Wyoming Sportsman



HB0026 Bark beetle – program funding - MonitorI simply recommend that we monitor this legislation to know how bark beetle management is being addressed and ensure that access is always a consideration.HB0034 Traps – removal of certain animals - MonitorThis bill has gone through the TRW Interim process and is a Committee bill. I believe, as I testified, the changes are not warranted nor substantiated by anything that has occurred. This is largely in response to the 3 Saint Bernard’s that were killed in Casper. It adds clarity that you can remove your pets from traps without being prosecuted for tampering with the trap. I believe we need to monitor this bill to ensure that it doesn’t morph into something that could be harmful. HB0061 Collection of antlers and horns - OpposeThis is an individual bill that will transfer legal authority and responsibility from the County Sheriff’s Department to the Wyoming G&F Department. This bill will obligate Wyoming game wardens to investigate and handle complaints about individuals trespassing to collect antlers and horns. Law currently exists that makes it illegal to be on private property without the landowner’s permission regardless of what activities are taking place. Game wardens can already assist local law enforcement but this would obligate the G&F to be primary respondersHB0063 Game animal licenses – limitations - OpposeThis bill adds the term limited quota hunting license for mountain goats. I am not sure why Representative Barlow is bringing this bill as mountain goats are only offered through a limited hunting quota system and a once in a life time species. The changes are not needed unless mountain goats are looking to be managed under a general license system, which is highly unlikely.HB0069 County Resolution – feeding wildlife - OpposeThis bill would grant County Commissioners the ability to ban private feeding of wildlife but would not obligate them to take action. However, this bill is being brought up by a former Teton County Commissioner that was instrumental in their efforts to ban private feeding of wildlife. It would seem like an expansion of more regulation to our County Commissioners. The issues of wildlife feeding are complex but do we want more restrictions imposed upon us? I know the city of Evanston recently asked about feeding of deer in the city. This issue is somewhat different because the city has different issues than the County would have; however, the public was 2 to 1 in favor of allowing people that wanted to feed deer to allow it. Those that were opposed were vehemently opposed.HB0090 Concealed Weapons – military family applicants - SupportThis bill instructs the attorney general to create a mechanism whereby an active duty serviceman or a family member of the active duty serviceman serving outside the state of Wyoming can obtain a concealed carry permit.HB0117 Operation of motorboat while intoxicated - MonitorThis bill changes the alcohol concentration level that constitutes operation of a motorboat by an intoxicated person to eight one-hundredths of one percent (0.08%). All other watercrafts shall remain at ten one-hundredths of a percent (0.10%).HB0121 Fishing licenses - OpposeThis bill creates a 5 day nonresident fishing license and exempts them from needing to purchase a conservation stamp. This bill is being brought by the Chairman of the TRW Committee. This bill is a very complex bill and I believe it appears to be a bit of a conflict of interest as Chairman Allen is an outfitter that takes people fishing. He has asked us to support this bill but I cannot see how we can support it. Unless there is something he presents, I cannot see any reason for the exemption of the Conservation Stamp. It does have a fiscal note attached to it, stating that it will cost the G&F Department approximately $124,246 annually.HB0130 Harvest of trophy game and fur bearing animals - SupportThis bill directs the G&F Commission to determine areas in the state where there is high resident demand for hunting of mountain lions. It will basically force the G&F Commission to develop areas where mountain lions are managed under a quota system for license distribution. It establishes a 90/10 license allocation for resident/nonresident mountain lion hunters in areas with high resident demand. If you look at the fiscal note section the WY G&F Commission has identified at least three mountain lion units that they believe have a high demand from resident hunters. They are mountain lion areas #1, #30 & #32. It is estimated that the G&F Department will lose approximately $6,112 annually. The information provided under the fiscal note explains that nonresidents are taking 56% of the lions and resident hunters are taking 44% of the lions. I am recommending that we support this effort but want to confirm that it is your desires as well. I wondered if it was more important to lift the quota than perform a resident/nonresident split of the licenses. It was brought to my attention that this area seems to have a chronic problem with too many mountain