Wyo. Code R. 075-0001-2
Outfitters and Professional Guides, Board of
Chapter 2: Licensing Provisions
Effective Date: 09/23/2002 to 02/12/2007
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 075.0001.2.09232002
(a) Outfitter licenses will be issued as Type A - Big and Trophy Game and Type B - Deer/Antelope. Any qualified person desiring to operate as an outfitter may make application for an outfitter license for the type desired on forms provided by the Board (Figure 1 and 2). The application shall be completed by the applicant and returned to the Board, together with the new applicant fee. The study material for the exam will then be mailed to the applicant. This fee is non-refundable. The application and new applicant fee shall be valid for one year from date of receipt.
(b) Applicants shall indicate the hunt area(s) in which they intend to operate and shall provide all information as required on the Operation Plan (Figure 8). Outfitters may operate only in those areas approved on the Operation Plan, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section.
(c) Applicants shall submit a letter of intent from an insurance company indicating they will insure the applicant if a license is approved. Insurance must be effective during the entire licensing period. If insurance is not in effect, the license is void.
(d) Prior to final approval of an outfitter license, the applicant shall secure written endorsement from the public land agency or lessor for the areas shown on the Operation Plan (Figures 3 & 4). A 'Surface Management Status Map' shall be submitted showing all intended areas of operation. All written records of applicants involving landowner or lessor permission shall remain confidential.
(e) All applicants shall appear in person before the Board, unless waived by the Board. The Board may also request an applicant to pass a camp and equipment inspection.
(f) Licensed outfitters may apply for additional area authorizations by submitting a Supplemental Area Request to the Board (Figure 4 for private land authorization or Figure 6 for public or state land authorization).
(g) The Board shall retain final authority regarding license issuance and hunt area authorization. The Board may restrict the species and the hunt management unit where an applicant may operate or outfit hunting clients based upon sound animal and land use management principles based upon recommendations by the game management commission.
(h) All area authorization permits shall be issued in the name of the outfitter.
(i) The new application fee shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) and shall be submitted with the original application. The fee shall be set by the Board before December 31st of each year.
(j) An applicant for a new outfitters license shall have experience as a licensed professional guide for not less than one (1) year or similar experience acceptable to the Board. The applicant may submit a letter of reference from a licensed outfitter and shall demonstrate knowledge of the area(s) for which application is made.
(k) The Board may deny granting a license to an applicant who is not qualified based upon a violation of local, state, or federal laws, or regulations pertaining to wildlife, game or fish.
(a) New applicants for outfitter licenses shall be given an examination to test the applicant's knowledge of the Act, Board rules, Game & Fish laws, Forest Service and BLM outfitting policies, and first aid. It shall also include habits of game sought, hunting techniques, care of meat and trophies and applicable firearm laws.
(b) An examination for a new outfitter license for a current year shall be given once a month during January through June. The examination shall be given once a month during July through December for the following year. Applicants shall make an appointment to test no less that fourteen (14) days in advance. The examination shall be a closed book test. Passing the examination will constitute receiving a score of at least seventy-five percent (75%). Any person failing to pass an examination may be given another examination after thirty (30) days. An applicant who fails the examination twice in a calendar year shall not be eligible to retake the examination until the following calendar year. Upon receiving a passing score, the exam shall be valid for one year from the date taken.
Section 3. Outfitters to Submit Required Report. Each licensed outfitter shall submit an Outfitter's Annual Report and affidavit covering the calendar year for which the license was held (Figure 7 - 7A). The reported information shall be legible, accurate, complete and verified by a notary public. Reports shall be received by the Board by January 31 of each year. A license shall not be renewed until this Report has been received.
(a) Outfitter licenses expire on December 31st of the year issued per W.S. 23-2-414(b). Therefore, outfitter renewal applications must be post-marked no later than December 31st of each year. Any application post-marked after that date shall be treated as a first time applicant except for good cause as determined solely by the Board.
(b) An outfitter license may be renewed and the same license number retained if the applicant is not applying for additional area(s) or services upon submission of the following by December 31st prior to the year for which a license is sought.
(i) A completed outfitter license renewal application form (Figure 5);
(ii) An original Certificate of Insurance if one is not on file;
(iii) The outfitter license fee as set by the Board under Chapter 5, Section 1 and pursuant to W.S. 33-1-201.
(c) When an applicant has failed to utilize and report clients hunted in an area for a period of three (3) years, the previous authorization for that area and species shall be forfeited and void.
(d) The applicant shall provide proof of hunting license denial for that hunt area and species to retain authorization or apply for supplemental authorization with the name and license number of the client to be outfitted.
(a) Any qualified person desiring to operate as a professional guide may make application for a professional guide license (Figure 9). The application shall be valid for one year from the date of receipt.
(b) The application shall be completed by the applicant and returned to the Board together with the annual license fee as set by the Board under Chapter 5, Section 1 and pursuant to W.S. 33-1-201. An applicant may receive only one fourteen (14) day permit in any twelve (12) month period.
(c) A professional guide license issued by the Board is valid if:
(i) The professional guide is employed or contracted by a licensed outfitter;
(ii) Signed on the back by the employing or contracting outfitter, including the outfitter's license number; and
(iii) It is the original license or is a facsimile copy, properly signed, which shall be valid proof of licensure until it is reasonably practical to possess the original.
(d) Professional guides employed by a landowner exempted from the outfitter licensing act shall have the landowner sign the back of the professional guide's license in lieu of an outfitter.
(e) Professional guides covered under liability insurance of a licensed outfitter shall not be required to furnish a separate certificate of insurance.
(f) The new application fee shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) for all new professional guide applicants. This fee is valid for one year from the date of receipt and is non-refundable.
(g) The Board may deny granting a license to an applicant who is not qualified based upon a violation of local, state, or federal laws, or regulations pertaining to wildlife, game or fish.
Section 6. Examination for Professional Guides. New applicants for professional guide licenses shall be given an examination prior to issuance of the license. The examination shall test the applicant's knowledge of the Act, Board rules, game and fish laws, Forest Service and BLM policies and first aid. It shall also include habits of game sought, hunting techniques, care of meat and trophies and applicable firearm laws.
Passing the examination will constitute receiving a score of at least seventy-five percent (75%). Any person failing to pass an examination may be given another examination after thirty (30) days. Upon receiving a passing score, the exam shall be valid for one year from the date taken.
Section 7. Renewal of Professional Guide Licenses. Professional Guide licenses expire on December 31st of the year issued per W.S. 23-2-414(b). A renewal filed after December 31st is not timely filed for purposes of Wyoming Statute 16-3-113(b). However, Professional Guides who submit an application for the next consecutive year after December 31st of the previous year are exempt from taking the exam and paying the new application fee as required for first time applicants. A professional guide license may be renewed upon submission of the following:
(a) A completed professional guide application (Figure 9);
(b) The annual professional guide license fee as set by the Board under Chapter 5, Section 1 and pursuant to W.S. 33-1-201.
Section 8. Proof of Licensure Required.
(a) Licensees shall carry their original license, as issued by the Board, at all times when providing outfitting or professional guide services, except as authorized by Section 5 (c) (iii) of this Chapter.