Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-14
Effective Date: 09/13/1996 to 12/20/1996
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.14.09131996
Section 1. Authority. These rules are promulgated by authority of W.S. 23-1-302 and 23-2-105(d).
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) 'Central Flyway' means that portion of Wyoming east of the Continental Divide excluding the Great Divide Basin.
(b) 'Pacific Flyway' means that portion of Wyoming west of the Continental Divide including the Great Divide Basin.
(c) 'Dark geese' means Canada goose and white-fronted goose.
(d) 'Light geese' means snow goose, blue goose and Ross' goose.
(e) 'Nontoxic shot' means steel or bismuth shot.
Section 3. Hunting Seasons Established. There will be open seasons for the hunting of migratory game birds as set forth in the Hunting Regulations (Section 4), Closed Areas (Section 5), Shooting Hours (Section 6) and Falconry Seasons (Section 7) of this Chapter.
Section 4. Hunting Regulations.
(a) Bag and Possession Limits. The bag limit is the number of game birds which may be legally taken in one day. The possession limit is the total number of game birds which may legally be in possession. Birds in transit or storage shall be considered in possession.
(b) Federal Regulations. 16 USC 703-711 and 718a; 50 CFR 10, 10.13; 50 CFR 20; 50 CFR 21, 21.41 and 21.43, governing the hunting, taking and possession of migratory birds and migratory game birds and the requirement for a valid migratory bird hunting stamp (duck stamp), are adopted as regulations of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and violations of such federal regulations shall be violations of the Commission regulations. A migratory bird hunting stamp (duck stamp) is not required for sandhill cranes and mourning doves but is required for those over 16 years of age to hunt ducks, geese, mergansers and coots.
(c) Evidence of Species. One fully-feathered wing or the feathered head shall remain attached to the carcass as a means of identification of waterfowl in the field and while they are being transported.
(d) Nontoxic Shot. No person shall hunt cranes, ducks, mergansers, coots and/or geese while possessing shot shells loaded with shot other than nontoxic shot.
(i) Nontoxic shot shall be required for hunting upland game and small game on all lands in the Springer and Table Mountain wildlife habitat management areas.
(e) Open Areas, Season Dates, Shooting Hours, Bag Limits and Limitations
| Species and Open Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limits Daily Possession | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAIL-Central Flyway | Sept. 14 | Nov. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b a,c after Nov. 15 | 25 | 25 |
| RAIL-Pacific Flyway | Sept. 14 | Nov. 17 | See Sec. 6 | d,e | 25 | 25 |
| SNIPE-Central Flyway | Sept. 14 | Dec. 15 | See Sec. 6 | b a,c after Nov. 15 | 8 | 16 |
| SNIPE-Pacific Flyway | Sept. 14 | Dec. 15 | See Sec. 6 | d,e | 8 | 16 |
| SANDHILL CRANE Platte, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, Weston, Crook, Converse and Campbell counties | Sept. 14 Nov. 10 to holders of special permits. Applications are available at Wyoming Game and Fish Department regional offices and license selling agents in eastern Wyoming. | See Sec. 6 | b | 3 | 6 |
| Species and Open Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limits Daily Possession | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUCKS and MERGANSERS | Sept. 28 | Dec. 29 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 7 | 14 |
| COOTS | Sept. 28 | Dec. 29 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 25 | 25 |
| DARK GEESE | Sept. 28 | Jan. 5 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 4 | 8 |
The daily bag limit of 7 ducks and mergansers shall not include more than two pintails, two redheads, or one canvasback. Seven mallards may be taken per day, but only one can be a hen. The possession limit is two daily bag limits.
