(right to left)Dean Bowman, youth coordinator for the High Plains Chapter of Pheasants Forever presents Game and Fish Commissioner Ron Lovercheck and Deputy Director John Emmerich with a $2,500 donation for the Game and Fish Access Yes program. Spike Giachino, youth coordinator and Glenn Manley, also with Pheasants Forever are also pictured.

CHEYENNE – The High Plains Chapter of Pheasants Forever boosted hunting and fishing opportunity in Laramie County by donating $2,500 in proceeds to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s AccessYes program to secure private land access in the area.

"We felt the AccessYes program was a program that really did the most for our chapter members," said Manley. "These funds will be used to help get access to the many quality private land hunting opportunities within Laramie County."

The Game and Fish’s AccessYes program currently provides about 8,500 private acres of access for hunting pheasants in Laramie County.

"Donations to AccessYes are very important, as this is the only source of funds the Game and Fish has for purchasing easements for hunting and fishing access," said Matt Buhler, the department’s state access coordinator. "This year, we have more landowners willing to enroll acres in the program than we have funds available to pay. Contributions from organizations and individuals are vital to the continuation of the program."

Proceeds were generated from an electronic auction of a commissioner’s game tag, donated to the High Plains Chapter by local Game and Fish Commissioner Lovercheck. In total, the sale of the license raised about $9,000. In addition to the Access Yes donation, the funds will also support the local Pheasant’s Forever Youth Day in Pine Bluffs in August and two local youth pheasant hunts this fall.

For each dollar donated to the program, the Game and Fish is able to provide about 4 acres of private land access. Hunters and anglers can donate to AccessYes when they apply for a license online or at Game and Fish offices and license selling agents across the state.
(contact: Teresa Cole, photo available on request)