Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-14
Effective Date: 08/25/2009 to 12/01/2009
Rule Type: Expired Emergency Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.14.08252009
(For the 120 days the emergency rules are in effect, the following rules shall apply.)
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 late migratory game birds 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 This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by the Commission.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) "Adult" means a person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
(b) "Central Flyway" means that portion of Wyoming east of the Continental Divide, excluding the Great Divide Basin.
(c) "Daily bag limit" means the maximum number of migratory game birds or waterfowl that may be legally taken in a single day.
(d) "Dark geese" means Canada goose, cackling goose, white-fronted goose and brant.
(e) "Federal Duck Stamp" means Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.
(f) "Light geese" means snow goose, blue goose and Ross' goose.
(g) "Migratory game bird" means all migratory game birds defined under federal law.
(h) "Nontoxic shot" means steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-iron, tungsten-bronze, tungsten-tin-bismuth, tungsten-nickel-iron, tungsten-iron-nickel-tin, tungsten-iron-copper-nickel, tungsten-tin-iron, tungsten-matrix, and tungsten-polymer shot or any other federally-approved nontoxic shot.
(i) "Pacific Flyway" means that portion of Wyoming west of the Continental Divide, including the Great Divide Basin.
(j) "Possession limit" means the maximum number of migratory game birds or waterfowl that may be legally in possession. Migratory game birds in transit or storage shall be considered in possession. When a person hunts in more than one (1) state or flyway, the person's total possession limit shall not exceed the largest possession limit prescribed for any one of the states or flyways in which the hunting takes place.
(k) "Waterfowl" means ducks, geese, coots and mergansers.
(l) "Webless migratory game bird" means mourning dove, rail, snipe and sandhill crane.
(a) Wounding and Retrieving. No person shall wound or kill any migratory game bird without making a reasonable effort to retrieve it and reduce it to possession. (b) Federal Regulations. 16 USC 703-711 and 718a; 50 CFR 10 and 50 CFR 20, revised as of October 1, 2008, which do not include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated matter, governing the hunting, taking and possession of migratory birds and migratory game birds, the requirement for a valid federal migratory bird hunting and conservation stamp and the requirement for state participation in the National Harvest Information Program, are adopted as regulations of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. Violations of these federal statutes and regulations shall be violations of the Commission regulations. A copy of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations can be viewed at Department Regional Offices.
(i) Automatic loading, pump, or repeating shotguns shall be plugged to admit no more than one (1) shell in the chamber and two (2) shells in the magazine. (ii) Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. A federal duck stamp is required for persons sixteen (16) years of age and older to hunt ducks, geese and mergansers, but a federal duck stamp is not required to hunt coots, sandhill cranes, crows, mourning doves, rail or snipe. (iii) National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program. Each licensed hunter who hunts migratory game birds shall complete a current Wyoming validation for the National Harvest Information Program (HIP) and shall obtain a Wyoming HIP permit. This requirement also applies to holders of pioneer and lifetime hunting licenses. Each licensed hunter engaged in the act of hunting doves, ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, rails, cranes or snipe shall be in possession of a Wyoming HIP permit. Each person obtaining a HIP permit for the purpose set forth in this section shall validate the permit by signing the person's name in ink across the face of the permit. HIP permits expire on June 30 each year. HIP permits are not transferrable to other states. A separate validation is required from each state in which you hunt. (c) Evidence of Species. One fully-feathered wing or the feathered head shall remain naturally attached to the carcass as a means of identification of migratory game birds, except mourning doves, in the field and while the birds are being transported. (d) Nontoxic Shot Restrictions. (i) Nontoxic Shot. No person shall hunt cranes, ducks, geese, mergansers or coots while possessing shot shells loaded with shot other than nontoxic shot. Nontoxic shot shall also be required when hunting any game with a shotgun on all of the lands in the Springer and Table Mountain Wildlife Management Areas and on all national wildlife refuges open for hunting. (e) Species and Hunt Areas, Season Dates, Shooting Hours, Bag Limit and Limitations. (i) For information regarding rail, snipe, sandhill crane and early Canada goose seasons, refer to the Early Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons Regulation.
| WATERFOWL - PACIFIC FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limit Daily Possession | ||
| PACIFIC FLYWAY | ||||||
| DUCKS and MERGANSERS | Sept. 26 | Jan. 8 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 7** | 14** |
| COOTS | Sept. 26 | Jan. 8 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 25 | 25 |
| DARK GEESE | Sept. 26 | Dec. 31 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 3 | 6 |
In the Pacific Flyway, the scaup season shall be closed except on the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days and during the period September 26 through December 20 when the daily bag limit for scaup ducks shall be three (3) and shall be counted as part of the aggregate bag limit for ducks.
