Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-14
Effective Date: 06/07/2018 to 07/03/2019
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.14.06072018
Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of Wyoming Statutes § 23-1-302 (a) (i) and § 23-2-105 (d).
(a) Federal Regulations. 50 CFR 10, 20 and 21 revised as of March 28, 2018, 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 light goose conservation order, 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 the Cheyenne Headquarters or Department Regional Offices.
(i) Shotgun Shell Capacity. 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 while hunting migratory game birds. This shell restriction does not apply during the light goose conservation order (refer to Section 7 of this regulation).
(ii) Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (federal duck stamp). A federal duck stamp is required for persons sixteen (16) years of age and older to hunt ducks, geese and mergansers. A federal duck stamp is not required to hunt coots, sandhill cranes, crows, mourning doves, rail or snipe. Federal duck stamps shall be signed in ink across the face of the stamp and shall be in possession of the hunter while in the field. Hunters possessing an electronic federal duck stamp are exempted from this signature provision during the time their electronic federal duck stamp is valid.
(iii) HIP Permit. Each licensed hunter who hunts migratory game birds shall complete a current Wyoming validation for the National Migratory Bird 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 and shall immediately produce said permit upon request from any authorized Department representative. HIP permits shall be signed in ink across the face of the permit and shall be in possession of the hunter while in the field. HIP permits expire on June 30 each year. HIP permits are not transferrable to other states. A separate HIP permit is required from each state in which you hunt. Wyoming HIP permits shall be available only on the Department website. Youths under 14 are not required to obtain a HIP permit if they do not hold a valid game bird license.
(iv) 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.
(v) Nontoxic Shot. No person shall hunt ducks, geese, mergansers or coots while possessing shot other than nontoxic shot. Nontoxic shot is also required when using a shotgun to hunt any game bird on the Commission’s Table Mountain and Springer/Bump-Sullivan wildlife habitat management areas.
(b) Mourning Dove, Rail and Snipe Hunting Seasons.
| MOURNING DOVE, RAIL AND SNIPE - STATEWIDE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Season Dates | Closed Areas Section 3 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| Mourning Dove | Sep. 1 | Nov. 29 | b, d, e a – after Nov. 16 c – after Nov. 14 | 15 | 45 |
| Sora and Virginia Rail | Sep. 1 | Nov. 9 | b, d, e | 25 | 75 |
| Snipe | Sep. 1 | Dec. 16 | b, d, e a – after Nov. 16 c – after Nov. 14 | 8 | 24 |
(c) Sandhill Crane Hunting Seasons
| LIMITED QUOTA PERMIT - SANDHILL CRANE SEASONS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt Areas | Season Dates | Permit Quota | Closed Areas Section 3 Subsections | Season Bag Limit | |
| Opens | Closes | ||||
| 1 | Sep. 1 | Sep. 8 | 25 | 1 | |
| 2 | Sep. 1 | Sep. 8 | 30 | 1 | |
| 3 | Sep. 1 | Sep. 8 | 100 | d | 1 |
| 4 | Sep. 15 | Oct. 7 | 110 | 1 | |
| 5 | Sep. 1 | Sep. 8 | 15 | 1 | |
| 6 | Sep. 15 | Oct. 7 | 110 | 1 | |
| 8 | Sep. 1 | Sep. 30 | 20 | 1 |
| GENERAL PERMIT - SANDHILL CRANE SEASONS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt Area | Season Dates | Closed Areas Section 3 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| 7 | Sep. 15 | Nov. 11 | b | 3 | 9 |
(i) Permits. All persons, regardless of age, hunting sandhill cranes shall possess a permit valid for the hunt area in which they are hunting. No person shall apply for or receive more than one (1) limited quota sandhill crane permit. A person may also obtain a permit valid for the general sandhill crane season in Hunt Area 7.
(A) Limited Quota Sandhill Crane Permits. Persons may apply for limited quota sandhill crane permits through the Department's Electronic Licensing Service (ELS). Party applications shall be accepted. Maximum party size shall be two (2). Residents and nonresidents shall not apply together as a party.
(B) General Sandhill Crane Permits. Permits to hunt during the general sandhill crane season (Hunt Area 7) shall be available through the Department's ELS.
(ii) Tagging Sandhill Cranes. When a sandhill crane is killed under a limited quota permit, the permittee shall detach, sign and date the proper coupon and attach the coupon to the carcass before leaving the site of the kill. The coupon shall remain on the crane carcass at all times until the meat undergoes processing, except that during transportation of the carcass the coupon may be removed to prevent its loss. If the coupon is removed for transportation of the carcass, it must be in possession of the person accompanying the carcass at all times. When dating a carcass coupon, the entire wedge or block shall be cut out for the date and the month of the kill. The carcass coupon shall be attached to the carcass of a sandhill crane in such a manner as to be plainly visible. Sandhill cranes killed during the general sandhill crane season in Hunt Area 7 are not required to be tagged.
