WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

CHAPTER 2

GENERAL HUNTING REGULATION

Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of W.S. §23-1-103, §23‑1‑302, §23-1-703, §23‑2‑101, §23-3-104, §23-3-304, §23-3-305, §23-3-306 and §23‑3‑308.

Section 2. Definitions. For the purpose of this regulation, definitions shall be as set forth in Title 23, Wyoming Statutes, and the Commission also adopts the following definitions:

(a) “Antlered” means a deer, elk, or moose that has visible antler growth plainly protruding from the skull. Where a minimum number of antler points are specified, points shall be counted on the side with the greater number of points.

(b) “Antlerless” means a deer, elk, or moose that has no antler growth plainly protruding from the skull. Females and young‑of‑the‑year without visible antlers are antlerless big game animals.

(c) “Approved landfill” means a municipal or county landfill permitted by the State of Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Solid Waste Rules and Regulations, Chapter 2 revised as of October 15, 1998, which does not include any later amendments or additions of the incorporated matter.

(d) “Artificial Light” means any man-made light or lighting device.

(e) “Bag Limit” means the maximum number of big game or trophy game animals that may be taken by an individual possessing a proper license.

(f) “Bow and arrow” means a longbow, recurve bow, compound bow or crossbow.

(g) “Buck Antelope” means male antelope with visible horns and a dark cheek patch at the base of the ear.

(h) “Calf” means young-of-the-year elk or young-of-the-year moose.

(i) “Cow” means an adult female elk or an adult female moose.

(j) “Doe” means an adult female antelope or adult female deer.

(k) “Drainage” means all lands within the watershed of a named river or stream, including all tributaries and standing waters, which drain into that river or stream.

(l) “Edible portion of big game animal” means the meat of the front quarters as far down as the knees, the hindquarters as far down as the hocks, and the meat along the backbone between the neck and hindquarters, excluding meat on the ribs and neck.

(m) “Fawn” means young-of-the-year antelope or young-of-the-year deer.

(n) “Hunt Area” means the geographic boundaries within which a license shall be valid.

(o) “Motorized vehicle” means any vehicle powered by an internal combustion or electric engine.

(p) “Muzzle-loading firearm” means a muzzle-loading rifle having a barrel bore diameter of at least 40/100 of an inch and a charge of at least fifty (50) grains of black powder or equivalent; or a muzzle-loading specialty single shot handgun which has a barrel length of not less than ten (10) inches, a bore diameter of at least 45/100 of an inch and which propels a projectile of two hundred forty (240) grains at not less than five hundred (500) foot pounds at one hundred (100) yards.

(q) “National Elk Refuge Permit” means a permit issued by the National Elk Refuge that allows a properly licensed elk hunter to take an elk within the National Elk Refuge.

(r) “Off National Forest” means lands other than those administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

(s) “On National Forest” means lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service.

(t) “Park Permit” means a permit issued by Grand Teton National Park that allows a properly licensed elk hunter to take an elk within Grand Teton National Park.

(u) “Point” means any protrusion from an antler one (1) inch or more in length.

(v) “Private Land” means all fee title/deeded lands owned by a private individual, partnership or corporation.

(w) “Processor” means a custom meat processor licensed by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture.

(x) “Public Road or Highway” means any roadway that is publicly or privately maintained but open to vehicular travel by the public. The area between the fences on a fenced public road or highway and the road surface, borrow pits and shoulders of unfenced public roads or highways shall be considered the public road or highway. Unmaintained two-track trails on public lands are not public roads.

(y) “Regular Hunting Seasons” mean seasons which delineate the dates and hunt areas for the taking of big game or trophy game animals with legal weapons in accordance with the license types and limitations as set forth in Section 3 of Chapters 5 (Antelope), 6 (Deer), 7 (Elk), 8 (Moose), 9 (Bighorn Sheep), 24 (Mountain Goat), Section 10 of Chapter 3 (Black Bear) and Section 4 of Chapter 42 (Mountain Lion) of the Commission Regulations.

