Wyo. Code R. 040-0001-71
Effective Date: 10/23/2025 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 040.0001.71.10232025
Section 1. Authority. This regulation is promulgated by authority of Wyoming Statutes (W.S.) § 23-1-102, § 23-1-103, § 23-1-302(a)(xxii), § 23-3-206, § 23-3-401, § 23-6-111 and § 23-6-207.
Section 2. Regulation. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission hereby adopts the following regulation governing commercially guided fishing boats and trailers. This regulation shall become effective January 1, 2026, and shall remain in effect until modified or repealed by the Commission.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 W.S. § 23-3-206 and § 41-13-101 and the Commission also adopts the following definitions:
“Operate” means as defined in W.S. § 23-3-206.
“Registrant” means the individual that purchased a commercially guided fishing boat registration.
(c) 'Registration sticker” means a commercially guided fishing boat registration sticker upon which appears “WYO”, “GUIDE”, the calendar year for which the sticker is valid and an identification number.
Section 4. Registration and Designation of Commercially Guided Fishing Boats and Trailers.
(a) All commercially guided fishing boats shall display a valid registration sticker in accordance with this regulation when used by an outfitter or professional guide who is providing fishing guide services.
(i) Fishing guide services as defined in W.S. § 23-3-206 shall include services provided for the purpose of angling or bowfishing.
(b) The fee for registration stickers shall be three hundred twenty-five dollars ($325).
(c) Following payment of the commercially guided fishing boat registration fee, the registrant shall be issued two (2) registration stickers, a commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slip and a proof of registration sticker purchase. One (1) registration sticker shall be designated for use on the fishing boat and one (1) registration sticker shall be designated for use on the fishing boat trailer.
(d) Each commercially guided fishing boat registration sticker shall be valid through the end of the calendar year indicated on the registration sticker.
(i) The registration sticker shall be affixed to the boat hull on the starboard (right) side near the stern in a manner such that it is visible when the fishing boat is underway. Alternatively, the registration sticker may be affixed to a placard instead of the boat hull. The placard shall be displayed on a portion of the starboard (right) side, near the stern in a manner that is clearly visible when underway.
(ii) On commercially guided fishing boat trailers, the registration sticker shall be displayed in a visible location on the right (passenger) side of the trailer tongue.
(iii) The commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slip shall be clearly displayed in a visible location on the driver's side dashboard of the vehicle used to transport the commercially guided fishing boat or boat trailer.
(iv) Only registration stickers and commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slips which are currently valid shall be displayed.
(e) Proof of registration shall be evidenced by a valid boat registration sticker properly affixed to the commercially guided fishing boat and a properly displayed commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slip in the vehicle used to transport a commercially guided fishing boat that is being used to provide fishing guide services.
(i) Proof of the current year's registration sticker purchase may be used in lieu of a properly affixed registration sticker(s) for up to thirty (30) days from the date of purchase.
(f) Registrants may transfer valid registration stickers between watercraft; however, all watercraft shall display a valid registration sticker when used to provide fishing guide services on any waters of this state.
(g) Registrants may transfer valid commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slips between vehicles; however, all vehicles shall have a properly displayed, valid vehicle identification slip when used to transport a watercraft that is being used to provide fishing guide services on any waters of this state.
(h) Designation of private fishing trips. When a properly registered commercially guided fishing boat is operated on the waters of this state and is not being used for fishing guide services, the operator shall not display a registration sticker affixed to a placard on the boat or a commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slip on the vehicle dashboard. The operator shall temporarily cover any commercially guided fishing boat registration sticker that is permanently affixed to the boat in a manner that the sticker is partially or completely obscured.
(i) Upon transfer of a commercially guided fishing boat or trailer to a new owner, permanently affixed registration stickers are no longer valid and the registrant shall remove the affixed registration stickers from the fishing boat and trailer.
(i) Replacement registration stickers may be purchased for another commercially guided fishing boat and trailer in accordance with Section 5 of this regulation.
(a) The Department shall charge a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25) for issuance of each individual replacement registration sticker.
(i) Proof of replacement registration sticker purchase may be used in lieu of properly affixed registration sticker(s) for up to thirty (30) days from the date of purchase of a replacement sticker.
(b) Replacement commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slips shall be available free of charge throughout the calendar year for which the registration is valid.
(c) Following the sale or transfer of a commercially guided fishing boat or trailer to a new owner and the removal of any permanently affixed unexpired registration stickers, the original owner may purchase replacement registration stickers. The Department shall void the original registration stickers and charge a fee of fifty dollars ($50) for issuance of two (2) new registration stickers for use on one (1) boat and one (1) trailer. The new registration stickers shall be valid only for the remainder of the calendar year for which the original registration sticker was valid.
(a) Every registrant shall maintain current, complete, legible and accurate records on forms provided by the Department. The records shall include: the name of the registrant, registration sticker number, name of the outfitter through which the fishing guide services were scheduled and provided, name of the fishing boat operator, date of each individual commercially guided fishing boat trip, name of the water fished and identification of the river segment fished.
(i) Records shall be made available for inspection in accordance with W.S. § 23-6-111 upon reasonable notice from the Department. Notification shall consist of direct communication in person or by telephone with the registrant to schedule an inspection.
(b) Required records or legible copies shall be submitted not less than twice annually to the Department. The deadlines for record submission shall be July 15 for the period January 1 through June 30 and January 15 for the period July 1 through December 31 of the prior calendar year. Any registrant that provided no fishing guide services during the reporting period shall submit a report including the name of the registrant, the registration sticker number and indicating that no services were provided.
(a) A commercially guided fishing boat registration may be revoked by the Commission for the following reasons:
(i) Failure by the registrant to keep or submit accurate and complete records required by this regulation.
(ii) Failure of an outfitter or guide providing fishing guide services to properly designate commercially guided fishing boats, trailers and vehicles in accordance with this regulation.
(b) Any revocation of a commercially guided fishing boat registration shall be subject to contested case proceedings in accordance with Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Regulation Chapter 27, Rules of Practice Governing Contested Cases Before the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.
WYOMING GAME AND FISH COMMISSION
Ashlee Lundvall, President
Dated: September 10, 2025