Wyo. Code R. 075-0001-2
Outfitters and Professional Guides, Board of
Chapter 2: Licensing Provisions
Effective Date: 01/21/2022 to Current
Rule Type: Current Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 075.0001.2.01212022
(a) To qualify for a new outfitter license, in addition to meeting the requirements of Wyoming Statute § 23-2-411(a), an applicant shall:
(i) Be certified in first aid;
(ii) If born on or after January 1, 1966, possess a certificate of competence and safety in the use and handling of firearms (hunter safety card); and
(iii) Have knowledge of the hunt area(s) where they plan to operate.
(b) An applicant has experience as a licensed professional guide for not less than 1 year or similar experience accepted by the Board if the applicant has:
(i) At least 70 days of experience as a licensed professional guide or licensed outfitter; or
(ii) Other training, experience, or education applicable to outfitting and accepted by the Board.
(a) To obtain an outfitter license, an applicant shall complete the outfitter license application on forms provided by the Board. The applicant shall submit to the Board:
(i) A complete application;
(ii) The new outfitter application fee required by Chapter 5 of these Rules;
(iii) An Outfitter Operation Plan;
(iv) A copy of their current and valid first aid certification;
(v) If born on or after January 1, 1966, a copy of their hunter safety card;
(vi) A letter of intent from an insurance company indicating the insurance company will issue the applicant a liability insurance policy if the outfitter license is approved; and
(vii) Documented evidence that the applicant has at least 70 days of experience in the field guiding hunters as a licensed professional guide or licensed outfitter, or documented evidence of the applicant's other training, experience, or education applicable to outfitting. Documented evidence may include but is not limited to:
(A) Letters of reference from employing outfitters;
(B) Records of game pursued, including dates and locations; or
(C) Copies of outfitter annual reports.
(b) All applicants for a new outfitter license shall appear in person before the Board, unless the Board waives this requirement for extenuating circumstances.
(c) The Board may require an applicant to pass an equipment inspection by the Board before issuing a license.
(d) An application and new applicant fee are valid for 1 year from the date of the first successful outfitter examination.
(a) The Board shall administer a written, closed-book examination to applicants for an outfitter license to test the applicant's knowledge of the Act, Board rules, Game & Fish laws, Forest Service and BLM outfitting and land use policies, first aid, general hunting and outdoor skills, habits of game sought, hunting techniques, care of meat and trophies, and applicable firearm laws.
(i) The Board shall administer the examination as needed January through June for outfitter license applicants for the current year.
(ii) The Board shall administer the examination as needed July through December for outfitter license applicants for the following year.
(iii) The Board shall administer the examination in the Board office, unless the Board waives this requirement for extenuating circumstances.
(b) An applicant shall make an appointment to take the examination at least 14 days prior to the date of the examination.
(c) The Board shall provide the study material for the examination to the applicant upon the Board's receipt of the materials required by Section 2(a) of this Chapter.
(d) To pass the examination, an applicant must receive a score of at least 75%. An applicant who fails the examination may take the examination again after 30 days.
(e) A passing score on the examination is valid for 1 year from the date taken.
(a) The Board shall approve a license application when the applicant has met the licensing requirements of Sections 1 and 2 of this Chapter.
(b) Upon the Board's approval of an application, the applicant shall submit the outfitter license fee required by Chapter 5 of these Rules and proof of liability insurance within 60 days.
(c) The Board shall issue a license when the applicant has met the requirements of the Act and paid the license fee, submitted proof of liability insurance, passed the outfitter examination, passed an equipment inspection by the Board (if one is required), and attended the outfitter training course provided by the Board.
(d) The Board shall issue all licenses in the name of the outfitter.
(e) Outfitters shall maintain a liability insurance policy that meets the requirements of W.S. § 23-2-413(d) for the entire licensing period. Failure to maintain a liability insurance policy immediately voids the outfitter license.
(a) Applicants for new outfitter licenses shall indicate the hunt area(s) where they intend to operate and shall provide all information about the hunt area(s) required on the Outfitter Operation Plan form.
(b) Licensed outfitters may apply for additional hunt area authorizations by submitting a Supplemental Hunt Area Request form and an amended Outfitter Operation Plan to the Board. In lieu of the Supplemental Hunt Area Request form, the licensee may submit a letter of intent from the controlling public land agency, private landowner, owner's agent, or lessor that indicates the species and hunt areas where the licensee may operate.
