and migratory bird licensing regulations apply.

Drawings for resident and nonresident licenses are separate for fall turkey. Limited quota fall turkey areas include area 4 (Goshen and a portion of Platte County) area 8 (portion of Laramie County) area 10 (license restricted to portion of area within Shell Creek drainage. ) All other open areas are general license and can be purchased over-the-counter through the end of the turkey season.

Applications and regulations for both species are available at Game and Fish offices, license agents, on the Game and Fish Web site or by calling (307) 777-4600. (Contact: Al Langston (307) 777-4540)

Game and Fish Calendar
July 1-Sept. 30—Preference point only application period.
July 10-21—Application period for supplemental drawing for elk, deer and antelope licenses. July 15—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Green River G&F office 7 p.m. July 15—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Jackson G&F office 7 p.m. July 15—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Laramie G&F office, 7 p.m.
July 15—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Sheridan G&F office, 3 p.m. July 16—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Cody, Park County Courthouse 7 p.m. July 16—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Lander G&F office, 7 p.m. July 16—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Pinedale G&F office 4 p.m. July 17—G&F public meeting on sage grouse game bird farms regulation, Casper G&F office 7 p.m. July 31—Application deadline for early sandhill crane
Aug. 15—Application deadline for fall turkey

Ask the Game and Fish
Q. Do I need to have a life jacket if I’m fishing from a float tube or one-man pontoon boat? A. No and yes. Float tubes are considered water sport toys in the boating regulations, and as such, a life jacket is not required. However, if your float tube has a motor, it becomes a motorized watercraft and the law requires you have a life jacket with you. For the pontoon boat, a lifejacket is required since it is classified as a watercraft rather than a water sport toy. It falls under that designation since it is propelled by oars or paddles rather than the fins used with float tubes. Also, be aware that watercraft law requires registration of all craft propelled by means other than human effort. This means if your float tube has an electric motor, it must be registered and numbered.