A True Hunter and Angler Stands Up for What’s Right
Take the Wyoming Hunters and Anglers Pledge
As a Hunter and Angler in the great state of Wyoming, I pledge the following:
Stand up for public lands and keep them in public hands
Support candidates who say no to the public lands seizure movement
Ensure every Wyomingite, and every American has the right to enter freely upon Wyoming’s public lands and work to increase access for sportsmen and women
Take the Pledge
Our Issues
Defending our Public Lands
Politicians and private interests are scheming to seize public lands from the federal government and put them under state ownership. Not only would states take over the lands, but they could sell off the lands due to lack of management resources. This is unacceptable – not only do we hunt and fish on public lands, but they are where we grew up and learned the lessons that make us who we are today. Our heritage is not for sale.
Keeping Migrations Open for Wildlife
New research shows that migration corridors are essential for the survival of Wyoming’s mule deer, pronghorn, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep herds. Research can also precisely define the important big game corridors, bottlenecks and stopover areas across the state, providing clear strategies for protecting these big game herds with minimal impacts to development. Wyoming must protect these key corridors and adjacent habitats and fund more research to further identify their locations.
Funding for Game and Fish
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department works tirelessly to apprehend poachers, negotiate sportsmen access, monitor wildlife habitat and health, and conduct research to better understand how to maintain our amazing Wyoming wildlife. Because the department provides us with world-class hunting and fishing opportunities, it’s important that we stand up for them to ensure these opportunities continue.
Protecting Wyoming’s Water
Wyoming’s scarce water resources should be respected by all users. Wyoming should ensure that its water is used efficiently, and that wild and native fisheries have the water they need to preserve their habitat. Landowners should be able to keep their water rights even when they use them to maintain and improve fisheries.
Take Action
It’s no longer enough for corporations to exploit our public lands; now they want to own them. Join us in the fight to keep public lands public, ensure they are well-managed to support wildlife needs, and protect access for everyone. Tell us how you’d best like to make your voice heard by our elected officials, and don’t forget to sign the WYHAA pledge to keep public lands in public hands.
Hold Elected Officials Accountable
WYHAA is launching an unprecedented voter education program to educate voters about the records and positions of WY legislative candidates in key races. Chip in to help pay for mailings and social media ads to educate sportsmen across the state. Donate NowThe WYHAA Board
Ashley believes the Wyoming wilderness is well taken care of because Wyoming sportsmen and women, like herself, go out of their way to maintain the natural beauty of the land and leave no footprint behind. She said this is one of the state’s greatest attributes.
“Being alone in nature is the most spiritual, religious experience one can have in my opinion, and each hunt I go on makes me feel a little closer with our beautiful earth and the fantastic creatures I am lucky enough to interact with.”
Being outdoors and hunting and fishing on public lands is what Max loves most about Wyoming. He is passionate about protecting Wyoming’s heritage and ensuring his daughter gets to enjoy the same fishing and hunting opportunities he does.
Max works on land conservation projects around the American West with LegacyWorks Group. He holds a Masters in Environmental Science and Management and a Bachelors in History and Religious Studies.
Email Max at Ludington@wyominghuntersandanglers.org
The WYHAA Staff
Farmer believes that coordination between everyone with a vested interest in Wyoming’s wildlife will be the key to WYHAA’s success.
Email Darek at dfarmer@wyominghuntersandanglers.org
About Us
During the summer of 2015, a small group of young hunters and anglers gathered together to discuss their concerns about a growing movement to privatize public lands that was taking place in the neighboring state of Utah. The group saw this movement as a serious threat to an individual’s rights to hunt and fish, but no sportsmen’s groups in Wyoming appeared to be taking action to defend public lands. The group also expressed concern regarding the impact on Wyoming’s unique migratory herds; in the group’s opinion, more dollars should be spent on wildlife research and habitat improvement. Furthermore, the group wanted better education programs in place to recruit more of their peers. Thus, the “Wyoming Hunters and Anglers Alliance” (WYHAA) was born.
WYHAA’s board is composed of young sportsmen and women who believe that the best way to guarantee the same hunting and fishing opportunities for current and future generations is to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. “Mule deer and antelope have declined significantly since my dad was my age,” said Matt Shaffer. “For too long, wildlife has been taken for granted here in Wyoming.”
Wyoming Hunters and Anglers Alliance promotes the conservation of Wyoming’s wildlife, the protection of sportsmen’s access, and the defense of public lands that belong to everyone.