Two studies at the University of Wyoming’s
Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources and the Cooperative
Extension Service examined the geography of winter range and migration
corridors, and the relationships to private land and the state
economy.
The studies surveyed Wyoming's six major big game species: pronghorn,
elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mule deer and white-tailed deer. These
reports measured the importance of private lands on winter range
and migration corridors, and the related economic activity resulting
from hunting these species in the state.
Geographic relationships
The studies estimated the total acres of winter range for each
of the six species using geographic information system data from
the Wyoming Game and Fish Agency. After accounting for overlapping
ranges, the total public and private winter range for these six
species covers more than 52 million acres, which is approximately
83 percent of the total land area of the state.
Of the 52 million acres of total winter habitat, 26.1 million
acres (50 percent) are private.
Some species are more dependent upon private winter range than
others. White-tailed deer and mule deer utilize the most private
winter range of all six species. White-tailed deer range generally
follows the bottomland along rivers, which happen to be mostly
privately owned.
Fully 82 percent of white-tailed deer winter range is private.
Mule deer winter range is 58 percent private. In contrast, bighorn
sheep have the least amount of winter habitat on private land,
totaling only 5 percent.
Elk winter on 11.8 million acres of land around the state, of
which approximately 39 percent is private. Moose winter on 5.6
million acres of land, of which 25 percent is private.
The importance of private open spaces does not end with winter
range. In a companion study looking at migration corridors, many
migration corridors run through areas where more than two-thirds
of the land is private.
Fragmentation of those lands can pose a major impediment to traditional
herd migrations. Approximately 16 percent of traditional migration
corridors for mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and pronghorn
are located in areas where two-thirds or more of the corridor
is on private land.
Economic Impacts
The role of private land in maintaining big game populations is
of obvious importance, but the importance extends beyond the number
of acres. Hunting generates a significant economic activity in
the state, and the ecological services provided by privately owned
winter range contribute to this economic activity.
The loss and fragmentation of winter habitat on private land can
affect herd size and therefore, the economic activities resulting
from those species.
According to Wyoming Game and Fish Department estimates of hunter-day
numbers and expenditures, the six species reviewed here generated
more than $120.3 million in 2000. Non-resident hunters accounted
for 48 percent and residents accounted for 52 percent of this
total.
Twenty-six million acres of private winter habitat support more
than $64 million in hunter expenditures in the state, or almost
54 percent of the total.
Except for a small amount paid out in damage payments and trespass
fees to landowners, this economic activity accrues to the state’s
businesses, such as lodging, gasoline, restaurants and retail
and food stores.
These ecological services provide a positive economic spillover
from agriculture and other landowners to the broader economy.
Conclusions
Private agricultural lands provide significant benefits for Wyoming
wildlife, residents and visitors. Twenty-six million acres of
private land in the state provide winter habitat for pronghorn,
elk, moose, big horn sheep, mule deer, and white-tailed deer.
This represents approximately 50 percent of the total winter range
in the state.
Considering its value as big game winter range alone, private
land ultimately generates more than $64 million in positive economic
spillovers from hunter expenditures out of a total of $120.2 million.
On a species basis, the relationships between private lands, herd
size, and the associated economic activities vary, but it is nonetheless
important for most of the species analyzed.
-- Pronghorn use more than 20.7 million acres of winter habitat
on private lands, which represents approximately 56 percent of
its total winter habitat. This habitat then is responsible for
$11.2 million in economic activity in the state from resident
and non-resident hunting.
-- Bighorn sheep use more than 155,000 acres of winter habitat
on private lands, which represents approximately 5 percent of
total winter habitat. This habitat then is responsible for $33,000
in economic activity.
-- Elk use more than 4.55 million acres of winter habitat on private
lands, which represents approximately 39 percent of total winter
habitat and generates $23.7 million.
-- Moose use more than 1.4 million acres of winter habitat on
private lands, which represents approximately 25 percent and generates
$721,700.
-- Mule deer use more than 22.2 million acres of winter habitat
on private lands, which is approximately 58 percent of total winter
habitat and generates $28.7 million.
-- White-tailed deer use more than 7.41 million acres of winter
habitat on private lands, approximately 82 percent of total winter
habitat, and generates $8.8 million.
Roger Coupal is a faculty member
at the University of Wyoming's Department of Agricultural and
Applied Economics and a member of the research team of the Institute
of Environment and Natural Resources' Wyoming Open Spaces Initiative.
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