WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

CHAPTER 14

LATE MIGRATORY GAME BIRD HUNTING SEASONS

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:

1. (a) "Central Flyway" means that portion of Wyoming east of the Continental Divide excluding the Great Divide Basin.
2. (b) "Pacific Flyway" means that portion of Wyoming west of the Continental Divide including the Great Divide Basin.
3. (c) "Dark geese" means Canada goose, white-fronted goose and brant.
4. (d) "Light geese" means snow goose, blue goose and Ross'' goose.
5. (e) "Nontoxic shot" means steel, bismuth-tin, or tungsten-iron 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.

1. (a) Bag and Possession Limits. The bag limit is the number of game birds which may be legally taken in one calendar day. The possession limit is the total number of migratory game birds or waterfowl which may legally be in possession. Birds in transit or storage shall be considered in possession.

2. (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 these federal statutes and regulations shall be violations of the Commission regulations. A migratory bird hunting stamp (duck stamp) is required for persons 16 years of age and older to hunt ducks, geese and mergansers, but is not

   14-1

   required to hunt sandhill cranes, coots, mourning doves, snipe and rail.

3. (c) Evidence of Species. One fully-feathered wing or the feathered head shall remain attached to the carcass, except on mourning doves, as a means of identification of waterfowl in the field and while they are being transported.
4. (d) Nontoxic Shot. No person shall hunt cranes, ducks, geese, mergansers and/or coots while possessing shot shells loaded with shot other than nontoxic shot. Nontoxic shot shall be required when hunting on all lands in the Springer and Table Mountain wildlife habitat management areas and on all national wildlife refuges.

5. (e) Open Areas, Season Dates, Shooting Hours, Bag Limits and Limitations.

   WEBLESS MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS - CENTRAL AND PACIFIC FLYWAYS

   Dates of Season Closed Areas Bag Limits Species and Open Opens Shooting Section 5 Daily

   Areas Closes Hours Subsections Possession

   RAIL--STATEWIDE Sept. 13 Nov. 16 See Sec. 6 b, d, e,

   a, c after Nov. 14 25 25 SNIPE--STATEWIDE Sept. 13 Dec. 14 See Sec. 6 b, d, e,

   a, c after Nov. 14 8 16 LESSER SANDHILL Sept. 13 Nov. 9 See Sec. 6 b 3 6

   1. (i) Applications for lesser sandhill crane permits. Applications for lesser sandhill crane permits are available at Wyoming Game and Fish Regional offices and at selected license selling agencies in Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, Platte and Weston counties.

   2. (ii) Special Youth Duck Hunting Day. Persons 15 years of age and younger may hunt ducks, mergansers and coots statewide on Saturday, September 27, 1997, subject to the following conditions:

      1. (A) Persons who are 13 years of age and younger do not need a hunting license or conservation stamp.
      2. (B) Persons who are 14 and 15 years of age are required to possess a game bird license and conservation stamp.
      3. (C) All eligible persons, including those 14 and 15 years of age, must be accompanied in the field by an adult at least 18 years of age.

      4. (D) The adult may not hunt ducks, coots or mergansers, but may participate in other open seasons. The daily bag limit, species and sex restrictions, shooting hours, and other regulations that apply to the regular duck season, as defined for each flyway, shall apply to this special youth hunting day.

         WATERFOWL - PACIFIC FLYWAY

         Dates of Season Closed Areas Bag Limits** Species and Open Opens Shooting Section 5 Daily

         14-2

         Areas Closes Hours Subsections Possession

         DUCKS and Oct. 4 Jan. 17 See Sec. 6 d, e 7 14

         M ERGANSERS

         COOTS Oct. 4 Jan. 17 See Sec. 6 d, e 25 25

         DARK GEESE Oct. 4 Jan. 11 See Sec. 6 d, e 4 8 **The daily bag limit of 7 ducks and mergansers shall not include in the aggregate 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.

