Access Yes Program �Wildlife Task Force Information Series

Presented by John Pokallus, Casper Region Access Yes Coordinator

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In 1998, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission established the Private Lands Public Wildlife (PLPW) Access Initiative. The goal was to address hunter and angler concerns and lack of public access to landlocked lands. This initiative began with Walk-in Hunting Areas enrolling approximately 27,000 private or inaccessible public acres. ��From 1999-2001, four components of the PLPW program were: ��- Walk-in Hunting Area�- Walk-in Fishing Area�- Hunter Management Areas �- Habitat Enhancement Program��In exchange for allowing hunters and anglers to access their land, participating landowners received a modest monetary payment.��The PLPW Program actively engaged 3 of the Department’s primary constituents:

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Access Yes History

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• In 2000, the Legislature amended W.S. 23-2-306 directing a portion of the Conservation Stamp to be deposited in a specific account to fund access. All 3 sub-programs were growing quickly and included:�- 657,500 acres for hunting �- 222 lake acres �- 71 stream miles for fishing��In July of 2001, the PLPW Program became permanent Department program. The program was staffed by three regional access coordinators, one statewide supervisor, and an administrative assistant.��By November of 2002, the PLPW Program had enrolled nearly 1,000,000 acres of land for hunting, nearly 100 miles of stream and more than 275 lake acres for fishing.��In 2016, the PLPW program was “rebranded” to the Access Yes Program, connecting the program�to the funding source.��

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Access Yes History continued

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Access Yes Program Today

• Personnel: 5 Access Coordinators (Coordinators) across the state:
• Kelly Todd – Laramie
• Andy Countryman – Kemmerer
• Jordan Winter – Cody
• Troy Tobiasson – Sheridan
• John Pokallus – Casper

All Coordinators are game wardens providing law enforcement coverage for enrolled properties.

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• Program Components:
• Walk-in Hunting Areas
• Walk-in Fishing Areas
• Hunter Management Areas

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• Landowners
• Walk-in Hunting – 462 landowners enrolling 702,567 acres for hunting
• Walk-in Fishing – 67 landowners enrolling 4,005 lake acres and 82 stream miles for fishing
• Hunter Management Areas – 138 landowners enrolling 1,024,287 acres for hunting

In 2021, the Access Yes Program provided access to more than 2.6 million acres of private and inaccessible public land for hunting, and 82 miles of stream and 4,005 lake acres for fishing.

W.S. 23-1-302. Powers and duties.

The commission is directed and empowered:

(iii) To acquire lands and waters in the name of Wyoming by purchase, lease, agreement,

gift or devise, not including powers of eminent domain, and to develop, improve, operate, and maintain the same for the following purposes:

(B) Management of game animals, protected animals and birds, furbearing

animals, game birds, fish, and their restoration, propagation, or protection;

(C) Public hunting, fishing, or trapping areas as places where the public may hunt, trap, or fish in accordance with law.

(iv) To acquire easements and construct suitable access roads leading to public lands and department lands and waters acquired pursuant to W.S. 23-1-302(a)(iii);

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W.S. 23-1-501. Game and fish fund.

(e) An account within the game and fish fund is created. Revenues collected under W.S. 23- 2-101(n), 23-2-201(e) and as specified under W.S. 23-2-306(a) and (b) shall be deposited within the account. The commission shall use revenues in the account to purchase access easements to provide access to public and private lands. The commission shall notify in writing the appropriate boards of county commissioners before purchasing any access easements under this subsection. In addition and on or before February 1 of each year, the commission shall annually report to the legislature on easements purchased pursuant to this subsection during the preceding fiscal year.

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Access Yes Program – Funding

Wyoming Statutes 23-1-302 & 23-1-501

W.S. 23-2-101. Fees; restrictions; nonresident application fee; nonresident licenses; verification of residency required.

(n) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to fund the purchase of access easements by the commission to provide access to public and private lands.

W.S. 23-2-201. Fees; restrictions; verification of residency required.

(e) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to fund the purchase of access easements by the commission to provide access to public and private lands.

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Access Yes Program – Funding (continued)

Wyoming Statutes 23-2-101 & 23-2-201

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W.S. 23-2-306. Conservation stamp; exemptions.

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(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section and the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701, each sportsman licensed under W.S. 23-2-101, 23-2-107 or 23-2-201 shall purchase a single conservation stamp for twenty-one dollars ($21.00) which shall be valid for the time period specified in commission rules not to exceed twelve (12) months. The stamp or an authorization signifying purchase of the stamp shall be in the possession of any person exercising rights under any fishing or hunting license issued pursuant to W.S. 23-2-101, 23-2-107 or 23-2-201. Holders of special limited fishing permits issued under W.S. 23-2-207 and holders of licenses only under W.S. 23-1-302(q), 23-2-101(j)(v) and (vi), 23-2- 201(d)(vi), (vii) and (ix), 23-2-201(f) and 23-2-201(g) are exempt from the provisions of this section when exercising hunting or fishing privileges provided under those specific licenses. Revenues collected from the sale of each stamp under this subsection shall be deposited as follows:

(i) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the revenues collected under this subsection into the account created under W.S. 23-1-501(e);

(ii) Of the amount remaining:

(A) Fifty percent (50%) into the trust account created under W.S. 23-1-501(f); and

(B) Fifty percent (50%) into the game and fish fund.

