Legislative panel advances Wyoming Game and Fish fund

CHEYENNE—Wyoming’s fish and wildlife resources are a step closer to being bolstered by a dedicated Game and Fish trust fund, with an ultimate goal of its principal reaching $500 million. The Legislature’s Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee met Tuesday to hear from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department about what the money would be put toward, in addition to discussing potential funding options. The department has faced a growing financial challenge to maintain the management and sustainability of Wyoming’s wildlife resources due to inflation. Its requests for additional funding have largely been rejected in the past, but department leadership has been optimistic regarding the work the legislative committee has been doing to address the funding shortfall. In recent years, in an attempt to bridge the gap, hunting and fishing licenses have increased in price, but that is not expected to provide enough revenue to meet the department’s needs going forward.

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