Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-32
Effective Date: 06/21/2018 to 08/29/2019
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.32.06212018
Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of Wyoming Statutes § 23-1-302, § 23-2-104, § 23-3-110 and § 23-3-111.
Section 2. Regulation. The Commission hereby adopts the following regulation governing firearm cartridges and archery equipment for the taking of big or trophy game animals and game birds. This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by the Commission.
Section 3. Definition. For the purpose of this regulation, definitions shall be as set forth in Title 23, Wyoming Statutes, and the Commission also adopts the following definition:
(a) 'Archery Equipment' means crossbows, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, arrows and bolts.
Section 4. Firearms, muzzle-loaders and cartridges that are legal for the taking of big or trophy game animals.
(a) For the taking of bighorn sheep, elk, moose, mountain goat or black bear by the use of a firearm, a hunter shall use:
(i) Any center-fire firearm of at least .24 caliber and firing a cartridge of at least two (2) inches in overall length, or any other cartridge of at least .35 caliber and at least one and one-half inches (1.5) in overall length, and using an expanding point bullet; or,
(ii) Any muzzle-loading rifle or any muzzle-loading handgun of at least .40 caliber and firing an expanding point bullet or lead ball and using a charge of at least fifty (50) grains of black powder or its equivalent; or,
(iii) Any shotgun firing '00' or larger buckshot, or a slug.
(b) For the taking of antelope, deer, mountain lion, or gray wolf where designated as a trophy game animal, a hunter shall use:
(i) Any center-fire firearm of at least .22 caliber (excluding .22 Hornet) and having a bullet weight of at least sixty (60) grains and firing a cartridge of at least two (2) inches in overall length, or any other cartridge of at least .35 caliber and at least one and one-half (1.5) inches in overall length, and using an expanding point bullet; or, (ii) Any muzzle-loading rifle or any muzzle-loading handgun of at least .40 caliber and firing an expanding point bullet or lead ball and using a charge of at least fifty (50) grains of black powder or its equivalent; or,
(iii) Any shotgun firing “00” or larger buckshot, or a slug.
(c) For the taking of a grizzly bear by the use of a firearm, a hunter shall use:
(i) Any center-fire firearm of at least .27 caliber and firing a cartridge of at least two (2) inches in overall length and using an expanding point bullet of at least one hundred fifty (150) grains.
(ii) Any muzzle-loading rifle or any muzzle-loading handgun of at least .50 caliber and firing an expanding point bullet or lead ball and using a charge of at least one hundred (100) grains of black powder or its equivalent; or,
(iii) Any shotgun firing “00” or larger buckshot, or a slug.
(a) For the taking of game birds, excluding wild turkey, blue grouse and ruffed grouse, a hunter shall use:
(i) Any center-fire or muzzle-loading shotgun not larger than a ten (10) gauge plugged to admit no more than one (1) shell in the chamber and two (2) shells in the magazine; or,
(ii) Any archery equipment.
(b) For the taking of wild turkey, a hunter shall use any shotgun, center-fire firearm, .17 HMR or larger rimfire firearm with an overall cartridge length greater than one (1) inch, any muzzle-loading firearm, or any archery equipment.
(c) Blue grouse, ruffed grouse and small game may be taken in any manner except as prohibited by Wyoming Statute.
(a) For the taking of antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, deer, mountain goat, mountain lion, or gray wolf where designated as a trophy game animal, a hunter shall use a longbow, recurve bow or compound bow of not less than forty (40) pounds draw weight and an arrow equipped with a fixed or expanding point broadhead that when fully expanded cannot pass through a seven-eighths (7/8) inch solid ring.
(b) For the taking of elk, grizzly bear or moose, a hunter shall use a longbow, recurve bow or compound bow of not less than fifty (50) pounds draw weight and an arrow equipped with a fixed or expanding point broadhead that when fully expanded cannot pass through a seven-eighths (7/8) inch solid ring.
(c) For the taking of any big or trophy game animal with a crossbow, a hunter shall use a crossbow having a peak draw weight of at least ninety (90) pounds and a bolt of at least sixteen (16) inches in length equipped with a fixed or expanding point broadhead that when fully expanded cannot pass through a seven-eighths (7/8) inch solid ring.
Mark Anselmi, President
Dated: May 23, 2018