(b) A lifetime conservation stamp may be purchased for one hundred eighty-five dollars ($185.00) plus the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701. Revenues collected from the sale of each stamp under this subsection shall be deposited as follows:

(i) Fifty percent (50%) into the trust account created under W.S. 23-1-501(f); and

(ii) Fifty percent (50%) into the account created under W.S. 23-1-501(e).

Access Yes Program – Funding (continued)

Wyoming Statutes 23-2-306

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CHAPTER 23 REGULATION GOVERNING USES OF LANDS AND WATERS ACQUIRED OR ADMINISTERED BY THE WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

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Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of W.S. § 23-1-302 (a)(iii).

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Section 2. Purpose. It is the purpose of this regulation to allow the Department to manage and conserve wildlife, wildlife habitat and public access on lands and waters acquired or administered by the Commission and to regulate public use and special use of such lands and waters.

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This regulation covers all the rules and regulations while using Department owned and administered lands including the Access Yes Program enrolled properties. This provides direction for things such as vehicle use, camping, and other activities.

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For a complete summary of all rules and regulations covering the Access Yes Program enrolled properties, refer to the Chapter 23.

Wyoming Game and Fish Commission

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Access Yes Programs

Funding

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Revenue for the Access Yes Program account is generated from the sale of lifetime and annual conservation stamps, donations from organizations, individual hunters and anglers, state wildlife restitution amounts from court-imposed sentencing of wildlife violators, and interest, totaling $1,026,303 in 2021.

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Access Yes Programs – Walk In Hunting Areas (WIHA)

• Private, or sometimes contracted State Trust Lands, open to public hunting.
• Free access to hunters.
• As the name implies, most are walk in access only, with no vehicle access.
• Landowner selects species permitted to be hunted.
• Landowner selects the dates access is permitted, following the approved Commission hunting seasons.
• No permission slip required.
• Individual maps, species, time periods, travel restrictions, and other rules are posted on the online Walk-in Area webpage.
• Other recreational activities are not permitted without landowner written permission.

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Access Yes Programs – Walk In Fishing Areas (WIFA)

• Private, or sometimes State Trust Lands, open to public fishing.
• Free access to anglers.
• As the name implies, most are walk in access only, with no vehicle access.
• Most Walk-in Fishing Areas are open for year round access.
• No permission slip required.
• Hunting is not permitted unless the property is also enrolled as a Walk-in Hunting Area.
• Other recreational activities are not permitted without landowner written permission.

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Access Yes Programs – Hunter Management Areas (HMA)

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• Private, or sometimes State Trust Lands, open to public hunting.
• Free access to hunters.
• Landowner selects species permitted to be hunted.
• Generally open to elk, deer, antelope.
• Landowner selects the dates access is permitted.
• A permission slip is required. Permission slips are obtained online from the Department’s webpage.
• Permission slips may be unlimited, first come first served, or issued through a limited quota drawing prior to the hunting season.
• Species, time periods, travel restrictions, and other rules are posted in the Ranch Rules as part of the permission slip. Each Hunter Management Area has its own set of Ranch Rules.
• Other recreational activities are not permitted without landowner written permission.

• Some landowners who are not enrolled in a WIA or HMA seek hunters via this program.
• The Hunter Assistance Program enables landowners to post their contact information online so hunters can contact them directly for permission to hunt. 
• The landowners may require additional rules or fees.
• During the fall 2021 hunting seasons, landowners listed on the Departments’ webpage allowed hunter access for deer, elk, and antelope hunting in the Casper, Cody, Lander, and Green River regions.

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Access Yes Programs – Hunter / Landowner Assistance Program

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Access Yes Program - Benefits

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• For the public:
• Free resident and nonresident access for hunting and/or fishing.
• Eliminates the need to contact the landowner directly.
• Helps to distribute hunters across hunt areas – more access allows for fewer hunters in one place.

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- For Department:

• Increased hunting access translates into improved wildlife population management and decreased agricultural damage through harvest.
• Increased license sales in areas with difficult access.

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For landowners:

• Allows landowner to provide access without the need to meet with each hunter.
• Department manages hunters for landowner. This helps to ensure compliance with the additional access limitations on the private lands.
• Provides hunters to help mitigate damage situations.
• Provides a monetary reward for providing access to the hunting and fishing public.
• Landowner provides input to how property is used, and maintains all authority over property.
• No long term commitment – landowners can enroll for 1-5 years.
• Increased Department presence on the property during the seasons of use.
• Landowners who participate in granting access are often viewed as improving relationships with hunters.

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Access Yes Program - Benefits

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1. Identify property for access

- Properties may be identified by Department personnel or the public for

access agreements. Coordinators, game wardens, or biologists contact landowner

to determine interest in the program.

• Landowner contacts the Department expressing interest in the program.

