September 2021 - 32

W
hen he began responsibilities as the state's seventh
state game warden in 1921, a position that was
recently renamed Game and Fish Commissioner, Bruce
Nowlin inherited some difficult challenges. The
winter of 1920-21 was, " one of the longest and hardest
winters on the game of which I have ever known, " he said.
Weather decimated elk calves near Jackson and providing
hay for their feeding drained the " preservation of wild
game " line-item of his budget. Nowlin estimated pronghorn
numbers, which in some years can now rival Wyoming's human
population, at just 5,435 and only 10 men were employed to
enforce game laws throughout the state.
Nowlin assumed the Commissioner position
due to a voluminous bill that was enacted
by the Wyoming Legislature on Feb. 18, 1921,
and created the committee Nowlin would
answer to - the Wyoming Game and Fish
Commission.
Fifty-three pages long, House Bill 0211
almost completely revamped existing game
laws. In a half-page spread on Feb. 25, 1921
the Sheridan Enterprise noted, " The Wyoming
sportsman who fondly imagines he has
a working knowledge of the state game laws is
mistaken, badly mistaken, unless he has studied
House Bill 211 of the Sixteenth legislature
... It would be easier to relate how House Bill
211 did not change the old game laws than to
enumerate how it has changed them. "
In addition to outlining penalties for wildBruce
Nowlin, Wyoming's seventh state game warden, took on
the role of Game and Fish Commissioner in 1921. (Photo by Neal
Blair/WGFD)
Gov. John W. Hoyt appointed Wyoming's first fish commissioner
before game and fish were commissioned by the same body. (Sub
Neg 2114 derivative, H56-65, John W Hoyt portrait, Governor, nd,
Wyoming State Archives)
life-related violations, prohibiting shooting any
game animal or bird within 100 feet of a public
road and oddly, charging a $5 fee to photograph
Wyoming wildlife between January and
April, the law created the Wyoming Game and
Fish Commission. This group, consisting of
the governor, secretary of state and auditor of
state, would have " general supervision of the
game animals, birds and fish of this State and
the protection, propagation, distribution and
disposition thereof. "
Prior to this time fish and game management
was separate. The first territorial fish
commissioner, Henry Rumsey of Laramie, was
appointed by Gov. John Hoyt in January 1880,
with the charge of controlling fishing and fish
stocking in Wyoming waters. Two years later
the Territorial Legislature enabled the governor
to appoint six members, one from each county,
to a board of fish commissioners. The office
of state fish warden was created in 1890, and
in 1895 was given authority to enforce all fish
and game laws in the state.
It was not until 1899 the separate office of
Gov. Robert D. Carey served on the first Wyoming Game and
Fish Commission. (Sub Neg 1524A, Robert D. Carey, Wyoming
State Archives)
32 | September 2021
Wyoming Secretary of State W.E. Chaplin was appointed as
one of the first members of the Wyoming Game and Fish
Commission in 1911. (SOS No Neg, WE Chaplin sos 1919-1923,
Wyoming State Archives)
state game warden was designated, and 1911
a game commission was formed. Upon the
1921 creation of the Game and Fish Commission,
oversight of the two wildlife resources
was combined.
" Since this was a political body its chief
function was essentially a supervisory role, "
said Neal Blair in the book titled, " This History
of Wildlife Management in Wyoming. " " The
closer coordination of the game and fish departments
under the new office of commissioner
promised more united effort and purpose. "
Four years later, the law was changed
again and the Commission consisted of six
citizen members appointed by the governor
September 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2021