The daily bag limit of seven (7) ducks and mergansers may include any combination of species with the following restrictions:
The possession limit shall be two (2) daily bag limits.
(iii) Central Flyway Zones. The Central Flyway is divided into two (2) zones for the 2009-2010 season. Refer to the season dates for the zone in which you are hunting.
(A) ZONE C1 shall include Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Platte, and Washakie Counties; and that portion of Park County east of the Shoshone National Forest boundary and south of a line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road to Park County Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 120, northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly along said highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of Powell and Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park County line.
(B) ZONE C2 shall include Albany, Big Horn, Campbell, Crook, Fremont, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, Sheridan, Weston Counties; that portion of Carbon County east of the Continental Divide; that portion of Park County west of the Shoshone National Forest boundary, and that portion of Park County north of a line beginning where the Shoshone National Forest boundary crosses Park County Road 8VC, easterly along said road to Park County Road 1AB, easterly along said road to Wyoming Highway 120, northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 294, southeasterly along said highway to Lane 9, easterly along said lane to the town of Powell and Wyoming Highway 14A, easterly along said highway to the Park County line.
(iv) Central Flyway
| WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Dates of Season | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | |||
| LIGHT GEESE | Oct. 3 | Dec. 27 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 13 c after Nov. 14 | 10 | 40 |
| Jan. 21 | Feb. 8 | See Sec. 6 | a, b, c | 10 | 40 |
| WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Dates of Season | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | |||
| ZONE C1 | ||||||
| DUCKS | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | b | 6** | 12** |
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 13 | 6** | 12** | |
| MERGANSERS | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | b | 5** | 10** |
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 13 | 5** | 10** | |
| COOTS | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | b | 15 | 30 |
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 13 | 15 | 30 | |
| DARK GEESE All counties except Goshen and Platte Counties | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | |
| Oct. 31 | Dec. 6 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | ||
| Dec. 12 | Jan. 30 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | ||
| DARK GEESE Goshen and Platte Counties* | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | b | 2 | 4 |
| Nov. 14 | Feb. 8 | See Sec. 6 | a, b | 4 | 8 |
| WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limit Daily Possession | ||
| ZONE C2 | ||||||
| DUCKS | Sept. 26 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | 6** | 12** | |
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 10 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 6** | 12** | |
| MERGANSERS | Sept. 26 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | 5** | 10** | |
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 10 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 5** | 10** | |
| COOTS | Sept. 26 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | 15 | 30 | |
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 10 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 15 | 30 | |
| DARK GEESE Big Horn and Fremont Counties | Sept. 26 | Oct. 20 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | |
| Oct. 31 | Dec. 6 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 5 | 10 | |
| Dec. 12 | Jan. 23 | See Sec. 6 | c | 5 | 10 | |
| DARK GEESE All counties except Big Horn and Fremont Counties | Sept. 26 | Nov. 29 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | |
| Dec. 12 | Jan. 20 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 |
The daily bag limit of six (6) ducks may include any combination of species with the following restrictions:
The daily bag limit of five (5) mergansers shall not include more than two (2) hooded mergansers. Except for light geese, the possession limit shall be two (2) daily bag limits.
(f) Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. In the Pacific Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 19-20, 2009. In Zone C1 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 26-27, 2009. In Zone C2 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 19-20, 2009. Only persons fifteen (15) years of age and younger may take ducks, mergansers, coots and geese (light geese cannot be taken in the Pacific Flyway) on the special youth waterfowl hunting days, subject to the following conditions:
(i) All youth hunters shall be accompanied in the field by an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age.
(ii) No more than four (4) youths shall be supervised by any one (1) adult.
(iii) The adult shall not take ducks, coots, mergansers or geese, but may participate in other open seasons.
(iv) All licenses and stamp requirements, daily bag limits, species and sex restrictions, shooting hours and other regulations that apply to the regular duck and goose seasons, as defined for each flyway, shall apply during the special youth hunting days. In Goshen and Platte Counties, the daily bag limit for dark geese shall be four (4) on the youth hunting days.
(v) The areas described in Section 5 (b), (d), and (e) shall be closed to hunting during youth days.
Section 5. Description of Closed Areas. The areas described in this Section shall be closed for the species and dates specified in the tables in Section 4.
(a) Goshen County
(i) Hawk Springs Reservoir. Beginning where the east fence of the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way meets the south fence enclosing Hawk Springs Reservoir; due east along said fence to Goshen County Road 51; 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; westerly along the fence between the farm land and the pasture land to the west end of the west pump lake; southerly 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; due south across the Lewis Howard property and the Robert Simkin property to the Craig and Roberta Fulmer pasture fence; southerly and westerly along said fence to the Yoder-Bump-Sullivan Road (Goshen County Road 37); southerly along said road to the county road (Goshen County Road 42) 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. Also that portion of the Springer WHMA south of Goshen County Road 42.
