Regulations

Big game species include antelope, whitetail deer and mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, moose and mountain goats.

This regulation establishes hunting seasons, dates, limitations, bag limits, special archery seasons and hunt area descriptions for antelope hunting seasons.  

2023 Antelope Hunting Seasons 

2023 Antelope Hunting Area Map


2023 Antelope Hunting Brochure

This regulation establishes hunting seasons, dates, limitations, bag limits, special archery seasons and hunt area descriptions for deer hunting seasons.

2023 Deer Hunting Seasons
2023 Deer Hunting Area Map

2023 Deer Hunting Brochure

This regulation establishes hunting seasons, dates, limitations, bag limits, special archery seasons and hunt area descriptions for elk hunting seasons.   

2023 Elk Hunting Seasons 
2023 Elk Hunting Area Map

2023 Elk Hunting Brochure

This regulation establishes hunting seasons, dates, limitations, bag limits, special archery seasons and hunt area descriptions for moose hunting seasons.

2023 Moose Hunting Seasons 
2023 Moose Hunting Area Map

This regulation establishes hunting seasons, dates, limitations, bag limits, special archery season and hunt area descriptions for bighorn sheep and mountain goat hunting seasons.

2023 Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goat Hunting Seasons 
2023 Bighorn Sheep Hunting Area Map
2023 Mountain Goat Hunting Area Map

This regulation establishes a time period for the collection of shed antlers and horns from big game animals on public land west of the Continental Divide, excluding the Great Divide Basin.

Collection of Shed Antlers and Horns 

Antler Hunting Area Map

State Lands Closed to Antler Hunting

Apply for early access to the Spence & Moriarty WMA and Inberg/Roy WHMA below. Check early opening rules before applying.

Apply for Permission Slips

This regulation establishes a process for issuance of a baiting permit and specifications on the placement, duration and limitations on bait used for the taking of big game animals.

Regulation Governing Baiting of Big Game Animals

This regulation outlines the procedures required to make any amendment to the Wyoming Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Plan.

Wyoming Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Plan Revision Rules

This regulation outlines general hunting definitions, license types, shooting hours, bag limits, validation of carcass coupons and other general hunting information. This regulation is updated annually.

General Hunting Regulation 
 

This regulation outlines legal firearm cartridges and archery equipment that may be used to take big game, trophy game, game birds and wild turkey.

Regulation Governing Firearm Cartridges and Archery Equipment

Repealed in 2017
See General Hunting Regulation

This regulation outlines the home state suspension procedure for entering a violator into the Wildlife Violator Compact.
 

Home State License Suspension Procedures for the Wildlife Violator Compact

This regulation outlines a process to notify that customers have abandoned game meat at a processing plant for more than forty-five (45) days.  Procedures for disposal of abandoned game meat are also provided.

Abandonment of Meat at Meat Processing Plants

Trophy game species included in this section are black bear, mountain lion, grizzly bear, and gray wolf where specifically designated as trophy game.

This regulation establishes hunting seasons, dates, area mortality limits, provisions for the use of baits, special archery seasons and hunt area descriptions for black bear hunting.

Black Bear Hunting Seasons 

Black Bear Hunting Brochure
Black Bear Hunting Area Map
Black Bear Bait Map

Bear Bait Site First Come First Served begins April 5, 2023 at 8:00am

Bear Identification Quiz
Map-Primary Conservation Area for Grizzly Bears, as referenced in Chapter 3, Section 6(a)(vi)

This regulation establishes hunting season dates, mortality limits, limitations, archery seasons and hunt area descriptions for mountain lion hunting seasons.

Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons
Mountain Lion Hunting Brochure
Mountain Lion Hunt Area Map

This regulation provides for the hunting of gray wolves where designated as trophy game animals. 

Gray Wolf Hunting Seasons 
Gray Wolf Hunting Brochure
Gray Wolf Hunting Area Map

This regulation provides for public notification of grizzly bears relocated by the Department.

Notification of Grizzly Bear Relocation Regulation

This regulation provides for the management of grizzly bears in Wyoming to ensure a recovered population.

Grizzly Bear Management Regulation

This regulation establishes a process to issue grizzly bear hunting licenses, hunting regulations, hunting seasons and limitations, and descriptions for grizzly bear hunt areas. 

Grizzly Bear Hunting Seasons

Regulations listed in this section cover hunting of all grouse species, Hungarian and gray partridge, pheasant, wild turkey, cottontail rabbit, red, grey and fox squirrels, and migratory game birds.

This regulation establishes hunting season dates, bag and possession limits and specific shooting hours for all upland game bird and small game species.  The Springer permit pheasant and Glendo permit pheasant seasons are also included.

