Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 4

A COUPLE PENNIES

W YOMING

A commitment
for 2021

WILDLIFE

VOLUME 85, NUMBER 1 * JANUARY 2021

By Robert Gagliardi, associate editor

Happy New Year. It would be easy
to fill this space with resolutions for
the upcoming year. Instead, this is a
commitment.
Aside from third grade through high
school, I've lived my life in Wyoming.
Fishing and recreating in this state is
one of the biggest benefits of living here.
There never is enough time each year
to be on the creeks and camping with
my dogs.
Most of those activities for me have
been in southwest Wyoming, where I was
born. The memories are special, and even
though a lot has changed - not all good
changes - those areas remain close to
my heart. With limited time, I've stuck
with the areas I know best.
A little more than a year into my job
with Wyoming Wildlife, I am learning a
lot and have never been happier coming
to work everyday. This past summer and
fall I was given opportunities to travel
to the Dubois and Cody areas for work,
and in both instances it hit me - I've
not seen much in this state.
I lived in Dubois when I was in first
and second grade, and one of those years
was on a dude ranch outside of town. I
returned there for the first time in more
than 40 years this summer during my
work trip and saw the cabin that was
built for my mom and I - still standing
and functionable. The ranch is on Brooks
Lake, and seeing Pinnacle Butte again
left me in awe.
I will be back.
I had only been to Cody once prior to
last fall, and that was for work. Although
this also was a work trip, I got to see
Wyoming's fall colors in their glorious
splendor in and around the Cody area.
There was a ride up the North Fork of
the Shoshone River where I spotted deer
and elk alongside the stunning fall colors.
4 | January 2021

State of Wyoming
Governor Mark Gordon
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
President Peter Dube, Buffalo
Vice President Patrick J. Crank, Cheyenne
Commissioner David Rael, Cowley
Commissioner Gay Lynn Byrd, Douglas
Commissioner Mike Schmid, La Barge
Commissioner Ralph Brokaw, Arlington
Commissioner Richard Ladwig, Manville

Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Director Brian Nesvik
Deputy Director John Kennedy
Deputy Director Angela Bruce
Chief of Fiscal Greg Phipps

Chief of Wildlife Richard King

Chief of Fisheries Alan Osterland

Chief of Services Eric Wiltanger

Magazine Staff
Editor Tracie Binkerd
Associate Editor Robert Gagliardi

Creative Director Patrick Owen

Administrative Assistant Meg Frost

Pinnacle Butte looms large in the background along
the shores of Brooks Lake outside of Dubois in Fremont
County. (Photo by Robert Gagliardi/WGFD)

I will be back.
Those trips introduced me to new
areas, brought back some fond memories
and made me realize I need to experience
more of Wyoming's open spaces.
I've never been to the Black Hills or
seen Devils Tower.
I've spent only a handful of hours in
the Bighorn Mountains. That was near
Ten Sleep and nearly 30 years ago. I've
never been on the Buffalo-Sheridan side
of the Bighorns.
I've never been to Flaming Gorge
Reservoir.
I've never been to Yellowstone and
Grand Teton national parks. I've been
close several times, but close doesn't
count. My idea of being outdoors doesn't
involve being around a lot of people. I
don't want to wait in lines or be stuck in
traffic to get around. As much as I want
to see and experience both parks, that
is a tough mindset for me to overcome.
Perhaps this will be the year I finally do.
I will return to my favorite places
in southwest Wyoming. That's too
ingrained in my heart and soul to move
away from. But there are so many new
places to see, and no matter how long
it takes I'm going to see them. It starts
this year.
That's not just lip service, it's a
commitment.

Wyoming Wildlife (ISSN 0043-9819) is published monthly (including the November calendar issue) by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Periodicals postage
paid at Cheyenne, WY and additional mailing offices. Postmaster, please send all
changes of address to Wyoming Wildlife, P.O. Box 469001, Escondido, CA 92046.
Printed in the USA. COPYRIGHT 2015 BY THE WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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