(iii) Pond No. 1 Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Pond No. 1 and adjacent lands as marked by colored signs and posts.
(iv) Miller Lake (Glomill Reservoir). Miller Lake and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of the normal high water line.
(v) North Platte River. That portion of the North Platte River and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of each bank of said river located between the two river crossings of Wyoming Highway 157.
(b) Platte County
(i) Festo Lake. Festo Lake and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of the normal high water line shall be closed to all migratory game bird hunting.
(ii) Wheatland Reservoir No. 1. Wheatland Reservoir No. 1 and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of the normal high water line and all Wheatland Irrigation District lands adjacent to the reservoir, in addition to those included in the three hundred (300) yard closure, shall be closed to hunting.
(i) Ocean Lake. The waters of Ocean Lake and the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission lands within approximately one-half (1/2) mile of the aeration system on the north side of the lake shall be closed to migratory game bird hunting beginning November 15 through December 31 and January 1 through March 10 of each year. Beginning December 15 through March 10, the area shall be closed to all human presence, except for Wyoming Game and Fish Department administrative access, within one-half (1/2) mile of the aerator on the ice and as marked by signs on Wyoming Game and Fish Commission lands around the aerator.
(i) Eden Reservoir. Eden Reservoir and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of the normal high water line shall be closed to all migratory game bird hunting.
(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; south along said state line to the McCoy Creek Road; southeasterly along the McCoy Creek Road to U.S. Highway 89 shall be closed to all migratory game bird hunting.
Section 6. Shooting Hours. Except as provided in this section, shooting hours for all migratory game birds shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset as determined from the shooting hours table in this section.
(a) In Goshen County, the shooting hours for dark geese shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to 1 p.m., except on the days listed in subsections (i) and (ii) when shooting hours shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset as determined from the shooting hours table in subsection 6 (c) - Area D.
(i) October 3 through October 20 inclusive;
(ii) All Saturdays and Wednesdays from November 14 through December 31. All Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays from January 1 through the close of the dark goose season.
(b) In Platte County, the shooting hours for dark geese shall be from one-half (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) and Riverview Road (Platte County Road 271). Shooting hours for dark geese in the remainder of Platte County shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to 1:00 p.m., except on the days listed in subsections (i) and (ii) when shooting hours shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset as determined from the shooting hours table in subsection 6 (c) - Area D.
(i) October 3 through October 20 inclusive;
(ii) All Saturdays and Wednesdays from November 14 through December 31. All Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays from January 1 through the close of the dark goose season.
(c) 2009-2010 Shooting Hours Table. This table (including adjustments for daylight savings time) lists the official shooting hours (one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset) adopted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for migratory game bird hunting. (Do not use tables from other sources.) ST=Starting Time, QT=Quitting Time.
| AREA A | AREA B | AREA C | AREA D | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST | QT | ST | QT | ST | QT | ST | QT | |
| September | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 6:17 | 7:48 | 6:11 | 7:42 | 6:03 | 7:34 | 5:57 | 7:28 |
| 8-14 | 6:25 | 7:36 | 6:19 | 7:30 | 6:11 | 7:22 | 6:05 | 7:16 |
| 15-21 | 6:33 | 7:23 | 6:27 | 7:17 | 6:19 | 7:09 | 6:13 | 7:03 |
| 22-30 | 6:41 | 7:08 | 6:35 | 7:02 | 6:27 | 6:54 | 6:21 | 6:48 |
| October | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 6:50 | 6:55 | 6:44 | 6:49 | 6:36 | 6:41 | 6:30 | 6:35 |
| 8-14 | 6:58 | 6:43 | 6:52 | 6:37 | 6:44 | 6:29 | 6:38 | 6:23 |
| 15-21 | 7:07 | 6:32 | 7:01 | 6:26 | 6:53 | 6:18 | 6:47 | 6:12 |
| 22-31 | 7:17 | 6:18 | 7:11 | 6:12 | 7:03 | 6:04 | 6:57 | 5:58 |
| November | ||||||||
| *1-7 | 6:28 | 5:08 | 6:22 | 5:02 | 6:14 | 4:54 | 6:08 | 4:48 |
| 8-14 | 6:37 | 5:00 | 6:31 | 4:54 | 6:23 | 4:46 | 6:17 | 4:40 |
