Title 23, Title 23 — Game And Fish
6 chapters · 161 sections in this title.
W.S. § 23-1-101 Definitions of wildlife
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Definitions of wildlife. (a) As used in this act: (i) "Big game animal" means antelope, bighorn sheep, deer, elk, moose or mountain goat; (ii) "Exotic species" means any wild animals, including amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, crustaceans or birds not found in a wild, free or unco…
W.S. § 23-1-102 General definitions
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General definitions. (a) As used in this act: (i) "Commission" means the game and fish commission of Wyoming; (ii) "Commissioner" means a member of the commission; (iii) "Department" means the Wyoming game and fish department; (iv) "Director" means the director of the department;…
W.S. § 23-1-103 Ownership of wildlife; purpose of provisions
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Ownership of wildlife; purpose of provisions. For the purpose of this act, all wildlife in Wyoming is the property of the state, including shed antlers or horns located on state or public lands. It is the purpose of this act and the policy of the state to provide an adequate and …
W.S. § 23-1-104 Federal game preserves also state preserves
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Federal game preserves also state preserves. All federal game preserves and sanctuaries now existing, or hereafter created, are state game animal, bird and fish preserves for the purposes of this act.
W.S. § 23-1-105 Migratory bird refuge in Seedskadee area
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Migratory bird refuge in Seedskadee area. (a) The state consents to the acquisition by the United States by purchase, gift, devise, or lease of land or land covered by water in the amount of twenty thousand (20,000) acres in the Seedskadee area in Sweetwater county where approved…
W.S. § 23-1-106 Migratory bird refuge in Bear river area
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Migratory bird refuge in Bear river area. (a) Subject to acceptance by the United States fish and wildlife service of the provisions contained in this section, the state consents to the acquisition by the United States by purchase, gift, devise or lease of land or land covered by…
W.S. § 23-1-107 Residency for obtaining game and fish licenses
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Residency for obtaining game and fish licenses. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, to qualify for any resident game and fish license, preference point, permit or tag issued under this act, a person shall be domiciled in Wyoming for not less than one (1) full year i…
W.S. § 23-1-108 Delisting of gray wolves as experimental, nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species
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Delisting of gray wolves as experimental, nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species. Gray wolves shall be deemed removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming upon final publication in th…
W.S. § 23-1-201 Composition; appointment; terms; oath
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Composition; appointment; terms; oath. (a) The Wyoming game and fish commission is continued in existence. (b) The commission shall be composed of eight (8) members including the governor as an ex officio member. Not more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the appointed commissio…
W.S. § 23-1-202 Removal of members
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Removal of members. The governor may remove any commissioner as provided in W.S. 9-1-202.
W.S. § 23-1-203 Compensation and expenses
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Compensation and expenses. Commissioners shall receive seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per day but not more than four thousand dollars ($4,000.00) per year as salary for attendance at commission meetings and other meetings related to department business in their official capacity a…
W.S. § 23-1-301 Office; officers; meetings; quorum
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Office; officers; meetings; quorum. (a) The commission shall have its principal office at Cheyenne. The members of the commission shall meet during March of each year for election of officers. Those elected shall hold office for one (1) year or until their successors are chosen. …
W.S. § 23-1-302 Powers and duties
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Powers and duties. (a) The commission is directed and empowered: (i) To fix season and bag limits, open, shorten or close seasons including providing for season extensions for hunters with disabilities as established by commission rules and regulation, on any species or sex of wi…
W.S. § 23-1-303 Promulgation of orders; closing of hunting areas; promulgation of rules
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Promulgation of orders; closing of hunting areas; promulgation of rules. (a) All orders of the commission shall be written and the original signed by the presiding officer of the commission. Copies of the orders shall be signed by facsimile signature of the presiding officer of t…
W.S. § 23-1-304 Classification of gray wolves
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Classification of gray wolves. (a) The commission shall by rule and regulation set seasons and bag limits within those areas where gray wolves are designated as trophy game animals pursuant to W.S. 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) and (II). The seasons and bag limits shall be set annually …
W.S. § 23-1-305 Closure of elk feedgrounds; alternative feeding sites; reporting requirement
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Closure of elk feedgrounds; alternative feeding sites; reporting requirement. (a) Except as authorized by subsection (b) of this section, any elk feedground authorized or administered by the commission as of July 1, 2021 and in accordance with W.S. 23-1- 302(a)(ix), shall only pe…
W.S. § 23-1-401 Game and fish department; creation; control
