040-68 Wyo. Code R. §§ 68-3 - Grizzly Bear License Issuance Lists and Grizzly Bear Limited Quota License Drawing

(a) The Department shall generate grizzly bear license issuance lists for hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Separate license issuance lists shall be generated based on the residency of applicants for a grizzly bear license. A computer random number selection shall be utilized to determine name placement on the grizzly bear license issuance lists. When a hunting opportunity exists for hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, licenses shall be issued to individuals on the license issuance lists for a specified ten (10) day hunting period as designated and at the direction of the Department. The Department shall issue at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the available licenses to residents prior to issuing a nonresident license. Licenses shall be issued until mortality limits are reached or until the close of the season.

(i) Nonresident license issuance shall only be permitted in hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 when twenty-five percent (25%) of the total annual mortality limit equals or exceeds one (1) license.

(b) The total allocation of available grizzly bear harvest for hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 shall be determined annually by the Department in accordance with the Tri-State Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).

(c) The application period for the grizzly bear license issuance lists and limited quota drawing shall be July 2, 2018 through July 16, 2018. Completed applications shall only be submitted through the Department Electronic Licensing Service.

(d) A nonrefundable application fee for the grizzly bear license issuance list and the grizzly bear limited quota license drawing shall be five dollars ($5) for residents and fifteen dollars ($15) for nonresidents.

(e) After the drawings for the grizzly bear license issuance lists are completed, the Department shall contact applicants in the order of their ranking on the lists and advise them of the possible opportunity to hunt grizzly bears. The Department shall continue to contact applicants on the lists until ten (10) applicants accept the possible opportunity to hunt grizzly bears.

(i) Applicants contacted by the Department who have accepted the possible opportunity to hunt a grizzly bear shall be required to submit a cashier's check or money order for their license fee and to show proof of having earned a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of firearms, unless exempt by statute or otherwise authorized, to the License Section at Headquarters within ten (10) consecutive days from the date they are contacted by the Department.

(A) The Department shall also notify applicants who have accepted the possible opportunity to hunt a grizzly bear about the process to receive their grizzly bear hunting license when a hunting opportunity exists.

(ii) Applicants on the grizzly bear license issuance list who are offered and accept an opportunity to participate in the grizzly bear hunt shall be advised of a specified ten (10) day hunting period during which their license shall be valid. Licenses to hunt grizzly bears in hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall be valid for a single ten (10) day hunt period as specified by the Department and shall not be subject to renewal or hunt period extension.

(iii) Applicants on the grizzly bear license issuance list will no longer be contacted once the collective female grizzly bear mortality limit or collective male grizzly bear mortality limit is met, whichever comes first.

(iv) If a licensee harvests a male grizzly bear or fails to harvest a grizzly bear during their specified hunting period in hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, the next individual on the grizzly bear license issuance list may be contacted in accordance with this section.

(v) If grizzly bear mortality limits have not been met for hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the grizzly bear license issuance list shall remain in effect through the close of the season.

(vi) No applicant on the grizzly bear license issuance list is guaranteed a grizzly bear hunting license or opportunity to hunt a grizzly bear.

(vii) Applicants shall be notified by mail of their placement on the grizzly bear license issuance lists by the Department. Applicants on the grizzly bear license issuance list shall be notified by phone (including text message), or email in order of their random number placement when the Department determines a grizzly bear hunting opportunity may exist.

(A) Phone calls shall be made by the Department during the evening hours between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

(B) A minimum of three (3) attempts shall be made during two (2) consecutive evenings to contact and notify any individual applicant. Notification attempts via phone or text message shall be spaced at a minimum of one-half (1/2) hour intervals. Department personnel shall attempt to leave a message indicating the reason for the contact, but must speak directly to the applicant for verification of acceptance of a hunting opportunity no later than 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time the day after the last attempt to contact the applicant has been made.

(C) If an applicant cannot be contacted as outlined above, the Department shall attempt to contact the next individual on the grizzly bear license issuance list.

(D) If an applicant is contacted by the Department and declines participation in the grizzly bear hunt, the Department shall attempt to contact the next individual on the grizzly bear license issuance list.

(E) If an applicant cannot be contacted by the Department as outlined above, or if an applicant declines participation in the grizzly bear hunt, or if an applicant fails to submit a cashier's check or money order for their license fee and to show proof of having earned a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of firearms within ten (10) consecutive days after notification by the Department, they shall no longer be eligible to participate in the current year grizzly bear hunting season.

(f) Applicants who paid for their license following notification of their placement on the grizzly bear license issuance list, but were not provided the opportunity to hunt based on the provisions of this section, shall be issued a refund of their license fee following the close of the current year grizzly bear hunting season.

(g) The Department shall utilize a limited quota drawing to determine successful applicants to hunt grizzly bears in hunt area 7.

(i) No party applications shall be accepted for grizzly bear licenses.

(h) An applicant may only apply for the grizzly bear license issuance list for hunt areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, or the limited quota drawing for hunt area 7, but not both.

(i) If the number of resident applicants does not meet or exceed the resident allocation, the remaining resident allocation may be issued to nonresidents. If the number of nonresident applicants does not meet or exceed the nonresident allocation, the remaining nonresident allocation may be issued to residents.

Notes

040-68 Wyo. Code R. §§ 68-3

Adopted, Eff. 6/21/2018.