Buying a Wyoming Wildlife Conservation license plate represents an investment in preventing wildlife-vehicle collisions. And now, license plate holders will also receive discounts from Wyoming businesses for their commitment to roadway safety for people and wildlife.

Four Wyoming businesses — including Eastmans’ Publishing Company of Powell — are offering discounts to those sporting Wyoming wildlife conservation license plates.

They’re the first businesses to step up to help meet Gov. Mark Gordon’s 2020 challenge to put 2,020 conservation license plates on the road by the end of the year.

Eastmans’, Maven Optics, Weatherby and Jax “all share in the value that it’s important for Wyoming to improve our roadways for wildlife and do everything possible to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions,” said Glenn Pauley, Wyoming Game and Fish Department outreach specialist. “Thank you to these businesses for adding to the benefits of a Wyoming wildlife conservation license plate and going the extra mile for conservation.”

More Wyoming businesses are invited to participate in the challenge, from any industry who wishes to support conservation efforts.

“Keeping Wyoming roadways safe and allowing animals to continue with their natural migrations are fundamental to the future of Wyoming’s big game herds. I hope all Wyoming businesses participate in this initiative,” said Ike Eastman, president of Eastmans’ Publishing Company.

Every year more than 6,000 big game animals in Wyoming are killed by vehicle collisions, with an average injury and damage cost of $11,600 per collision, the Game and Fish says.

“Deaths due to vehicle collisions and blocking wildlife movements are major impacts to our wildlife. With the purchase of a Wildlife Conservation plate, we can help make our roads safer for both wildlife and people,” said Brendon Weaver, Maven Outdoor Equipment Company co-owner and design/marketing. Maven is offering 15% off its products, while Weatherby is offering 10% off custom and factor rifles and shotguns purchased from its Sheridan showroom with Jax offering a 5% discount.

Eastmans’ is offering a free annual subscription to Eastmans’ Hunting Journal, Bowhunting Journal, and TagHub hunting research database.

To receive a discount, each business requires license plate verification.

The specialty license plate features Wyoming’s iconic mule deer. The total initial price of the plate is $180, and a $50 renewal fee annually. The plate is available anytime. Proceeds from the sales go to the Wyoming Department of Transportation Wildlife Conservation Fund to support roadway improvement projects like overpasses, underpasses, fencing and signage. More information is available at http://wildlifecrossingswork.com/.

Per state statute, WYDOT was required to sell at least 1,000 of the wildlife conversation plates by the end of 2023 to continue offering them. That goal was easily met, with roughly 1,600 sold since January 2019. As of this summer, 75 plates had been purchased in Park County.