Conserving and Restoring the Best of the West with Bob Budd, director of the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Aaron and Bill host Bob Budd to wax on the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund, which utilizes a unique model to conduct habitat and restoration projects across Wyoming. These projects help restore and enhance the lands and waters that sportsmen and women from Wyoming and across the country have the privilege to enjoy. The Wyoming state legislature is currently considering adding $75 million to the fund, which will then be leveraged to create about $50 million annually to conduct this excellent work in perpetuity. For one of the least populated and most wildlife rich states in the country, this is an exceptional resource that also benefit all Americans who visit. You don’t want to miss Bob’s keen mind, exuberance, and enthusiasm for Wyoming’s incredible natural resources. 

Links: 

https://wwnrt.wyo.gov/home

https://wyomingwildlife.org

Show notes:

5:30 – Introduction of Bob Budd.

8:05 – What have these guys been up to outdoors recently?

10:27 – Bob explains his childhood and the path which led him to where he is today.

13:15 – The Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund – how it got started, what it’s supposed to do, and day to day activities…

17:05 - Details behind the structure and approach to funding for the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund.

19:30 - How does the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund get projects and take them to completion.

22:12 - Conservation easement funding.

23:37 - How many applications does the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund receive and how many organizations do they work with?

27:00 – Short break for a message from our partner podcast, Artemis Sportswomen! Are you following @NWFOutdoors on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube?

28:23 - The history of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation.

31:00 - How has the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust Fund helped hunters specifically?

33:30 – “They’re catching 30” rainbows in town!!” It used to be full of refrigerators.

34:56 - Bob tells a good story… “I had no idea this state was this state…”

38:12 - The possibility of being fully funded.

40:16 - One of the unique things about the trust is that they utilize the interest from this fund to continue to perpetually do these projects. Bob talks about how this works.

46:13 - Mechanically what has to happen now and what can sportsmen and sportswomen tell their representative?

47:36 - What could other states learn from Wyoming?

50:51 - Wyoming does wildlife conservation and habitat restoration in a special way. Bob highlights some of their achievements.

52:47 - Camo at the Capital!! Great event and opportunity. Look it up and participate.

54:22 - Closing statement from Bob Budd – his has a book coming out! “There’s great stuff going on everywhere.”