(z) “Site of the Kill” means the location where the harvested animal died.

(aa) “Special Archery Seasons” mean seasons that delineate the dates and hunt areas for the taking of big game or trophy game animals with legal archery equipment, in which a hunter with the proper hunting license and an archery license may hunt in addition to the regular hunting seasons in accordance with the limitations as set forth in Section 4 of Chapters 5 (Antelope), 6 (Deer), 7 (Elk), 8 (Moose), 9 (Bighorn Sheep) and 24 (Mountain Goat) and Section 11 of Chapter 3 (Black Bear).

(bb) “Spike Elk” means an elk with antlers consisting of a single unbranched beam on both sides.

(cc) “Type” means a limitation on a license in a particular hunt area for the sex of animal, the species of animal, the length of the season, the type of weapon or a portion of the hunt area in which the license shall be valid.

(dd) “Waste” means to leave, abandon, or allow to spoil any edible portion of meat from a big game animal, game bird, game fish or small game animal.

Section 3. Bag Limits and Numbers of Licenses. No person shall apply for or receive more than one (1) license for each big game species during any one (1) calendar year, except as otherwise provided in Commission Regulations. The maximum bag limit for big game animals and trophy game animals for any person with the proper licenses and permits shall not exceed the following number of animals: one (1) elk per license; one (1) moose per license; one (1) bighorn sheep per license; one (1) mountain goat per license; one (1) antelope per license; one (1) deer per license; one (1) black bear per license; one (1) mountain lion per license. Section 4 of this Chapter and Chapter 34, Depredation Prevention Hunting Seasons and other Commission regulations may provide for taking additional game animals with the proper licenses.

Section 4. Issuance of Deer and Antelope Limited Quota Licenses, Reduced Price Doe or Fawn Licenses, Elk Limited Quota Licenses, and Reduced Price Cow or Calf Licenses.

(a) For deer, any person may apply for and receive a maximum of one (1) Limited Quota deer, Resident General deer, or Nonresident Region General deer license, except after the initial and leftover license drawings are completed any person may apply for and receive a maximum of one (1) Limited Quota any white-tailed deer license valid for hunt areas 11-15, 51, 65, 66, 88 or 167. However, no person shall apply for and receive more than a total of two (2) deer licenses valid for the taking of an antlered deer of which only one (1) shall be valid for a mule deer.

(b) For deer, any person may apply for and receive a maximum of two (2) Limited Quota reduced price doe/fawn deer licenses, EXCEPT after the initial drawing is completed any person may purchase on or after August 15 from designated license selling agents up to four (4) Limited Quota Reduced Price doe/fawn deer licenses valid for hunt areas 1-14, 17-24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 65, 66, 88, 158, or 167. However, no person shall apply for and receive more than a total of four (4) limited quota reduced price doe/fawn deer licenses.

(c) For antelope, any person may apply for and receive a maximum of one (1) Limited Quota any antelope license, EXCEPT after the initial and leftover license drawings are completed any person may apply for and receive a maximum of two (2) Limited Quota any antelope licenses valid for hunt areas 1-5,

8-10, 15-26, 28, 29, 102, 109, or 113. However, no person shall apply for and receive more than a total of two (2) Limited Quota any antelope licenses.

(d) For antelope, any person may apply for and receive a maximum of two (2) Limited Quota Reduced Price doe/fawn antelope licenses, EXCEPT after the initial drawing is completed any person may purchase on or after August 15 from designated license selling agents up to four (4) Limited Quota Reduced Price doe/fawn antelope licenses valid for hunt areas 1-12, 15-26, 28-31, 34-40, 42-48, 50, 70, 73, 102-104, 109, 111, or 113. However, no person shall apply for and receive more than a total of four (4) limited quota reduced price doe/fawn antelope licenses.

(e) For elk, any person may apply for and receive a maximum of one (1) General or Limited Quota elk license and one (1) Limited Quota Reduced Price cow/calf elk license.

