Hi gents, hope to shed some light. I was the district wildlife biologist in Casper 1993-2001. I've probably spoken with several folks on this site.
The typical Wyoming wildlife biologist or game warden works long hours. The typical nonresident applicant has no clue about their work load, which in early-mid spring (application time) can include getting up at 3-4am for sage grouse lek counts, hazing elk/deer from stored hay crops dusk to dawn, conducting spring big game counts during daylight hours, running out at all hours to plug a crippled animal on the road, etc. It's also number crunching time, finalizing season recommendations from the field. I can't even imagine the increased work load since I left, trying to get some wildlife protection work done with the wholesale energy and minerals development destruction happening in some of the last, best wildlife habitat around. Being familiar with most of the state agencies, I am confident Wyoming G&F - at least wildlife field staff - have the heaviest workload around.
On top of all that, until March 15 rolls around, hundreds of thousands of hopeful nonresidents are eagerly anticipating a chance to hunt through the license draw process (that's why WGFD has their own zip code, 82006). Fortunately for the wildlife guys, only thousands call for information. The collect call thing is not new, but really it exists to cut down on the volume of calls to return. I estimate I spent 80-160 hours on the phone with approximately 500-1000 nonresidents January 1 - March 15.
If you want to talk to someone, try the phone bank during 8-5 Monday through Friday, see if they can answer your question; if you wnat to talk to one of the field staff, keep calling. I always tried to make some time to return nonresident applicants' calls, but it wasn't always possible. If you reached me in the office, I made the time. If the bio or warden is not in a Regional office, don't call before 7am or after 8pm - you're calling his house, he probably won't answer, and he's definitely not going to return your call and give you good information. Would you?
Don't waste their time asking for the impossible. 1) If the area has 100% draw success, or leftover licenses for bucks/bulls, you CAN'T get on to hunt a quality ranch for free, and there isn't good public land hunting - at least by WY standards. 2) Don't sob story them - it's very sad that you - your kid - your dad - etc. is dying, especially if true; but a whole bunch of guys before you have tried that tactic to find that "secret" sympathetic rancher who'll take your word for it and let your party on to hunt for free. (If it's actually true, contact the Helluva Hunt out of Douglas, or one of the other charitable organizations who can set something like this up.) 3) There is NO area with: lots of public land, easy drawing odds, good road access AND above average quality bucks or bulls. I used to tell these callers to pick three of the four, and I could give them some pointers. Pick the two of the four which matter most, and you've got lots of options.
Harry Harju did retire, and whether you loved him or hated him, was one of the most passionate, most pro wildlife and most pro hunting administrators I've ever known; it was a real privilege to work with him. Mark Zornes didn't retire - he quit like me. Good news is, he's going back last I heard, replacing Bill Rudd as wildlife coordinator in Green River. Hope that's true, he's a good guy too.
Last bits of advice; DON'T ASK ABOUT SCORES. Not that these aren't a legit interest, but I guarantee in this day and age, they are sick to death of score freaks and the bad activities associated with it. Too many jerks freaking out on that subject, too many negative prior contacts, and too many illegal and unethical kills in their work experiences all centered on that particular mania. You may think you're trying to get a feel for relative quality, but ask another way, ie, what's a typical good buck, what are the odds of a good hard working hunter killing a representative 4-point buck/6-point bull, etc. Use the score freaks to research B&C, ie, Garth Carter, Eastmans, etc.
DON'T ask for an "x" on a map, a secret honeyhole, etc. That's not fair to the guys who've found it on their own, and that's why I rarely if ever gave those away. Far better for you to do your homework, ie maps, THEN call and ask about specifics that look good to you. Those I would answer.
Try to get it all in one call; at most, two. By your third-tenth call, I'm totally done with you.
Good luck to you all in the draws. Yeah, I don't get to hunt the wilderness areas unguided either. Yeah, it's BS. No, that lovely bit of legislation wasn't pushed through by WGFD (nor was the regular/special license split).
