JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The National Elk Refuge wants a bigger slice of the pie when it comes to revenue generated by commercial use of the public property.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Elk Refuge is proposing to hike fees for three types of commercial special use permits issued on the Refuge. The proposed fee change would affect any person or business that charges or includes a fee for guiding on the refuge including guided tours, guided workshops (such as art or photography), and guided fishing.
The proposed fee change retains the annual permit application fee of $200 and adds a daily Refuge use fee based on the number of participants and number of days the commercial use occurs on the Refuge. The change would go into effect October 2022.
The fee changes would not affect Double H Bar, Inc, operators of the Elk Refuge sleigh rides. They are considered a concessionaire.
Proposed Fee Change
$200/year application fee + Daily Refuge Use Fees
- Daily Refuge Use Fees
- 0-10 people: $10/day
- 11-25 people: $25/day
- 26-50 people: $50/day
- 51 or more people: $75/day
Written comments are encouraged by USFWS concerning the fee change. They will be accepted from May 18 through June 16. Written comments should be submitted to Refuge Manager Frank Durbian, PO Box 510, Jackson, WY or by email at frank_durbian@fws.gov.
The National Elk Refuge issues more than 50 commercial guiding special use permits annually. This fee increase will allow the National Elk Refuge to better manage the impacts of commercial guiding on the refuge including resource impacts, law enforcement, staff time, and maintenance needs.
