Greetings from the president of WYOGA!

Dear fellow hunters and outdoor enthusiasts:

Wyoming’s outfitters and guides are currently wrapping up their 2022 hunting seasons. As we put the tack and gear away, pull our horses shoes and put our livestock out on winter pasture, it’s time to reflect on 2022 and plan our 2023 season.

Wyoming is a favorite hunting destination for traveling sportsmen. We continue to see demand to draw a nonresident license outstrip license availability. It’s no wonder why. Our state’s wildlife populations are second to none across the Mountain West states. Wyoming’s diverse and open habitat provides plenty of room for big game animals to promulgate and flourish.

Our large number of free ranging wildlife provides plenty of opportunity for hunters and tourists who flock to the cowboy state each year. Wyoming’s tourism industry is huge and touches every corner of our state. Hunting provides more than $340,000,000 of economic contribution to our economy annually.

The members of WYOGA are active on several fronts. We continue to fight to keep our 22 state feed grounds and the National Elk Refuge open and feeding wintering populations of elk to prevent starvation. After two years of multiple meetings, the Wyoming Game & Fish is in the final stages of writing a plan to manage feed grounds into the future. In addition to the feed grounds, we are constantly fighting to de-list grizzly bears and influence wolf hunting seasons, mountain lion and black bear management.

The Wyoming Wildlife Task Force will conclude its work which started in the summer of 2021. The final meeting was held December 14th at the Wyoming Game & Fish headquarters office in Cheyenne. Many of you have been following the work of the task force and have commented to the task force. This was a monumental effort spearheaded by the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission, the governor of Wyoming and the legislative branch of our state. The recommendations put forth by the task force are currently being considered by the commission or the legislature. The members of WYOGA were in attendance at every meeting and their efforts played a huge role in shaping task force recommendations. Our goal going into the task force was to keep big game licenses available at a reasonable level for nonresidents. As the recommendations put forth by the task force work their way through the commission and legislature you can rest assured WYOGA will be there every step of the way.

The members of WYOGA are some of the finest hunting professionals in the West. When you’re considering your next hunting trip or outdoor excursion, always look towards the industry leaders and book with a member of the Wyoming Outfitters and Guides Association.

Good luck and happy hunting,

Sy Gilliland, President
Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Association