(f) It is a violation to apply for and receive more than the specified number of licenses allowed by Commission regulations.

Section 5. Open Hours for Taking Big Game and Trophy Game Animals. Big game and trophy game animals may only be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.

Section 6. Retention of Evidence to Identify Sex, Species and Horn or Antler Development of Big Game Animal Harvested. Any person who takes any big game animal in a hunt area where the taking of either sex, species, or antler or horn development is controlled or prohibited shall comply with this section while said animal is in transportation from the site of the kill to the residence of the person taking the animal, or delivered to a processor for processing.

(a) In hunt areas where the taking of any big game animal is restricted to antler point or horn size, the antlers or horns shall accompany the animal as a whole, or edible portion thereof.

(b) In hunt areas where the taking of any big game animal is restricted to a specific sex of animal, the visible external sex organs or head shall remain naturally attached to the animal as a whole, or edible portion thereof.

(c) In hunt areas where the taking of a species of deer is controlled or prohibited, either the head or the tail of the deer shall accompany the animal, or edible portion thereof as evidence of the species taken.

Section 7. Dating and Display of Game Animal/Wild Turkey Carcass Coupons.

(a) When dating a carcass coupon, the entire wedge or block shall be cut out for the day and month of the kill.

(b) The carcass coupon shall be attached to the carcass of any big game or wild turkey or the carcass or hide of any trophy game animal in such a manner as to be plainly visible. When the animal is in transportation, the carcass coupon may be carried by the person accompanying the carcass so that the coupon shall not be lost. While quarters or pieces of an animal are being packed from the field, the carcass coupon shall remain with the person transporting the animal.

Section 8. Emergency Closure. Big game hunting seasons may be closed because of an emergency upon forty-eight (48) hours notice. Trophy game hunting seasons may be closed upon immediate notice.

Section 9. Established Check Stations, Mandatory Reporting. Every hunter, angler, or trapper of furbearing animals shall stop and report at every check station on route to or from the hunting, fishing or trapping area regardless if the person has wildlife in possession. Upon request of any authorized Department representative, anyone who has been hunting, fishing, or trapping shall produce a valid license and conservation stamp, if required, and special management permit, if required, for game animals, game birds, furbearing animals or fish. Even if the game meat or fish in possession has been cut and wrapped or processed, the person transporting shall stop and report at the check station. Any person transporting wildlife harvested in another state or country shall stop at check stations on their route.

(a) Check stations shall be signed and established at a point on a highway or road clearly visible at a distance of not less than two hundred (200) yards in either direction.

(b) Check stations shall be at a point where flashing warning lights shall be visible to oncoming traffic for a distance of not less than two hundred (200) yards. The emergency warning lights on a marked law enforcement vehicle or a yellow flashing light on a marked Department non‑enforcement vehicle shall be in operation.

Section 10. Placement of Name of Outfitter and Outfitter’s License Number on Back of License. Any big or trophy game hunter utilizing the services of an outfitter shall legibly print the name of the outfitter, the outfitter’s license number and the type of outfitter license on the back of the licensee’s big or trophy game license.

Section 11. Archery Hunting. No person shall hunt big game or trophy game animals with bow and arrow during a special archery hunting season without first obtaining an archery license and the applicable hunting license. An archery license shall not be required in addition to a limited quota license to participate in a limited quota archery only season. Legal archery equipment and firearms may be used to hunt big game or trophy game animals during the regular hunting seasons as set forth in Section 3 of Chapters 5 (Antelope), 6 (Deer), 7 (Elk), 8 (Moose), 9 (Bighorn Sheep), 24 (Mountain Goat), and Section 10 of Chapter 3 (Black Bear) and Section 4 of Chapter 42 (Mountain Lion) except where Commission regulations specify otherwise.

Section 12. Use of Aircraft to Spot or Locate Wildlife. No person shall use any aircraft to aid in the taking of any Wyoming wildlife, except predatory animals, whether by spotting or locating the wildlife, communicating with any person attempting to take the wildlife, or by providing other aid to any person taking the wildlife within twenty-four (24) hours of being airborne.

