2024 Game Bird and Small Game Regs - 8

GAME BIRD & SMALL GAME
DUPLICATE AND REPLACEMENT LICENSE ISSUED
UPON LOSS OR DESTRUCTION OF ORIGINAL;
PURCHASE AND FEES
When any license issued has been lost or destroyed, the licensee
may secure a duplicate of the original license from the Cheyenne
Headquarters, any Department Regional Office or designated license
selling agents. A duplicate license shall be issued if the original license
contained a carcass coupon. A replacement license shall be
issued if the original license did not contain a carcass coupon. The
licensee may secure a replacement license at the Cheyenne Headquarters,
Department Regional Offices or from ELS agents. The Department
shall charge a fee of seven dollars ($7) for each duplicate or
replacement license.
EMERGENCY CLOSURES
The Commission may institute an emergency closure by regulation to
shorten the season in any area at any time if a harvest quota is reached
or if an emergency arises warranting the closure. Should a closure become
necessary after the season opens, no refunds will be given for
unused licenses.
FALCONRY LICENSES
Licenses to hunt with trained raptors may be purchased from the Cheyenne
Headquarters, Department Regional Offices and designated license
selling agents. The license entitles the holder thereof to hunt,
pursue and kill game birds and small game animals with the use of
trained raptors and in accordance with Commission regulations. Persons
holding a proper falconry license may hunt, pursue and kill game
birds without distinction of sex in any hunt area in which the falconry
season is open for the taking of game birds. Persons hunting with
trained raptors must also hold a valid hunting license for the species
being hunted.
FEDERAL MIGRATORY BIRD HUNTING
AND CONSERVATION STAMP
(Federal Duck Stamp)
Federal law requires each waterfowl hunter sixteen (16) years of age
or older to purchase and carry a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting
and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp) signed in ink across
the face. Hunters possessing an electronic Federal Duck Stamp are
exempt from this signature provision. This stamp is required to take
ducks, geese and mergansers. However, a Federal Duck Stamp is not
required to take mourning doves, sandhill cranes, coots, snipe, rails or
crows. Federal duck stamps expire June 30 of each year.
FIREARM CALIBERS AND LEGAL WEAPONS FOR GAME
BIRDS AND SMALL GAME
Except as provided below, game birds, excluding wild turkey, blue and
ruffed grouse, may only be taken by a center-fire or muzzle-loading
shotgun not larger than ten (10) gauge plugged to admit no more than
one (1) shell in the chamber and two (2) shells in the magazine. Wild
turkey may only be taken by any shotgun, center-fire firearm, .17 HMR or
larger rimfire firearm with an overall cartridge length greater than one
(1) inch, any muzzle-loading firearm, or any archery equipment. Blue
grouse, ruffed grouse and small game may be taken in any manner
except as prohibited by Wyoming Statute.
HARVEST SURVEY
Each year the Department and its contractors send harvest survey
questionnaires to a sample of sportspersons, primarily through email
and postal mail. Since a person can hunt multiple species in Wyoming,
some sportspersons may be asked to complete more than one harvest
survey questionnaire. Your reply provides critical data the Department
uses to evaluate the past hunting season and set future hunting seasons.
Even if you did not hunt, we need to hear from you to accurately
track hunter effort. We ask that you complete any harvest survey questionnaires
sent to you by the Department or its contractors. Your time
and assistance are much appreciated.
HUNTER SAFETY/TEMPORARY EXCEPTION
Except as otherwise provided, no person born on or after January 1,
1966, may take wildlife by the use of firearms on land other than that
of their own family, unless that person can demonstrate they have ob8
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D.WYO.GOV
tained a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling
of firearms. Attendance and successful completion of a hunter safety
course offered by an association or governmental agency approved by
the Commission satisfies the requirements of this section.
* A person who has not received a certificate of competency and
safety in the use and handling of firearms may apply to the Department
for a special authorization to take wildlife with the use of a
firearm while being accompanied by a person acting as a mentor.
A special authorization shall be valid for one (1) year from the date
of issue and shall be in the possession of the recipient at all times
while in the field. The application process may be completed on
the Department website. Any person acting as a mentor shall be
at least eighteen (18) years of age, shall possess a valid hunting
license, and shall demonstrate they have successfully completed
a hunter safety course. A mentor shall not provide supervision for
more than one (1) person at a time in the field, other than immediate
family members, and shall accompany the mentee at all times to
provide constant supervision.
* A person under fourteen (14) years of age who has not yet received a
hunter safety certificate may take small game and game birds while
being accompanied by a mentor who possesses a valid Wyoming
small game or game bird license and conservation stamp.
* Any active member, honorably discharged past member or veteran
of the armed forces of the United States and any active or retired Wyoming
peace officer qualified pursuant to Wyoming Statutes § 9-1-701
through § 9-1-707 may obtain an exemption from the hunter safety
requirement. Hunter safety exemption applications are available at
the Cheyenne Headquarters and Department Regional Offices. This
hunter safety exemption is not valid for hunting elk within Grand
Teton National Park (Hunt Areas 75 and 79), or for persons acting
as mentors in the Hunter Mentor Program.
LICENSE EXPIRATION
Game bird and small game licenses expire on the date indicated on
the license.
LICENSE FRAUD PROHIBITED; INVALIDATION BY
IMPROPER FEES
Department licenses, permits, stamps, tags or coupons shall not be altered
by anyone other than authorized Department personnel. No license,
permit, stamp, tag or coupon shall be transferred or used for the
purpose of taking wildlife except by the individual to whom it was issued
and therein named and while in that individual's possession. No individual
shall take or attempt to take any wildlife using another individual's
license, permit, stamp, tag or coupon. Any license, permit, stamp, or
tag shall not be valid unless the proper fees have been received by the
Department. Any Wyoming Game and Fish law enforcement officer may
seize as evidence any license, permit, stamp or tag that was obtained in
violation of Commission regulations or Wyoming statutes.
LITTER
Spent shotgun shells are considered litter. Please dispose of spent
shotgun hulls properly along with other litter.
MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS
Migratory game birds that may be legally taken during authorized seasons
by properly licensed hunters include coots, doves, ducks, geese,
mergansers, rails, sandhill cranes and snipe. A license is not required
to take crows.
MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS: LABELING AND SHIPPING
Labeling. No person shall give, put or leave any migratory game birds
at any place (other than at their personal abode) or in the custody of
another person unless the birds are labeled by the hunter with the following
information:
1. The hunter's signature
2. The hunter's address
3. The total number of birds by species
4. The dates such birds were killed
Labeling is required if the birds are being transported by another person
for the hunter, or if the birds have been left for cleaning, storage
(including temporary storage), shipping or taxidermy services.
HUNT INFO
https://wgfd.wyo.gov/
2024 Game Bird and Small Game Regs

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2024 Game Bird and Small Game Regs
