Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-15
Effective Date: 10/29/1999 to 02/26/2000
Rule Type: Expired Emergency Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.15.10291999
(For the 120 days the emergency rules are in effect, the following rules shall apply. Emergency rules are no longer in effect 120 days after filing with the Secretary of State.)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. §23-1-101 and §23-1-302.
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:
(a) 'Harvest year' means twelve (12) consecutive months beginning November 1 of each year through October 31 of the following year.
Section 3. 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 under Section 4 through Section 12 of this regulation. This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded by the Commission.
Section 4. Supervision of Licensees. Wild bison recreational hunting shall be done under the supervision and/or direction of Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel. All applicants contacted to take a wild bison shall be required to complete a wild bison hunt orientation session, including a demonstration of shooting proficiency. The orientation shall be conducted at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Regional Office closest to the area where the hunt shall occur, unless otherwise specified by the Department, and immediately prior to the actual hunt.
Section 5. Applications, Selection for Ranking on Priority List(s) and Issuance of Licenses. Application and selection for ranking on the 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. Priority lists shall be maintained for each type as listed in Section 11 of this regulation. An individual shall only apply for one type. The priority list shall remain in effect for a twelve (12) month period beginning November 1 of each year.
Section 6. Notification. Applicants shall be notified of their placement on the priority list by the Department. Applicants on the priority list shall be notified by telephone in order of their priority ranking when the Department determines a wild bison recreational hunting opportunity is likely. Telephone calls shall be made during the evening hours between 6 P.M. and 10 P.M. A minimum of three 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 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 priority list. An applicant who declines participation shall have his/her name removed from the list. Individuals who participate in the season and are unsuccessful shall remain on the list but may not participate in the season again until all others on the priority list have had an opportunity to hunt. Applicants shall be advised during the notification call of the following information and procedures:
(a) The date, time, and location the applicant shall appear to participate in the wild bison hunt orientation session and demonstrate shooting proficiency.
(b) In the event there is more than one licensee afield at the same time and at the same location, the ranking of the individual licensee on the priority list shall dictate which licensee has preference in the selection of a specific wild bison.
(c) 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 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. If a licensee declines to take an available wild bison within six (6) consecutive days during a specific hunt, the licensee's opportunity to participate shall be forfeited and the licensee shall be removed from the priority list.
Section 7. Firearms. Only centerfire cartridges not less than two (2) inches in overall length, including a soft or expanding point bullet seated to a normal depth with a minimum .27 caliber barrel bore diameter and a minimum of a 150 grain bullet shall be allowed for the hunting of wild bison.
Section 8. Licensing. Licenses shall be issued upon payment 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 9. 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 hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
(b) Bag and Possession Limits. The bag and possession limit for wild bison shall be one (1) wild bison during any one harvest year.
(c) Open Areas, Season Dates and Limitations.
| Dates of Season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt Areas | Type | Opens | Closes | Limitations |
| 1,2 | 1 | Nov. 1 | Oct. 31 | Any male Wild Bison; other limitations specified during notification |
| 2 | Nov. 1 | Oct. 31 | Any female/calf Wild Bison; other limitations specified during notification |
(a) Area and Number.
Area 1. Northwestern Wyoming. All lands within Park, Hot Springs and Fremont Counties, excluding lands administered by the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Area 2. Jackson. All lands within Lincoln, Sublette and Teton Counties, excluding Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and the National Elk Refuge.
Section 13. Savings Clause. If any provision of these regulations shall be held to be illegal or unconstitutional, such a ruling shall not affect other provisions of these regulations which can be given effect without the illegal or unconstitutional provision; and, to this end, the provisions of the regulations shall be severable.
WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
By: TRACY HUNT PRESIDENT
Date: October 19, 1999