HUNTERS: There has historically been a large imbalance in the sex ratio of mallards, with up to 2/3 of mallards being drakes. The result has been reduced production of young mallards, harassment of hens by gangs of drakes, and disruption of nesting. Increased harvest of drakes and reduced harvest of hens would greatly improve this situation. While it is legal to harvest one hen mallard, we urge hunters to voluntarily avoid harvesting hens so that there will be a decrease in the male/hen sex ratio. This will benefit both mallards and hunters.
| Species and Open Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limits Daily Possession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIGHT GEESE | Oct. 5 | Dec. 19 | See Sec. 6 | b a, c after Nov. 15 a, b, c and f after Jan. 31 | 10 40 |
| For Bump Sullivan Managed Hunt Information see Sec. 8 | Feb. 8 | Mar. 10 |
HUNTERS PLEASE NOTE: To increase duck hunting opportunity, the Central Flyway has been divided into 2 zones for the 1996-97 season. Please refer to the season dates for the zone in which you are hunting.
| WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Open Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limits Daily Possession | ||
| ZONE 1 | Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Platte, and Washakie Counties; and that portion of Park County outside the Shoshone National Forest Boundary and more than 3 miles south of the Montana state line. | |||||
| DUCKS and MERGANSERS | Oct. 5 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | b | 5 | 10 |
| Nov. 2 | Dec. 15 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 15 | 5 | 10 | |
| Dec. 21 | Jan. 12 | See Sec. 6 | a,b | 5 | 10 | |
| COOTS | Oct. 5 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | b | 15 | 30 |
| Nov. 2 | Dec. 15 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 15 | 15 | 30 | |
| Dec. 21 | Jan. 12 | See Sec. 6 | a,b | 15 | 30 | |
| DARK GEESE All counties, except Goshen and Platte Counties | Oct. 5 | Jan. 19 | See Sec. 6 | 4 | 8 | |
| DARK GEESE Platte County | Oct. 19 | Jan. 31 | See Sec. 6 | b | 4 | 8 |
| DARK GEESE Goshen County | Nov. 16 | Jan. 31 | See Sec. 6 Until 1 PM only; except on Jan. 4 and 5, Jan. 11 and 12, Jan. 18 and 19, and Jan. 25 and 26 when shooting hours will be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset | a after Nov. 15 | 4 | 8 |
| For Bump Sullivan Managed Hunt Information See Sec. 8 |
Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Crook, Fremont, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, Sheridan,
| ZONE 2 | Weston Counties; that portion of Carbon County east of the Continental Divide; that portion of Park County within the Shoshone National Forest Boundary, and that portion of Park County less than 3 miles from the Montana state line. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DUCKS and MERGANSERS | Sept. 28 | Oct. 27 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | |
| Nov. 2 | Dec. 1 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 5 | 10 | |
| Dec. 14 | Jan. 5 | See Sec. 6 | c5 | 10 | ||
| COOTS | Sept. 28 | Oct. 27 | See Sec. 6 | 15 | 30 | |
| Nov. 2 | Dec. 1 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 15 | 30 | |
| Dec. 14 | Jan. 5 | See Sec. 6 | c | 15 | 30 | |
| DARK GEESE | Sept. 28 | Jan. 12 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 4 | 8 |
The daily bag limit of 5 ducks and mergansers shall not include more than one pintail, one hooded merganser, two redheads, one canvasback, and two wood ducks. Five mallards may be taken per day, but only one can be a hen. Except for light geese, the possession limit is two daily bag limits.
(i) Hawk Springs Reservoir. Beginning at the east fence of the Union Pacific Railroad right of way 300 yards south of the south fence enclosing Hawk Springs Reservoir; due east to Goshen County Road 7-187; northerly along said road to the access road to the northeast dam of the reservoir; southwesterly along said road to the northeast dam and the fence enclosing the reservoir; northwesterly along said fence to the second gate; southwesterly from said gate to the northwest corner of the fence enclosing the reservoir; southerly along said fence to the beginning point.
(ii) Springer Reservoir. Beginning on U.S. Highway 85 at the George Marlatt farmhouse; west along the fence between the farm land and the pasture land to the west end of the west pump lake; south to the northwest corner of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA); southerly along the Springer WHMA boundary south of the Game and Fish Department buildings; south across the Lewis Howard property and the Robert Simkin property to the Bob Splinter pasture fence; south and west along said fence to the Yoder-Bump Sullivan Road (Goshen County Road 7-133); southerly along said road to the county road (Goshen County Road 7-136) on the south boundary of the Springer WHMA; easterly along said road to U.S. Highway 85; northerly along said highway to the George Marlatt farmhouse.
(iii) Sinnard Reservoir. Sinnard Reservoir and all lands within 300 yards of the high water line.
