Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-14
Effective Date: 11/04/2004 to 12/16/2005
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.14.11042004
Section 1. Authority. This regulation is 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:
Section 3. Hunting Seasons Established. There shall be open seasons for the hunting of migratory game birds as set forth in the Hunting Regulations (Section 4), Description of Closed Areas (Section 5), Shooting Hours (Section 6), Falconry Seasons (Section 7), Goose Special Management Permit (Section 8), and Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt (Section 9) of this Chapter.
(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, 2002, and 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 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 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 and/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 and/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 and/or coots while possessing shot shells loaded with shot other than nontoxic shot. Nontoxic shot shall be required when hunting 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) Open Areas, Season Dates, Shooting Hours, Bag Limits 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.
(ii) Pacific Flyway
| WATERFOWL - PACIFIC FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Open Areas | Dates of Season Opens Closes | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limits Daily Possession | ||
| DUCKS and MERGANSERS | Sept. 25 | Jan. 8 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 7 ** | 14 ** |
| COOTS | Sept. 25 | Jan. 8 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 25 | 25 |
| DARK GEESE | Sept. 25 | Dec. 31 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 3 | 6 |
In the Pacific Flyway, the pintail and canvasback duck seasons shall be closed, except on the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day and during the period September 25 through November 23 when the daily bag limits for pintail and canvasback ducks shall be one (1) of each and shall be counted as part of the aggregate bag limit for ducks.
The daily bag limit of seven (7) ducks and mergansers shall not include in the aggregate more than two (2) hen mallards, four (4) scaup, or two (2) redheads. 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 2004-2005 season. Refer to the season dates for the zone in which you are hunting.
(A) ZONE 1 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 2 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
| LIGHT GEESE | Oct. 2 | Dec. 31 | See Sec. 6 | b | 10 | 40 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 27 | Feb. 10 | See Sec. 6 | a, b, c | 10 | 40 |
| Species and Open | Dates of Season Opens | Shooting | Closed Areas | Bag Limits Daily | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZONE 1 | ||||||
| DUCKS | Oct. 2 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b | 6 ** | 12 ** |
| Oct. 23 | Jan. 11 | See Sec. 6 | b | 6** | 12** | |
| MERGANSERS | Oct. 2 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b | 5** | 10** |
| Oct. 23 | Jan. 11 | See Sec. 6 | ba after Nov. | 5** | 10** | |
| COOTS | Oct. 2 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b | 15 | 30 |
| Oct. 23 | Jan. 11 | See Sec. 6 | b | 15 | 30 | |
| DARK GEESE All counties except Goshen and Platte Counties | Oct. 2 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | |
| Oct. 30 | Dec. 12 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | ||
| Dec. 18 | Feb. 1 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | ||
| DARK GEESE *Goshen and Platte Counties | Oct. 2 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | b | 2 | 4 |
| Nov. 13 | Feb. 10 | See Sec. 6 | a, b | 5 | 10 |
*For Bump Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt Information, see Sections 8 and 9.
In Zone 1 of the Central Flyway, the pintail and canvasback duck seasons shall be closed, except on the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day and during the period October 2 through October 17 and October 23 through November 14 when the daily bag limits for pintail and canvasback ducks shall be one (1) of each and shall be counted as part of the aggregate bag limit for ducks.
In Zone 2 of the Central Flyway, the pintail and canvasback duck seasons shall be closed, except on the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day and during the period September 25 through October 17 and October 23 through November 7 when the daily bag limits for pintail and canvasback ducks shall be one (1) of each and shall be counted as part of the aggregate bag limit for ducks.
| Species and Open Areas | Dates of Season | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limits Daily | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens | Closes | |||||
| ZONE 2 | ||||||
| DUCKS | Sept. 25 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | 6 ** | 12 ** | |
| Oct. 23 | Dec. 12 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 6 ** | 12 ** | |
| Dec. 18 | Jan. 9 | See Sec. 6 | c | 6 ** | 12 ** | |
| MERGANSERS | Sept. 25 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | 5** | 10** | |
| Oct. 23 | Dec. 12 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 5** | 10** | |
| Dec. 18 | Jan. 9 | See Sec. 6 | c | 5** | 10** | |
| COOTS | Sept. 25 | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | 15 | 30 | |
| Oct. 23 | Dec. 12 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 15 | 30 | |
| Dec. 18 | Jan. 9 | See Sec. 6 | c | 15 | 30 | |
| DARK GEESE Big Horn and Fremont | Sept. 25 | Oct. 10 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 | |
| Oct. 30 | Dec. 12 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 5 | 10 | |
| Dec. 18 | Feb. 1 | See Sec. 6 | c | 5 | 10 | |
| DARK GEESE All counties except Big | Sept. 25 | Jan. 8 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 10 |
The daily bag limit of six (6) ducks shall not include in the aggregate more than five (5) mallards of which not more than one (1) can be a hen mallard, three (3) scaup, two (2) redheads, or two (2) wood ducks. The daily bag limit of five (5) mergansers shall not include more than one (1) hooded merganser. Except for light geese, the possession limit is two (2) daily bag limits.
