We cordially invite you to attend the 63rd Annual Wyoming Outfitters & Guides Association Annual Convention and Big Game Awards Banquet, April 7-9, Casper, WY. This three-day event is sure to be a good time. Special Guests are:
• Governor Mark Gordon
• Mrs. Harriet Hageman, Hageman for Congress
• Leah Corrigan, Attorney, Recreational Law Group, Jackson, WY
We will kick off the event with the general membership meeting on Friday, April 8th. The meeting agenda is full of important topics and information that you will not want to miss. Mrs. Harriet Hageman, Hageman for Congress is our Guest Speaker at the luncheon on Friday.
Friday evening is the Welcome Party! Thank you to our sponsors Gunwerks and Best of the West Outfitters for sponsoring this event. Lot’s of great food, beverages and fun!
Presenters are:
• David DeFazio, Co-Founder of Wyoming Whiskey
• Brad Jones, Outdoors Dream Foundation
David DeFazio is bringing a signature recipe for Wyoming Whiskey sure enough to tantalize your taste buds. We are bringing back the Pack Horse Race. Entry fee is $50 per team with a two- man team. You can register at the event.
For those who are bringing little ones, we are offering a Pizza, Movie party so that you can enjoy the welcome party. They will be supervised by sitters and this event is free of charge. Just tip your sitters! When registering, please let Laurie know how many will be attending with names, ages and if they have food allergies that we need to be aware of.
Saturday, April 9th we have another full day of Special Guests:
9:00am-10:00pm - Brian Nesvik, Director, Wyoming Game & Fish Department
10:00am-12:00pm - Leah Corrigan, Attorney, Recreational Law Group, Jackson, WY
Big Game Awards Banquet kicks off at 5:00pm with Keynote Speaker Governor Mark Gordon.
Please mark your calendar to attend this fun filled event.
– PLEASE JOIN US –
WYOGA ANNUAL CONVENTION DATES:
APRIL 6–8, 2023 in CASPER, WY
APRIL 4–6. 2024 in CASPER, WY
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver granted an injunction in a lawsuit filed against the Biden Administration’s Executive Order increasing the minimum wage for Federal Contractors.
With the ruling, “parties…whose relationship with the federal government comes by way of special-use permits to provide outfitting services on federal land are at least temporarily exempted from the government’s recent rule requiring federal contractors to pay a minimum wage of $15.00/hour.
The order says: “We enjoin the government from enforcing the Minimum Wage Order in the context of contracts or contract-like instruments entered into with the federal government in connection with seasonal recreational services or seasonal recreational equipment rental for the general public on federal lands.”
The injunction remains in effect until further order from the court. The court did not specify whether the order would remain in effect through the duration of the 2022 [Spring-Summer] season.
The Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association in conjunction with Leah Corrigan, held two Virtual Campfires designed to help outfitters and guides understand how this will affect your business. If you were not able to participate, please watch the videos found on youtube.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has announced that the Wyoming Outdoor Expo is scheduled for May 5-7, 2022 at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper. WYOGA will be participating in this event and Todd Stevie, Thomson Outfitters will be bringing his mules for a pack horse demonstration for the 2,000 students already pre-registered. The pack horse demonstration is one of the many exhibits enjoyed by all. If you would like to volunteer, please let Laurie know at the WYOGA office.
A few additional words from Kathryn Boswell, Hunter & Angler Participation Coordinator:
The event is open to the public from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. all 3 days. There are several ways you can participate. The options for your organization include:
• Reach out to your local schools to encourage their attendance. We have transportation grants available and can provide an invitation email or letter for you to use.
• Volunteer to teach or help out at the event. All volunteers must pass a WGFD background check, and then will be entered into a raffle sponsored by the Muley Fanatic Foundation to win a nice prize package. The number of raffle tickets received will be related to the number of days volunteered (this does not apply to Game and Fish employees.)
• Develop a booth with an educational message for students and the public. On Thursday and Friday students will rotate through in 15 minute blocks and WGFD conservation education staff can work with you to develop a program suited to your organization’s mission as well as the Expo objectives (see attached documents) if desired. All volunteers must pass a WGFD background check and will be entered into the above raffle.
• And finally, if you would like additional opportunities to get your name out to the public, you could sponsor the event or an additional booth. Any individuals staffing a booth need to pass a WGFD background check.
We are grateful for the support of our NGO partners. and look forward to working with you. We believe Expo inspires kids and develops the conservationists of the future, and we would appreciate you being there.
This year the booth application and volunteer registration are separate forms. If your organization would like to participate with a booth or sponsorship:
• Please click here and complete the Exhibitor Application form by March 15th. There is also a link to this application in the attached Retail/Exhibitor Information Packet.
Any individual volunteering at the event needs to complete the volunteer application by April 15th in order to facilitate the background check process. The attached Expo 2022 Volunteer Information Packet has all of the information and links needed; please feel free to email that packet to your interested members.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or if you have problems with the form.
Thank you for your valuable work in Wyoming and I hope to see you in May at Expo!
Kathryn P. Boswell
Hunter & Angler Participation Coordinator
Wyoming Game and Fish Department
o 307-777-3412
m 307-631-2197
The Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce’s charge is to study top-priority wildlife policy issues facing the state related to the allocation of hunting opportunity, sportsperson access and other issues. The topics will be identified by the taskforce members for study over an 18-month period with the goal of presenting conclusions and recommendations to the Wyoming Legislature, Game and Fish Commission and governor to support decision-making on Wyoming’s wildlife resources.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
Meeting #8 - March 22 and 23, 2022 in Casper at the Ramkota Hotel.
Meeting #9 - April 28, 2022 TBD. (Could be Pinedale, but will keep you posted)
Meeting#10 - May 23-24, 2022 in Casper at the Hilton Garden Inn.
Meeting#11 - June 8-9, 2022 in Casper at the Hilton Garden Inn.