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3. Landowner and Department agree which program will work best for the property.

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• Landowner determines length of enrollment (1-5 years), designates which species may be hunted, designates vehicle access, and any other specific limitations to the property or access.

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4. Contract is created, signed by the landowner and the Department.

Access Yes Program – Process to Participate

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Landowners enrolled in the Access Yes Program are �paid a monetary �amount based on the �number of acres enrolled �and the length of the �agreement.��Small increases have been added to the scale to maintain interest from landowners and to implement increased �payments for larger enrolled properties.��Coordinators actively encourage hunters using these access areas to turn in landowner coupons upon harvest. Landowners enrolled in the Access Yes Program often have a better return of landowner coupons. �

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Access Yes Programs Landowner Payments

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Access Yes Program - Statistics

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Access Yes Program – 2020 Landowner Survey

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During 2020, Coordinators conducted a survey of landowners enrolled in a Walk-in Area or Hunter Management Area program.

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Landowners are surveyed every 5 years starting in 2005 to determine their satisfaction with the program. Provides insight to Coordinators for future needs or direction for the program. Landowners were surveyed utilizing an online survey or a hand-issued survey. The responses to the surveys were collected and tabulated to provide a composite summary of the results.

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Some key feedback:

• 81% of landowners who responded to the survey have signed a 5-year contract.

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• 43.5% of the respondents said their desires and expectations in establishing a WIHA or HMA is the management of hunters by the Department.

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• 34% said it provides increased hunting opportunities.

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• On WIFAs, 64.3% of the respondents said their desires and expectations were to increase fishing opportunities.

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• 91.7% of the landowners agree the WIHA or HMA on their property met their expectations.

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• 95.2% of the landowners agree the Walk-in Fishing Area on their property met their expectations they had identified

Access Yes Program – 2020 Landowner Survey (continued)

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Some key feedback:

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• 75.8% of the respondents were satisfied with the behavior of the hunters using their property.

• 80.9% were satisfied with the behavior of anglers using their property.

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• 97.1% of the responding landowners felt the process to establish an access area on their property was easy.

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• 72.3% were satisfied with the Department’s presence on their property during the open season.

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• 75.2% of responding landowners felt the relationship with the Department has improved.

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• 60.6% of the respondents felt their relationship with the hunters and anglers has stayed the same.

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• 38% felt their relationship has improved.

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• 85.4% of respondents are satisfied with the landowner incentives.

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• 79.6% of the landowners felt the programs had made it more convenient to provide access.

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• Overall, 83.9% of the responding landowners were satisfied with the program.

Access Yes Program – Founding Partners

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In 2020, the Access Yes Program recognized landowners by issuing Access Yes Program Enrollment Award plaques and signs to 210 landowners who enrolled in the original PLPW Program between 1998 – 2003.

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These landowners have been recognized as Founding Partners of the Access Yes Program and continue to be enrolled.

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Access Yes Program – National Elk Refuge

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The Access Yes Program has been administering permission slips for elk hunting on the National Elk Refuge (NER) since 2008 and added wild bison hunting access opportunity in 2014. The permission slip application process is on the Department’s Access Yes HMA web page.

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Hunters from across the country

are able to apply and print out their permission slips regardless of their location.

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During the 2021 NER hunt, there were 102 permission slips issued for wild bison and 1,399 permission slips issued for elk. At the end of 2021 hunting season, 42 elk and 54 wild bison were harvested.

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Access Yes Program – Landowner Recognition

• Recognition of landowners who provide access is important in maintaining sportsperson/landowner relationships and associated public access. Coordinators act as facilitators for the Access Recognition Program.

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• A joint program of the Wyoming Board of Agriculture (Board) and the Commission, recognizes landowners who provide access to or through their property to hunters and anglers. The state is divided into 4 quadrants. Coordinators facilitate the selection by working with each quadrant committee and select a quadrant winner each year.

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• The quadrant committees are comprised of Board and Commission members. Each of the 4 winners is recognized at the annual Wyoming Stock Growers Association winter meeting.

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• Each award recipient receives a recognition plaque and $2,000.

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• Funding for the program is provided by Commissioner donated licenses.

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Access Yes Program – Hunter Management Access Program (HMAP)

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To address over objective elk populations and private landowner access concerns, the Department initiated a new program in 2010 called the Hunter Management and Access Program (HMAP).

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The HMAP is designed to increase antlerless elk harvest at specific locations by coordinating with landowners to allow controlled and monitored hunting access.

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The Department employs a Hunt Management Coordinator (HMC) to facilitate hunting by directing, monitoring, and assisting small groups of elk hunters in the field.

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During the 2021 hunting season, an HMAP in the Black Hills –

Elk Hunt Area 117 and Deer Hunt Area 11. The HMC located and monitored elk herds, and communicated and coordinated with landowners and hunters in order to increase elk harvest.

Additional Resources�For questions or additional information, please contact any of the Access Yes Program Coordinators, Game Wardens, Biologists or Regional Wildlife Supervisors.����

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Website:

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/public-access

https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Public-Access/Public-Access-Reports

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