(a) Federal
Regulations. 50 CFR
20.21(i) revised as of
August 8, 2019, which do not include any later amendments or editions of the
incorporated matter, governing the baiting of migratory game birds, are adopted
as regulations of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission. Violations of these
federal statutes and regulations shall be violations of the Commission
regulations. A copy of Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations can be
viewed at the Cheyenne Headquarters, Department Regional Offices or on the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service website (
www.fws.gov).
(b) Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and
Conservation Stamp (federal duck stamp). A federal duck stamp is required for
persons sixteen (16) years of age and older to hunt ducks, geese and
mergansers. A federal duck stamp is not required to hunt coots, sandhill
cranes, crows, mourning doves, rail or snipe. Federal duck stamps shall be
signed in ink across the face of the stamp and shall be in possession of the
hunter while in the field. Hunters possessing an electronic federal duck stamp
are exempted from this signature provision during the time their electronic
federal duck stamp is valid.
(c)
HIP Permit. Each licensed hunter who hunts migratory game birds shall complete
a current Wyoming validation for the National Migratory Bird Harvest
Information Program (HIP) and shall obtain a Wyoming HIP permit. This
requirement also applies to holders of pioneer and lifetime hunting licenses.
Each licensed hunter engaged in the act of hunting doves, ducks, geese,
mergansers, coots, rails, cranes or snipe shall be in possession of a Wyoming
HIP permit and shall immediately produce said permit upon request from any
authorized Department representative. HIP permits shall be signed in ink across
the face of the permit and shall be in possession of the hunter while in the
field. HIP permits expire on June 30 each year. HIP permits are not
transferrable to other states. A separate HIP permit is required from each
state in which you hunt. Wyoming HIP permits shall be available only on the
Department website. Youths under 14 are not required to obtain a HIP permit if
they do not hold a valid game bird license.
(d) No person shall take migratory game
birds:
(i) With a trap, snare, net, rifle,
pistol, swivel gun, shotgun larger than 10 gauge, punt gun, machine gun,
fishhook, poison, drug, explosive or stupefying substance;
(ii) With any shotgun that can hold more than
three (3) shells in the magazine and chamber combined, except during the light
goose conservation order (refer to Section
7 of this regulation);
(iii) From a sink box or any low floating
device, which has a depression to hide a person underneath the water's
surface;
(iv) From or by means of
any motorboat or sailboat unless the motor has been completely shut off or sail
furled, and the boat's progress therefrom has ceased;
(v) By the use or aid of live decoys. All
live, tame or captive ducks and geese shall be removed for a period of ten (10)
consecutive days prior to hunting, and shall be confined within an enclosure
which substantially reduces the audibility of their calls and totally conceals
such birds from the sight of migratory game birds;
(vi) By the use of records or tapes of
migratory bird calls or sounds, or electronically amplified imitations of bird
calls, except during the light goose conservation order;
(vii) By driving, rallying or chasing
migratory game birds with any motor driven land, water or air conveyance or any
sailboat.
(e) Nontoxic
Shot. No person shall hunt ducks, geese, mergansers or coots while possessing
shot other than nontoxic shot. Nontoxic shot is also required when using a
shotgun to hunt any game bird on the Commission's Table Mountain and
Springer/Bump-Sullivan wildlife habitat management areas.
(f) Evidence of Species. One fully-feathered
wing or the feathered head shall remain naturally attached to the carcass as a
means of identification of migratory game birds, except mourning doves, in the
field and while the birds are being transported.
(g) Mourning Dove, Rail and Snipe Hunting
Seasons.
|
MOURNING DOVE, RAIL AND SNIPE -
STATEWIDE
|
|
Species
|
Season Dates
|
Closed Areas Section
3 Subsections
|
Bag Limit
|
|
Opens
|
Closes
|
Daily
|
Possession
|
|
Mourning Dove
|
Sep. 1
|
Nov. 29
|
b, d, e
a - after Nov. 15
c - after Nov. 14
|
15
|
45
|
|
Sora and Virginia Rail
|
Sep. 1
|
Nov. 9
|
b, d, e
|
25
|
75
|
|
Snipe
|
Sep. 1
|
Dec. 16
|
b, d, e
a - after Nov. 15
c - after Nov. 14
|
8
|
24
|
(h)
Sandhill Crane Hunting Seasons
|
LIMITED QUOTA PERMIT - SANDHILL CRANE
SEASONS
|
|
Hunt Areas
|
Season Dates
|
Permit Quota
|
Closed Areas Section
3 Subsections
|
Season Bag
Limit
|
|
Opens
|
Closes
|
|
1
|
Sep. 1
|
Sep. 15
|
41
|
|
1
|
|
2
|
Sep. 1
|
Sep. 15
|
41
|
|
1
|
|
3
|
Sep. 1
|
Sep. 8
|
165
|
d
|
1
|
|
4
|
Sep. 28
|
Oct. 20
|
165
|
|
1
|
|
5
|
Sep. 1
|
Sep. 15
|
41
|
|
1
|
|
6
|
Sep. 14
|
Oct. 6
|
165
|
|
1
|
|
8
|
Sep. 1
|
Sep. 30
|
62
|
|
1
|
|
GENERAL PERMIT - SANDHILL CRANE
SEASONS
|
|
Hunt Areas
|
Season Dates
|
Closed Areas Section
3 Subsections
|
Bag Limit
|
|
Opens
|
Closes
|
Daily
|
Possession
|
|
7
|
Sep. 7
|
Nov. 3
|
b
|
3
|
9
|
(i) Permits. All
persons, regardless of age, hunting sandhill cranes shall possess a permit
valid for the hunt area in which they are hunting. No person shall apply for or
receive more than one (1) limited quota sandhill crane permit during a calendar
year. A person may also obtain a permit valid for the general sandhill crane
season in Hunt Area 7.