lions and that the deer herds have not recovered. HB0136 Campus Carry - SupportThis bill is pretty straight forward. It repeals gun free zones on any public college or university campus.HB0137 Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act - SupportThis bill repeals gun free zones in government meetings for those licensed to conceal carry; furthermore, it also states that private property owners or the owner’s representatives may still prohibit concealed carry on their property.HB0160 Handgun purchases – OpposeThis bill imposes a 3 day waiting period on handgun purchases.HB0169 Prohibited firearms business and commercial establishments – SupportThis bill imposes responsibility on persons who prevent the legal carrying of firearms on a business or commercial premises, provides cause of action for individuals injured or damaged as a result of being prevented from carrying a firearm on a business or commercial premises.HB0174 Game road kill – SupportThis bill allows for the Commission to consult with the Department of Transportation with the development and adoption of a process to allow for road killed wildlife to be utilized rather than simply leave it to waste.HB0205 Game and fish animal damage management fees – OpposeThis bill would increase license application fees for both resident and nonresident applicants. While the increase is only $0.50 per application, the bill hasn’t been vetted by the TRW Committee; furthermore, the fiscal note states that the fiscal impact is unknown. It will increase fees. Our position has not changed: no fee increases until the game and fish provides a cost benefit analysis of all programs.HB0208 Attorney general elected official – SupportThis bill would set the stage for the State of Wyoming to elect an attorney general every four (4) years, starting with the 2018 general election. The State would then have 6 State Elected Officers. The bill eliminates an attorney general that is solely appointed by the Governor.HB0214 Game and fish lifetime pioneer license – OpposeThis bill would replace the current annual pioneer license with a lifetime license. The fiscal note is unclear how much money the game and fish department will lose but it is a loss to the department.HB0223 Concealed weapons permit issuance – SupportThis bill adds language that clarifies that a permit issued in another state shall not be a valid statewide permit if the person holding the permit has been denied a permit under this section and remains ineligible for a permit under this section.HB0229 Game animals hunt consultation services – SupportThis bill provides regulation of persons providing hunt consultation services, specifically GPS coordinates from previously scouted big or trophy game animals.HB0235 Mentor small game and game bird hunting – SupportThis bill applies the mentor program we helped establish in 2008 with the assistance of Senator Kit Jennings. This bill expands the program to include small game and game bird hunting. Hunters under the age of 14 share their bag limit with their mentor similar to how we handle fishing limits.HB0257 Community and school access to public lands – SupportThis bill will obligate the State Lands and Investment Board to include community and economic impacts of public access to adjacent public lands under consideration for sell or exchange.*HJ0001 Convention for proposing constitutional amendments - MonitorSome of you may be aware that some are calling for a Convention of the States to amend the US Constitution. I would urge you to look at this resolution and become aware of what is being discussed. I am recommending that we monitor this as I have concerns about it. There are many moving parts and it could become something that requires us to take a position. The other two House Joint Resolutions are related to this one.*HJ0002 Balanced budget amendment – resolution - MonitorThis House Joint resolution calls for an amendment to the US Constitution requiring that federal government have a balanced budget.*HJ0003 Single subject amendment – resolution - MonitorThis HJ resolution calls for an amendment to the US Constitution requiring that every law enacted by Congress shall embrace only one subject, which subject will be clearly expressed in the title of the bill. Wyoming has this provision and I believe it makes sense just as does HJ0002 requiring the federal government to have a balanced budget.SF0025 Wildlife location and research information – confidentiality - MonitorSenate File 25 is a hard bill to support as I don’t like the fact that it gives a lot of discretion to the Director of the Game & Fish Department. On the surface, I can see no reason for the G&F to release GPS locations or frequencies of tracking collars to anyone in the public; however, the fact that the Director of the G&F Department has the ability to release the information to some but no obligation to release it to others is problematic. This is the Director having the ability to control what information is shared and with whom it is not. Seems an awful lot like allowing the