Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-4
Effective Date: 08/11/1999 to 08/08/2000
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.4.08111999
Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of W.S. §23-1-302 and §23-2-305.
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) “Green pelt” means the untanned hide or skin of a furbearing animal.
(b) “Trapping or trap” means the taking of a furbearing animal by trap, snare or with a firearm or archery equipment.
Section 3. Trapping Seasons Established and Effective Date. There shall be open seasons for the trapping of furbearing animals and the taking of bobcats with the use of dogs as set forth in Trapping Seasons (Section 4), Furbearing Animal Trapping Area Descriptions (Section 5), Common Season Boundary (Section 6), Limited Quota Furbearing Animal Trapping Areas (Section 7), Authorization to Trap (Section 8), Mandatory Bobcat Registration (Section 9), Trapping of Wildlife, Other Than Furbearing Animals; Disposition of Furbearing Animals at the Trap Site (Section 10), Use of Dogs (Section 11), Violation of Commission Regulations (Section 12) and Savings Clause (Section 13) of this Chapter. This regulation shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded by the Commission.
Section 4. Trapping Seasons.
(a) Species, Trapping Areas, Season Dates and Limitations.
| Species | Trapping Area | Date of Seasons | Limitations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens | Closes | |||
| Mink | 1 | Jan. 1 | March 31 | Any mink |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | Any mink | ||
| Bobcat | 1 | Jan. 1 | Mar. 1 | Any bobcat |
| Nov. 15 | Dec. 31 | Any bobcat | ||
| Muskrat | 1 | Jan. 1 | March 31 | Any muskrat |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | Any muskrat | ||
| Weasel | 1 | Jan. 1 | March 31 | Any weasel |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | Any weasel | ||
| Badger | 1 | Jan. 1 | Dec. 31 | Any badger |
| Species | Trapping Area | Date of Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens | Closes | Limitations | ||
| Marten | 1 | Jan. 1 | March 1 | Any marten |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | Any marten | ||
| 503 | Jan. 1 | March 1 | Any marten | |
| Dec. 1 | Dec. 31 | Any marten | ||
| 602 | Jan. 1 | March 1 | 5 trappers; 100 marten | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| Beaver | 1 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | Any beaver |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | Any beaver | ||
| 101 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 5 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 102 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 20 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 103 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 10 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 104 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 25 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 301-303 | CLOSED | |||
| 304 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 10 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 305 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 10 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 401 | CLOSED | |||
| 404 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 25 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 405 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 20 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 406 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 10 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 407 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 10 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 408 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 15 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 409 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 15 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 410 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 15 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 411 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 35 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 412 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 15 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 413 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 30 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 414 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 30 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 |
| 501 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 10 beaver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | ||
| 502 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 10 beaver |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 |
| Species | Trapping Area | Date of Seasons | Limitations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens | Closes | |||
| Beaver | 601 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 30 beaver |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 602 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 30 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 603 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 2 trappers; 60 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 604 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 30 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 | |||
| 605 | Jan. 1 | April 30 | 1 trapper; 5 beaver | |
| Oct. 1 | Dec. 31 |
Area 1. For all furbearing animals, excluding marten and beaver, the entire State of Wyoming, excluding those closed areas listed in 5(b).
(i) Marten. The entire State of Wyoming, excluding those limited quota trapping areas listed below and closed areas listed in Section 5(b).
Area 503. Snowy Range. Beginning at the junction of Interstate Highway 80 and U.S. Highway 287 in the city of Laramie; southerly along U.S. Highway 287 to the Wyoming-Colorado state line; westerly along said line to Wyoming Highway 230 in Carbon County; northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 130; northerly along said highway to Interstate Highway 80; easterly along said highway to its junction with U.S. Highway 287.
Area 602. Little Popo Agie. All U.S. Forest Service lands within the Little Popo Agie River drainage (including Cherry and Snow Creek) and Sawmill Creek drainage in Fremont County.
(ii) Beaver. The entire State of Wyoming, excluding those limited quota trapping areas below and closed areas listed in Section 5(b).
Area 101. Ditch Creek. Ditch Creek drainage in Teton County.
Area 102. Willow Creek. Willow Creek drainage in Teton and Sublette counties.
Area 103. Game Creek and Little Horse Creek. Game Creek and Little Horse Creek drainage in Teton County.
Area 104. Fall Creek. All of the Fall Creek, Mosquito Creek and Dog Creek drainages on U.S. Forest Service lands in Teton and Lincoln counties.
Area 301. North Tongue River. North Tongue River drainage in Sheridan County.
Area 302. South Tongue River. South Tongue River drainage in Sheridan County.
Area 303. East Fork of Big Goose Creek. East Fork of Big Goose Creek above Park Reservoir in Johnson County.
