There are
5 priority areas of funding for the Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition Grants. Read about each category below to make sure your application aligns with the goals of the specified category you are applying for.
Elk Committee
Priority funding for projects that have a clear benefit for elk and elk habitats, and that include but are not limited to the following:
- Habitat enhancement (prescribed burning, conifer thinning, weed treatment, fencing, seeding and restoration, mechanical treatments, etc.);
- Land protection (conservation easements, land acquisitions, migration corridor enhancement and protection);
- Land access (hunting access to facilitate proper elk management);
- Elk research (collar studies to elucidate migration corridors, seasonal habitat selection, general elk ecology, disease epidemiology, or to improve elk management);
- Education and outreach (publications to promote conservation, signage, interpretive displays, etc.).
The Elk Committee typically receives numerous project funding requests that, when combined, far exceed available annual funding. Approved individual project funding amounts vary but generally range from $2,500 to $10,000 dollars. Project funding derived from the WGBGLC Elk account is often a small but important component of larger projects. Elk account funds are generally leveraged at a five to one ratio, maximizing the benefit from the fund’s expenditures. Requests falling into one or more of the categories outlined above, containing well-written narratives and evidence of strong partnerships have the best chance of funding.
Mule Deer Committee
The WGBGLC mule deer committee is comprised of membership from two NGOs (the Mule Deer Foundation and Muley Fanatic Foundation) and two members of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The committee reviews project proposals annually and has historically funded projects that fall into the following categories:
- Conservation easements;
- Habitat improvement (Rx fire, weed treatments, reseeding, mowing, aspen work, etc.);
- Fence removal or conversion to wildlife friendly specifications;
- Research resulting in further understanding of mule deer management questions.
Given the long-term nature of conservation easements in protecting important mule deer habitats these projects are often ranked near the top. Habitat projects designed to improve early seral habitats are well received and habitat treatment in documented mule deer transitional range is a preferred strategy. Reducing barriers to movement through fence removal or wildlife friendly retrofitting is a common and well supported project type. Research intended to address relevant management questions is generally looked upon favorably. As a general rule, projects benefitting multi-species are scored higher than single-species projects.
The Mule Deer Committee typically receives numerous project funding requests that, when combined, far exceed available annual funding. Approved individual project funding amounts vary but generally range from $5,000 to $10,000 dollars. Project funding derived from the WGBGLC Mule Deer account is often a small but important component of larger projects. Mule Deer account funds are generally leveraged at a five to one ratio, maximizing the benefit from the fund’s expenditures. Requests falling into one or more of the categories outlined above, containing well-written narratives and evidence of strong partnerships have the best chance of funding.
Bighorn Sheep Committee
The WGBGLC Bighorn Sheep Committee is committed to restoring, enhancing, and maintaining bighorn sheep populations in Wyoming by considering any appropriate and beneficial project proposals. Primarily the committee is interested in projects focused on bighorn sheep that address issues and opportunities associated with habitat, diseases, conservation education, trapping/transplants, creating separation between domestic sheep/domestic goats/wild mountain goats and bighorn sheep, research, management/population monitoring, and migration/vehicle collisions. Project proposal requests containing well-written narratives and evidence of strong partnerships have the best chance of funding.
Moose Committee
The WGBGLC Moose Committee is committed to supporting projects that have a clear benefit for moose, moose habitats, and similar wildlife species. Projects funded in the past have focused on habitat inventory and management, research, population management, and education, in that order. Projects likely to receive consideration for funding include but are not limited to the following:
- Population management;
- Moose research – focus on factors driving vital rates, population survey techniques, habitat selection and use, movement/migration routes, and general moose ecology;
- Habitat inventory/enhancement;
- Land protection (primarily through conservation easements);
- Education and outreach.
The Moose Committee typically receives numerous project funding requests that, when combined, may exceed available annual funding. Approved individual project funding amounts vary but generally range from $5,000 to $20,000 dollars. Project funding derived from the WGBGLC Moose account is often a small but important component of larger projects. Moose account funds are generally leveraged at up to a five to one ratio, maximizing the benefit from the fund’s expenditures. Well-written proposals, falling into one or more of the categories outlined above, and demonstrating evidence of strong partnerships, have the best chance of funding.
All Wildlife Committee
The WGBGLC All Wildlife committee reviews proposals annually and has funded projects that fall into many categories such as conservation easements, equipment purchases, monitoring, and research, but has not funded a consistent type of project, historically. The Committee wants to retain the flexibility to fund a variety of requests and has not categorized priorities. One important note, the All Wildlife fund also funds pronghorn-related projects. The All Wildlife committee often receives requests amounting to 2-3 times more than available funding. Approved amounts vary, but generally range from $5,000 to $8,000 dollars. Project funding derived from the WGBGLC All Wildlife fund sometimes accounts for a small but important component of larger projects, and is often leveraged to obtain additional matching funds. Project proposal requests containing well-written narratives and evidence of strong partnerships have the best chance of funding.