Game and Fish Commission

Game and Fish Commission Regulations

Effective Date: 06/22/2025 to Current

Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 040.0001.66.06222025

CHAPTER 66

WYOMING BIGHORN/DOMESTIC SHEEP PLAN REVISION RULES

Section 1. Authority. This regulation is being promulgated jointly by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, Wyoming Board of Agriculture and the Wyoming Livestock Board by authority of W.S. § 11-19-604.

Section 2. Purpose of Rules. These rules are adopted to outline the procedures required to make any amendments to the Wyoming Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Plan.

Section 3. Definitions. The following definitions are applicable for implementing these rules:

1. (a) “Board of Agriculture” means the Wyoming Board of Agriculture.
2. (b) “Commission” means the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.
3. (c) “Livestock Board” means the Wyoming Livestock Board.
4. (d) “Plan” means the final report and recommendations of the Wyoming State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Interaction Working Group dated September 2004, together with appendices A through N.
5. (e) “Wyoming State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Interaction Working Group” means the stakeholder group originally convened at the request of Governor Jim Geringer and Senator Craig Thomas on February 8, 2000, and consisting of interested parties to consider a statewide approach to developing collaborative recommendations and actions that would address species interaction issues and lead to long-term stabilization of both wild sheep herds and the domestic sheep industry.

Section 4. Amendments to the Plan.

1. (a) The Wyoming State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Interaction Working Group, at any meeting, may recommend consensus-based amendments to the Plan to be jointly considered by the Board of Agriculture, Commission and Livestock Board.
2. (b) The Board of Agriculture, Commission and Livestock Board may amend the Plan after seeking the advice of the Wyoming State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Interaction Working Group. Any recommended amendment submitted by the Wyoming State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Interaction Working Group shall satisfy this advice requirement.
3. (c) Any amendment to the Plan shall be formally adopted by the Board of Agriculture, Commission and Livestock Board by amending these rules and regulations, pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedures Act.

(d) The Board of Agriculture, Commission and Livestock Board shall consider and vote upon any proposed amendment as distinct and separate bodies. Each body must adopt the proposed amendment by a majority vote.

Section 5. Incorporation by Reference.

(a) For the Plan incorporated by reference in these rules:

(i) The incorporation of the full text in these rules would be cumbersome or inefficient given the length and nature of the Plan;

(ii) The incorporation by reference does not include any later amendments or editions of the incorporated matter beyond the applicable dates identified in subsection (b) of this Section; and,

(iii) The incorporated Plan is maintained at the Commission office and available for public inspection and copying at cost at that location. The Plan may be found electronically on the Department website.

(b) The final report and recommendations of the Wyoming State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Interaction working group dated September 2004 together with appendices A through L and N adopted by the Wyoming State Legislature as the initial State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep Interaction Plan pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 11-19-604, is incorporated by reference in these rules. Further, appendix M is incorporated as amended by the State-wide Bighorn/Domestic Sheep interaction working group and approved by the Board of Agriculture, the Commission and the Livestock Board dated September of 2024.

Dated: April 23, 2025

By: ____ Ashlee Lundvall, President Wyoming Game and Fish Commission

Steve True, Director Wyoming Livestock Board

Doug Miyamoto, Director Wyoming Board of Agriculture