(iii) Limited Quota and General Sandhill Crane Hunt Area Descriptions.
Area and Number.
Area 1. All of the Bear River and Ham's Fork River drainages in Lincoln County.
Area 2. All of the Salt River drainage in Lincoln County south of the McCoy Creek Road.
Area 3. All lands within the Bureau of Reclamation's Eden Project in Sweetwater County.
Area 4. All lands within the Bureau of Reclamation's Riverton and Boysen Unit boundaries; those lands within Boysen State Park south of Cottonwood Creek, west of Boysen Reservoir, and south of U.S. Highway 20-26; and all non-indian owned fee title lands within the exterior boundaries of the Wind River Reservation, excluding those lands within Hot Springs County.
Area 5. All of Uinta County.
Area 6. All of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and Washakie counties.
Area 7. All of Campbell, Converse, Crook, Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, Platte and Weston counties.
Area 8. All of Johnson, Natrona and Sheridan counties.
(d) Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
(i) Pacific Flyway
| PACIFIC FLYWAY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | Season Dates | Closed Areas Section 3 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| Ducks and Mergansers | Sep. 22 | Jan. 4 | d, e | 7* | 21* |
| Coots | Sep. 22 | Jan. 4 | d, e | 15 | 45 |
| Early Canada Goose | Sep. 1 | Sep. 8 | d, e | 4 | 12 |
| Dark Geese | Sep. 22 | Dec. 27 | d, e | 4 | 12 |
| Light Geese | Sep. 22 | Dec. 27 | d, e | 10 | 30 |
The daily bag limit of seven (7) ducks and mergansers may include any combination of species with the following restrictions:
no more than two (2) hen mallards;
(ii) Central Flyway Zones. The Central Flyway is divided into two (2) zones. Refer to the season dates for the zone in which you are hunting.
(A) ZONE C1 shall include Big Horn, Converse, Goshen, Hot Springs, Natrona, Park, Platte and Washakie counties, and Fremont County excluding those portions south or west of the Continental Divide.
(B) ZONE C2 shall include Albany, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, Sheridan and Weston counties; and that portion of Carbon County east of the Continental Divide.
| CENTRAL FLYWAY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Season Dates | Closed Areas Section 3 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| Light Geese | Sep. 29 | Dec. 30 | b a after Nov. 16 c after Nov. 14 | 10 | 30 |
| Feb. 6 | Feb. 17 | a, b, c | 10 | 30 | |
| CENTRAL FLYWAY - ZONE C1 | |||||
| Ducks | Sep. 29 | Oct. 16 | b | 6** | 18** |
| Oct. 27 | Jan. 13 | b a after Nov. 16 c after Nov. 14 | 6** | 18** | |
| Mergansers | Sep. 29 | Oct. 16 | b | 5*** | 15*** |
| Oct. 27 | Jan. 13 | b a after Nov. 16 c after Nov. 14 | 5*** | 15*** | |
| Coots | Sep. 29 | Oct. 16 | b | 15 | 45 |
| Oct. 27 | Jan. 13 | b a after Nov. 16 c after Nov. 14 | 15 | 45 | |
| Dark Geese All counties in Zone C1 except Goshen and Platte counties | Sep. 29 | Oct. 7 | 5 | 15 | |
| Nov. 3 | Nov. 25 | c after Nov. 14 | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec. 7 | Feb. 17 | c | 5 | 15 | |
| Dark Geese Goshen and Platte counties* | Sep. 29 | Oct. 10 | b | 2 | 6 |
| Nov. 17 | Feb. 17 | a, b | 4 | 12 | |
| CENTRAL FLYWAY - ZONE C2 | |||||
| Ducks | Sep. 22 | Dec. 2 | 6** | 18** | |
| Dec. 8 | Jan. 1 | 6** | 18** |
| CENTRAL FLYWAY - ZONE C2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Season Dates | Closed Areas Section 3 | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| Mergansers | Sep. 22 | Dec. 2 | 5*** | 15*** | |
| Dec. 8 | Jan. 1 | 5*** | 15*** | ||
| Coots | Sep. 22 | Dec. 2 | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec. 8 | Jan. 1 | 15 | 45 | ||
| Dark Geese | Sep. 22 | Dec. 2 | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec. 8 | Jan. 9 | 5 | 15 |
*For Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt information, see Section 6.
The daily bag limit of six (6) ducks may include any combination of species with the following restrictions:
Zone C2: September 22 – October 7
The daily bag limit of five (5) mergansers shall not include more than two (2) hooded mergansers.
