BY JULIE DOCKSTADER HEAPS

Usually this time of year, hunters and other recreationists – including non-residents – are itching to get out on the waterways and mountains of Wyoming. But this spring with COVID-19 spreading across the country, officials with the Game and Fish Department are urging non-residents to wait and for residents to adhere to “all the directives to keep our state safe.”

This was the admonishment from Director Brian Nesvick of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department during a radio interview with SVI Media’s Duke Dance this week.

“Game and Fish continues to be open for business to support and serve our constituents,” Nesvick said during a segment of SVI’s Weekday Wake Up radio program. “We’re doing things in a different manner [however], and obviously everyone is trying to follow the directives from the governor and the CDC.”

Expressing his appreciation for non-residents and their support of funding wildlife management in the state, Nesvick emphasized: “But frankly right now is not the right time to be coming to the state to recreate, whether it’s hunting, fishing or boating or whatever type of activity.

“[Governor Mark Gordon’s] directive last Friday is more encompassing. And it says regardless of the reason you’re coming to Wyoming, unless it’s for work, you can’t come here unless you have the ability to quarantine for 14 days once you’re come into the state.

“So the message to non-residents, springtime bear hunters, turkey hunters, fishermen or even antler hunters is this just isn’t the time to come. If you have to, you’re going to have to quarantine for 14 days.”

Nesvick expressed his anticipation of the day “when this is behind us and we’re certainly ready to welcome back our non-resident friends. But for right now, that’s just not the case.”

Continuing, he clarified that yes, the Game and Fish Department is still selling licenses and not denying purchases. But he emphasized that refunds are available to non-residents who have already purchased spring licenses but because of the pandemic are not coming.

For Wyoming residents, being outside is part of staying healthy. However, Nesvick admonished recreationists to adhere to directives from the governor and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Stay close to home, avoid crowds. If you arrive at a parking lot and there are a lot of people, go somewhere else. Not only stay close to home, but [recreate] with folks who they live with everyday and not meet up with new people.

“With just about everything we do, whether it’s going to work or going to the grocery store, be responsible and maintain as little contact with other humans as possible. We’re looking forward to the day when this is no longer part of our everyday business.”

In other Game and Fish news, the 2020 Wyoming legislative session saw several wildlife bills, including giving the department authority to not release the personal information of specific hunters of specific animals. And there was a status change of bison licenses in the ability of an injured hunter to carry over a license to the next year.