The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is happy to announce the winners of the 2016 Wyoming Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Boater Appreciation Raffle. Boaters who had their watercraft inspected by Game and Fish and completed an online survey were entered into a raffle for a variety of prizes.

“Thank you to our sponsors for their support of this raffle and to boaters who stopped for watercraft inspections and completed surveys this year,” said Game and Fish Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, Beth Bear. “To date, no evidence of zebra or quagga mussel larvae or adults has been detected in any Wyoming water, and boaters who clean, drain, dry help keep it that way.”

The sponsors who helped protect Wyoming’s waters are, Two Dogs Guide Service, Marine Products, West Laramie Fly Store and Sportsman’s Warehouse. “Thanks so much to these sponsors. It is great to have partners supporting this program created by the Legislature to benefit all water users in the state, including irrigators and municipalities,” said Bear.

The winners of the raffle and their prizes were:

Kori Weber of Billings, Montana-A two-person trout float or walleye fishing trip with Two Dogs Guide Service.

Marshall Empey of Holladay, Utah-A Byerly Buck Wakeboard with Shift CT Boots from Marine Products.

Jeff Snelling of Sandy, Utah -A Minn Kota Endura Max trolling motor from the West Laramie Fly Store.

Mike Jeppesen of Brigham City, Utah- A Lost Creek 4 Float Tube from Sportsman’s Warehouse.

All prizes are completely funded by raffle sponsors. 

During 2016, Game and Fish conducted over 40,000 watercrafts inspections statewide.  A total of 620 watercraft decontaminations were conducted for standing water, motor flushes, and suspected mussels or other AIS. Eight watercraft were intercepted with mussels attached. All mussels were determined to be dead and not viable; watercraft were thoroughly decontaminated and released.  

Since watercraft inspections began in 2010, over 290,000 inspections have been conducted.