(A) Limited Quota
Sandhill Crane Permits. Persons may apply for limited quota sandhill crane
permits through the Department's Electronic Licensing Service (ELS). Party
applications shall be accepted. Maximum party size shall be two (2). Residents
and nonresidents shall not apply together as a party.
(B) General Sandhill Crane Permits. Permits
to hunt during the general sandhill crane season (Hunt Area 7) shall be
available through the Department's ELS.
(ii) Tagging Sandhill Cranes. When a sandhill
crane is killed under a limited quota permit, the permittee shall detach, sign
and date the carcass coupon and attach the coupon to the carcass before leaving
the site of the kill. The coupon shall remain on the crane carcass at all times
until the meat undergoes processing, except that during transportation of the
carcass the coupon may be removed to prevent its loss. If the coupon is removed
for transportation of the carcass, it shall be in possession of the person
accompanying the carcass at all times. When dating a carcass coupon, the entire
wedge or block shall be cut out for the date and the month of the kill. The
carcass coupon shall be attached to the carcass of a sandhill crane in such a
manner as to be plainly visible. Sandhill cranes killed during the general
sandhill crane season in Hunt Area 7 are not required to be tagged.
(iii) Limited Quota and General Sandhill
Crane Hunt Area Descriptions. Area and Number.
Area 1. All of the Bear River and Ham's Fork
River drainages in Lincoln County.
Area 2. All of the Salt River drainage in
Lincoln County south of the McCoy Creek Road.
Area 3. All lands within the Bureau of
Reclamation's Eden Project in Sweetwater County.
Area 4. All lands within the Bureau of
Reclamation's Riverton and Boysen Unit boundaries; those lands within Boysen
State Park south of Cottonwood Creek, west of Boysen Reservoir, and south of
U.S. Highway 20-26; and all non-indian owned fee title lands within the
exterior boundaries of the Wind River Reservation, excluding those lands within
Hot Springs County.
Area 5. All of Uinta County.
Area 6. All of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park and
Washakie counties.
Area 7. All of Campbell, Converse, Crook,
Goshen, Laramie, Niobrara, Platte and Weston counties.
Area 8. All of Johnson, Natrona and Sheridan
counties.
(i)
Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
(i) Pacific Flyway
|
PACIFIC FLYWAY
|
|
Species
|
Season Dates
|
Closed Areas Section
3 Subsections
|
Bag Limit
|
|
Opens
|
Closes
|
Daily
|
Possession
|
|
Ducks and Mergansers
|
Sep. 21
|
Jan. 3
|
d, e
f - through Oct. 8
|
7*
|
21*
|
|
Coots
|
Sep. 21
|
Jan. 3
|
d, e
f - through Oct. 8
|
15
|
45
|
|
Early Canada Goose
|
Sep. 1
|
Sep. 8
|
d, e
f - through Oct. 8
|
5
|
15
|
|
Dark Geese
|
Sep. 21
|
Dec. 26
|
d, e
f - through Oct. 8
|
5
|
15
|
|
Light Geese
|
Sep. 21
|
Dec. 26
|
d, e
f - through Oct. 8
|
10
|
30
|
* The daily bag limit of seven (7) ducks and mergansers may
include any combination of species with the following restrictions:
* no more than two (2) hen mallards;
* no more than one (1) pintail;
* no more than two (2) canvasbacks;
* no more than two (2) redheads; and,
* no more than two (2) scaup. No scaup shall be taken after
December 15.
(ii) Central
Flyway Zones. The Central Flyway is divided into three (3) zones. Refer to the
season dates for the zone in which you are hunting.
(A) ZONE C1 shall include Big Horn, Converse,
Hot Springs, Natrona, Park and Washakie counties, and Fremont County excluding
those portions south or west of the Continental Divide.
(B) ZONE C1A shall include Goshen and Platte
counties.
(C) ZONE C2 shall include
Albany, Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, Sheridan and Weston
counties; and that portion of Carbon County east of the Continental
Divide.