Area 304. Clear Creek. Clear Creek drainage on U.S. Forest Service lands in Johnson County.
Area 305. Crazy Woman Creek. Crazy Woman Creek drainage on U.S. Forest Service lands in Johnson County.
Area 401. South Rock Springs. That portion of Sweetwater County south of I-80 between Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Wyoming Highway 430.
Area 404. Henrys Fork. Henrys Fork, Louse Creek and Sage Creek drainages on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Uinta County.
Area 405. Cottonwood Creek. Cottonwood Creek drainage on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Uinta County.
Area 406. East Fork of Smiths Fork. Gilbert Creek and East Fork of Smiths Fork upstream from Wasatch-Cache National Forest boundary in Uinta County.
Area 407. West Fork of Smiths Fork. West Fork of the Smiths Fork River and Willow Creek drainages upstream from Wasatch-Cache National Forest boundary in Uinta County.
Area 408. Salt Creek. Salt Creek drainage on U.S. Forest Service lands, Salt Creek Proper and Raymond Creek drainage on public lands in Lincoln County.
Area 409. Upper Smiths Fork. Smiths Fork drainage on U.S. Forest Service lands in Lincoln County.
Area 410. Hobble Creek. Hobble Creek drainage on U.S. Forest Service lands, Coal Creek, Saw Mill Creek in Lincoln County.
Area 411. Hams Fork River (Hams Fork). Beginning where the Hams Fork River crosses the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary to where the river crosses U.S. Forest Service Road 062 and all tributaries lying east of the Hams Fork River in Lincoln County.
Area 412. South Fork Fontenelle Creek. Beginning where the South Fork of Fontenelle Creek crosses the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary to its headwaters and all tributaries in Lincoln County.
Area 413. Fontenelle Creek. Beginning where Fontenelle Creek crosses the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary to the mouth of Camp Fire Creek and all tributaries in Lincoln County.
Area 414. LaBarge Creek and South LaBarge Creek (main streams). Beginning where LaBarge Creek crosses the Bridger-Teton National Forest boundary to its headwaters and the main stream of South LaBarge Creek in Lincoln County. LaBarge Creek Proper will be closed one (1) mile each side of the confluence of Nameless Creek and LaBarge Creek in Lincoln County.
Area 501. North Pole Mountain. All of the drainages of Brush Creek, Crow Creek, Lodgepole (Pole) Creek, McKechnie Creek and Horse Creek within the boundaries of the Pole Mountain Division of the Medicine Bow National Forest and north of the Happy Jack Road (Wyoming Secondary Highway 210-U.S.F.S. 722) in Albany County.
Area 502. South Pole Mountain. All of the drainages of Brush Creek, Lodgepole (Pole) Creek, Crow Creek and Dale Creek within the boundaries of the Pole Mountain Division of the Medicine Bow National Forest and south of the Happy Jack Road (Wyoming Secondary Highway 210-U.S.F.S. 722) in Albany County.
Area 601. Beaver Creek. All public lands within the Twin and Beaver Creek drainage south of U.S. Highway 287 in Fremont County.
Area 602. Little Popo Agie. All U.S. Forest Service lands within the Little Popo Agie River drainage (including Cherry and Snow Creek) and Sawmill Creek drainage in Fremont County.
Area 603. Upper Sweetwater. All public lands within the Sweetwater River drainage above Phelps-Dodge Bridge in Fremont and Sublette counties.
Area 604. Sweetwater. All public lands within the Rock Creek, Strawberry Creek and Deep Creek drainages and along the Sweetwater River proper between Phelps-Dodge Bridge and Sweetwater Station in Fremont County.
Area 605. Green Mountain. All public lands within the Crooks Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Cooper Creek and Willow Creek drainages on Green Mountain in Fremont County.
(b) Closed Areas.
(i) Areas Closed to the taking of all furbearing animals:
(A) Grand Teton National Park;
(B) National Elk Refuge; and,
(C) Rawhide Wildlife Management Area, Springer Wildlife Habitat Management Area and the Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area shall be closed October 1 through December 31 and January 1 through January 31.
(ii) Areas closed to the use of steel leg hold traps and snares.
(A) John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway.
(iii) Areas Closed to the Taking of Beaver:
(A) Cliff Creek drainage in Sublette County;
(B) Cache Creek drainage in Teton County;
(C) Granite Creek from the Granite Hot Springs swimming pool downstream to the confluence with the Hoback River in Teton and Sublette Counties;
(D) South Fork Lake Creek and Goetze Creek drainages on the Pennock Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Area in Carbon County; and,
(E) Nameless Creek proper in Lincoln County.
(iv) Areas Closed to the Taking of Marten:
(A) All lands within the Pole Mountain Unit of the Medicine Bow National Forest in Albany County.