| 15-21 | 6:45 | 4:53 | 6:39 | 4:47 | 6:31 | 4:39 | 6:25 | 4:33 |
| 22-30 | 6:55 | 4:48 | 6:49 | 4:42 | 6:41 | 4:34 | 6:35 | 4:28 |
| December | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 7:04 | 4:45 | 6:58 | 4:39 | 6:50 | 4:31 | 6:44 | 4:25 |
| 8-14 | 7:10 | 4:45 | 7:04 | 4:39 | 6:56 | 4:31 | 6:50 | 4:25 |
| 15-21 | 7:15 | 4:47 | 7:09 | 4:41 | 7:01 | 4:33 | 6:55 | 4:27 |
| 22-31 | 7:19 | 4:52 | 7:13 | 4:46 | 7:05 | 4:38 | 6:59 | 4:32 |
| January | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 7:20 | 4:59 | 7:14 | 4:53 | 7:06 | 4:45 | 7:00 | 4:39 |
| 8-14 | 7:19 | 5:06 | 7:13 | 5:00 | 7:05 | 4:52 | 6:59 | 4:46 |
| 15-21 | 7:16 | 5:14 | 7:10 | 5:08 | 7:02 | 5:00 | 6:56 | 4:54 |
| 22-31 | 7:09 | 5:25 | 7:03 | 5:19 | 6:55 | 5:11 | 6:49 | 5:05 |
| February | ||||||||
| 1-8 | 7:00 | 5:37 | 6:54 | 5:31 | 6:46 | 5:23 | 6:40 | 5:17 |
*Start Mountain Standard Time
AREA A - Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Uinta Counties
AREA B - Big Horn, Fremont, Hot Springs, Park, Washakie Counties
AREA C - Albany, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Johnson, Natrona, Sheridan Counties
AREA D - Crook, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, Platte, Weston Counties
Section 7. Falconry Seasons. Migratory game birds may be taken by the use of falcons in the possession of properly licensed falconers during the regular hunting season and special extended seasons in accordance with the limitations in this Section, Section 6, Section 5 and Section 4 (a), (b) and (c) and the closures identified in Section 4 (e). No person shall possess any firearm while hunting with a falcon.
(a) Falconry Bag and Possession Limits. The daily bag limit shall not exceed three (3) migratory game birds in the aggregate nor shall the possession limit exceed six (6) migratory game birds in the aggregate for falconry during the open hunting season or special extended falconry season. The falconry bag and possession limits are not in addition to the bag and possession limits listed in Section 4, Hunting Regulations.
| FALCONRY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Dates of Season | Open Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | AGGREGATE Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | |||
| ZONE C1 – Central Flyway, Ducks, Mergansers and Coots | Sept. 26 | Sept. 27 | See Sec. 6 | Limitations in effect in Sections 4 and 5 shall apply | 3** | 6** |
| Oct. 3 | Oct. 28 | |||||
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 17 | |||||
| ZONE C2 – Central Flyway, Ducks, Mergansers and Coots | Sept. 19 | Sept. 20 | ||||
| Sept. 26 | Oct. 28 | |||||
| Oct. 31 | Jan. 10 | |||||
| Dark Geese - Central Flyway, Goshen and Platte Counties | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | ||||
| Nov. 14 | Feb. 8 | |||||
| Dark Geese – Central Flyway, all counties in Zone C1 except Goshen and Platte Counties | Oct. 3 | Oct. 20 | ||||
| Oct. 31 | Dec. 6 | |||||
| Dec. 12 | Jan. 30 | |||||
| Dark Geese – Central Flyway, Big Horn and Fremont Counties | Sept. 26 | Oct. 20 | ||||
| Oct. 31 | Dec. 6 | |||||
| Dec. 12 | Jan. 23 | |||||
| Dark Geese – Central Flyway, all Counties in Zone C2 except Big Horn and Fremont Counties | Sept. 26 | Nov. 29 | ||||
| Dec. 12 | Jan. 20 | |||||
| Light Geese - Central Flyway | Oct. 3 | Dec. 27 | ||||
| Jan. 21 | Feb. 8 | |||||
| Ducks, Mergansers and Coots – Pacific Flyway | Sept. 19 | Sept. 20 | ||||
| Sept. 26 | Jan. 8 | |||||
| Dark Geese - Pacific Flyway | Sept. 1 | Sept. 8 | ||||
| Sept. 26 | Dec. 31 |
The daily bag and possession limits, singly or in the aggregate, may include any species and sex of ducks, geese, coots, mergansers, rail, snipe and mourning doves when seasons for these species are open.
Section 8. Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt. Due to extreme drought and low water levels at Bump-Sullivan and Springer Reservoirs in Goshen County, the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt is suspended until further notice. Although persons are not required to hunt waterfowl from an established blind, the blinds associated with the Goose Hunt (12 blinds on Bump-Sullivan Reservoir and 4 pass-shooting blinds west of Springer Reservoir) are available for use during the regular waterfowl season and the light goose conservation order in Goshen County. A goose special management permit is not required to hunt geese or other waterfowl within the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Area during the regular waterfowl season. However, a conservation order special management permit is required to hunt light geese during the light goose conservation order. Hunters shall park vehicles only in established parking areas.
Section 9. 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: August 12, 2009