The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently received a $15,000 donation to support access for hunters and anglers through the Access Yes program. This donation comes from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF).
Access Yes is a program that facilitates the partnership between private landowners, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and hunters and anglers to create free public hunting and fishing access on private land and inaccessible public land. These include walk-in fishing and hunting areas, hunter management areas and other Game and Fish public access areas.
“The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is an ongoing donor to the Access Yes program. Their generous donation of $15,000 will provide nearly 46,500 acres of access, which has tremendous positive impacts for hunters and anglers in Wyoming,” said Brian Nesvik, director of Game and Fish. “This organization cares deeply about wildlife and we are grateful for their efforts to go the extra mile to ensure today’s resources are available for future generations.”
In the last six years, RMEF has donated $127,500 to the program which equates to 2.8 million acres of access.
“To support 2.8 million acres of hunting access is a big number and investment in Wyoming,” said Nesvik. “It’s additional access that’s possible because of partnerships with landowners and generous donations like RMEF and others, including the public when they purchase a license. Thank you to all that give generously to this program.”
Access Yes funds are only used to pay for access easements, not operating expenses of Game and Fish access programs. Walk-in areas and hunter management areas funded by Access Yes provide hunting opportunities for big game, small game, wild turkey, upland game and migratory game birds. They also provide fishing opportunities throughout the state.
“Each dollar donated to Access Yes equates to approximately 3.1 acres of public access. This donation helps every hunter and angler in Wyoming have increased access opportunities for years to come,” said Jordan Winter, Game and Fish’s Cody regional access coordinator. “I join the director in offering my thanks and appreciation to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.”
Funds donated to Access Yes can only be utilized to provide landowner payments in exchange for sportsperson access. The public can support Access Yes through donations when purchasing a license, either online or from a license selling agent. For more information please visit the Game and Fish public access page.
This year, Access Yes is celebrating 20 years of partnering with landowners to provide public access opportunities. Currently there are 54 walk-in fishing areas, 379 walk-in hunting areas and 62 hunter management areas throughout the Wyoming. In 2018, donations provided more than 2.8 million acres of hunting access on otherwise inaccessible private, state and landlocked public lands and 4,006 lake acres and 86 stream miles were provided for fishing.