(f) Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day. In the Pacific Flyway and Zone 2 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting day is Saturday, September 18, 2004. In Zone 1 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting day is Saturday, September 25, 2004. 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 day, 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 to this special youth hunting day. In Goshen and Platte Counties, the bag limit for dark geese shall be five (5) on youth hunting day.
(v) The areas described in Section 5 (b), (d), and (e) shall be closed to hunting on youth day.
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 Bob Splinter 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.
(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.
(c) Fremont County
(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.
(d) Sweetwater County
(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.
(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 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 2 through October 17 inclusive;
(ii) All Saturdays and Wednesdays from November 13 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 2 through October 17 inclusive;
(ii) All Saturdays and Wednesdays from November 13 through December 31. All Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays from January 1 through the close of the dark goose season.
(c) 2004-2005 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, SS=Sunset.
| AREA A | AREA B | AREA C | AREA D | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST | SS | ST | SS | ST | SS | ST | SS | |
| September | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 6:18 | 7:48 | 6:12 | 7:42 | 6:04 | 7:34 | 5:58 | 7:28 |
| 8-14 | 6:25 | 7:35 | 6:19 | 7:29 | 6:11 | 7:21 | 6:05 | 7:15 |
| 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 | 6:54 | 6:44 | 6:48 | 6:36 | 6:40 | 6:30 | 6:34 |
| 8-14 | 6:58 | 6:43 | 6:52 | 6:37 | 6:44 | 6:29 | 6:38 | 6:23 |
| 15-21 | 7:07 | 6:31 | 7:01 | 6:25 | 6:53 | 6:17 | 6:47 | 6:11 |
| 22-30 | 7:13 | 6:19 | 7:07 | 6:13 | 6:59 | 6:05 | 6:53 | 5:59 |
| *31 | 6:23 | 5:12 | 6:17 | 5:06 | 6:09 | 4:58 | 6:03 | 4:52 |
| November | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 6:28 | 5:07 | 6:22 | 5:01 | 6:14 | 4:53 | 6:08 | 4:47 |
| 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 | ||||||||
| 1-7 | 7:00 | 5:37 | 6:54 | 5:31 | 6:46 | 5:23 | 6:40 | 5:17 |
| 8-14 | 6:52 | 5:46 | 6:46 | 5:40 | 6:38 | 5:32 | 6:32 | 5:26 |
| 15-21 | 6:41 | 5:55 | 6:35 | 5:49 | 6:27 | 5:41 | 6:21 | 5:35 |
| 22-28 | 6:31 | 6:04 | 6:25 | 5:58 | 6:17 | 5:50 | 6:11 | 5:44 |
*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 be in possession of 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 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates of Season | Closed Areas | AGGREGATE Bag Limits | ||||
| ZONE 1 – Central | Sept. | Oct. 17 | See Sec. 6 | Limitations in | 3** | 6** |
| ZONE 2 – Central | Oct. 23 | Jan. 11 | ||||
| Sept. | Oct. 17 | |||||
| Oct. 23 | Dec. 12 | |||||
| Dark Geese - | Dec. 18 | Jan. 9 | ||||
| Oct. 2 | Oct. 17 | |||||
| Nov. | Feb. 10 | |||||
| Dark Geese – | Oct. 2 | Oct. 17 | ||||
| Oct. 30 | Dec. 12 | |||||
| Dec. 18 | Feb. 1 | |||||
| Dark Geese – | Sept. | Oct. 10 | ||||
| Big Horn and | Oct. 30 | Dec. 12 | ||||
| Dec. 18 | Feb. 1 | |||||
| Dark Geese – | Sept. | Jan. 8 | ||||
| Light Geese - | Oct. 2 | Dec. 31 | ||||
| Jan. 27 | Feb. 10 | |||||
| Ducks, Mergansers | Sept. | Sept. | ||||
| Sept. | Jan. 8 | |||||
| Dark Geese - Pacific | Sept. 1 | Sept. 8 | ||||
| Sept. | 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. Goose Special Management Permit (Fee $10.00). The goose special management permit has been suspended for the 2004-05 dark goose season (Through February 10, 2005) in Goshen County. A goose special management permit shall not be required to hunt within the boundaries of the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt during the waterfowl hunting season.
Section 9. Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt. Due to extreme drought and low water levels at Bump-Sullivan and Springer Reservoirs, the check station at the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt shall not be operated during the 2004-2005 dark goose season (through February 10, 2005) in Goshen County. The Department will reevaluate water conditions and will consider reinstating the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt for the 2005-2006 hunting season.
Hunting is allowed within the boundaries of the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt during open seasons, and in accordance with limitations specified by Commission regulations. Persons are not required to hunt waterfowl from an established blind. Blinds shall be occupied on a first come, first served basis. Hunters shall park vehicles only in established parking areas. Hunters retrieving downed birds from private property or areas closed to hunting, which are adjacent to the Bump-Sullivan area, shall leave their firearm(s) within the Bump-Sullivan area boundary and shall not carry their firearm(s) onto private property. The pheasant season on Bump-Sullivan and the remainder of the Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Unit (Hunt Area 8) is closed after the 2nd Friday in November, 2004.
By:
M. Hale Kreycik, President
Dated: September 9, 2004