Game and Fish Commission

Game and Fish Commission Regulations

Chapter 11: Sage Grouse Hunting Seasons

Effective Date: 05/21/2009 to 05/25/2010

Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 040.0001.11.05212009

WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

CHAPTER 11

SAGE GROUSE HUNTING SEASONS

Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of W.S. §23-1-302 and §23-2-105(d).

Section 2. Hunting Seasons Established. There shall be open seasons for the hunting of sage grouse as set forth in this Chapter, and in accordance with Chapter 2, General Hunting Regulation. This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by the Commission.

Section 3. 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:

1. (a) "Daily bag limit" means the maximum number of sage grouse that may be legally taken in a single day.
2. (b) "Nontoxic shot" means steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-bronze, tungsten-tin-bismuth, tungsten-matrix, tungsten-nickel-iron, tungsten-iron-nickel-tin, tungsten-iron-copper-nickel, tungsten-tin-iron and tungsten-polymer shot or any other federally-approved nontoxic shot.
3. (c) "Possession limit" means the maximum number of sage grouse that may be legally in possession. Sage grouse in transit or storage shall be considered in possession.

Section 4. Hunting Regulations.

1. (a) Shooting Hours. Shooting hours for the hunting of sage grouse shall be one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset.
2. (b) Nontoxic shot shall be required for hunting sage grouse on all national wildlife refuges open for hunting. No person shall possess shot shells loaded with shot other than nontoxic shot while hunting sage grouse on national wildlife refuges.
3. (c) Hunt Areas, Season Dates, Bag Limit and Limitations.

Hunt Area	Date of Seasons		Bag Limit		Limitations
	Opens	Closes	Daily	Possession
1	Sept. 19	Sept. 30	2	4	Any sage grouse
2, 3					CLOSED
4	Sept. 19	Sept. 25	2	4	Any sage grouse

Section 5. Archery Regulations.

(a) Sage grouse may be taken with archery equipment in accordance with Section 4 of this Chapter.

Section 6. Falconry Seasons.

(a) Sage grouse may be taken with falcons in accordance with Section 4 of this Chapter. (b) The falconry season shall open September 1 and close March 1 in those hunt areas listed in Section 4 of this Chapter. (c) The daily bag limit shall be one (1) sage grouse and the possession limit shall be two (2) sage grouse. (d) Persons taking sage grouse with falcons shall respond to Wyoming Game and Fish Department surveys requesting harvest information.

Section 7. Hunt Area Descriptions.

(a) Area and Number.

Area 1. The entire State of Wyoming, excluding the lands described in Areas 2-4.

Area 2. Beginning where the Wyoming-Nebraska-Colorado state lines intersect; westerly along the Wyoming-Colorado state line to the divide between the North Platte and Laramie Rivers; northerly along said divide to the head of Rock Creek; northerly down said creek to Interstate Highway 80; westerly along said interstate to Wyoming Highway 13; northeasterly along said highway to U.S. Highway 30-287; northerly along said highway to the Fetterman Road (Albany County Road 61); easterly then northerly along said road to the Albany-Converse County line; westerly along said line to the Balsh Road (U.S.F.S. Road 660); westerly and northerly along said road to the Converse-Natrona County line; northerly along said line to Interstate Highway 25; northerly along said highway to the Natrona-Johnson-Converse-Campbell-Weston-Niobrara County lines; easterly along said county lines to U.S Highway 85; northerly along said highway to U.S. Highway 16 at Newcastle; northwesterly along said highway to Interstate Highway 90 at Moorcroft; westerly along said highway to the "D" Road; northerly along said road to the Rocky Point Road; northerly along said road to the Wyoming-Montana state line; easterly along said state line to the Wyoming-South Dakota state line; southerly along said state line to the Wyoming-Nebraska state line; southerly along said state line to the Wyoming-Colorado state line. Area 2 also includes that portion of Natrona County south of Interstate Highway 25 in the Muddy Creek drainage.

Area 3. All lands in the Snake River drainage within Lincoln, Sublette and Teton Counties.

Area 4. Beginning at the intersection of the Sheridan-Big Horn County line with the Wyoming-Montana state line; easterly along said state line to the Rocky Point Road in Crook County; southerly along said road to the "D" Road; southerly along said road to Interstate Highway 90; easterly along said highway to U.S. Highway 16 at Moorcroft; southeasterly along said highway to U.S. Highway 85 at Newcastle; southerly along said highway to the Weston-Niobrara-Campbell-Converse-Natrona-Johnson County lines; westerly along said county lines to the Washakie-Johnson-Big Horn-Sheridan County lines; northerly then northwesterly along said county lines to the Wyoming-Montana state line.

Section 8. 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: Clifford Kirk, President

Dated: April 23, 2009