Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-14
Effective Date: 08/14/2013 to 11/20/2013
Rule Type: Expired Emergency Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.14.08142013
(Emergency rules are no longer in effect 120 days after filing with the Secretary of State.)
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 This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by the Commission.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) 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, 2012, 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. Beginning July 1, 2013, Wyoming HIP permits shall be available only on the Department's website at http://wgfd.wyo.gov.
(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 Chapter 39, Early Migratory Game Bird Hunting Seasons.
(ii) Pacific Flyway
| WATERFOWL - PACIFIC FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Dates of Season | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | |||
| PACIFIC FLYWAY | ||||||
| DUCKS and MERGANSERS* | Sep. 21 | Jan. 3 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 7** | 21** |
| COOTS | Sep. 21 | Jan. 3 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 15 | 45 |
| DARK GEESE | Sep. 21 | Dec. 26 | See Sec. 6 | d, e | 3 | 9 |
The daily bag limit of seven (7) ducks and mergansers may include any combination of species with the following restrictions:
(iii) Central Flyway Zones. The Central Flyway is divided into two (2) zones for the 2013-2014 season. 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.
| 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. 5 | Dec. 30 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 21 c after Nov. 14 | 10 | 30 |
| Jan. 30 | Feb. 16 | See Sec. 6 | a, b, c | 10 | 30 | |
| ZONE C1 | ||||||
| DUCKS | Oct. 5 | Oct. 22 | See Sec. 6 | b | 6** | 18** |
| Nov. 2 | Jan. 19 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 21 c after Nov. 14 | 6** | 18** | |
| MERGANSERS | Oct. 5 | Oct. 22 | See Sec. 6 | b | 5** | 15** |
| Nov. 2 | Jan. 19 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 21 c after Nov. 14 | 5** | 15** | |
| COOTS | Oct. 5 | Oct. 22 | See Sec. 6 | b | 15 | 45 |
| Nov. 2 | Jan. 19 | See Sec. 6 | b a after Nov. 21 c after Nov. 14 | 15 | 45 | |
| DARK GEESE All counties in Zone C1 except Goshen and Platte Counties | Oct. 5 | Oct. 22 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 15 | |
| Nov. 2 | Dec. 1 | See Sec. 6 | c after Nov. 14 | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec. 7 | Feb. 1 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 15 | ||
| DARK GEESE Goshen and Platte Counties* | Oct. 5 | Oct. 22 | See Sec. 6 | b | 2 | 6 |
| Nov. 22 | Feb. 16 | See Sec. 6 | a, b | 4 | 12 |
*For Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt information, see Section 8.
| WATERFOWL - CENTRAL FLYWAY | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species and Hunt Areas | Dates of Season | Shooting Hours | Closed Areas Section 5 Subsections | Bag Limit | ||
| Opens | Closes | Daily | Possession | |||
| ZONE C2 | ||||||
| DUCKS | Sep. 21 | Dec. 1 | See Sec. 6 | 6** | 18** | |
| Dec. 14 | Jan. 7 | See Sec. 6 | 6** | 18** | ||
| MERGANSERS | Sep. 21 | Dec. 1 | See Sec. 6 | 5** | 15** | |
| Dec. 14 | Jan. 7 | See Sec. 6 | 5** | 15** | ||
| COOTS | Sep. 21 | Dec. 1 | See Sec. 6 | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec. 14 | Jan. 7 | See Sec. 6 | 15 | 45 | ||
| DARK GEESE | Sep. 21 | Dec. 1 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 15 | |
| Dec. 14 | Jan. 15 | See Sec. 6 | 5 | 15 |
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.
(f) Special Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days. In the Pacific Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 14-15, 2013. In Zone C1 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 28-29, 2013. In Zone C2 of the Central Flyway, the special youth waterfowl hunting days are September 14-15, 2013. 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 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 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.
(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. See Section 8 regarding the 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.
(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 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 shall be closed to all migratory game bird hunting.
Section 6. Shooting Hours. Except as provided in Section 6(a), 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 Section 6(b).
(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 dark geese shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to 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 as determined from the shooting hours table in subsection 6(b) – Area D.
(i) October 5 through October 22.
(ii) All Saturdays and Wednesdays from November 22 through December 31.
(iii) All Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays from January 1 through the close of the dark goose season.
(b) 2013-2014 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 | 6:31 | 7:01 | 6:25 | 6:53 | 6:17 | 6:47 | 6:11 |
| 22-31 | 7:17 | 6:18 | 7:11 | 6:12 | 7:03 | 6:04 | 6:57 | 5:58 |
| November | ||||||||
| 1-2 | 7:25 | 6:11 | 7:19 | 6:05 | 7:11 | 5:57 | 7:05 | 5:51 |
| *3-7 | 6:29 | 5:06 | 6:23 | 5:00 | 6:15 | 4:52 | 6:09 | 4:46 |
| 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 | 7:01 | 5:36 | 6:55 | 5:30 | 6:47 | 5:22 | 6:41 | 5:16 |
| 8-14 | 6:52 | 5:46 | 6:46 | 5:40 | 6:38 | 5:32 | 6:32 | 5:26 |
| 15-16 | 6:45 | 5:52 | 6:39 | 5:46 | 6:31 | 5:38 | 6:25 | 5:32 |
*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 (including youth hunt days) set forth in Section 4(e) and (f) 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).
(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 (including youth hunt days) or special extended falconry seasons. The falconry bag and possession limits are not in addition to the bag and possession limits listed in Section 4(e) and (f), Hunting Regulations.
| SPECIAL EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASONS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Oct. 23 | Oct. 30 | See Sec. 6 | Limitations in effect in Sections 4 and 5 shall apply | 3** | 9** |
| ZONE C2 Central Flyway, Ducks, Mergansers and Coots | Sep. 16 | Sep. 20 | ||||
| Dec. 2 | Dec. 4 |
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. 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 22, 2013, through February 16, 2014, hunting during dark goose shooting hours shall only be allowed from pits/blinds except as noted below. Maps of pits/blinds shall be posted at the Springer Check Station one and one-quarter (1-1/4) miles west of Highway 85 on Goshen County Road 42, and at the established parking areas. The check station shall not be operated during the 2013-2014 goose hunting season. Hunters shall not be required to register or obtain a goose special management permit to participate in the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt. 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 an 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 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 the 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 the 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, 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 depart 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) Trash removal. Hunters shall remove all trash or litter, including spent shell casings.
(g) The Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt area is open to light goose hunting during the Light Goose Conservation Order. Only the Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt area and the portion of the Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Area south of Goshen County Road 42 are open to light goose hunting. Participants shall be required to park only in the established parking locations. Pits/blinds shall be occupied on a first-come, first-served basis, however participants are not required to hunt from the established pits or blinds. There shall be no registration requirement. Participants shall comply with all requirements set forth in Chapter 48, Light Goose Conservation Order.
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
Mike Healy, President
Dated: August 9, 2013