(c) For any hunt areas shown on the Outfitter Operation Plan, the applicant or licensee shall secure written endorsement from the public land agency, private landowner, owner's agent, or lessor on a form provided by the Board. For any private lands shown on the Outfitter Operation Plan, the applicant or licensee shall also submit a Surface Management Status Map. All written records submitted by an applicant involving landowner permission or leases shall remain confidential to the extent allowed by the Wyoming Public Records Act, W.S. § 16-4-201 through 16-4-205.
(d) Outfitters shall not operate outside hunt areas approved by the Board in the Outfitter Operation Plan, Supplemental Hunt Area Request form, or letter of intent.
(e) The Board retains final authority regarding license issuance and hunt area authorization. The Board may restrict the species and the hunt area where a licensee may outfit hunting clients based upon sound game and land use management principles or based upon recommendations by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.
(a) All outfitters shall sign their client’s hunting license, including their outfitter license number, before the client begins hunting.
(a) Each licensed outfitter shall submit a signed Outfitter’s Annual Report for the calendar year the license was valid.
(i) The outfitter may use the form provided by the Board or a similar form that includes the same information.
(ii) Information in the report shall be legible, accurate, and complete.
(b) Each report shall be received by the Board no later than January 31 of the year following the year for which the report is filed. The report may be submitted by email, fax, or mail. Any report post-marked or received after January 31 is untimely.
(a) Applications to renew outfitter licenses are due on December 1. Any application post-marked or received after December 31 shall be treated as a new outfitter license application and the new license application fee shall apply.
(b) If the Outfitter’s Annual Report required by Section 7 of this Chapter is not timely filed, any renewal application shall be treated as a new outfitter license application and the new license application fee shall apply.
(c) An outfitter license may be renewed and the same license number retained for the next license year if the applicant is not applying for additional hunt area(s) or services.
(d) To renew an outfitter license, an outfitter shall submit to the Board:
(i) A completed outfitter license renewal form;
(ii) Current proof of insurance; and
(iii) The outfitter license fee required by Chapter 5 of these Rules.
(a) To qualify for a professional guide license, in addition to meeting the requirements of W.S. § 23-2-412(a), an applicant shall:
(i) Be certified in first aid; and
(ii) If born on or after January 1, 1966, possess a certificate of competence and safety in the use and handling of firearms (hunter safety card).
(a) To obtain a professional guide license, an applicant shall complete the professional guide license application on forms provided by the Board. The applicant shall submit to the Board:
(i) A complete application;
(ii) The new professional guide application fee required by Chapter 5 of these Rules;
(iii) The professional guide license fee required by Chapter 5 of these Rules;
(iv) A copy of their current and valid first aid certification;
(v) If born on or after January 1, 1966, a copy of their hunter safety card; and
(vi) The professional guide examination.
(b) If an applicant applies for a professional guide license during the hunting season and good cause is shown, the Board may waive the requirements of Section 9(a)(i) and 9(a)(ii). No guide shall receive more than one 1 waiver.
(c) Professional guides covered under liability insurance of a licensed outfitter are not required to furnish a separate certificate of insurance.
(a) The Board shall administer an open-book, written examination to applicants for a professional guide license to test the applicant's knowledge of the Act, Board rules, Game & Fish laws, Forest Service and BLM land use policies, first aid, other general hunting and outdoor skills, habits of game sought, hunting techniques, care of meat and trophies, and applicable firearm laws.
(b) To pass the examination, an applicant must receive a score of at least 75%. An applicant who fails the examination may take the examination again after 30 days.
(c) An applicant who fails the examination twice in a calendar year shall not be eligible to retake the examination until the applicant submits a new professional guide application, new professional guide application fee, and license fee.
(d) A passing score on the examination is valid for 1 year from the date taken.
(a) Renewal applications for professional guide licenses are due prior to December 31.
(b) Professional guides licensed in either of the prior 2 calendar years may submit a renewal application and are exempt from taking the professional guide examination and paying the application fee required for first-time applicants.
(c) To renew a professional guide license, a professional guide shall submit the following:
(i) A completed professional guide renewal form; and
(ii) The professional guide license fee.
(a) Licensees shall carry their outfitter or professional guide license (or a facsimile or mobile device photo copy) at all times when providing outfitting or professional guide services.
(b) To be valid, a professional guide license must be signed by the employing or contracting outfitter, including the outfitter's license number and the date(s) that the licensee is employed by or operating under an independent contract with the licensed outfitter.