After 28 years in various forms of wildlife management, I think I now have a comprehensive understanding of the role state wildlife managers play in the conservation of our wildlife. When Wyoming legislators created the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, they defined our scope of authority. This authority provided a balanced approach between the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, the executive branch and the legislative branch. The roles and responsibilities are clear and they drive our mission, work and priorities. 

As a department, we reinforce our role through our mission, “Conserving wildlife and serving people.” In addition, our work is guided and prioritized by our strategic plan. 

There is a sentiment among many that we should advocate or speak for wildlife. That we should be “fighting” for them. This has always confused me. We manage wildlife for the people, and Wyoming’s wildlife is the property of the people. It’s the people who give wildlife value. 

There are a great deal of challenges to living in a world where wildlife share the landscape with people. As we share space with wildlife, it is important for us to understand the social inputs to our work - conversations with our public partners are vital in making effective management decisions. The department does an excellent job seeking input from hunters, anglers, wildlife enthusiasts and other stakeholders. We are required to follow the Administrative Procedures Act when proposing rule and regulation changes. However, we often go above and beyond this requirement in order to understand how the public would like wildlife managed.  

While comments can be submitted online, that does not always give us the full context and perspective that direct discussions can bring. We encourage active participation through local public meetings that are valuable for people to hear all sides of the issue. In addition, I encourage you to seek out a red shirt or enter one of our eight regional offices or our headquarters in Cheyenne and have a face-to-face conversation with us. This is what Game and Fish prefers and encourages. Today, so much of our communication is electronic. This exchange of ideas and information is always better in person.

We can’t effectively know what the public wants and how to manage wildlife for you without this exchange. I ask for you not to make the assumption that we know what you want but to actively participate in our public engagement work. 

It is our job to take this input and manage wildlife in a way that supports conservation while also addressing the desires of the public.. This is easier said than done. One of the hardest parts of our job is working through opposing views. The results are not always exactly what you may like to see. Some folks may say this is letting politics drive decisions. Politics means so many different things to people. 

To me, politics simply means involving the people and bringing additional data into the decision-making. I believe we can not, and should not, manage without it. We should always use the best available science for the foundation of our decisions. But the decision is more than just the best science. It also has to incorporate people. 

Ultimately, effective wildlife management is a unique balance of biological science and social science, and it is something you should take an active role in. Remember, Wyoming’s wildlife is yours, and we are committed to managing it for you.