Landowners from Monarch, Byron, Cheyenne and Evanston, Wyoming are recipients of the 2017 Access Recognition Program. The program honors landowners who provide access to or through their lands to hunters and anglers.
Each year, the Wyoming Board of Agriculture, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and
Wyoming Wildlife Foundation partner to recognize four landowners who contribute significantly to the hunting and fishing tradition of the Cowboy State. In addition to recognition at the winter Stock Growers Association luncheon, each landowner will receive a check for $2,000. The 2017 recipients were recently recognized and presented their awards at the Wyoming Stock Growers Association awards luncheon in Casper.
Landowners receiving recognition this year are:
The Buyok Ranch: Located north of Sheridan near the old mining town of Monach, third-generation ranchers John and Vanessa Buyok care for approximately 845 acres made up of grasslands, hay/grain fields and riparian habitat bordering South Dry Creek and the Tongue River. The Buyok Ranch enrolled 800 acres in the Access Yes Walk-In hunting program to seasonally hunt white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope, sharp-tailed grouse, partridge, mourning doves and turkeys. In addition to these species, the Buyoks allow hunters to take predators and prairie dogs on their property year-round. The Buyoks also allow the public to use their property for other recreational activities including dog walking, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and horseback riding all while implementing habitat projects to improve forage and cover for game animals and game birds.
The Hopkin Family Farm: Fred and Carrie Hopkin are fourth-generation farmers, caring for their 5,500 acre property near the Shoshone River south of Byron. The farm is home to numerous species of wildlife including: mule deer, white-tailed deer, antelope, turkey, and pheasant. The Shoshone River and Whistle Creek run through the property bringing ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, and other waterfowl to the area. Approximately 3,415 acres are currently enrolled in the Walk-In hunting program providing access for antelope, deer, waterfowl, pheasant, turkey, and dove hunting. They also enrolled portions of the Shoshone River into the Walk-In Area Fishing program. In doing this, the farm provides year-round use for hunting and fishing recreation to sportsmen and sportswomen. To maximize access for the public, the Hopkins allow motorized vehicles to use established roads on the farm. This includes all the farm roads and canal roads allowing the public easy access to most of their land.
The Farthing Ranch: Charles “Charlie” and Carol Farthing, owners of the Farthing Ranch, manage more than 50,000 acres of deeded land northwest of Cheyenne. The ranch includes a diverse array of terrain, from productive meadows to steep, boulder-strewn portions of the Laramie Range. The Farthings’ property is in the core of Antelope Hunt Area 38, and allow access to a tremendous amount of access, asking for nothing more than landowner coupons for the pronghorn hunt. The ranch welcomes at least 50 Elk Hunt Area 6 hunters annually on a first-call, first-hunt basis. Additionally, they have welcomed temporary Game and Fish Hunt Management Coordinators during the past few years when the program has been available to help supplement elk harvest activities in the area.
Faddis Ranch: The Faddis family owns and operates the Faddis Ranch, a cattle operation northeast of Evanston. The ranch has 2,060 deeded acres which also borders almost 1,300 acres of Bureau of Land Management and Office of State Lands and Investments property. The Faddis ranch is enrolled in the Access Yes Hunter Management program located on Medicine Butte Hunter Management Area (HMA). Their property allows access to approximately 3,300 private and public acres. The Medicine Butte HMA is highly sought after by deer hunters. The property also allows unlimited permission for hunting of antelope, elk, moose, mountain lion and rabbits. The Faddis family has been active in the access program for 15 years, and has recently partnered with Game and Fish to improve habitat conditions on their land with their annual Access Yes payments.
Funding for the Access Recognition Program is provided by the sale of Commissioner licenses and donations made specifically in support of the award.
Wyoming Game and Fish Project Coordinator Mark Nelson said the Access Recognition Program is a way to show appreciation for landowners who allow sportsmen and women on their property to hunt or fish.
“We extend a hearty thank you to these landowners. Thanks to them there are more places for individuals and families to get outside to enjoy wildlife and hunt and fish in Wyoming, in addition to helping Game and Fish manage the state’s wildlife resources,” Nelson said.
