(0:00) Heading into this hour’s guest interview segment at 8.37 this morning on the Weekday Wakeup. (0:05) Monthly report from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Director Angie Bruce joins (0:09) me live over the phone this morning. (0:10) Director Bruce, good morning.

(0:11) How are you doing today? (0:13) Good morning, Duke. (0:14) I am doing well. (0:15) Thank you.

(0:16) I appreciate your time, as always, and plenty to talk about with what’s happening with the (0:22) Wyoming Game and Fish Department. (0:23) And first off, congratulations to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. (0:27) We have one of the commissioners right here in Lincoln County with Ken Roberts, and they (0:32) received a pretty significant award recently.

(0:35) They did. (0:36) They received that award through what we call WAFWD, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife (0:43) Agencies. (0:44) This is really our association where all game and fish professionals belong to do things (0:50) collectively across the West.

(0:52) It includes 23 states and several Canadian provinces. (0:57) So we are a member of this organization, and this is really where we come together with (1:02) other states to work on landscape-level conservation. (1:06) They give so many awards out every year.

(1:09) We were actually lucky, Duke, to get three of those awards. (1:12) I actually call it sort of a Grammy sweep or a WAFWA sweep. (1:15) We took home three awards, which was so good to see.

(1:18) And yes, one of them went to our Game and Fish Commission. (1:23) We have a seven-person, layperson commission appointed by the governor. (1:26) And they do outstanding work, extremely dedicated and work right in line with the department.

(1:33) And you know, what I like to say is they’re not afraid to take on tough issues and really (1:39) dive deep into the subjects to do what’s best for Wyoming. (1:42) And so we’re just very pleased that they got an award. (1:45) Yeah, that’s fantastic.

(1:46) Congratulations to them. (1:47) And for those who aren’t aware, you kind of gave a little bit of a synopsis on what their (1:50) responsibilities are, but what do the commissioners do on like a, I don’t know if it’s day-to-day (1:56) is probably not the right word, but what’s their main role with the commission? (2:01) Great question. (2:02) They really focus on two main areas, budgets.

(2:06) We do not get our budget set by the state legislature like most every other state agency (2:11) does. (2:11) Our commission sets our budget annually. (2:13) So they are in charge of our budgets and they are also in charge of regulations and (2:19) policy.

(2:20) So for instance, as we all know, our, our, once everybody comes to the front of their (2:25) mind is our hunting and fishing regulations and seasons every year. (2:29) That is a very large core of their work. (2:32) So those are the two main aspects, budget and regulation.

(2:36) Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angie Bruce this morning on the weekday wake up. (2:40) Well, Director Governor Gordon has announced the designation of the Sublet Antelope Migration (2:45) Corridor. (2:46) This is something that’s been discussed for a while and the governor made it official (2:49) just a few weeks ago.

(2:51) Tell us what this corridor is and what this designation means. (2:56) Good question. (2:57) Yes, we are very pleased that the governor chose to designate this corridor.

(3:01) In fact, he’s done four others. (3:05) And so this one took a while. (3:07) Yes, but Sublet, Fags and Platte Valley, Mule Deer, he designated all of those in 2020 officially.

(3:14) And then he also identified the Wind River one as well for Mule Deer. (3:19) This is the first antelope one or should we properly say pronghorn because that’s really (3:24) what they are. (3:25) But the first sort of designation in the entire nation.

(3:29) So very historical. (3:30) Governor Gordon really understands the value of protecting wildlife in this state. (3:36) And so with this designation comes a couple of things.

(3:39) First, it identifies where that critical movement is needed for pronghorn in the area. (3:45) Going from summer range to winter range. (3:48) How do they get there? (3:49) What do they use? (3:50) And acknowledging that.

(3:52) So it’s Wyoming. (3:53) So I’d like to say if we didn’t have areas to focus on, wildlife cover the entire state. (4:00) So how can we strategize to put the most bang for our buck? (4:03) And that’s really what these corridors do.

(4:05) We work on conservation projects within these boundaries more so than other areas of the state. (4:11) They really help gear our work. (4:13) But then it also adds a layer of protection, especially to these high use areas where they (4:19) use most often or stopovers where they hang out to get more food.

(4:23) Those areas, when people want to develop in those areas, they need to consult with us. (4:30) Is this a change? (4:31) Not really. (4:32) Industry, counties, anybody developing already consults with us.

(4:37) But now during that consultation phase, we will be talking about the importance of that (4:42) movement and how to mitigate so that movement remains open for pronghorn. (4:47) So very exciting to get this one down in the books officially. (4:52) And again, this will be corridor number five that the governor has recognized.

(4:58) Awesome. (4:58) So again, it’s more kind of development protections, right? (5:02) It doesn’t impact public access or land use or anything like that, correct? (5:07) It doesn’t. (5:08) It does not apply to private lands and it doesn’t affect grazing.

(5:13) It does not affect hunting access. (5:18) You know, but we encourage everybody, if they’re doing some sort of developing the corridor, (5:24) just to reach out to us. (5:26) You know, our track record is good on the other four corridors.

(5:29) We’ve had no issues. (5:31) Sometimes it’s just tweaking things a little bit, such as you want to, say, construct a (5:37) project. (5:38) We’re going to be honing in on that data and looking at where those pronghorn use that (5:42) specific area.

(5:43) And maybe the recommendation might be something as simple as, hey, can you wait a couple weeks (5:49) until they move through the area before you start your construction? (5:53) So again, very doable. (5:55) We’re excited to have this on the books and work with people in that way, that added value (6:00) way. (6:01) I’m a Game and Fish Director, Angie Bruce, on the Weekday Wake-Up this morning.

(6:05) Director, it’s been a handful of years, but I remember when then-Director Nesvick made (6:10) the announcement of the creation of the Trout in the Classroom program. (6:15) And it sounds like after a few years, that’s been very, very successful. (6:21) Yes, it has.

(6:22) More and more schools keep coming on board. (6:25) And if there’s teachers out there, you know, we really try to target a certain age group, (6:30) fifth, sixth grade. (6:31) But if there’s more teachers out there who want to jump into the program, we would love (6:35) that.

(6:36) So we provide not, you know, all the materials needed, all the educational materials and (6:44) the instruction. (6:45) But really, this is an opportunity for kids in Wyoming to watch the different stages of (6:51) the fish develop and then release them. (6:54) Exciting, I think it’s a really hands-on biology lesson for them and for them also (7:01) understanding our work.

(7:02) So excited that it’s continuing and encourage teachers out there that are interested to (7:07) give us a call. (7:08) Well, Director, as always, appreciate the updates. (7:10) Anything you’d like to bring up while I have you on the air today? (7:13) Well, I’ll just say, you know, it’s warming up out there and it’s getting drier.

(7:18) So just be cautious as you’re out. (7:21) You know, if you’re lighting fires, any sort of campfires, just be very cautious. (7:26) I think we all are.

(7:27) I think we’re all well aware of the dryness and the drought. (7:30) But just a friendly reminder to have that in your thoughts when you’re outside. (7:35) Absolutely.

(7:35) Good reminder. (7:36) That’s Director Angie Bruce this morning, Wyoming Game and Fish Department. (7:39) It’s all part of the weekday wake up on SVI Radio.