Got your apps in yet?

The Wyoming applications for the big five are due by the end of the month. For moose, sheep, goat, bison and grizzly bear. Ok yes, the grizzly is still protected. However, there is a season structure and application process already on the books.

With any good fortune and a boost from our federal legislators we may see some action on delisting the grizzly. Honestly in my opinion its long overdue for a structured season. I’ve had my nervous moments with grizzlies in the back country. I can assure you the big old boys, they are not afraid whatsoever of little ole me. The smaller ones will be a bit quicker to move off but not really afraid either.

Ok back to the subject at hand, Applications. I have a very clear record and only once blemished perfect record of NOT drawing special tags. I’m kinda old so I have a pretty long road behind me of “UNSUCCESSFUL,” statements in the mail come spring. I’ve applied many years in many states and had to learn several systems of applications web sites. Most of them are carefully designed by college folks who really wanted to use their education to make it seem like you have to have a degree to work your way through the challenging application process.

Now it seems the Wyoming legislature is really trying to turn the hunting in Wyoming into a rich man’s game or a landowner’s personal piggy bank. Please check your legislator’s voting record. If yours is one of them who is a big rancher and making lots of money on state game resources, please call them out. Primary them. Make them answer for their self-serving greed. Trust me there are several. You can easily find their voting record and their amendments offered. You can easily see who the greedy self-serving politician are if you look.

I truly am all for private property rights and would sooner give up hunting than trespass. However, on the other side of that coin I’m also a staunch advocate for public lands and public access to public lands. I am a strong advocate for eminent domain actions if landowners block access to public lands. I believe reasonable access shall be given to the public to get to their own land.

Again, I digress. Could it be because the biggest challenge to hunting is big money, greed and anti-hunting, anti-gun sentiments? Well, YES!

They are messing with the preference points and that scares a lot of us who have diligently paid our dedication tax every year for 20 plus years.

You know what? I get the feeling this is a very touchy subject for those of us who participate. I confess, I get very charged. My problem is, I’m smart enough to know what is really going on and how near we are to losing our way of life because of greed, politics, hate and pure ignorance of the truth.

I’m sorry friends, this charges me up. I try hard not to dump this on folks but when I see politicians messing with things they have no clue about, then advocating and lobbying for things that will only do damage to my way of life, I must vent.

On the bright side, there are some really fantastic people in the Wyoming game and fish. Lots of those folks really care about the resource and are passionate about sharing and growing the wise use of our wild resources. It seems right now our relatively new game warden in our area is impressing folks. I like that. Makes me proud I choose this way of life.

Back to applications. Don’t let the day slip up on you. Some of the regulations can be a bit tricky. I will be filling out my Sheep application – (22) points, Moose application – (17) points and my mountain goat – no points because its only random. And all of the big five are now once in a lifetime licenses. It’s starting to seem, my biggest challenge now is to live long enough to use these once in a lifetime tags.

I do have to come clean here though. Full disclosure, I did draw my resident moose tag in Wyoming my first try as a resident 25 years ago. That is my one and only lucky tag draw in my whole life. Every other premium tag I have ever drawn was after more than the normal years of trying.

Some words from the old codger to live by if you like hunting, “Keep trying, don’t give up, never surrender to that old goat father time.” He’s a bit ruthless.