(iv) Pond No. 1 Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Pond No. I and adjacent lands as marked by colored signs and posts.
(v) Miller Lake. Miller Lake and all lands within 300 yards of the high water line.
(vi) North Platte River. That portion of the North Platte River and all lands within 300 yards of each bank of said river located between the two river crossings of Wyoming Highway 157.
(vii) Bump Sullivan Reservoir. No access until after 1:00 PM without a Managed Goose Hunt permit. No access without a permit on those days with all-day dark goose hunting (see Section 8).
(i) Festo Lake. Festo Lake and all lands within 300 yards of the high water line.
(ii) Wheatland Reservoir No. 1. Wheatland Reservoir No. 1 and all lands within 300 yards of the high water line, and all Wheatland Irrigation District lands adjacent to the reservoir, in addition to those included in the 300 yard closure, are closed to hunting.
(i) Ocean Lake. The waters of Ocean Lake and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department lands (within approximately 1/2 mile of the aeration system) on the north side of the lake will be closed to waterfowl hunting from November 15 through the close of the waterfowl season. From December 15 through December 31 and January 1 through March 10 of each year, THE AREA WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL HUMAN PRESENCE WITHIN 1/2 MILE OF THE AERATOR ON THE ICE AND AS MARKED BY SIGNS ON WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT LANDS AROUND THE AERATOR, except for WGFD administrative access.
(i) Old Eden Reservoir. Old Eden Reservoir and all lands within 1/4 mile of the perimeter of the lake.
(e) LINCOLN COUNTY
(i) Palisades Reservoir. Beginning at the junction of the McCoy Creek Road and U.S. Highway 89; northerly on U.S. Highway 89 for 1.6 miles to the Palisades Reservoir high water line; westerly along said high water line to the Wyoming-Idaho state line; southerly along said line to the McCoy Creek Road; southeasterly along the McCoy Creek Road to U.S. Highway 89.
(f) AQUATIC BIRD REST AREAS
(i) All of Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA), including Bump Sullivan Reservoir, and all of Table Mountain WHMA.
Section 6. Shooting Hours. Shooting hours shall be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset, as determined from the table attached to these regulations. In Goshen County the shooting hours for dark geese shall be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1 P.M. except on January 4-5, January 11-12, January 18-19 and January 25-26 when shooting hours shall be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. In Platte County, dark geese may be hunted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset within the following area: east of Interstate Highway 25 and north of Wyoming Highway 160 (Gray Rocks Road). Shooting hours for dark geese in the remainder of Platte County shall be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1:00 P.M, except on January 4-5, January 11-12, January 18-19 and January 25-26 when shooting hours shall be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
Section 7. Falconry Seasons.
Migratory game birds, except geese, may be taken by the use of falcons in the possession of properly licensed falconers during the regular hunting season. There shall also be special extended seasons for the hunting of migratory game birds by the use of falcons in the possession of properly licensed falconers as follows:
| STATEWIDE FALCONRY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Open Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limits Daily Possession | ||
| Rail and Snipe Statewide | Sept. 1 | Sept. 13 | See Sec. 6 | Limitations in effect in Sections 4 and 5 shall apply | 3 | 6 |
| Ducks, Mergansers and Coots Only Statewide | Sept. 23 Oct. 21 | Oct. 4 Nov. 1 | See Sec. 6 | Limitations in effect in Sections 4 and 5 shall apply | 3 | 6 |
Section 8. Bump Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt
(a) Weekday Hunting. Drawings to select hunters for 12 pits or blinds shall be conducted at the Springer check station located 1 1/4 miles west of the Downar Bird Farm. Four blinds for pass-shooting, numbers 13-16, will be available first-come, first-served. Between the dates of November 16 and November 30, 1996, the check station shall open at 5:00 a.m. with drawings conducted at 5:30 a.m. Between the dates of December 1, 1996 and January 31, 1997, the check station shall open at 5:30 a.m. with drawings conducted at 6:00 a.m. Hunters are requested to group into parties of three; only one individual from each party will be entered into the drawing. All other regulations governing weekend hunting as described below shall apply to weekday hunting.