         HUNTERS PLEASE NOTE: To increase duck hunting opportunity, the Central Flyway has been divided into 2 zones for the 1997-98 season. Please refer to the season dates for the zone in which you are hunting.

         ZONE 1 includes 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.

         ZONE 2 includes 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 within the Shoshone National Forest Boundary, and that portion of Park County less than 3 miles from the Montana state line.

         14-3

         WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY

         LIGHT GEESE Oct. 4 Dec. 24 See Sec. 6 b 10 40 For Bump-Sullivan Feb. 14 Mar. 10 See Sec. 6 a, b, c and f after Jan. 31 10 40

      5. (ii) Late Light Geese Season. February 14 through March 10, those areas within the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt will be open to hunting of light geese.

         Hunting will be allowed from the established pits only and pits will be occupied on a first-come, first-served basis. Pits may not be claimed or reserved by leaving personal belongings, including decoys, unattended at or near pits at any time, including overnight.

         WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY

         Early Teal--ZONE 1 and Sept. 20 Sept. 26 See Sec. 6 b 4 8 **The daily bag limit may include 4 teal (blue-winged, green-winged or cinnamon) or 3 teal and one duck of any other species. The possession limit is two daily bag limits.

         14-4

         14-5

         WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY

         Dates of Season Closed Areas Bag Limits** Species and Open Opens Shooting Section 5 Subsections Daily

         A C l H P i

         ZONE 1

         DUCKS and Oct. Oct. 26 See Sec. 6 b 6 12 M ERGANSERS 4

         Nov. Jan. 13 See Sec. 6 b 6 12

         1 a after Nov. 14

         COOTS Oct. Oct. 26 See Sec. 6 b 15 30

         4

         Nov. Jan. 13 See Sec. 6 b 15 30

         1 a after Nov. 14

         DARK GEESE Oct. Jan. 18 See Sec. 6 4 8 All counties, except 4 Goshen, Converse and Platte Counties DARK GEESE Oct. 18 Jan. 31 See Sec. 6 b 4 8 Converse and Platte Counties DARK GEESE Nov. 15 Jan. 31 See Sec. 6 a after Nov. 14 4 8 Goshen County Until 1 PM only; except as For Bump-Sullivan noted.

         Managed Hunt Information See Sec. 8

         ZONE 2

         DZUOCKNSE and2 Oct. 4 Jan. 8 See Sec. 6 c after Nov. 14 6 12 MERGANSERS

         COOTS Oct. 4 Jan. 8 See Sec. 6 c after Nov. 14 15 30

         DARK GEESE Oct. 4 Jan. 18 See Sec. 6 c after Nov. 14 4 8 **The daily bag limit of 6 ducks and mergansers shall not include in the aggregate more than one pintail, one hooded merganser, two redheads, one canvasback, two wood ducks or five mallards. 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.

Section 5. Closed Areas

1. (a) GOSHEN COUNTY

   1. (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.

   2. (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

      14-6

      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.

   3. (iii) Sinnard Reservoir. Sinnard Reservoir and all lands within 300 yards of the high water line.
   4. (iv) Pond No. 1 Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area. Pond No. l and adjacent lands as marked by colored signs and posts.
   5. (v) Miller Lake. Miller Lake and all lands within 300 yards of the high water line.
   6. (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.
   7. (vii) Bump-Sullivan Reservoir. During the dark geese season in Goshen County, no access will be allowed without a Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Registration during shooting hours for hunting dark geese (See Sections 6 and 8).

2. (b) PLATTE COUNTY

   1. (i) Festo Lake. Festo Lake and all lands within 300 yards of the high water line.
   2. (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.

3. (c) FREMONT COUNTY

   1. (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.

4. (d) SWEETWATER COUNTY

   1. (i) Old Eden Reservoir. Old Eden Reservoir and all lands within 1/4 mile of the perimeter of the lake.

5. (e) LINCOLN COUNTY

   1. (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.

6. (f) AQUATIC BIRD REST AREAS

   1. (i) Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA), Miller Lake and Springer WHMA, except Bump-Sullivan Reservoir and the lands within the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt.