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Game and fish department; creation; control. (a) The Wyoming game and fish department is created. (b) The department is under the direction and supervision of the commission. (c) The department consists of the director who is the chief administrative officer and such divisions as…
W.S. § 23-1-402 Game and fish director; appointment; salary; term of office; qualification; duties and authority
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Game and fish director; appointment; salary; term of office; qualification; duties and authority. (a) The governor shall appoint a competent person as the director of the department as provided in W.S. 9-2-2010 at a salary determined by the commission, not to exceed the sum set b…
W.S. § 23-1-403 Chief fiscal officer
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Chief fiscal officer. The commission shall appoint a chief fiscal officer of the commission in the manner provided by law. The chief fiscal officer shall act as secretary of the commission and perform such other duties as may be directed by the director. He is removable as provid…
W.S. § 23-1-404 Chief game and fish wardens; division chiefs
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Chief game and fish wardens; division chiefs. (a) The director, with the consent of the commission, shall appoint a chief game warden, a chief fish warden, and any necessary division chiefs as provided by law. (b) The chief game warden, chief fish warden, and division chiefs shal…
W.S. § 23-1-405 Game wardens; appointment based on competitive examination; investigation; removal
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Game wardens; appointment based on competitive examination; investigation; removal. All appointments of game wardens shall be based on competitive examinations. Applicants shall be knowledgeable of wildlife, and of the duties and responsibilities of game wardens. The commission s…
W.S. § 23-1-501 Game and fish fund
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Game and fish fund. (a) The Wyoming game and fish fund is continued in existence. (b) All revenue received by the commission or department shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the Wyoming game and fish fund. Monies in the fund designated by the commission for …
W.S. § 23-1-502 Financial policy; budget; fiscal year; debts
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Financial policy; budget; fiscal year; debts. (a) The commission shall govern its financial policies, subject to the written approval of its budgets by the governor and legislative review of its budgets as provided in W.S. 9-2-1011(d). The commission shall fix the budgets for the…
W.S. § 23-1-503 Annual reports
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Annual reports. The commission shall submit an annual report of its official transactions and audit reports, and the conditions of Wyoming wildlife in accordance with W.S. 9-2-1014.
W.S. § 23-1-504 Free and reduced price license revenue recoupment program
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Free and reduced price license revenue recoupment program. (a) Not later than July 31, 2007, and not later than July 31 of each subsequent year thereafter, the chief fiscal officer of the game and fish department shall prepare and certify a report of licenses sold or issued in th…
W.S. § 23-1-601 Assent to and cooperation with federal wildlife restoration projects; funds from license fees not to be diverted
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Assent to and cooperation with federal wildlife restoration projects; funds from license fees not to be diverted. The state assents to the provisions of the act of congress entitled "An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in wildlife-restoration projects, a…
W.S. § 23-1-602 Assent to and cooperation with federal fish restoration projects; funds from license fees not to be diverted
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Assent to and cooperation with federal fish restoration projects; funds from license fees not to be diverted. The state assents to the provisions of the act of congress entitled "An act to provide that the United States shall aid the states in fish restoration and management proj…
W.S. § 23-1-603 Authorization to transfer conservation stamp receipts to game and fish fund
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Authorization to transfer conservation stamp receipts to game and fish fund. To the extent allowed by W.S. 23-1-601 and 23-1-602, the game and fish commission may, from time to time, transfer conservation stamp receipts to the general operating account within the game and fish fu…
W.S. § 23-1-701 Duplicate licenses shall be issued in accordance with procedure established by commission order
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Duplicate licenses shall be issued in accordance with procedure established by commission order.
W.S. § 23-1-702 Duplicate license upon loss or destruction of original; issuance; fees
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Duplicate license upon loss or destruction of original; issuance; fees. When any license issued under this act has been lost or destroyed, the licensee may secure a duplicate of the original license from any district office or any authorized personnel of the department upon the p…
W.S. § 23-1-703 Limitation of number of certain licenses; reservation of certain licenses; reservation of certain unused licenses
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Limitation of number of certain licenses; reservation of certain licenses; reservation of certain unused licenses. (a) The commission may limit the number of resident or nonresident big or trophy game animal licenses or wild bison licenses to be sold in any calendar year and may …
W.S. § 23-1-704 Licenses; expiration
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Licenses; expiration. All licenses issued on or after January 1, 2019, expire as provided in commission rules except as otherwise provided in this title.
