Wyoming, we dont want you DIY hunters.....

[MinnesotaHunter]

Resident Guide License...free of charge.

I've signed off for a number of NR hunters over the years, allowing them access to the wilderness.

Its not perfect, but its better than the alternative...BTW, the wilderness guide law is the biggest joke I've ever seen, wish it would go away.

I thought that might be the case, just wanted to make sure I wasn't sleeping.

For what it's worth, I have enjoyed the heck out of all of my time in WY, and every interaction I have had with the G&F has been awesome. I owe alot of my knowledge on elk, mule deer, antelope to a handful of biologists, wardens, and forest service employees in WY. If all it means is I need to fire up Google earth, no sweat off my back.

Keep it up Buzz. I don't know you personally, but from most accounts the NR hunters that travel to WY every year owe you quite a bit.

 

[.280 Remington]

Resident Guide License...free of charge.

I've signed off for a number of NR hunters over the years, allowing them access to the wilderness.

Its not perfect, but its better than the alternative...BTW, the wilderness guide law is the biggest joke I've ever seen, wish it would go away.

Its just a signature? Or do they actually have to be with a resident in the field?

 

[BuzzH]

MinnesotaHunter,

Nobody owes me anything, I'm glad to help people that show a bit of appreciation for the wildlife and the agency in charge of said wildlife. In particular if they realize the amount of effort it takes, from many orgs, agencies, and individuals, to have quality hunting opportunities.

There are near endless opportunities in Wyoming, and of the States I've hunted, over-all Wyoming is the best.

Not many states afford a NR or R hunter the option to have 6 pronghorn tags (2 bucks), 3 elk tags (only 1 bull though), 6 or more deer tags (2 of them bucks), 2 lion permits, a bear permit...every single year.

 

[BuzzH]

Its just a signature? Or do they actually have to be with a resident in the field?

Good question, and the answer is a bit of a gray area.

I've been told conflicting things, but there is no question that the Resident and NR must be hunting together.

The gray area comes from the "together" part. I have been told to simply, "not lose" the NR hunter, to "hunting from the same camp", to "hunting right with" the NR.

IMO/E, as long as the Resident has the complimentary guide license and is in the field in some manner with the NR...I believe you're good to go.

 

[sneakem]

BTW, the wilderness guide law is the biggest joke I've ever seen, wish it would go away.

Yep.... That law is ALMOST as flaming as Dinkshooter...

 

[idahofishnhunt]

MinnesotaHunter,

Nobody owes me anything, I'm glad to help people that show a bit of appreciation for the wildlife and the agency in charge of said wildlife. In particular if they realize the amount of effort it takes, from many orgs, agencies, and individuals, to have quality hunting opportunities.

There are near endless opportunities in Wyoming, and of the States I've hunted, over-all Wyoming is the best.

Not many states afford a NR or R hunter the option to have 6 pronghorn tags (2 bucks), 3 elk tags (only 1 bull though), 6 or more deer tags (2 of them bucks), 2 lion permits, a bear permit...every single year.

This is enough to easily make me move back to Wyoming...the tough part would be selling it to the wife, after we lived in Gillette...she thinks the whole state is a wasteland! LOL.

 

[ERSS]

Ironic, here is a post today about a couple of non-residents who managed to work their way through the website........

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?p=2412381#post2412381

 

[fowladdict]

Ironic, here is a post today about a couple of non-residents who managed to work their way through the website........

http://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?p=2412381#post2412381

I think some people don't understand sarcasm.

 

[gcan]

why cant we all just get along.

 

[kmf]

There is a lot of good info between the lines on this one. Keep it coming I have a half hour left in this meeting. I'm still waiting for Greenhorn to respond after being mentioned.

 

[ashersdad]

All I know is if I could have just one deer and/or elk tag every year, it would be in Wyoming. I spent 1 day on my GEN elk tag this year due to prior committments. I was in a new area I had never hunted and passed on 3 bulls. Had a cow tag in Dec. and left Oregon and was literally home in less than 48 hours with a cow in the truck. It's website may not be the best, but you can't beat the hunting.

 

[TheJason]

Heres another site that may be of some value, although far from perfect:

http://pathfinder.geospatialhub.org/

My wife is a GIS analyst and I asked her about the GF stuff. She told me that Statewide GIS data is severely lacking in Wyoming. I can concur on this as part of my job is to look at GIS layers for various things.

