Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-15
Effective Date: 05/22/2000 to 08/27/2004
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.15.05222000
Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of W.S. §23-1-101, §23-1-302 and §23-2-107.
Section 2. Regulation and Effective Date. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission hereby adopts the following regulation governing wild bison recreational hunting seasons. This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by the Commission.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) 'Demonstrate shooting proficiency' means the placement of three (3) out of five (5) consecutively fired shots in a four (4) inch diameter circle at fifty (50) yards. A person shall have a maximum of two (2) attempts to demonstrate shooting proficiency within a maximum of two (2) consecutive hours.
(b) 'Harvest year' means seven (7) consecutive months beginning July 1 of each year through January 31 of the next succeeding year.
Section 4. Recreational Hunting Season Established And Effective Date. When the Department determines a wild bison recreational hunting opportunity exists, there shall be a wild bison recreational hunting season as established in accordance with Section 5 through Section 17 of this regulation.
Section 5. Supervision Of Licensees. Wild bison recreational hunting shall be done under the supervision and/or direction of Department personnel. All applicants on the wild bison priority list contacted by the Department to take a wild bison shall be required to complete a wild bison hunt orientation session and demonstrate shooting proficiency. The orientation shall be conducted immediately prior to the actual hunt at the Department's Regional Office closest to the area where the hunt shall occur, unless otherwise specified by the Department.
Section 6. Applications, Selection For Ranking On Wild Bison Priority List(s) And Issuance Of Licenses. Application and selection for ranking on the wild bison priority list(s) and issuance of licenses shall be in accordance with Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Regulation Chapter 44, Regulation For Issuance of Licenses. Wild bison priority list(s) shall be maintained for each license type specified in Section 14 of this regulation. The September 9, 1999 wild bison priority list shall remain in effect through January 31, 2001. An individual shall only apply for one (1) license type. Individuals who participate in the bison recreational hunting season and who are unsuccessful shall remain on the wild bison priority list, but they may not participate in the wild bison recreational hunting season again until all other persons on the wild bison priority list have had an opportunity to participate in the wild bison recreational hunting season.
(a) Applicants shall be notified of their placement on the wild bison priority list by the Department. Applicants on the wild bison priority list shall be notified by mail or by telephone in order of their priority ranking when the Department determines a wild bison recreational hunting opportunity may exist. If telephone calls are made, the calls shall be done by the Department during the evening hours between 6 P.M. and 10 P.M. If telephone calls are made, a minimum of three (3) attempts by telephone shall be made that evening and the subsequent evening to contact and notify any individual applicant. Notification attempts shall be spaced at a minimum of one-half (½) hour intervals. Department personnel must speak directly to the applicant during the notification call. If an individual cannot be contacted, the next individual on the list shall be notified and those who could not be contacted shall retain their positions on the wild bison priority list. An applicant who declines participation shall have his/her name removed from the wild bison priority list.
(b) At the Department’s discretion, notification may be made by mail. Notification by mail shall be sent by the Department first-class to the address listed on the applicant’s application for placement on the wild bison priority list. The notification shall be mailed a minimum of ten (10) days immediately prior to the scheduled orientation session.
(c) Applicants shall be advised during the notification call or by mail of: the date, time, and location the applicant shall report to participate in the wild bison recreational hunt orientation session and to demonstrate their shooting proficiency.
(a) In the event there is more than one (1) wild bison licensee afield at the same time and at the same location, the highest ranking individual licensee on the wild bison priority list shall have preference in the selection of a specific wild bison.
(b) Hunters may be directed by Department personnel to take a specific age class of wild bison in a specific geographic portion of a hunt area in order to meet the Department’s management objectives. Numbers and age classes of wild bison available when the applicant arrives may differ from those available at the time of the notification call or letter. If a licensee declines to take an available wild bison within fifteen (15) consecutive days during a specific hunt, the licensee’s opportunity to participate shall be forfeited and the licensee shall be removed from the wild bison priority list. Issuance of a wild bison license provides the licensee an opportunity to hunt a wild bison; it does not guarantee that a licensee shall harvest a wild bison.
