WYOMING — The Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition finalized its 2025 project funding and announced on Tuesday, March 18, that it will allocate $1.5 million for Wyoming wildlife conservation projects.
According to a Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) press release, a total of 73 projects that benefit the committee’s five priorities were funded; the funds were generated through the sale of the Wyoming Governor’s big game licenses in 2024.
Each year the coalition, comprised of Wyoming-based wildlife conservation organizations as well as WGFD, is tasked with marketing and selling the Governor’s complimentary big game licenses, as authorized by state statute. These include five bighorn sheep, five moose, 10 deer/elk/antelope and five wild bison licenses.
The coalition allocates funds for various wildlife conservation projects through committees that focus on species-specific initiatives: elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose and an all-wildlife committee, WGFD confirms. Projects range from habitat improvements, conservation easements, research and efforts to facilitate wildlife movements across roadways.
“The Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition puts forth incredible effort to raise money that goes directly on-the-ground for conservation projects,” Governor Mark Gordon said in the WGFD release. “Thank you to hunters for investing in these licenses to support responsible stewardship of our state’s natural resources.”
Participating conservation organizations include the Mule Deer Foundation, Muley Fanatics Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation. When licenses are sold, WGFD writes that the revenue is dedicated to wildlife conservation with 90% of the proceeds going back to the coalition and 10% staying within the selling organization.
“The Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Coalition stands out for its ability to rally significant financial support and garner widespread participation from top-notch conservation groups in Wyoming,” said Tim Thomas, WGFD Sheridan Region wildlife management coordinator and coalition chair. “This collaborative funding model was founded under Governor Freudenthal and continued by Governors Mead and Gordon, [and] deserves recognition for its ability to leverage funds to support conservation in Wyoming.”
Since the group formed in 2003, WGFD confirms the coalition has funded nearly $15 million in conservation projects.