2023 Upland Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Seasons 
2023 Sage Grouse Hunting Area Map
2023 Pheasant Hunting Area Map

2023 Upland Game Bird and Small Game, Migratory Game Bird and Wild Turkey Hunting Brochure

2023 Springer Permit Pheasant Hunt Flyer
2023 Springer Permit Pheasant Hunt Map (GeoPDF)

2023 Glendo Permit Pheasant Hunt Flyer
2023 Airport By Map (GeoPDF)
2023 North Glendo Wildlife Habitat Management Area, previously County Line Map (GeoPDF)
2023 Muddy Bay Map (GeoPDF)

2023 Springer Season Date Chart
New this year - There is no application period for Glendo

2023 Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Flyer
2023 Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Map (GeoPDF)

Pheasant Release Information

• 2023 Sheridan (pending) and Downar Bird Farm Stocking 
• 2023 Schedule for Ocean Lake and Sand Mesa 

This regulation establishes hunting season dates, bag and possession limits and shooting hours for migratory game bird species (ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, sandhill crane, mourning dove, rail, snipe and Canada goose) and falconry seasons.  It also establishes rules for the taking of light geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order and addresses licensing, permitting and reporting requirements as well as season dates, specific limitations and shooting hours.

2023 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons and Light Goose Conservation Order - 
2023 Migratory Game Bird Hunting Area Map
2023 Sandhill Crane Hunting Area Map

2022 Upland Game Bird and Small Game, Migratory Game Bird and Wild Turkey Hunting Brochure

USFWS Waterfowl Hunting and Baiting Information
HIP Permit


 

This regulation establishes fall and spring wild turkey hunting season dates, limitations and hunt area descriptions.

2023 Fall and 2024 Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons 
2023 Fall and 2024 Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Area Map
 

2022/2023 Upland Game Bird and Small Game, Migratory Game Bird and Wild Turkey Hunting Brochure

Repealed in 2016
See Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons and Light Goose Conservation Order

Repealed in 2016
See Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons and Light Goose Conservation Order

This regulation establishes rules governing watercraft registration processes, watercraft safety equipment requirements, provisions for boat races, regattas and water ski tournaments, waterway marking, personal watercraft, and waters on which the operation of certain watercraft is restricted or prohibited.

Watercraft Regulation  
Watercraft Regulation Brochure
Additional Boating Information

This regulation establishes watercraft Aquatic Invasive Species inspections, decontamination procedures, impounding and quarantine procedures, mandatory reporting, and aquatic invasive species decal provisions.

Regulation for Aquatic Invasive Species 

Wyoming statutes provide for commercial fur dealers, taxidermists, game bird farms and tanneries, and authorizes the Commission to promulgate rules to carry out statutory intents.  The following regulations provide for various commercial purposes.  

This regulation governs fur dealer licensing and record keeping requirements for licensed fur dealers.

Regulation Governing Fur Dealers

This regulation governs taxidermist licensing and record keeping requirements for licensed taxidermists.

Regulation Governing Taxidermists

This regulation governs game bird farm licensing requirements, holding facilities, notification of diseased game birds, release of game birds, record keeping, inspection of facilities by Department personnel and special competitive game bird hunts.

Regulation Governing Commercial Game Bird Farms
Commercial Game Bird Farm License (Initial Application Form)
Commercial Game Bird Farm License Renewal Form
Commercial Game Bird Farm Report
Game Bird Farm Special Competitive Hunt Application
Game Bird Certificate of Origin

This regulation governs the use of Wyoming Interstate Game Tags and record keeping of all game specimens received by tanneries.  

Regulation Governing Tanneries

This regulation governs regulations for collection of Greater Sage-grouse eggs from the wild and Greater Sage-grouse raised on licensed and certified game bird farms.

Regulation Governing Greater Sage-grouse Raised on Private Game Bird Farms

Application for Game Bird Farm Certification to Raise Greater Sage-grouse

This regulation provides for the management of gray wolves, the dual designation of gray wolves as trophy game or predatory animals, lethal and non-lethal control of gray wolves designated as trophy game animals and issuance of legal take permits for gray wolves designated as trophy game animals.

Gray Wolf Management

This regulation establishes definitions, hunting seasons, dates, limitations and various other rules for hunting wild bison designated as wildlife.

2023 Wild Bison Recreational Hunting Seasons 
2023 Wild Bison Hunting Area Map

Wild Bison Hunting Information

This regulation designates areas of Wyoming where bison are either designated as wildlife or as privately owned bison.

Bison Designated as Wildlife

This regulation provides for specific definitions, falconry permits, facilities, care and equipment requirements, raptor capture licenses, banding of raptors, hunting with raptors and raptor propagation.

Falconry and Raptor Propagation Regulation
Additional falconry information and applications

This regulation establishes hunting or trapping season dates, locations and limitations for taking furbearing animals (badger, beaver, bobcat, marten, mink, muskrat or weasel).  Snare specifications, check periods for traps and snares, bobcat registration, trapping of non-target wildlife and trap identification numbers are also addressed in this regulation.

Trapping in Wyoming Information
Furbearing Animal Hunting or Trapping Seasons 
Furbearing Animal Hunting or Trapping Seasons Brochure Fubearer Trapping Areas Map
Trapping ID Number Applications
Bobcat Management Areas
Bobcat Harvest Log

Trapping on State Lands.  Written permission from the Director of the Office of State Lands and Investments is required prior to trapping on any state lands.  (Not a part of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulation governing trapping of furbearing animals.)

