In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Past Shooters Club of the One Shot Antelope Hunt focused their energies and efforts on establishing a separate organization to assist the wildlife they enjoyed hunting over the years. According to the studies made by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the largest single factor in fawn survival was water. Therefore, on May 1, 1975, the Water for Wildlife Foundation was incorporated.

In 1976, the Foundation, working with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, approached the Bureau of Land Management with a unique offer to participate in the funding of a much needed water development program. The programs objective was to provide water sources to drought stricken habitat – hence the beginning of the  “Water For Wildlife” program.

The membership is made up of members of the Past Shooters Club and the One Shot Antelope Hunt. The Board of Trustees is composed of thirteen members and the Executive Vice President of the Past Shooters Club.

In an effort to raise money for these projects, it was necessary to establish a tax exempt organization with the Internal Revenue Service. Attorney and Denver Judge, Leonard V.B. Sutton, accomplished this. The funds to support the Water for Wildlife Foundation and our ongoing Water For Wildlife program come from tax exempt donations made by hundreds of individuals and organizations.

By 2015, the Water For Wildlife program had completed a total of 435 water projects; 24 in Arizona, 4 in California, 64 in Colorado, 22 in Idaho, 34 in Kansas, 4 in Nevada, 7 in New Mexico, 32 in Oklahoma, 1 in South Dakota, 8 in Texas, 59 in Utah and 174 projects in Wyoming.

The cost of the Water For Wildlife projects vary a great deal, with the average costing approximately $5000. Our current focus is on the protection of current and development of new water sources in arid lands that support a multitude of different species. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel prepared a “Water For Wildlife Program Outline” which explains; How water sources are located, the criteria for qualification as an acceptable site, the procedure to authorize completion of a project, and the provisions of ongoing maintenance.

 

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