2011 Dream Hunt Sweepstakes

WWF was again fortunate to receive 100% fully transferable Commissioners licenses from the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. These tags are valid in any Wyoming hunt area for elk, deer or antelope. This year, WWF offers you the chance to participate in a raffle for one or both of our 2011 Dream Hunts. What's your favorite thing about HuntSweeps?

WWF Speaks: Feral Horses in Wyoming

Our next video discusses feral horses in Wyoming.We need to manage horses in a more effective manner. What do you think?

A Skeptical Wyomingite

Let me offer a blinding flash of the obvious here: Wyoming folks are skeptical of the federal government. Like really skeptical. I think it’s genetic with us. We can no more help it than we can help our eye color or our willingness to support one of the Mountain West Conference’s truly awful football teams. I’m pretty sure that somewhere in our DNA, we’re hard-wired to roll our eyes whenever someone says, “I’m from the federal government and I’m here to help you.” And with good reason.

But I have to say that I heard a pretty good idea come out of Washington the other day. It seems the Administration has created a new federal interagency council to “coordinate and promote outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands in partnership with federal, state, and tribal agencies.”

It involves a lot of folks: The Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Army, Department of Commerce, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality. It’s called the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR). It’s backed by the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, and other wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation organizations.

-Coordinate recreation management, access and policies across multiple agencies to improve public enjoyment and recreational use of federal lands;

-Provide the public with reliable and up-to-date web-based information,on outdoor recreation that is easily accessible with modern communication devices; and to evolve and promote the federal interagency www.recreation.gov website to become a one-stop portal for information and resources about federal and federally supported outdoor recreation opportunities, locations, permit and reservation requirements, access, routes, features, and transportation options;

-Streamline and align policies and procedures among federal, state, local, tribal and other outdoor recreation providers;

-Improve engagement of young people and their families in outdoor recreation through healthy, active lifestyles;

-Target underserved and disadvantaged communities for both access and engagement in the benefits of and opportunities for outdoor recreation;

-Identify ways to improve access to and benefits from our parks, refuges, and other public lands, waters, and shores for persons with disabilities; and

-Identify partners outside the federal government who can promote outdoor recreation and provide additional resources and access.

Now I’m as skeptical as any of my Wyoming brethren and sistern about Feds. In general, they could screw up a one man rock fight. But this makes some sense. Never before have American kids spent so much time on the couch or in front of a screen. Never before have they spent so little time outdoors. Participation in hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation continue to plummet. Maybe this will help - it sure can’t hurt. Double thumbs up from this skeptical Wyomingite. As former Wyoming governor Nels Smith once said, “You done good.”

Walt Gasson, Executive Director
Wyoming Wildlife Federation

WWF Speaks: North Platte River Valley

The hidden jewel of southeastern Wyoming - the North Platte River Valley. Help the Valley residents maintain and guide the future they would like to see for their valley.

Public Lands Organizer, Laramie WY

Find a job you’re wild about at the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the nation’s largest member-supported conservation organization, which is at the forefront of global warming issues, reconnecting our children with nature, and protecting America’s wildlife and habitat.

We seek a Public Lands Organizer to be responsible for organizing hunters, anglers, businesses and conservation organizations to support protection of public lands. This is a grant-funded position funded through November 17, 2011 with a strong likelihood that funding will continue for at least one year beyond this date – dependent on grant renewal. This position involves on-the-ground organizing of hunters and anglers to protect wildlife habitat on public lands from threats such as gas and oil development. Therefore, the Public Lands Organizer will work closely with the appropriate NWF Regional Representative and state affiliate, collaborating with other conservation organizations, hunting and fishing groups, meeting with elected officials and the media, to coordinate legislative efforts that target protection from gas and oil development and working to demonstrate the values public lands have for wildlife and public recreation like wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting. The Wyoming Public Lands Organizer responsibilities require a strong working relationship and knowledge of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, its staff, membership, leadership, issues, and affinity groups. He or she must also be familiar with conservation issues related to Wyoming public lands, oil and gas development, and hunters and anglers.

Qualified candidates must possess a B.S. or B.A.in Natural Resource Management, Fish and Wildlife or related field and five years relevant work experience in organizing, natural resource management, communications, or related field. The Public Lands Organizer must have a strong belief that public lands should stay in public hands, possess the ability to engage and inspire action from hunters and anglers, and enjoy the team atmosphere fostered by working for an organization committed to inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future. A Strong background in hunting and fishing in wilderness and wild places is also helpful. He or she must have strong organizational and people skills, be a self-starter, with the ability to work independently and closely with affiliate and NWF staff along with other conservation groups and interests. Candidates must have excellent written and public communications skills, experience working with the media, excellent organizing, computer, and people skills. Fundraising experience will be beneficial, frequent travel will be required, and pay and benefits will be competitive.

Do you hear the call of the wild? For more information, contact waltgasson@wyomingwildlife.org or apply at http://careers.nwf.org and join us in mobilizing Americans to protect our country’s wildlife.

National Wildlife Federation
Come Grow With Us.

WWF Speaks: Wind Development in Wyoming

The second video in our series...

"We believe it makes good sense to develop renewables. We believe it makes better sense to do it right." -Walt Gasson-