By Lew Freedman

Cody Enterprise

Via Wyoming News Exchange

CODY — At the recent Game and Fish Commission meeting in Cody at the Holiday Inn, board members were told how much the public loves the department it oversees.

While that may be an oversimplification, it was apparent that the surveying performed (and still ongoing) by independent contractor Responsive Management of Virginia indicates people back Game and Fish in many, if not all ways.

Some 62 percent of people surveyed said they were very satisfied with the agency and another 24 percent said they were somewhat satisfied, Game and Fish information officer Renny MacKay reported.

A large number of respondents actually want to give Game and Fish more funding.

“Unfortunately, 25 percent  don’t know what Game and Fish does,” he said.

While that may sound peculiar given the name of the department, MacKay said  the agency is taking that thinking as a message to provide more education to the public.

The statistic seemed somewhat odd to director Scott Talbott, too. In his experience he sees more people who care passionately about Wyoming’s fish and wildlife than those who “don’t care,” he said.

“We do the best we can to communicate.”

Responsive Management has been working to obtain feedback about the department for months.

Public meetings were held around the state, including in Cody, focus groups were conducted, more than 2,500 residents were randomly telephoned, and an online forum was opened and continues.

The effort has been termed “Forging The Future of Wyoming’s Wildlife,” designed to aid Game and Fish in developing a strategic five-year plan.

In a March 19 update, the agency said of results to date, “Data collected to this point indicates that in every setting the public has offered overwhelming support for the Game and Fish and its work to conserve wildlife and serve people and believe Game and Fish is highly credible and they are satisfied with the agency.”

The overall response indicates just how much the people of Wyoming care about the state’s wildlife in different ways, whether photographing or hunting animals, and making sure policies ensure the future of species such as bears, elk and deer.

“I was very pleased,” said Game and Fish Director Scott Talbott of the survey information. “We’re not going to rest. The results exceeded my expectations.”

Much of the same positive response was uttered at the Cody live session conducted by Responsive Management at the Irma Hotel.

Many of those surveyed said they would like Game and Fish to get more money to operate and to enforce existing regulations, among other things.

Talbott said tougher rules enforcement has always been high on the list of public wants.

“If you care about wildlife and you are an honest hunter,” he said.