(e) Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. In the Pacific Flyway and in Zone C2 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 15-16, 2018. In Zone C1 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 22-23, 2018. Only persons seventeen (17) years of age and younger may take ducks, mergansers, coots and geese 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 license 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 waterfowl hunting days. Exceptions: The additional blue-winged teal limit does not apply on the youth waterfowl hunting days. In Goshen and Platte counties, the daily bag limit for dark geese shall be four (4) on the youth waterfowl hunting days.
(v) The areas described in Section 3 (b), (d) and (e) shall be closed to hunting during youth days.
Section 3. Description of Closed Areas. The areas described in this Section shall be closed for the species and dates specified in the tables in Sections 2, 5 and 7.
(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 and Bump-Sullivan Ditch; southerly along said ditch to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA); westerly then southerly along the Springer WHMA boundary to Parking Area 3; southeasterly along the reservoir access road to the Game and Fish Department buildings; due south from said buildings across the Whispering Wings LLC property to the Fullmer Family Trust pasture fence; westerly along said fence to Goshen County Road 37; southerly along said road to Goshen County Road 42; easterly along said road to U.S. Highway 85; northerly along said highway to the George Marlatt farmhouse.
(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 beginning one-quarter (1/4) mile downstream of the western-most river crossing with Wyoming Highway 157 downstream to the eastern-most river crossing with Wyoming Highway 157.
(vi) Table Mountain Wildlife Management Area. All of Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area shall be closed to migratory game bird hunting after March 20, 2019.
(i) Festo Lake. Festo Lake and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of the normal high water line.
(ii) Wheatland Reservoir No. 1. Wheatland Reservoir No. 1 and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of the normal high water line.
(i) Ocean Lake. The waters and lands within one-half (1/2) mile of the aeration system on the north side of Ocean Lake shall be closed to migratory game bird hunting beginning November 15 through December 31 and January 1 through March 10 of each year.
(i) Eden Reservoir. Eden Reservoir and all lands within three hundred (300) yards of the normal high water line.
(i) Palisades Reservoir. Beginning at the junction of the McCoy Creek Road and U.S. Highway 89; northerly on U.S. Highway 89 for one and six-tenths (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.
Section 4. Shooting Hours. Except as provided in Section 4 (a) and Section 8, shooting hours for hunting all migratory game birds shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until sunset.
(a) Within the following areas: Goshen County north of Wyoming Highway 313 and County Road 28; that portion of Platte County west of Interstate Highway 25; and that portion of Platte County south of Wyoming Highway 160 (Gray Rocks Road) and Riverview Road (Platte County Road 271). Shooting hours for hunting dark geese shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until 1:00 p.m., except on the dates listed in subsections (i), (ii) and (iii), when shooting hours shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to sunset.
(i) September 29 through October 10.
(ii) All Saturdays and Wednesdays from November 17 through December 31.
(iii) All Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from January 1 through the close of the dark goose season.
Section 5. Falconry Seasons. Migratory game birds may be taken by the use of trained raptors in the possession of properly licensed falconers during the regular hunting season set forth in Section 2 and extended falconry seasons in accordance with the limitations in this Section, Section 2, Section 3 and Section 4. Licensed adult falconers are allowed to hunt by falconry methods during the youth waterfowl hunting days set forth in Section 2 (e).
(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 nine (9) migratory game birds in the aggregate for falconry during the regular hunting season or extended falconry seasons. The daily bag and possession limits, singly or in the aggregate, may include any species and sex of ducks, geese, coots, mergansers, rail, snipe, mourning doves and sandhill crane when seasons for these species are open. No more than one (1) sandhill crane shall be taken under a limited quota sandhill crane permit. The falconry bag and possession limits are not in addition to the bag and possession limits listed in Section 2.
| EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASONS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Season Dates | Closed Areas Section 3 Subsections | AGGREGATE Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| Mourning Doves - Statewide | Nov. 30 | Dec. 16 | b, d, e a – after Nov. 16 | 3 | 9 |
| Sora Rail and Virginia Rail – Statewide | Nov. 10 | Dec. 16 | c – after Nov. 14 | ||
| ZONE C1 Central Flyway - Ducks, Mergansers and Coots | Sep. 22 | Sep. 23 | b | ||
| Oct. 17 | Oct. 24 | ||||
| ZONE C2 Central Flyway - Ducks, Mergansers and Coots | Sep. 15 | Sep. 21 | |||
| Dec. 3 | Dec. 5 | ||||
| Pacific Flyway - Ducks, Mergansers and Coots | Sep. 15 | Sep. 16 | d, e |
Section 6. Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt. Nineteen (19) numbered pits/blinds shall be available each day during the dark goose hunting season and shall be occupied on a first-come, first-served basis within the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Area in Goshen County. From November 17, 2018, through February 17, 2019, hunting during dark goose shooting hours shall only be allowed from pits/blinds except as noted below. If the Department determines the water level in Bump-Sullivan Reservoir has receded beyond ethical shooting distances from blinds 1-12, hunters shall be allowed to hunt from any location between the blind they have occupied and the water’s edge. In such event, the Department shall post signs at the parking spot for each pit/blind.
