In the Press Release 10/06/05 issue:

WYOMING’S TOP 10 HUNTING VIOLATIONS
WILDLIFE FORENSIC WORK EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
HUNTERS URGED TO REPORT WOLF SIGHTINGS
G&F Calendar
ASK THE GAME & FISH

WYOMING’S TOP 10 HUNTING VIOLATIONS

CHEYENNE – Once in awhile, everyone makes a mistake. But the Wyoming Game and Fish Department wants to help hunters avoid the common mistakes that may put them afoul of the law.

                “The type of hunting violations stays pretty consistent from year to year,” said Mike Choma, G&F enforcement coordinator. “Although some violations are blatantly intentional such as overlimit or a nonresident buying a resident license, many violations occur because a hunter didn’t read the regulations. We want to help hunters stay in compliance with the laws and regulations.”

                Wyoming’s top 10 hunting violations are:

1) Tagging Violations...These violations range from forgetting to sign your license in the excitement of having just bagged a big game animal to a “slick license” where the hunter intentionally omits all the tagging procedure with the hope of using the license again. Hunters are reminded that detailed tagging instructions are printed on each big game license and regulation.

2) Shooting From a Public Road...It is illegal to shoot from or across a public road when hunting or target shooting. That includes the shoulder and borrow pit. If the road is fenced, a hunter must be on the other side of the fence before shooting. If the road is not fenced, the hunter must be past the borrow pit. Landowner permission is needed to access any private land.   

3) Failure to Retain Evidence of Gender on Big Game Animal...Some licenses and hunt areas require a specific gender be harvested. When there are gender restrictions, the head or sex organs must be naturally attached to the carcass.

4) Hunting in Wrong Area...For example: A general license is only valid in general license areas and cannot be legally used in limited quota areas. A limited quota license is only valid for the area or areas listed and no others.

5) Hunting Without Hunter Education Certification...Wyoming law requires all hunters born after 1965 to have passed a certified hunter education course. Hunters must carry their hunter education card with them.

6) False Oath...When a nonresident purchases a resident license.

7) Trespassing...Hunters must have permission to enter private land in Wyoming, even if the intent is to just cross the private land to reach public land. In Wyoming, private property does not have to be posted to deny access.

8) Wanton Destruction...Shooting an animal and leaving it to waste. The most common occurrence of this act is a hunter who “high grades” or abandons a big game animal wanting one with larger antlers.

9) Failure to Wear Fluorescent Orange...For whatever reason, some big game hunters still refuse to wear fluorescent orange. In Wyoming, hunters must visibly wear one garment of fluorescent orange, like a vest, coat or hat. Camouflage hunter orange patterns are allowed.

10) Failure to Purchase Conservation Stamp...In addition to the license, all hunters, except Pioneer License holders, must purchase a $10.50 conservation stamp.

                Choma reminds hunters all pertinent laws governing hunting are printed in the regulations for each species. “But some regulations may seem confusing, so please contact your local game warden or Game and Fish regional office if you have a question,” he said.

(contact: Jeff Obrecht)

-WGFD-

WILDLIFE FORENSIC WORK EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

LARAMIE – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Laboratory has earned national recognition for its work in helping solve wildlife-related crimes. The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies honored the lab with its Conservation Law Enforcement Award at the organization’s annual meeting in Nashville.

The lab’s staff regularly performs a variety of laboratory tests and analyses that help investigators build cases to prosecute suspected wildlife criminals. These include examining microscopic hair fibers and using enzyme analysis on blood and tissue samples to determine species, as well as extracting and amplifying DNA from blood and tissue samples for gender assessment, and DNA microsatellites to determine if samples originated from the same animal and the minimum number of animals present. 

The lab’s cutting-edge forensic work has earned respect across the nation. A number of other state wildlife agencies, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, regularly rely on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s lab for forensic analysis. In fiscal year 2005, the lab staff performed a total of 10,643 tests on 725 forensic samples as part of 95 law enforcement cases. Laboratory forensic testing results were used by investigating officers to help obtain (including pending fines and restitution) a minimum of  $224,339 in fines and restitution.

“This national honor is well deserved,” said Jay Lawson, the Game and Fish Department’s wildlife chief. “The lab staff’s abilities, absolutely reliable results, and expedient analyses provide vital assistance to a broad spectrum of wildlife law enforcement and management projects. Above that, their positive outlook and relentless efforts make our jobs as wildlife officers easer.”

“It was a surprise and an honor to be recognized in this manner,” said Forensic Specialist DeeDee Hawk, who accepted the award. “Forensic Analyst Kim Sargeant and I take great pride in our ability to assist law enforcement officers in making a case, and we are continuously looking for more avenues to better assist our officers and protect the resource.  Of course none of this would be possible without the continued support from staff, the officers utilizing the laboratory and the biologists who collect our databases of known standards.  It is truly a team effort and we would like to thank all those who have assisted our efforts over the years.”

(contact: Jeff Obrecht)

(Photos available upon request)

-WGFD-

HUNTERS URGED TO REPORT WOLF SIGHTINGS