Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-11
Effective Date: 07/03/2012 to 07/09/2013
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.11.07032012
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 This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by the Commission.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:
(a) "Daily bag limit" means the maximum number of sage grouse that may be legally taken in a single day. (b) "Nontoxic shot" means steel or any other federally-approved nontoxic shot. (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.
(a) Shooting Hours. Shooting hours for the hunting of sage grouse shall be one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset. (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. (c) Hunt areas, season dates, bag limit and limitations.
| Hunt Area | Dates of Seasons | Bag Limit | Limitations | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| 1 | Sep. 15 | Sep. 30 | 2 | 4 | Any sage grouse |
| 2, 3 | CLOSED | ||||
| 4 | Sep. 15 | Sep. 17 | 2 | 4 | Any sage grouse |
(a) Sage grouse may be taken with archery equipment in accordance with Section 4 of this Chapter.
(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.
(a) Area and number.
Area 1. Includes all of Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, Sweetwater, Uinta and Washakie Counties, as well as that portion of Albany County north of U.S. Highway 30-287 and west of the Fetterman Road (Albany County Road 61), that portion of Converse County south and west of the Balsh Road (U.S.F.S. Road 660), all of Carbon County except that portion east of the Medicine Bow River and south of U.S. Highway 30-287, all of Lincoln and Sublette Counties except those portions in the Snake River drainage, and all of Natrona County except that portion east of Interstate Highway 25. Area 1 also excludes that portion of Natrona County south of I-25 in the Muddy Creek drainage.
Area 2. The entire state of Wyoming excluding the lands described in Areas 1, 3 and 4.
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: Aaron Clark, President
Dated: April 25, 2012