Section 13. Retrieval of Edible Portions of Game Meat from the Field. The Department may require substantive proof from any person who fails to retrieve from the site of kill all edible portions of a big game animal as to why the required edible portions were not removed from the field.

Section 14. Baiting of Big Game Animals Prohibited except by Qualified Persons. Any legally blind person, person confined to a wheelchair or any person hunting with a license issued pursuant to W. S. §23-1-705 (j) may place a bait for big game or take a big game animal by the use of bait.

Section 15. Transportation and Disposal of Deer and Elk Taken From Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Hunt Areas Within Wyoming. It shall be the purpose of this section to regulate the transportation and disposal of potentially CWD infected deer and elk carcasses to areas outside of the hunt areas with CWD and potentially reduce the spread of the disease to other areas in and outside of Wyoming. Hunters may obtain current CWD information on the Department’s website at http://gf.state.wy.us.

(a) No deer or elk taken or possessed from any hunt area listed in Section 15 (b) of this regulation shall be transported to any other hunt area within Wyoming or to any other state, province or country except as provided in this section.

(b) Deer harvested in hunt areas 4, 6, 8-10, 13-16, 22, 30, 33, 34, 37, 41, 55, 57, 59-66, 70, 73-82, 87-89, 120, 127, 158, 161 and 164; and elk harvested in hunt areas 1, 3, 5-16, 19, 21-23, 33, 34, 45, 47, 64, 66, 110, 111, 113, 114, 117, 120, 122, 123, 125, 126, and 129 shall comply with the provisions set forth in this section.

(c) Deer and elk carcasses harvested from any hunt area in Wyoming listed in Section 15 (b) may be transported within Wyoming to a private residence for processing, a taxidermist, a processor, or a CWD sample collection site in Wyoming, provided the head and all portions of the spinal column remain at the site of the kill or such parts are disposed of in any approved landfill in Wyoming.

(d) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section, only the following parts of any deer or elk harvested from any hunt area in Wyoming listed in Section 15 (b) may be transported to any other hunt area in Wyoming: edible portions with no part of the spinal column or head attached; cleaned hide without the head; skull plate or antlers that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue; teeth; or finished taxidermy mounts.

(e) Only the following parts of any deer or elk harvested from any hunt areas in Wyoming listed in Section 15 (b) may be transported to other states, provinces or countries: edible portions with no part of the spinal column or head attached; cleaned hide without the head; skull plate or antlers that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue; teeth; or finished taxidermy mounts. Whole deer and elk carcasses harvested from any area listed in Section 15 (b) shall not be transported out of Wyoming.

(f) Nothing in this Section shall allow for the removal of evidence of sex or species required by Section 6 of this regulation.

(g) Nothing in this section shall apply to the transportation or disposal of deer and elk carcasses by any governmental agency or educational institution.

Section 16. Importation or Transportation of Deer or Elk Taken From Identified CWD Areas Outside of Wyoming.

(a) No deer or elk taken from within any other state, province or country within areas designated by the appropriate jurisdictional agency as positive for CWD in either deer or elk shall be imported into Wyoming except harvested deer or elk carcasses may be imported or transported into Wyoming to a private residence for processing, to a taxidermist, to a processor or to a CWD sample collection site in Wyoming provided the head and all portions of the spinal column are disposed of in an approved landfill.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this Section, only the following parts of any deer or elk harvested may be imported: edible portions with no part of the spinal column or head attached; cleaned hide without the head; skull plate or antlers cleaned of all meat and brain tissue; teeth; or finished taxidermy mounts that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue.

Section 17. Savings Clause. If any provision of this regulation shall be held to be illegal or unconstitutional, such a ruling shall not affect other provisions of this regulation which can be given effect without the illegal or unconstitutional provision; and, to this end, the provisions of this regulation shall be severable.

WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

By:

Bill Williams, DVM, President

Dated: April 24, 2007