(a) Selection of pits/blinds. Hunters and hunting parties shall occupy pits/blinds by parking one vehicle directly in front of the numbered post that is marked with the corresponding number of the pit/blind. Vehicles shall not be parked overnight to reserve a pit/blind. Vehicles shall also not be parked in front of a numbered post of a pit/blind other than the one the hunting party is occupying.
(b) Access to pits/blinds. Hunters shall only park in established parking areas. No more than two (2) vehicles per pit/blind shall be allowed in the parking lots. No person shall drive a vehicle beyond the established parking areas during the goose and duck hunting seasons, except for Department administrative access. Hunters may use a non-motorized cart, non-motorized watercraft or toboggan to transport decoys and other gear to and from the pit/blind. Hunters shall not change pits/blinds except by returning to the parking area and moving their vehicle to the numbered post corresponding to the new pit/blind.
(c) Leaving pits/blinds. Hunters may arrive at and leave from pits/blinds at any time, but while hunting, hunters shall remain at the pit/blind at all times except hunters may leave to arrange decoys, retrieve downed birds or to return to the parking lot.
(d) Condition of pits/blinds. Hunters shall not damage or modify pits/blinds or use staples or nails to attach objects. It is permissible to move natural cover such as driftwood around or against the outside of a blind or pit. At the end of the hunt, all doors and lids shall be closed.
(e) Commercial operations. No person shall conduct a commercially guided or outfitted hunt on the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Area.
(f) Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Area boundary description. The Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Area shall include the portion of the Springer/Bump Sullivan Wildlife Habitat Management Area (WHMA) located west of Goshen County Road 37 (Bump-Sullivan Reservoir and adjacent Commission owned lands); the portion of the Springer/Bump Sullivan WHMA located south of Goshen County Road 42; and the portion of the Springer/Bump Sullivan WHMA located between County Road 37 and the closed area boundary.
(a) Licensing, Permitting and Reporting Requirements.
(i) Wyoming Game Bird License and Conservation Stamp. Each person who takes or attempts to take any light geese under the authority of this regulation shall have in possession a valid Wyoming game bird license and a valid Wyoming conservation stamp (except as otherwise exempted by State statute).
(ii) Conservation Order Special Management Permit. A Conservation Order Special Management Permit shall be in possession of any person participating in the light goose conservation order. The Conservation Order Special Management Permit shall be validated by signing the person's name in ink across the face of the permit. Conservation Order Special Management Permits may be purchased through the Department's ELS.
(iii) Reporting Requirements. Any person who obtains a Conservation Order Special Management Permit is requested to accurately complete the online survey at the web address provided on the permit no later than April 20, 2019.
(iv) Hunters are not required to possess a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (duck stamp) or Harvest Information Program (HIP) Permit in order to participate in the light goose conservation order.
(b) Conservation Order Regulations.
(i) The Central Flyway portion of Wyoming, excluding the closed areas listed in Section 3, is open during the light goose conservation order.
(ii) Shotguns shall be the only weapons that can be used to take light geese and are not required to be plugged to limit shell capacity to three (3). Shotguns larger than ten (10) gauge shall not be legal for the taking of light geese during the light goose conservation order.
(iii) Recorded or electronically-amplified calls may be used for the taking of light geese during the light goose conservation order.
(iv) Evidence of Species. One fully feathered wing or the feathered head shall remain naturally attached to the carcass as a means of identification of all light geese in the field and while the birds are being transported.
(v) Nontoxic Shot Restrictions. No person shall take light geese while possessing shot shells loaded with shot other than nontoxic shot.
(vi) Light Goose Conservation Order Hunting Seasons.
| LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER, CENTRAL FLYWAY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Conservation Order Dates | Closed Areas Section 3 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | ||
| Light Geese Central Flyway only | Feb. 18 | Apr. 7 | a(ii), a(iii), b, c a(vi) after March 20 | 20 | Unrestricted |
(c) Bump-Sullivan Area. Those areas within the boundary of the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Area, including Bump-Sullivan Reservoir, shall be open to the taking of light geese during the light goose conservation order. Light goose conservation order participants are not required to hunt from a numbered Department pit/blind during the light goose conservation order. Participants who choose to hunt from a numbered Department pit/blind shall follow the rules in Section 6 of this regulation. Section 6 (e) shall apply to persons hunting light geese anywhere within the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Area .
Section 8. Light Goose Conservation Order Shooting Hours. Shooting hours for taking light geese during the light goose conservation order shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.
WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
Mark Anselmi, President
Dated: April 24, 2018