The WYGF currently doesn't have the funding to create everything that hunters want in GIS, but rather they rely on data that's already available from sources like the UW, State, and Federal Agencies.

The MTFWP was very fortunate that NRIS did a lot of the interactive map stuff in GIS. A good friend of mine did a lot of the GIS for the FWP for their website while he was employed by NRIS. It was funded, and is still funded, by the State, not the MTFWP.

The WYGF is largely hamstrung for a couple reasons, one being that the State of Wyoming is behind the curve on GIS. Secondly, the GF was required to trim its operating budget by 8% a couple years ago. A result of that was a loss to programs, employees, etc.

To further complicate the issue with funding, every single license fee increase bill that was introduced in the previous 2 legislative sessions died in committee. Even though there is over-whelming support of a Resident Fee increase, the tea party (R;s) here defeated all fee increase bills.

So, that leads us to this.

It would be nice, if before people threw their suckers in the dirt over a frickin' website, they would understand the issues we face and why the Residents of Wyoming are putting more resources/money toward things like Access, biology, game management etc. than an interactive map.

If hunters want it all...they better get off their duffs, break out the wallets, and get with the program.

Yes, these type of threads piss me off, in particular when I see the massive amount of effort put in by the Residents, WYGF, and various Wildlife Orgs, to keep the fantastic hunting we have here available to all..

An interactive map is an extra, a nice thing to have...but it doesn't put big-game on the hill or fish in the rivers/reservoirs...nor does it provide public access to private lands.

Frankly Wyoming doesn't need an inter-active map to sell its hunting, but would be nice if it were available. I cant say that about other states like MT and ID. Those states are fast becoming the dumping grounds (unfortunately) for hunters that don't draw elsewhere...but they do have the best GIS in the business!

Its all about priorities...and I have no doubt what the priority should be.

Those are very fair reasons that I have no beef with. I certainly don't choose to hunt or not hunt a state based on the friendliness of its website. I'm more concerned with the product it puts on the ground.

I didn't find Nevada's to be the most user friendly either, and had a great hunt there. My interactive hunt planner in Montana was a Beaverhead Forest map and my Lowa boots. The next trip it was my buddy in Sheridan, who I bought a steak dinner and beer for after all of his help.

I haven't hunted Wyoming in many years, but when I did, I had a great experience. And, I didn't even have the internet to do my research with

 

[Apparition]

There is a lot of good info between the lines on this one. Keep it coming I have a half hour left in this meeting.

Too true, it definitely has given me some avenues to try, heck even Buzz put up some good information (just teasing Buzz)

That is a stud of a Mule Deer!!!!!

 

[Bambistew]

I take it you've not looked at Alaska's web page. If you think WY is bad, you're in for a real treat with the turd we have.

 

[The Hedgehog]

How did guys ever manage before the fancy online data and research tools? All the data and high tech detail that's available is still really just a starting point. The real goods require gasoline and boots every time. Buzz, Wyoming's good. But do you really think better than MT for elk? For deer probably, and antelope, no doubt.

 

[Canoe Country]

I have been on this forum for a couple years and hunted out west for the last few years... Wyoming has my vote. tag price, amount of public, success rates ( and being one of the closest western states to Wisconsin). ....it's a long drive!

I am not a guy to argue on a forum but some of the comments on here made my stomach turn.

First, maybe it's just me, but I don't want everything laid out for me, I want to collect the success rates, amount of public land, PP required, etc and match that up with B&C info and put together my hit list of units. It's the hunt before the hunt! With that being said, the Wyoming G&F has most of the info you need, maybe not on one spread sheet or google overlay telling you "hunt here", but it's there.

For the negative comments about Buzz, anyone that knows him knows that he has earned all the success he has and is a huge help to many NR hunters, myself included. With that said I respect a man who stands up when someone disses what they have worked so hard to create.

We are all on the same team, fighting amongst our selves doesn't help.

 

[Deleted member 16014]

My money is on Canoe and Outdoor Junky to earn some nice NR mule deer this fall...and they'd have done it w/ or w/out a tidy website.

 

[Poke 'Em]

Guys, he complained about the website. I took 9 fishing trips to Wyoming this year. I love that state. But their website sucks.

 

[Lawnboy]

I take it you've not looked at Alaska's web page. If you think WY is bad, you're in for a real treat with the turd we have.

This is the truth! It's unbelievably bad. Have to re learn everything each year.

 

[WapitiBob]

The "old" WY website was a little easier to navigate. If I don't see something I want, I call.