Wyoming Lawmakers Weigh Wildlife Trust Fund

Wyoming state lawmakers are preparing to vote on a bill that would establish a trust fund to provide long-term financial stability for the state's wildlife management agency.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department currently relies on license fees for nearly 60% of its revenue. Federal excise taxes contribute approximately 22%, while grants and interest on savings cover the remaining 8% and 5% respectively. This heavy dependence on license sales has created vulnerability in times of high inflation. In September, Commissioner John Masterson told legislators that the department was operating on a 'starvation diet.' He argued that raising the cost of a resident doe-fawn license from $22 was an inefficient use of the legislative process compared to establishing a dedicated trust account.

The political environment for the bill has shifted due to recent election results. The Wyoming Freedom Caucus, which historically opposed new spending or savings mandates, suffered major losses in the August primary elections. Representative Bob Wharff of Evanston, a former member of the caucus, lost his seat to David Walton by a 20% margin. Wharff stated that the fund would have had a 'snowball's chance in hell' in the Senate under the previous power dynamics. With the more moderate faction of the Republican Party now holding greater influence, the prospect of passing the bill has increased.

The Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee is scheduled to finalize the bill at its November 9-10 meeting in Cheyenne. The legislation is modeled after the existing Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust, which permits the withdrawal of up to 4% of its market value annually. Wildlife advocacy groups are actively lobbying for the measure. Alex Aguirre of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership urged lawmakers to aim for an initial funding level of at least $500 million. Leslie Steen of Trout Unlimited and Joey Faigl of the Muley Fanatic Foundation also cited the $500 million figure as a necessary baseline.

If the trust fund is capitalized at $500 million, it would generate approximately $20 million per year in withdrawable revenue. This amount represents an 18% increase over the department's projected fiscal year 2027 revenues of about $112 million. Meredith Wood, the department's chief financial officer, noted that the fund's impact depends entirely on the size of the account. A substantial initial contribution could provide a 'transformative' financial base for the agency.

Senator Bill Landen, who is retiring after two decades of service, is leading the push for the legislation. He believes the current model places too much burden on hunters and anglers. Landen acknowledged that the bill may not pass in a single session but stated that he could not think of a better investment for the state. The committee will determine the final details of the bill before it is introduced to the full Legislature during the 2027 general session.