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Wyoming is eyeing outdoor recreation as a valuable asset to its economy, as a new law creates a trust fund for growing the industry.In recent years, the outdoor recreation industry has blossomed in Wyoming. It accounts for 3.6 percent of the state’s economy – even higher than Colorado.So to help meet that demand, Gov. Mark Gordon signed the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust Fund into law last week. It will start with $6 million that can go toward projects like new biking and hiking trails, campgrounds and even shooting ranges.
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The program was launched in 2021 when two of ranger positions were created, a first for the state. Visitation at Wyoming state parks and historic sites has been on the rise in recent years. This can partly be attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and the desire to go outdoors. Offerings for LGBTQ and Latino youth, in addition to female-oriented camping trips are also part of their offerings. Other ranger programs aimed specifically at young people are also set to debut this year.
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Daily limits on the number of commercially guided fishing boats will be discussed during the interimCommercially guided fishing boats will be able to launch into Wyoming rivers as they please this summer, as a House Bill that would have changed that has been postponed.House Bill 84 would have set daily limits on the number of commercially guided fishing boats launching into any section of river in Wyoming.
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Outdoor recreation is booming in Wyoming and requests to build new trails often supersede available funds. A proposed bill would have put millions of dollars toward the effort, but lawmakers voted it down for fear of it being too much money.
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Small towns in the Mountain West are leading the pack when it comes to economic success, according to a recent report by Heartland Forward.
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Outdoor recreation remains a steady part of Wyoming’s economy, according to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, and some speculate it will continue to grow.
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Nationally, outdoor recreation created $862 billion in gross economic output last year, accounting for $454 billion in GDP and 4.5 million jobs. Included in those numbers are activities like biking and boating, but also equipment manufacturing, entertainment and construction.
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As the weather starts to get cooler, bears are getting ready for hibernation. That means they are actively seeking foods to put on fat for their long sleep.Dan Thompson, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s large carnivore supervisor, said because bears are so active right now, hunters, landowners and others who use the outdoors need to be bear aware. Especially in places like the Cody area, where the animals are expanding their range.
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A federal program is giving about $30,000 to individual rural communities to help them develop outdoor recreation economies.
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Ten new locations across the U.S. may be getting a long-distance road, gravel, or mountain biking trail thanks to proposed federal legislation.A bipartisan bill that would create the trails recently passed the House of Representatives and is headed to the Senate. It’s called the Biking on Long-Distance Trails, or BOLT, Act.