W.S. § 23-1-705 Complimentary licenses; pioneer licenses; antelope hunt licenses; gunpowder and buckskin hunt licenses; gratuitous licenses; donated licenses
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Complimentary licenses; pioneer licenses; antelope hunt licenses; gunpowder and buckskin hunt licenses; gratuitous licenses; donated licenses. (a) At the request of the governor, the commission shall annually issue up to twenty-five (25) complimentary hunting and twenty-five (25)…
W.S. § 23-1-706 Game and fish licenses; confidentiality
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Game and fish licenses; confidentiality. The commission shall establish a process by which an applicant for any game and fish license, permit or tag authorized by this act may designate as public personally identifiable information required for the applicant to purchase the licen…
W.S. § 23-1-801 Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; stamps for licenses
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Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; stamps for licenses. The commission is authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with corresponding state officials of adjoining states for purposes of providing for the licensing for fishing of residents of thi…
W.S. § 23-1-802 Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; authorizing use of equipment otherwise prohibited
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Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; authorizing use of equipment otherwise prohibited. Notwithstanding any other law of Wyoming, in order to effect conformity with the laws and regulations of an adjoining state which is a party to such an agreement, th…
W.S. § 23-1-803 Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; water subject to agreements
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Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; water subject to agreements. It is the primary purpose of this article to provide a method whereby the fishing opportunities afforded by lakes or reservoirs located upon the boundaries of this state and adjoining sta…
W.S. § 23-1-804 Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; implementing orders
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Reciprocal fishing agreements with adjoining states authorized; implementing orders. The commission is authorized to establish orders as provided in this act to implement any agreements under this article.
W.S. § 23-1-901 Owner of damaged property to report damage; claims for damages; time for filing; determination; appeal; arbitration
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Owner of damaged property to report damage; claims for damages; time for filing; determination; appeal; arbitration. (a) Any landowner, lessee or agent whose property is being damaged by any of the big or trophy game animals or game birds of this state shall, not later than fifte…
W.S. § 23-1-1001 Grizzly bear relocation
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Grizzly bear relocation. (a) Upon relocating a grizzly bear or upon receiving notification that a grizzly bear is being relocated, the department shall provide notification to the county sheriff of the county to which the bear is relocated within five (5) days of each grizzly bea…
W.S. § 23-2-101 Fees; restrictions; nonresident application fee; nonresident licenses; verification of residency required; donation of refunded application fees
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Fees; restrictions; nonresident application fee; nonresident licenses; verification of residency required; donation of refunded application fees. (a) Any qualified person may purchase a hunting license from the department or its authorized selling agents except as otherwise provi…
W.S. § 23-2-102 Age restrictions; game animals; game birds
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Age restrictions; game animals; game birds. (a) The minimum age to take any big or trophy game animal is twelve (12) years, except that any person may take a big or trophy game animal at eleven (11) years of age if the person will attain twelve (12) years of age by the end of tha…
W.S. § 23-2-104 Archery licenses; special seasons; prohibition against firearms; equipment
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Archery licenses; special seasons; prohibition against firearms; equipment. (a) Bow and arrow or crossbow are permissible equipment to take game animals, nongame animals, game birds and nongame fish. No license is required to take nongame animals and nongame fish with bow and arr…
W.S. § 23-2-105 License to hunt with falcons; license to take falcons; special seasons
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License to hunt with falcons; license to take falcons; special seasons. (a) Any person holding a valid Wyoming license for game birds or small game animals may purchase a license to hunt with falcon from the department at its office in Cheyenne, Wyoming. (b) A license to hunt wit…
W.S. § 23-2-106 Hunter safety; exception
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Hunter safety; exception. (a) Except as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (e) of this section, no person born on or after January 1, 1966, may take any wildlife by the use of firearms on land other than that of his own family, unless the person possesses or can demonstrate the…
W.S. § 23-2-107 Wild bison licenses
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Wild bison licenses. (a) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, any person who will be fourteen (14) years of age or older prior to September 15 of the season for which the wild bison license is issued and who qualifies under W.S. 23-2-106 may apply to the departme…
W.S. § 23-2-109 Multiple applications for limited licenses prohibited; penalty
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Multiple applications for limited licenses prohibited; penalty. Except as otherwise authorized by law or rule of the commission, no person shall submit more than one (1) application for a license for the same big or trophy game species or for wild turkey, if the issuance of the l…
W.S. § 23-2-201 Fees; restrictions; verification of residency required
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Fees; restrictions; verification of residency required. (a) Any qualified person may purchase a fishing license from the department or its authorized selling agents. Purchase of a license entitles the licensee to take any fish of Wyoming at the time, in a place, in a manner and i…
W.S. § 23-2-202 Age restrictions; fishing
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Age restrictions; fishing. Except as provided by W.S. 23-2-209, no person fourteen (14) years or older nor any nonresident person less than fourteen (14) years shall fish in or on any Wyoming waters, except a catch-out pond located on a licensed fish hatchery or a fishing preserv…
W.S. § 23-2-206 Underwater fishing
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Underwater fishing. (a) The commission may set limits and designate specified waters as being open to underwater spear gun fishing for fish. In specified waters the use of spear guns of types approved by the commission to take fish underwater with or without underwater breathing …