Wyoming Game and Fish would like to announce that Allen Deru is now the Green River Region Access Yes Coordinator for the Department. He is replacing Andy Countryman, who retired earlier this month. 

Deru began his career with Game and Fish in 2011 as a Regional Game Warden in the Laramie Region. In 2013, he was promoted to the North Riverton Game Warden District, and from there, transferred to the Mountain View Warden District, where he has served as the game warden since 2014. Deru will work with landowners in southwest Wyoming to secure public access for hunting and fishing.

Funding for Access Yes comes primarily from conservation stamp sales, program donations and restitution payments. The funds can only be used to purchase easements for Hunter Management and Walk-in Areas. 

The Access Yes program originated in the 1990s and has grown exponentially since its inception. During 2023, the program provided access to over 2.6 million acres for hunting, 4007 lake acres, and 95 stream miles for fishing. Hunters surveyed during the 2022 hunting season indicated that 18% of antelope hunters, 17% of deer hunters, and 13% of elk hunters used either a walk-in area or hunter management area to hunt. This equates to an estimated 8,493 antelope, 10,148 deer, and 8,045 elk hunters having hunted in these access areas. To locate Access areas, visit the Wyoming Game and Fish webpage under the Public Access tab.

In return for providing access, landowners benefit in several ways. This includes a modest monetary payment, assistance with sportsperson and wildlife management on their property and a user group that appreciates the access and the landowners who provide it.