government to pick winners and losers. Perhaps we should oppose this bill? I initially recommended to support it as on the surface it doesn’t appear alarming but do we really want to give this much power to the Director of the F&G?SF0026 Game and fish licenses – confidentiality - MonitorThis bill creates a new section which defines what information is considered public information and subject to public records request.SF0060 Antelope hunts – complimentary licenses - OpposeThis bill expands the number of “special antelope hunts” from 1 to 2, doubles the number of licenses from 80 to 160 and states that no more than 80 licenses can be issued to the One Shot Antelope Hunt. This is in essence to create a set aside of 80 antelope licenses to be used for the Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt. This bill should be used to question the purpose of the complimentary licenses and perhaps a constitutional review. Is this how we want hunting licenses allocated? SF0072 Large project funding - SupportThis bill addresses projects that are large enough that it requires Legislative authorization of the dispersal of the funds and approval of the projects. One item of interest is a new subsection (r) under WS 9-15-103. This new subsection requires a certificate from the recipient stating that no gratuities, kickbacks, gifts, commissions, contingency fees or other considerations have been or will be made in connection with appropriation or associated grant made by the Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust board. This makes me wonder if we shouldn’t call for an inquiry into past appropriations or grants that have been awarded. SF0075 Firearm possession and purchases - OpposeThis bill, brought to us by two Natrona County Republicans, basically would prohibit the purchase or possession of firearms by any person on the terrorist watch list. It would also modify the concealed weapon permit eligibility. This bill has been referred to as the Diane Feinstein Bill.SF0078 Federal natural resource policy account - SupportThis bill amends the purposes of the federal natural resource policy account and to counter actions taken by the EPA.SF0086 Game and fish permits - OpposeThis bill requires the game and fish commission to regulate the possession and importation of certain furbearing animals. Similar bills to this have been presented before and we have opposed them. Would require permits or prohibit the possession and importation of any coyote, porcupine, raccoon, red fox or skunk within Wyoming.SF0090 Allocation of complimentary hunting licenses - OpposeThis bill restricts the number of complimentary commissioner licenses that can be issued for any particular license type and hunt area to not exceed 10 percent (10%).SF0104 Regulation of bingo and pull tab game events – OpposeMild opposition as this bill will likely increase costs to the tax payer and add more layers of regulation. The purpose of this bill is to address nonprofit organizations that might not be legitimate.SF0119 Grand Teton National Park transfer of state lands – SupportThis bill allows for the selling of approximately one section or 640 acres of state lands located within the Grand Teton National Park to the Department of Interior. The authorization of this act expires January 5, 2021SF0120 Mentor antelope hunting voucher – SupportThis bill will provide a vehicle to more fully utilize the Hunter Mentoring Program created in 2007/2008 by Senator Kit Jennings. This bill would allow for a licensed resident hunter to obtain an antelope voucher for a yet to be named hunter they will mentor. Vouchers would only be available in areas managed for recreational purposes; in other words, hunt areas which are managed under the special management designation would not be included in the program.SF0126 Guides and outfitters penalties – SupportThis bill adds the option of up to one (1) year prison term for violation of the outfitting and guide act. An individual in violation of this act would now be subject to a $5,000 fine, up to one (1) year in prison, or both.SF0139 Game and fish licenses – OpposeThis bill has some good provisions in it but it addresses a lot of issues; few, if any have come before the Joint TRW Committee. Not sure how some changes would impact landowners.SF0161 Acquisition, exchange and sale of state lands – SupportThis bill would cap the amount of state trust lands. State trust lands may shall not be increased more than ten thousand (10,000) acres above the total state trust lands acreage held by the state July 1, 1999.SJ0003 Public lands – constitutional amendment - SupportThis Senate Joint Resolution addresses concerns expressed by sportsmen about the transfer of federal lands to the state of Wyoming. It amends the Constitution to provide for management of and public access to transferred federal lands.*House and Senate Joint Resolutions are not acts from the Legislature but more often a statement of their desires or directions to the Secretary of State. ................
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