(b) Weekend/Holiday Hunting. Special Permits are issued. Twelve permits shall be available each Saturday, Sunday and on official federal holidays during the dark goose season in Goshen County. Four blinds for pass-shooting, numbers 13-16, will be available first-come, first-served. Only youths under age 18 years of age at time of application will be allowed to hunt on Saturday, December 7, 1996.
(i) Issuance of Special Permits. Special application forms shall be accepted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Cheyenne beginning September 1 thru 5:00 p.m. on September 30, 1996. Application may be made by completing the special application form to register the days the applicant requests to hunt and the sportsperson identification number. Applicants shall be selected by random computer selection. It shall be a violation of Commission regulations for any person to file more than one application during the 1996-97 waterfowl hunting season. Successful applicants shall be notified of their hunting dates and furnished a set of special instructions.
(ii) Selection of Blind or Pits. Successful permit holders shall register their hunting party and draw for a numbered blind or pit upon arrival at the check station. A drawing shall be conducted every Saturday, Sunday and official federal holiday beginning November 16, 1996, through January 26, 1997. Drawings for blinds or pits between November 16 and November 30, 1996 shall commence at 5:30 a.m. Drawings for blinds or pits between December 1, 1996, and January 26, 1997, shall commence at 6:00 a.m. Each site is designed to accommodate three hunters. Hunters are requested to group into parties of three people per blind or pit. Hunting on the Bump Sullivan Management Area will be allowed only from permitted sites.
(c) Check Station Location and Operation. A check station shall be located 1 1/4 miles west of U.S. Highway 85 on the south boundary of the Springer WHMA. All hunters are required to have a permit and are required to check in and out when entering and leaving the area.
(i) Hours of Operation. The check station shall be open to register hunters at 5:00 a.m. between November 16 and November 30, 1996, and will open at 5:30 a.m. between the dates of December 1, 1996, and January 31, 1997.
(i) Registration of Hunters. Upon checking in, the permit holder shall present a valid permit and each hunter shall present a valid bird license, conservation stamp, valid duck stamp (for hunters aged 16 or older) and hunter safety certificate (for hunters born on or after January 1, 1966). Each hunter will be given a registration card to be visibly displayed in the hunter's vehicle.
(ii) Hunters shall be required to be at their designated hunting site by the opening of official shooting time, unless otherwise exempted by check station personnel. Hunters shall remain at the blinds at all times except to arrange decoys, retrieve downed birds, or to return to the parking lot upon completion of their hunt. Failure to remain in the blinds or pits, except as provided in this subsection, shall be considered a violation of Commission regulation.
(iii) Hunters retrieving downed birds from adjacent private property or closed hunting areas adjacent to the public goose hunting area shall leave their firearms at their blind or pit.
(iv) Before leaving the special hunt area, all hunters shall check out by filling out the daily registration card completely and depositing it in the designated drop box located in each parking lot. Failure to comply with this subsection shall be a violation of Commission regulation.
(v) Parking Assignments. All hunters shall be furnished detailed maps of the hunting area denoting parking lots. Hunters shall park at posts marked with numbers corresponding to the numbered pit or blind they are assigned. No more than two cars per hunting site shall be allowed in the parking lots.
(vi) Vehicular Access. Vehicular travel beyond established parking areas during the waterfowl season shall be a violation of Commission regulation.
(vii) Shell Restriction. The daily shell limit shall not exceed 12 nontoxic shot shells per hunter per day.
(viii) Decoys shall be set out by the opening of the legal shooting time and shall be removed at completion of each days hunt.
(vix) Hunters shall be responsible for removal of all trash and/or litter, including spent shell casings.
WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
By:
DAN KENNEDY
Dated: August 26, 1996
PRESIDENT
This table, including adjustments for daylight savings time, is the official sunrise-sunset table adopted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for waterfowl hunting. (Do not utilize tables from other sources.)