(a) Individuals not attending an orientation session after notification shall have their name(s) removed from the wild bison priority list. Individuals who cannot satisfactorily demonstrate their shooting proficiency to the Department shall be prohibited from purchasing a license and participating in a wild bison recreational hunting season. An individual who cannot satisfactorily demonstrate his/her shooting proficiency shall retain their position on the wild bison priority list and shall be considered if future wild bison recreational hunting seasons occur.
Section 10. Firearms. Wild bison shall only be taken with a firearm which has a barrel bore diameter of at least twenty-seven hundredths (27/100) of an inch and is chambered to fire a centerfire cartridge not less than two (2) inches in overall length, including a soft or expanding point bullet seated to a normal depth. The cartridge shall have a minimum of a one hundred fifty (150) grain bullet.
Section 11. Licensing. Licenses shall be issued upon payment by the applicant of the proper license fee at the designated check-in location and shall be obtained from Department personnel prior to participating in the wild bison recreational hunting season. A conservation stamp shall be in possession of the licensee while exercising the privileges under the wild bison license.
Section 12. Tagging Requirements. When any wild bison is killed under a license, the licensee shall detach, sign and date the carcass coupon and attach the coupon to the carcass before leaving the site of the kill. The coupon shall remain on the wild bison 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 shall be in the possession of the person accompanying the carcass at all times.
(a) No person shall ship, transport, or receive for shipment or transportation within Wyoming, any wild bison or part thereof, unless tagged with a Wyoming interstate game tag, or unless:
(i) The transportation is by a person accompanying the carcass of a wild bison who is in possession of a proper coupon.
(b) No wild bison or any part thereof shall be shipped or transported from the State unless accompanied by the licensee who harvested the animal, in possession of a proper coupon, or unless:
(i) The part to be exported from the state is of a nonedible trophy or hidelike nature and properly tagged with a Wyoming interstate game tag.
(ii) The wild bison was legally harvested by a nonresident and is tagged with a Wyoming interstate game tag.
(a) Shooting Hours. Shooting hours for the hunting of wild bison shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.
(b) Within three (3) consecutive days (seventy-two (72) hours) after taking a wild bison, the licensee shall contact the Department Regional Office where the licensee obtained his/her wild bison license during business hours to report the harvest. The licensee shall report the date of the harvest, the sex, age class (adult, yearling, calf) of the bison harvested, supply biological samples as required by the Department and provide the legal description of where the bison was harvested to include section, range and township.
FREE NUMBERS
Casper...
1-800-233-8544
C h e y -
1-800-842-1934
Cody...
1-800-654-1178
G r e e n
River...
1-800-843-8096
J a c k -
son...
1-800-423-4113
Lander...
1-800-654-7862
Laramie...
1-800-843-2352
Pinedale...
1-800-452-9107
Sheridan...
1-800-331-9834
Report Violations..
1-800-442-4331
(c) Bag and Possession Limits. The bag and possession limit for wild bison shall be one (1) wild bison during any one (1) harvest year. No person who is issued a wild bison hunting license and who harvests a wild bison after January 31, 2001, shall be eligible to apply for or receive a hunting license for wild bison in any future year.
(d) Open Areas, Season Dates and Limitations.
| Hunt Areas | Dates of Season Type | Opens | Closes | Limitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2 | 1 | July 1 | Jan. 31 | Any male Wild Bison; other limitations specified during notification |
| 2 | July 1 | Jan. 31 | Any female/calf Wild Bison; other limitations specified during notification |
Section 15. Hunt Area Description.
(a) Area and Number.
Area 1. Absaroka. All lands within Park, Hot Springs, Fremont and Teton Counties east of the Continental Divide, excluding lands administered by the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Area 2. Jackson. All lands within Lincoln, Sublette and Teton Counties west of the Continental Divide, excluding Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park and the National Elk Refuge.
Section 16. Violation of Commission Regulations. Failure to abide by the provisions of this regulation shall be punishable as provided by Wyoming statutes for violation of Commission regulations.
Section 17. 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.
By:
J. MICHAEL POWERS PRESIDENT
Date: April 26, 2000