April 2023 - 15

" It's not about any one thing, it's just the privilege and honor of being
a Game and Fish Commissioner. So few people get this opportunity. It's
a wonderful and amazing experience, and probably nothing much like
it in our state. " - Pete Dube
" We tried to improve everywhere we
could, " she said.
Dube and Bryd displayed their dedication
to protecting Wyoming's wildlife and serving
the public for the past several years by giving
up a lot of time, effort and energy from their
own lives and businesses.
" The contributions of Commissioners
Dube and Byrd to the Commission, Game
and Fish and our and our state's wildlife over
six years is reflective of their tremendous character
and dedication to Wyoming, " Nesvik
said. " We all benefited from their service. "
Byrd said some of the biggest changes she
Pete Dube served as the president of the Wyoming Game and Fish
Commission from March 2020 through March 2022. (Photo by
Mark Gocke/WGFD)
noticed during her time on the Commission
were more people moving to Wyoming and
more people wanting to hunt and fish. She
also said energy development has increased
considerations that must be taken by wildlife
managers in the state.
" Seems like things are just getting more
complicated, " she said.
Serving on the Commission was more
than just attending monthly meetings. Byrd
said she spent approximately 25 days a year
traveling to and from Commission meetings.
That doesn't include time spent at other public
meetings, taking telephone calls, reading
emails and serving on other committees and
boards.
" It's about how much time you want to put
into it, " Dube said. " If you want to be a good
and active Commissioner and be involved
with your district, you'll be going to meetings.
The Commission meetings are the least
amount you do, it's all the other stuff. "
There was more than meetings, phone
calls and emails. Byrd said she enjoyed
many tours and attended some projects
conducted by Game and Fish around the
state during her time on the Commission.
In particular, she was impressed with the
work at a bighorn sheep capture near Cody
that she attended. Dube did ride-alongs with
several game wardens, helped at the Story
Fish Hatchery, seined and electroshocked
with fisheries personnel in the Sheridan
Region and participated in several wildlife
collaring operations.
Dube and Byrd said Game and Fish and
the Commission have plenty of future challenges,
such as aquatic invasive species control,
elk feedground management in western
Wyoming, habitat loss, recruiting employees
and CWD - just to name a few.
Both have busy futures ahead of them, but
also some priorities. For Byrd that is more
grandma time and golf. Dube said he'll be
traveling more.
Whatever the future holds, they will look
back fondly of their time on the Commission.
" It was a great experience, " Byrd said. " I
learned a lot and got to know and work with
many nice people. It was definitely an honor
to be chosen to serve on the Commission. "
- Robert Gagliardi is the associate editor of Wyoming
Wildlife
SCAN THIS QR CODE
TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT THE WYOMING
GAME AND FISH
COMMISSION.
Gay Lynn Byrd said helping create the WYldlife Fund in 2019,
which helps generate money for on-the-ground work done by the
Wyoming Game and Fish Department, was one of her highlights
while serving on the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. (Photo
by Mark Gocke/WGFD)
" It was a great experience. I learned a lot and got to know and work
with many nice people. It was definitely an honor to be chosen to serve
on the Commission. " - Gay Lynn Byrd
Wyoming Wildlife | 15
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/about-us/game-and-fish-commission
April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2023