Section 6. Common Season Boundary. Whenever a stream or river forms a boundary between two (2) different trapping seasons for the same furbearing animal, the stream or river channel proper shall open for trapping on the earliest opening date and close on the latest closing date of the two (2) seasons involved.
Section 7. Limited Quota Furbearing Animal Trapping Areas. Limited quota trapping areas shall be open only to the person(s) who possesses a furbearing animal trapping permit. Only the holder of a permit for a limited quota trapping area(s) shall be allowed to trap the limited quota area for the designated species for one (1) trapping season. Permit holders shall be determined by a random computer selection and trapping instructions shall be obtained from the game warden responsible for the limited quota furbearing animal trapping area.
(a) Application for Limited Quota Furbearing Animal Trapping Permits. Applications shall be available from Wyoming Game and Fish Department Regional Offices, the Cheyenne Headquarters Office and game wardens. Any qualified applicant holding a valid Wyoming furbearing animal trapping license may submit one (1) application for a limited quota trapping area drawing and may list as many as three (3) choices.
(b) When trapping, all permit holders shall present upon demand to any game and fish personnel or any law enforcement officer empowered to enforce these regulations his/her permit and a valid Wyoming furbearing animal trapping license.
(c) Application Date. Applications shall be submitted on a form provided by the Department to the Cheyenne Headquarters Office from July 1 through September 1.
(d) Drawing. Only correct and complete applications received in the Cheyenne Headquarters Office during the application dates shall be entered in the random computer selection. Successful applicants shall be notified by mail. Successful applicants shall contact the game warden listed on the notice prior to taking permitted furbearing animals in the limited quota furbearing animal trapping area. The game warden shall issue instructions regarding the number of furbearing animals to be taken and any other information necessary to fulfill the permit requirements.
(e) Issue After Draw Limited Quota Trapping Areas. Applicants may apply after the regular drawing for permits for limited quota furbearing animal trapping areas not issued in the drawing. Applicants shall apply to the Cheyenne Headquarters Office. Persons shall have permits issued in the order the applications are processed or until quotas are reached. Submission of an application either through the mail or hand delivered shall not guarantee a permit. Individuals issued limited quota furbearing animal trapping permits shall contact the game warden listed on the notice prior to taking permitted furbearing animals in the limited quota furbearing animal trapping areas. The game warden shall issue instructions regarding the number of furbearing animals to be taken and any other information necessary to fulfill the permit.
Section 8. Authorization to Trap. Any person holding a valid furbearing animal trapping license issued in accordance with all pertinent Wyoming laws and regulations shall be authorized to trap furbearing animals in any trapping area specified in the current trapping regulations, excluding species within limited quota furbearing animal trapping areas specified in this regulation and excluding closed areas in Section 5(b) of this regulation.
Section 9. Mandatory Bobcat Registration. All bobcats harvested in Wyoming after July 1, 1990, shall be registered by the person taking the bobcat with the Department, regardless of the final disposition of the pelt or unskinned carcass. Bobcat pelts may be registered throughout the bobcat season, but registration of pelts shall end at 5:00 p.m. on March 11 of each year. It shall be unlawful to possess an untagged green bobcat pelt after the registration period expires. For a bobcat pelt or unskinned carcass to be registered, the properly licensed trapper shall present the pelt or unskinned carcass in an unfrozen condition to a game warden or a Wyoming Game and Fish Department Regional Office. The individual taking any bobcat shall provide the lower jaw of the bobcat with canines intact, sex of the bobcat, legal description, to include section, township and range, where the bobcat was harvested and the date of harvest for each bobcat taken before a Wyoming bobcat tag shall be issued. A Wyoming bobcat tag shall be attached to the pelt or unskinned carcass by an employee of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Wyoming bobcat tags shall be issued free of charge.
Section 10. Trapping of Wildlife, Other Than Furbearing Animals; Disposition of Furbearing Animals at the Trap Site. Wildlife classified as game animals, game birds, protected animals and/or protected birds that are trapped, shall be released unharmed. If the animal caught has been injured to the extent that the injury shall result in death of the animal or if the animal has been killed, the trapper shall immediately notify a Department enforcement officer. Furbearing animals legally taken by a holder of a valid furbearing animal trapping license during an open season shall be either killed at the trap site or released to the wild. If the trapper holds both a furbearing animal trapping license and a license to capture furbearing animals for domestication, the furbearing animals do not have to be killed at the trap site.
Section 11. Use of Dogs. Persons possessing a valid furbearing animal trapping license may use dogs to pursue and take bobcats during the bobcat trapping season.
Section 12. 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 13. Savings Clause. If any provision of this regulation is 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 the regulation are severable.
By: TRACY HUNT PRESIDENT
Dated: July 26, 1999