Additional Trapping Information Resources (Not a part of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulation governing trapping of furbearing animals.)
AFWA Best Management Practices for Trapping (all furbearers)
Brochure regarding Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Trap Safety for Pet Owners (Know when trapping seasons are open. Understand trapping is a popular pastime or livelihood occurring throughout Wyoming, including along popular recreational trails. Read the above regulations to get more information or visit the nearest regional office.)
AFWA-approved North American Trapper Education Course

This regulation establishes fishing season dates, locations, legal methods, creel limits and limitations for all game fish species.  This regulation also addresses the possession and use of bait fish, fishing contests and free fishing days.

Fishing Regulations (Chapter 46)

Live Bait Regulation


2024 Fishing Regulations Brochure

Image

This regulation establishes rules for stocking fish into private waters of Wyoming.

Private Stocking of Cold-Blooded Wildlife

This regulation establishes rules for licensing, acquisition of fish, transportation of live fish, methods of take, removal of unauthorized species and revocation of fishing preserve licenses.

Fishing Preserves

This regulation establishes rules for licensing, facility inspections, record keeping, addressing escaped or fish disposal, stocking of fish or fish eggs, transportation of fish, notification of diseases, catchout ponds and license revocation of fish hatcheries.

Private Fish Hatcheries

This regulation establishes permit provisions governing landowner fishing lakes or ponds.

Landowner Fishing Lakes or Ponds

This regulation governs Wyoming Interstate Game Tag distributors, issuance, distribution, reporting and inspection of records, and game tag commissions for distributors.

Issuance and Sale of Wyoming Interstate Game Tags

This regulation governs the appointment and operation of license selling agents authorized to sell licenses on behalf of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
 

Regulation Governing Authorized License Selling Agents

This regulation governs the issuance of licenses, permits, stamps, tags, preference points, competitive raffle chances.  

Regulation for Issuance of Licenses, Permits, Stamps, Tags, Preference Points and Competitive Raffle Chances 

This regulation provides definitions and permit specifications for Disabled Hunter permits, Shoot from a Vehicle Permits, Visual Acuity Disability Permits and Disabled Hunter Season Extension Permits.

Hunting Permit Regulations for Persons with Disabilities

Hunting Permit Regulations for Persons with Disabilities (This regulation has been signed by the Governor and goes into effect January 1, 2023)

Hunters with a Qualifying Disability Authorized to Shoot from a Vehicle
Repealed in 2016
See Chapter 35, Hunting Permit Regulations for Persons with Disabilities

Regulation for Central Visual Acuity Disability Permits 
Repealed in 2016
See Chapter 35, Hunting Permit Regulations for Persons with Disabilities

This regulation provides for the management and conservation of wildlife, wildlife habitat and public access on lands and waters acquired or administered by the Commission, and to manage public use and special use of such lands.

Regulation Governing Use of Lands and Waters Acquired or Administered by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission

This regulation governs the importation, possession, confinement, transportation, sale and disposition of live wildlife in Wyoming.

Importation and Possession of Live Warm-Blooded Wildlife 

Possessing Wildlife (A guide to understanding Wildlife Possession Laws and Regulations in Wyoming)

Application

Game Bird Certificate of Origin

This regulation governs the issuance of scientific research, educational and special use permits concerning live wildlife.

Scientific Research, Educational or Special Purpose Permits 

Application
Survivability Worksheet

This regulation governs the issuance of wildlife rehabilitation permits allowing a person to provide care, aid and treatment to sick, injured, debilitated or orphaned wildlife.

Wildlife Rehabilitation

This regulation governs the take of nongame wildlife species within Wyoming.

Take of Nongame Wildlife from within Wyoming

This regulation governs the importation, possession, confinement, transportation, sale and disposition of live cold-blooded wildlife in Wyoming.

Importation and Possession of Live Cold-Blooded Wildlife

This regulation governs the process for an owner of property being damaged by big or trophy game animals or game birds or gray wolves to receive compensation for such property damage.

Regulation Governing Big or Trophy Game Animal or Game Bird or Gray Wolf Damage Claims 

Wolves in Wyoming - A Guide for Livestock Producers

This regulation establishes a process for the Department to establish auxiliary management (fomerly named depredation prevention) hunting seasons to prevent further damage or for disease management.

Auxiliary Management Hunting Seasons 

This regulation governs the process for lethal taking of wildlife when Department personnel determine that the taking is necessary.

Regulation Governing Lethal Taking of Wildlife

This regulation, along with the Wyoming Public Records Act, governs access to public records in the possession of the Department.

Regulation Governing Access to Records 

This regulation governs a process for all contested cases that may go before the Commission for consideration.

Rules of Practice Governing Contested Cases Before the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission

Regulation Governing Fee Title Property Rights of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission 
Repealed in 2015
See Commission Policy

This regulation outlines the rules and requirements for roadkill collection from public roads and highways. The rules were developed in close partnership with the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Roadkill Collection Regulation

Game and Fish Roadkill Collection Application

You can also get Roadkill Collection Authorization through the Wyoming 511 app.