(iii) Central
Flyway
|
CENTRAL FLYWAY
|
|
Species and Hunt
Areas
|
Season Dates
|
Closed Areas Section
3 Subsections
|
Bag Limit
|
|
Opens
|
Closes
|
Daily
|
Possession
|
|
Light Geese
|
Sep. 28
|
Dec. 29
|
b
a - after Nov. 15
c - after Nov. 14
|
20
|
60
|
|
Feb. 5
|
Feb. 16
|
a, b, c
|
20
|
60
|
|
CENTRAL FLYWAY - ZONE C1
|
|
Ducks and Mergansers
|
Sep. 28
|
Oct. 13
|
|
6**
|
18**
|
|
Nov. 2
|
Jan. 21
|
c - after Nov. 14
|
6**
|
18**
|
|
Coots
|
Sep. 28
|
Oct. 13
|
|
15
|
45
|
|
Nov. 2
|
Jan. 21
|
c - after Nov. 14
|
15
|
45
|
|
Dark Geese
|
Sep. 28
|
Oct. 6
|
|
5
|
15
|
|
Nov. 2
|
Nov. 24
|
c - after Nov. 14
|
5
|
15
|
|
Dec. 6
|
Feb. 16
|
c
|
5
|
15
|
|
CENTRAL FLYWAY - ZONE C1A
|
|
Species and Hunt
Areas
|
Season Dates
|
Closed Areas Section
3 Subsections
|
Bag Limit
|
|
Opens
|
Closes
|
Daily
|
Possession
|
|
Ducks and Mergansers
|
Sep. 28
|
Oct. 13
|
b
|
6**
|
18**
|
|
Nov. 2
|
Jan. 21
|
b
a - after Nov. 15
|
6**
|
18**
|
|
Coots
|
Sep. 28
|
Oct. 13
|
b
|
15
|
45
|
|
Nov. 2
|
Jan. 21
|
b
a - after Nov. 15
|
15
|
45
|
|
Dark Geese*
|
Sep. 28
|
Oct. 9
|
b
|
2
|
6
|
|
Nov. 16
|
Feb. 16
|
a, b
|
5
|
15
|
|
CENTRAL FLYWAY - ZONE C2
|
|
Ducks and Mergansers
|
Sep. 21
|
Dec. 1
|
|
6**
|
18**
|
|
Dec. 14
|
Jan. 7
|
|
6**
|
18**
|
|
Coots
|
Sep. 21
|
Dec. 1
|
|
15
|
45
|
|
Dec. 14
|
Jan. 7
|
|
15
|
45
|
|
Dark Geese
|
Sep. 21
|
Dec. 1
|
|
5
|
15
|
|
Dec. 14
|
Jan. 15
|
|
5
|
15
|
*For Bump-Sullivan Managed Goose Hunt information, see
Section 6.
**The daily bag limit of six (6) ducks and mergansers may
include any combination of species with the following restrictions:
* no more than five (5) mallards of which not more than two
(2) shall be hens;
* no more than one (1) pintail;
* no more than three (3) wood ducks;
* no more than two (2) canvasbacks;
* no more than two (2) redheads; and,
* no more than one (1) scaup.
* two (2) blue-winged teal may be taken in addition to the
regular limit of six (6) ducks during the following dates:
- Zone C1 and C1A: September 28- October 13
- Zone C2: September 21- October 6
(j) Special Hunting Days for
Youths, Veterans and Active Military Personnel (including members of the
National Guard and Reserves on active duty). In the Pacific Flyway and in Zone
C2 of the Central Flyway, the special hunting days for youths, veterans and
active military personnel shall be September 14-15, 2024. In Zone C1 and C1A of
the Central Flyway, the special hunting days for youths, veterans and active
military personnel shall be September 21-22, 2024. Only qualifying persons may
take ducks, mergansers, coots and geese on these special hunting days, subject
to the following conditions:
(i) All youth
hunters shall be seventeen (17) years of age or younger and shall be
accompanied in the field by an adult at least eighteen (18) years of
age.
(ii) No more than four (4)
youths shall be accompanied by any one (1) adult.
(iii) The accompanying adult shall not take
ducks, coots, mergansers or geese unless they also qualify as a veteran or
active military personnel. However the accompanying adult may participate in
other open seasons.
(iv) All
license and stamp requirements, daily bag limits, species and sex restrictions,
shooting hours and other regulations that apply to the regular duck and goose
seasons, as defined for each flyway, shall apply during the special hunting
days for youths, veterans and active military personnel. Exceptions: The
additional blue-winged teal limit does not apply on these special hunting days.
In Zone C1A, the daily bag limit for dark geese shall be four (4) on the
special hunting days for youths, veterans and active military
personnel.
(v) All veterans and
active military personnel participating in the special hunting days shall be in
possession of documentation confirming they are a veteran or active military
personnel while hunting in the field.
(vi) The areas described in Section
3 (b), (d), (e) and (f)
shall be closed to hunting during the special hunting days for youths, veterans
and active military personnel.
