Wyoming Committee Readies Game and Fish Trust Fund Bill for November Cheyenne Session

CHEYENNE. A proposal to create a trust fund for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department is moving forward, with the Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee scheduled to meet Nov. 9-10 in Cheyenne to finalize the bill for introduction during the 2027 general session.

Game and Fish Commissioner John Masterson told lawmakers during a September meeting in Jackson that the agency's funding model is strained. License fees generate nearly 60% of the department's revenue, while federal excise taxes provide roughly 22%, grants cover about 8% and interest on savings contributes 5%. "We're on a starvation diet, and things do not look good going forward," Masterson told the committee. "I believe the department has proven itself to be prudent stewards of the money of its sportsmen. But it can only stretch dollars so far."

The proposal would establish an account similar to the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust, which permits up to 4% of its market value to be spent each year. Any additional investment earnings would remain in the account. Game and Fish CFO Meredith Wood told WyoFile that the impact of such a fund depends entirely on its size, adding that a major influx of contributions could be "transformative in perpetuity."

Several wildlife organizations have asked lawmakers to set the fund at $500 million. Alex Aguirre of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership said he would love for Wyoming to "shoot for the stars," while Trout Unlimited Wyoming State Director Leslie Steen and Muley Fanatic Foundation President Joey Faigl also suggested the $500 million figure. Faigl noted that habitat work to address mule deer decline is estimated to cost $300 million.

A $500 million account would generate about $20 million annually at a 4% withdrawal rate. The department projects fiscal year 2027 revenues of about $112 million, meaning such a fund would add roughly 18% to the agency's budget.

The political path for the bill has shifted after the Wyoming Freedom Caucus lost ground in the August primary elections. Committee member Bob Wharff, a state representative from Evanston, lost his seat to Kemmerer native David Walton by a 20% margin. Wharff said that when the Freedom Caucus held more power, the idea faced long odds. "It would have never passed the House, and it would have had a snowball's chance in hell in the Senate," Wharff said. "All that may change."

Wildlife advocates have pushed the proposal in recent weeks. The Wyoming Wildlife Federation hosted a reception the day before the Jackson meeting to build support. Executive Director Craig Benjamin said, "Wyoming has a chance to make a generational investment in wildlife conservation, and that's exciting."

Sen. Bill Landen, who chairs the committee and represents Casper and Natrona County, is not seeking reelection after two decades in the Legislature. He said he plans to continue advocating for the trust fund as he leaves office. "It just didn't seem reasonable and right that we say, 'Well, it's all up to the hunters and fishermen,'" Landen said. "I think we all need to be a part of this. That's one of the underlying principles of the bill."