      14-7

Section 6. Shooting Hours. Except as noted in this section, shooting hours shall be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset (as determined from the table attached to these regulations) for all migratory game birds and waterfowl.

1. (a) In Goshen County, the shooting hours for dark geese shall be from 1/2 hours before sunrise to 1 P.M., except on December 6-7, December 13-14, December 20,21, December 27-28, January 3-4, January 10-11, January 17-18, January 24-25 and January 31 when shooting hours shall be from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.

2. (b) 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 3-4, January 10-11, January 17-18, January 24-25 and January 31 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 and special extended seasons as follows:

1. (a) Falconry Bag and Possession Limits. The daily bag limit shall not exceed 3 migratory game birds in aggregate nor shall the possession limit exceed 6 migratory game birds in aggregate for falconry during the open hunting season or special extended falconry season. Regular season bag and possession limits do not apply to falconry.

   FALCONRY

   AGGREGATE Mourning Sept. 1 Oct. 19 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect in 3 6

   Rail and Snipe- S ept. D ec. 14 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect in

   Ducks, Mergansers and S ept. 18 Sept. 27 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect in

   Oct. 4 Oct. 26 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect in

   Nov. 1 J an. 13 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect in

   Ducks, Mergansers and S ept. 18 Sept. 27 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect In

   Oct. 4 Jan. 8 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect in

   Ducks, Mergansers and Oct. 4 Jan. 17 See Sec. 6 Limitations in effect in

   ** The daily bag and possession limits, singly or in the aggregate, may include any species and sex of ducks, coots, mergansers, rail, snipe and mourning doves.

Section 8. Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt.

1. (a) Special Management Permit (fee $10). All participants in the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt must have a valid special management permit (fee $10) in possession.

2. (b) 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 15 and November 30,

   1997, the check station shall open at 5:00 a. m. with drawings conducted at 5:30 a.m. Between the dates of

   December 1, 1997 and January 31, 1998, 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.

3. (c) Weekend/Holiday Hunting. Bump-Sullivan 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 at

   14-8

   the time of application will be allowed to hunt on Saturday, December 6, 1997. Persons under age 14 must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult at least 18 years of age.

   1. (i) Issuance of Permits. Application forms shall be accepted by the Wyoming Game and Fish

      Department in Cheyenne beginning September 1 through 5:00 p. m. on September 30, 1997. Application may be made by completing the application form to identify 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 1997-98 waterfowl hunting season. Successful applicants shall be notified of their hunting dates and furnished a set of special instructions.

   2. (ii) Selection of Pit Blinds. 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 15, 1997, through January 31, 1998. Drawings for blinds or pits between November

      15 and November 30, 1997 shall commence at 5:30 a. m. Drawings for blinds or pits between December 1,

      1997, and January 31, 1998, 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.

4. (d) Check Station Location and Operation. A check station will 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 register and are required to check in and out when entering and leaving the area.

   1. (i) Hours of Operation. The check station will be open to register hunters at 5:00 a.m. from

      November 15 through November 30, 1997, and will open at 5:30 a. m. from December 1, 1997, through January 31, 1998.

5. (e) Rules and Regulations.

   1. (i) Registration of Hunters. Upon checking in, the permit holder shall present a valid permit and each hunter shall present a special management permit (fee $10), valid bird license, conservation stamp, duck stamp (for hunters age 16 or older) and hunter safety card (for hunters born on or after January 1, 1966). Each hunting party will be given a registration card to be visibly displayed in the hunter's and/or hunting party's vehicle.
   2. (ii) Hunters shall be required to be at their designated hunting site by the 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 the subsection, shall be considered a violation of Commission regulation.
   3. (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.
   4. (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 at the check station. Failure to comply with this subsection shall be a violation of Commission regulation.
   5. (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 pit or blind are allowed in the parking lots.

