January 30th 2026 |
Photo – Courtesy of the Wyoming Game & Fish website
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is seeking Outdoor Hall of Fame nominations.
On Monday, January 26th, Wyoming Game and Fish began accepting nominations for the 2026 Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame. Game and Fish Public Information Officer Amanda Fry explained that the award, created in 2004 by then‑Governor Dave Freudenthal, honors individuals, both living and posthumous, who made significant and lasting contributions to the state’s outdoor heritage.
The award is divided into two categories: one for overall Outdoor Hall of Fame honorees and another for the Youth Conservationist of the Year. Fry explained that the recently added award is reserved for nominees under 18 years old.
Since 2004, 70 individuals have been inducted into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame, with Game and Fish typically presenting three or four awards every 18 months. Public Information Officer Fry said this year’s winners will join a long list of previous honorees, including Curt Gowdy, a broadcaster, conservationist, and avid Wyoming fisherman, and Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States.
Last year’s winners included Jim Zumbo, an outdoor writer and longtime advocate for hunting and wildlife conservation; Steve Kilpatrick, a wildlife biologist known for decades of habitat work; and Dr. Douglas Crowe, a conservationist and educator who made a lasting impact on Wyoming’s natural resource stewardship.
Winners of the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame have their photos on permanent display at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody.
Fry explained how to nominate someone for the Outdoor Hall of Fame.
Nominations must be received by Tuesday, March 31st.
The 2026 Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for November at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Tickets will cost $75, which includes dinner, and will go on sale at a later date as the even draws closer.
