About Us

We are not about stopping energy development in Wyoming. But we are extremely concerned about pace of development which seems out of control, and there are some places which should be sacred in our state. We will take our fair share of the energy burden, but not all of it – that only seems fair.     —J.J. Healy, Daniel rancher

Our Mission: Protecting Wyoming’s heritage
Comprised of local landowners, outfitters, business owners and ranchers, Citizens Protecting the Wyoming Range has come together to work towards prohibiting new energy development in the Wyoming Range. This mountain range, our state’s namesake mountains and part of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, is today much the same as when Jim Bridger and the fur trappers frequented the area. Today the Wyoming Range is still uniquely rich in wildlife and also supports recreational values. The Wyoming Range is fundamental to why many choose to live here and the tourism revenue the range generates is a mainstay of our local economy.

Citizens Protecting the Wyoming Range does not oppose the energy development in Sublette County, particularly when every effort is expended to mitigate its adverse environmental and socio-economic impacts. But we believe development has its limits. With so much development already happening nearby on BLM, state, and private lands in the Upper Green River Valley, it just doesn’t make sense to expand it onto the national forest of the Wyoming Range. We hope to build on the successes other grassroots groups have achieved to protect treasured national forest areas from leasing, such as Montana’s Rocky Mountain Front and New Mexico's Valle Vidal. It’s not too late to keep the drill rigs out.

Specifically, Citizens Protecting the Wyoming Range will work with our neighbors and other organizations to:

• Stop the issuance of any new leases on the 44,600 acres planned for leasing in the Wyoming Range and halt drilling in any undeveloped areas in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
• Insure that the new Bridger-Teton National Forest plan restricts new energy development as much as possible. For example, keep roadless areas and important wildlife habitat off limits. Making much of the Wyoming Range "unavailable" for leasing and attaching “no surface occupancy” stipulations.
• Through federal legislation, withdraw from new leasing most of the national forest lands in the Wyoming Range.
• Since almost 150,000 acres have already been leased in the Wyoming Range, work to retire existing leases in sensitive areas through buy out, trade or donation.

Our Message: Enough is enough
It is time for those who care about the future of Wyoming, Sublette County, and the Wyoming Range, to send a message to our local elected officials and the Wyoming delegation that energy development needs to be curtailed. This is a serious problem and not to address it would be irresponsible. We are the right entity to address the problem. Our approach is reasonable, sensible and responsible. Please join us, Citizens Protecting the Wyoming Range, today and help send that message. Enough is Enough.

Our Members

Co-founder Gary Amerine, the owner of the Daniel-based Greys River Trophies, has guided hunters in the Wyoming Range west of Merna for a decade. He began organizing other outfitters and Daniel-area residents after the U.S. Forest Service announced plans to issue leases of 44,600 acres of the Wyoming Range in 2005. You can reached Gary and his wife Jenny at 307-859-8896 or by email.

Dustin Child of Daniel recently launched Trophy Mountain Outfitters to guide hunters in the Wyoming Range. His permit area and hunting camp were leased for oil and gas development in August 2006. You can reach Dustin and his wife Laura at 307-859-8441 or email.

JJ Healy and his wife Julia run a 6,000-acre cow-calf operation at the foot of the Wyoming Range in the Upper Green River Valley. The Double J Ranch relies on the Wyoming Range everyday; Horse Creek, which emerges from the Wyoming Range east slope near Daniel, irrigates hay fields and provides valuable habitat for fish and wildlife for nearly six miles through the ranch.  JJ served on the Governor's Split Estate Task Force in 2004, which helped to establish the Surface Owner Accommodation Act, a new law which significantly helps land owners in split estate situations. You can reach JJ at 307-413-1459 or jjhealy@healycapital.com.

A retired Marine, Dan Smitherman operates Hoback Peak Outfitters out of Jackson. You can reach Dan at 307-690-1737 or email.