| AREA 1 | AREA 2 | AREA 3 | AREA 4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SR | SS | SR | SS | SR | SS | SR | SS | |
| September | ||||||||
| 1 - 6 | 6:47 | 7:51 | 6:41 | 7:45 | 6:33 | 7:37 | 6:27 | 7:31 |
| 7 - 13 | 6:54 | 7:40 | 6:48 | 7:34 | 6:40 | 7:26 | 6:34 | 7:20 |
| 14 - 20 | 7:02 | 7:28 | 6:56 | 7:22 | 6:48 | 7:14 | 6:42 | 7:08 |
| 21 - 27 | 7:09 | 7:15 | 7:03 | 7:09 | 6:55 | 7:01 | 6:49 | 6:55 |
| 28 - 30 | 7:15 | 7:06 | 7:09 | 7:00 | 7:01 | 6:52 | 6:55 | 6:46 |
| October | ||||||||
| 1 - 4 | 7:20 | 7:00 | 7:14 | 6:54 | 7:06 | 6:46 | 7:00 | 6:40 |
| 5 - 11 | 7:25 | 6:50 | 7:19 | 6:44 | 7:11 | 6:36 | 7:05 | 6:30 |
| 12 - 18 | 7:33 | 6:38 | 7:27 | 6:32 | 7:19 | 6:24 | 7:13 | 6:18 |
| 19 - 26 | 7:43 | 6:27 | 7:37 | 6:21 | 7:29 | 6:13 | 7:23 | 6:07 |
| 27 - 31 | 6:51 | 5:17 | 6:45 | 5:11 | 6:37 | 5:03 | 6:31 | 4:57 |
| November | ||||||||
| 1 - 8 | 6:59 | 5:08 | 6:53 | 5:02 | 6:45 | 4:54 | 6:39 | 4:48 |
| 9 - 15 | 7:09 | 4:59 | 7:03 | 4:53 | 6:55 | 4:45 | 6:49 | 4:39 |
| 16 - 22 | 7:17 | 4:53 | 7:11 | 4:47 | 7:03 | 4:39 | 6:57 | 4:33 |
| 23 - 30 | 7:26 | 4:49 | 7:20 | 4:43 | 7:12 | 4:35 | 7:06 | 4:29 |
| December | ||||||||
| 1 - 6 | 7:34 | 4:46 | 7:28 | 4:40 | 7:20 | 4:32 | 7:14 | 4:26 |
| 7 - 13 | 7:40 | 4:46 | 7:34 | 4:40 | 7:26 | 4:32 | 7:20 | 4:26 |
| 14 - 20 | 7:45 | 4:47 | 7:39 | 4:41 | 7:31 | 4:33 | 7:25 | 4:27 |
| 21 - 27 | 7:49 | 4:51 | 7:43 | 4:45 | 7:35 | 4:37 | 7:29 | 4:31 |
| 28 - 31 | 7:51 | 4:54 | 7:45 | 4:48 | 7:37 | 4:40 | 7:31 | 4:34 |
| January | ||||||||
| 1 - 10 | 7:51 | 5:01 | 7:45 | 4:55 | 7:37 | 4:47 | 7:31 | 4:41 |
| 11-17 | 7:48 | 5:10 | 7:42 | 5:04 | 7:34 | 4:56 | 7:28 | 4:50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 7:44 | 5:18 | 7:38 | 5:12 | 7:30 | 5:04 | 7:24 | 4:58 |
| 25-31 | 7:38 | 5:26 | 7:32 | 5:20 | 7:24 | 5:12 | 7:18 | 5:06 |
| February | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 7:31 | 5:35 | 7:25 | 5:29 | 7:17 | 5:21 | 7:11 | 5:15 |
| 8-14 | 7:22 | 5:44 | 7:16 | 5:38 | 7:08 | 5:30 | 7:02 | 5:24 |
| 15-21 | 7:12 | 5:53 | 7:06 | 5:47 | 6:58 | 5:39 | 6:52 | 5:33 |
| 22-28 | 7:02 | 6:03 | 6:56 | 5:57 | 6:48 | 5:49 | 6:42 | 5:43 |
| March | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 6:50 | 6:12 | 6:44 | 6:06 | 6:36 | 5:58 | 6:30 | 5:52 |
| 8-10 | 6:42 | 6:19 | 6:36 | 6:13 | 6:28 | 6:05 | 6:22 | 5:59 |
AREA 1 - Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta
AREA 2 - Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, Washakie
AREA 3 - Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Johnson, Natrona, Sheridan
AREA 4 - Crook, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, Weston
At the end of the season, you will receive a waterfowl and upland game bird hunting survey. Please use this table to help you recall your waterfowl harvest.