The more I think about this the more irritated I get. It is not just WY either. Depredation permits here and in KY where I hunt is a scam.
So, I do a little auto insurance work. Comp claims on deer damages can be through the roof, should the state reimburse insurance companies or under insured auto owners in the event of a deer collision? No, most of us would consider that cost prohibitive and border line ridiculous.
What about when wild animals eat the wires on our tractors? What about deer eating Janes roses? Why shouldn't they get a check from the state, like the rancher?
Heaven forbid a family runs into a elk and someone dies. Is the state liable?
Or...what about when these welfare entitled ranchers have cattle escape and over graze my public land? What do they have to pay?
I just think this is ridiculous, especially coming from such a conservative state like Wyoming. Maybe if they exhausted all possible solutions I'd be on board. They haven't, they just want more welfare. If I were a G&F Nazi leader and a rancher bitched about wildlife damage, Id go on the ranch and kill every dang elk. Id issue so many tags the surrounding public lands would be void of wildlife. Then let the ranchers complain about not having any elk!
Edit to add, not all ranchers and landowners are welfare babies. I know several and all are superior stewards of the land.