   6. (vi) Vehicular Access. Vehicular travel beyond established parking areas during the waterfowl season shall be a violation of Commission regulation.

      14-9

   7. (vii) Shell Restriction. The daily shell limit shall not exceed twelve (12) nontoxic shot shells per hunter per day. This means a hunter may not take or possess more than a total of twelve (12) shot shells in the field in a single day. No person may fire more than twelve (12) shot shells in a single day.
   8. (viii) Decoys shall be set out by the opening of legal shooting time and shall be removed at completion of each days hunt.

   9. (ix) Hunters shall be responsible for removal of all trash and/or litter, including spent shell casings.

      WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION

      By: MIKE HUNZIE PRESIDENT

      Dated: April 28, 1997

      14-10

      1997/98 Shooting Hours. This table (including adjustments for daylight savings time) lists the official shooting hours (1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset) table adopted by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission for waterfowl hunting. (Do not use tables from other sources.) ST=Starting Time, SS=Sunset.

      AREA 1 AREA 2 AREA 3 AREA 4

      ST SS ST SS ST SS ST SS Septembe

      r 1-6 6:17 7:51 6:11 7:45 6:03 7:37 5:57 7:31 7-13 6:24 7:40 6:18 7:34 6:10 7:26 6:04 7:20 14-20 6:32 7:28 6:26 7:22 6:18 7:14 6:12 7:08 21-27 6:39 7:15 6:33 7:09 6:25 7:01 6:19 6:55 28-30 6:45 7:06 6:39 7:00 6:31 6:52 6:25 6:46

      October

      1-4 6:50 7:00 6:44 6:54 6:36 6:46 6:30 6:40 5-11 6:55 6:50 6:49 6:44 6:41 6:36 6:35 6:30 12-18 7:03 6:38 6:57 6:32 6:49 6:24 6:43 6:18 19-25 7:12 6:28 7:06 6:22 6:58 6:14 6:52 6:08 26-31 6:20 5:18 6:14 5:12 6:06 5:04 6:00 4:58

      November

      1-8 6:29 5:08 6:23 5:02 6:15 4:54 6:09 4:48 9-15 6:39 4:59 6:33 4:53 6:25 4:45 6:19 4:39 16-22 6:47 4:53 6:41 4:47 6:33 4:39 6:27 4:33 23-30 6:56 4:49 6:50 4:43 6:42 4:35 6:36 4:29

      December

      1-6 7:04 4:46 6:58 4:40 6:50 4:32 6:44 4:26 7-13 7:10 4:46 7:04 4:40 6:56 4:32 6:50 4:26 14-20 7:15 4:47 7:09 4:41 7:01 4:33 6:55 4:27 21-27 7:19 4:51 7:13 4:45 7:05 4:37 6:59 4:31 28-31 7:21 4:54 7:15 4:48 7:07 4:40 7:01 4:34

      January

      1-10 7:21 5:01 7:15 4:55 7:07 4:47 7:01 4:41 11-17 7:18 5:10 7:12 5:04 7:04 4:56 6:58 4:50 18-24 7:14 5:18 7:08 5:12 7:00 5:04 6:54 4:58 25-31 7:08 5:26 7:02 5:20 6:54 5:12 6:48 5:06

      February

      1-7 7:01 5:35 6:55 5:29 6:47 5:21 6:41 5:15 8-14 6:52 5:44 6:46 5:38 6:38 5:30 6:32 5:24 15-21 6:42 5:53 6:36 5:47 6:28 5:39 6:22 5:33 22-28 6:32 6:03 6:26 5:57 6:18 5:49 6:12 5:43

      March

      1-7 6:20 6:12 6:14 6:06 6:06 5:58 6:00 5:52

      14-11

      8-10 6:12 6:19 6:06 6:13 5:58 6:05 5:52 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

      14-12

      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.

      WATERFOWL HUNTER FIELD LOG

      No. Geese No. Ducks

      Date County Shot & Shot & Sex and Species of Ducks Retrieved Retrieved

      14-13

      14-14