WYOMING – A ‘boys will be boys’ bad habit is shot-up signs. Sure, women carry firearms, women hunt. But we’ll make the great leap to conclusion that signs shot all to heck in the backcountry are the handiwork of men…or boys.
We will also carefully avoid the opportunity to get all judgey, because we must admit, sign shooting is tempting and kinda fun. But it’s not cool and someone has to pay for it sooner or later, and guess what, that someone is probably you who put bullet holes in both ‘Os’ of a “Road Closed” sign.
Shooting signs is vandalism. Game and Fish spends about $35,000 a year on signs that need replacing due to vandalism. When a sign has to be reinstalled it takes time and money away from other projects that benefit wildlife, fish or their habitats.
So where does the money come from? Every time someone purchases a conservation stamp or license for fishing or hunting, they are helping pay for various programs that support fish or wildlife. Signs are one of these programs that assist hunters, anglers and other wildlife users in the field.
“Shooting signs or vandalizing them in other ways is irresponsible, illegal and frustrating for someone attempting to read an informational sign,” says Jerry Cowles, Laramie Region Habitat and Access Supervisor.
Some land management agencies like the BLM have found that the same people that will shoot at signs will not shoot at the American flag. So they will put a little $2 sticker of the flag in the corner in order to save a $400 sign.
Please help the Wyoming Game and Fish and other partners stop these crimes. To report vandalism or the misuse of a public access area or wildlife habitat management area, call your local game warden, local law enforcement, or the Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP.
Purchasing a conservation stamp supports wildlife too. You can buy one online now.
