Joint Travel Committee Meeting Summary (June 9 and 10, 2003)

The Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Interim Committee met in Afton.  The Committee received information on endangered species in Wyoming, on the status of the gray wolf management plan, and on the designation of land as critical habitat.  The Committee reviewed residency requirements for hunting and fishing privileges; a proposal to establish a preference point system for nonresident elk, deer and antelope; and discussed wildlife damage claims and reimbursement.  The final game and fish issue addressed was license selling agent commissions.  The Committee requested that draft legislation be prepared on the issues of the gray wolf management, residency requirements, preference point system and selling agent commissions.  Subcommittee members were appointed for the damage issue.  A working group was appointed for the residency requirements issue.

The Committee also considered state parks issues, including proposals for state parks designations and the development of a master plan for state parks.  The Committee heard testimony and discussed the issue of reciprocity for snowmobile and ATV registration.  Additional information was requested on a number of these items, but no formal Committee action on these issues was taken at this meeting.  The Committee’s next meeting is likely to be the week of September 22, 2003.