I hope this message finds you and your business having a great and profitable summer season. I imagine that you are all looking forward to cooler weather and the start of hunting season.
We have been working on quite a few things that you will be updated on at the winter retreat that could be very beneficial to WYOGA and it’s membership. One of which is our growing social media presence, and some ideas on how to further our reach and influence in that world. As we look at the changing agency initiatives, with regard to both state and federal entities, having a bigger voice can certainly help to provide more educational content in a broader context. We are also looking at creating a raffle program to bolster our fundraising efforts.
In conversation with the Governors office, the grizzly bear announcement will have little to no immediate impact on Wyoming and how we manage bears. It does however move a step closer in the direction of actual delisting, which is the ultimate goal, as well as helping Montana and Idaho manage bears with less oversight. We have appealed to our federal delegation with regard to the repeal of the roadless act, but have not yet gotten the opportunity to speak with them directly.
Laurie has been working her tail off on the publication and it’s going well. However, if you have a contact with businesses who might benefit from advertising in Wyoming Outdoors please reach out to them and put them in contact with Laurie. We have been invited to two forums hosted by the Game and Fish Department, and have committed to having representation at each. WYOGA continues to thrive and grow and we are grateful for our members, without whom this industry wouldn’t exist. I wish you all a safe, productive, and profitable fall, and look forward to seeing the pictures of some incredible animals.
Good luck, and good hunting, See you in December!
Dustin
The Wyoming Legislature continues to work through the interim as Wyoming voters prepare to go to the polls to select local, state and federal leadership. WYOGA has been hard at work advocating for outfitting.
The WYOGA Board of Directors has had Zoom interviews with all three Republican Candidates for Governor. Eric Barlow, Megean Degenfelder and Brent Bien have been asked directly to discuss the future of the Game and Fish, predator management, feed grounds, management of state lands, ownership of federal lands, and the Roadless Rule. Because we are not a 501c4, WYOGA cannot make endorsements in elections, but we have the attention of the next Governor of Wyoming, and they recognize the importance of the outfitting industry.
WYOGA is also engaging our federal delegation on President Trump’s action on May 29th to repeal Executive Order 11644 of February 8, 1972 (Use of Off-Road Vehicles on the Public Lands), and Executive Order 11989 of May 24, 1977 (Off-Road Vehicles on Public Lands). The Board of Directors has also been meeting with Wyoming’s voices in Washington to protect the interests of the industry.
While your mailboxes have been inundated with outhouse reading, your phone is jammed with text messages, and you cannot turn on the television or listen to the radio without hearing an awful ad, the end of the campaign is in sight.
Please remember to vote this August 18th or by absentee if you have hunters. Vote for candidates who care about wildlife and public lands. Races like County Commissioners which have cooperating agency status with federal land management agencies, to your local State Senator and Representative who have oversight of the Wyoming Game and Fish, to your next Governor, U.S. Senator and Congressman with enormous influence over outfitting are critical. The State Superintendent, State Treasurer, Secretary of State and State Auditor also sit on the State Board of Land Commissioners. Be informed and be involved.
The Joint Travel, Recreation and Wildlife Committee will meet on September 8th and 9th in Jackson. While you are out working with your clients, WYOGA will be present and advocating on your behalf.
Bill Novotny, WYOGA Lobbyist
The 2026 Wyoming Outdoors is coming along. There is still space available for display ads. If you have not reserved your ad, please let the office know at gro.agoyw@agoyw by September 15th.
Important Deadlines:
September 15, 2026: Bios are due and display ads reserved.
November 1, 2026: Display ads are due to Mark Schuler and payments in full to the office.
November 17-21, 2026: Wyoming Outdoors goes to print
December 10, 2026: Wyoming Outdoors will be mailed to the non-residents
Thank you for your continued support for this project.
The 2026 Big Game Awards have been finalized and will be launched on the WYOGA website, today, August 1st. Congratulatory letters have been mailed to your hunters. The letters also have the information for the 2027 Annual Convention inviting them to attend the banquet to receive their award. If you would like to order a plaque for your guide, please let Laurie know. Congratulations to all the winners!
Additional WYOGA award winners are:
2026 Honorary Lifetime Member: Randy & Sharon Brown
2026 Agency Personnel: Brian Olsen, Wyoming Game & Fish (Retired)
2026 Guide of the Year: Wesley Livingston, Livingston Outfitting, LLC
2026 Employee of the Year: Rich Herman, Livingston Outfitting, LLC
2026 Contract Service Elk Feedground Feeders: John Fandek and Todd Stearns
Congratulations to all the winners.
Please mark your calendars! The 2026 WYOGA Annual Winter Retreat will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2026, at the Best Western Downtown Hotel in Casper. Sleeping rooms have been reserved for the evening of December 15th.
This year’s retreat will be a one-day meeting featuring association updates, legislative discussions, industry issues, and planning for the upcoming year.
Formal invitations and registration information will be mailed on November 1, 2026.
We look forward to seeing everyone in Casper!
Planning is already underway for the 2027 WYOGA Annual Convention & Big Game Awards Banquet, scheduled for April 9–10, 2027, at the Best Western Downtown Hotel in Casper.
Join fellow outfitters, guides, industry partners, sponsors, and guests for two days of educational presentations, association business, vendor exhibits, networking, and the annual Big Game Awards Banquet.
Whether you’re a long-time member or attending for the first time, this is an event you won’t want to miss!
Convention packets with registration information and a complete schedule will be mailed in January 2027.
We look forward to another outstanding convention celebrating 68 years of WYOGA!!!
