Gov Dave's wildlife actions as described by the Wyoming Wildlife Federation

WWF 2006 Conservationist Award
Governor Dave Freudenthal

Governor Dave Freudenthal took office as Wyoming's thirty-first governor on January 6, 2003. Since that time "Governor Dave", through his leadership, pragmatic style, and plain political savvy, has advanced the causes of wildlife and sportsmen tremendously.

An avid outdoorsman himself, Governor Freudenthal came into office with a clear perspective on hunting, angling, and wildlife issues in Wyoming. His commitment to these issues has shone through in his first term of office.

From the beginning, Governor Freudenthal recognized the need for increased funding for wildlife and habitat in our state. In a significant first step toward that end, the governor helped to create the Big Game License Coalition, through which his complimentary tags are marketed and auctioned by groups such as the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep and Mule Deer Foundation, with the lion's share of funds received coming right back to Wyoming for wildlife and habitat projects.

His efforts in this respect continued and, during the 2005 legislative session, the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust was created. Governor Freudenthal's leadership was absolutely instrumental in achieving the passage of this landmark legislation. In addition, the governor has successfully worked to gain extra funding for Local Sage Grouse Working Groups and wildlife disease research and control programs.

On the public access front, Governor Freudenthal, in his second year in office, signed a bill that mandated the signing of state trust lands -- an action benefiting both sportsmen and state land lessees. He has consistently weighed in against efforts to privatize public lands and, as a member of the State Land Trust Board, he worked toward and voted for the state acquisition of the Duncan Ranch. That addition will provide a block of over 9,000 acres of publicly accessible land in eastern Wyoming, where such access is limited.

Governor Freudenthal has shown vision and leadership on many other wildlife issues during his tenure, from his appointment of a Brucellosis Coordination Team to provide recommendations on that thorny disease in western Wyoming, to his efforts to ensure that energy development does not occur at the expense of Wyoming's wildlife.

Governor Freudenthal "gets it" in regard to sportsmen's and wildlife issues. He also "gets it done". Thank you, Governor Dave.