Wyoming Cutt-Slam

I promised ya'll details about the WY Cutt-Slam hosted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. You can find the full details at http://gf.state.wy.us/services/customers/cuttslam/index.asp but I'll give you a brief rundown of the program. There are two basic purposes behind the installment of this program. First to "encourage anglers to learn more about Wyoming's cutthroat sub-species". Secondly, for people to "develop more appreciation and support of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's cutthroat management program". The concept is very easy. Catch one of each sub-species in their native ranges in WY, complete the application and receive a certificate from the WY Game and Fish Dept. Below is what the certificate will look like. The four sub-species include the Colorado River cutthroat, the Bonneville cutthroat, the Snake River cutthroat, and the Yellowstone cutthroat. The application itself simply requires the anglers information, a verifying biologist's name and signature, then the location and date when each of the sub-species were caught. 

I think this is a very effective way to encourage anglers to get out and fish the waters. It gives them a specific goal to catch certain species of fish, as well as enables them to receive a certificate to show off their hard work. I think some people may be intimidated by having to get the verification from a biologist in order to submit their application. On the Wyoming Game and Fish Dept website about the Cutt-Slam, they do break the state down into regions designating what regions are home to the different sub-species. It also includes a list of contacts within each region. These contacts would enable the anglers to locate a biologist to verify their species, either by having the fish or by presenting a photograph. Although this is a great way to encourage anglers to get out and experience the different waters of Wyoming and become more familiar with the Game and Fish Dept., it also involves traveling all over the state. Few people have the time, or money to spend to put into state wide angling. Speaking from a college student perspective, I would love the opportunity to catch these four species and receive a certificate, but I don't have the resources to allow me to take time off classes and dump money into my gas tank to drive all over the state in search for these fish.