23-1-901. 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 fifteen (15) days after the damage is discovered by the owner of the property or the representative of the owner, report the damage to the nearest game warden, damage control warden, supervisor or commission member.
(b) Any landowner, lessee or agent claiming damages from the state for injury or destruction of property by big or trophy game animals or game birds of this state shall present a verified claim for the damages to the Wyoming game and fish department not later than sixty (60) days after the damage or last item of damage is discovered. The claim shall specify the damage and amount claimed. As used in this subsection, "verified claim" means a claim which the claimant has signed and sworn to be accurate before a person authorized to administer oaths.
(c) The department shall consider the claims based upon a description of the livestock or bees damaged or killed by a trophy game animal, the damaged land, growing cultivated crops, stored crops including honey and hives, seed crops, improvements and extraordinary damage to grass. The commission is authorized to establish by rule, methods, factors and formulas to be used for determining the amount to compensate any landowner, lessee or agent for livestock damaged as a result of, missing as a result of, or killed by trophy game animals. Claims shall be investigated by the department and rejected or allowed within ninety (90) days after submission, and paid in the amount determined to be due. In the event the department fails to act within ninety (90) days, the claim, including interest based on local bank preferred rates, shall be deemed to have been allowed. No award shall be allowed to any landowner who has not permitted hunting on his property during authorized hunting seasons. Any person failing to comply with any provision of this section is barred from making any claim against the department for damages. Any claimant aggrieved by the decision of the department may appeal to the commission within thirty (30) days after receipt of the decision of the department as provided by rules of practice and procedure promulgated by the commission. The commission shall review the department decision at its next meeting following receipt of notice of request for review. The commission shall review the investigative report of the department, and it may approve, modify or reverse the decision of the department.
(d) Within ninety (90) days after receiving notice of the decision of the commission, the claimant may in writing to the department call for arbitration. Within fifteen (15) days after the department receives the call for arbitration, the claimant and the department shall each appoint a disinterested arbitrator who is an elector residing in the county where the damage occurred and notify each other of the appointment. Within twenty (20) days after their appointment, the two (2) arbitrators shall appoint a third arbitrator possessing the same qualifications. If the third arbitrator is not appointed within the time prescribed, the judge of the district court of the county or the court commissioner in the absence of the judge shall appoint the third arbitrator upon the application of either arbitrator.
(e) At least twenty (20) days before the hearing, the board of arbitrators shall provide the claimant and department notice of the time and place in the county when and where the parties will be heard and the claim investigated and decided by the board. A written copy of the decision shall be promptly served upon each party. Within ten (10) days after receipt of the decision, either party may apply to the board for modification of the decision under W.S. 1-36-111. Either party may apply to the district court for vacation of a decision under W.S. 1-36-114(a) or correction or modification of a decision under W.S. 1-36-115 within thirty (30) days after receipt of the decision or within twenty (20) days after action by the board on an application for modification under W.S. 1-36-111.
(f) If no applications under subsection (e) of this section are made after receipt of the decision, the commission shall promptly pay the amount, if any, including interest based on local bank preferred rates, awarded by the board. Within thirty (30) days after the award is final, the board's reasonable service and expense charges shall be paid by:
(i) The claimant if the award is no greater than the amount originally authorized by the commission;
(ii) Otherwise, the commission.
(g) For purposes of this section, eligibility for damage compensation shall include gray wolves located in:
(i) The area described in W.S. 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) or (II) regardless of the date on which the damage occurs;
(ii) Subject to subsection (h) of this section, an area of land designated by the commission in rule which is adjacent to the area described in W.S. 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) or
(II) regardless of the date on which the damage occurs.
(h) The commission shall establish in rule a process for persons to request that an area of land adjacent to the area described in W.S. 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) or (II) be designated as an area where property owners are eligible for damage compensation for damage caused by gray wolves. The rules shall provide that:
(i) The adjacent area of land is outside the area described in W.S. 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) or (II);
(ii) The adjacent area of land is part of a contiguous tract of land a portion of which is currently located within the boundaries described in W.S. 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) or (II);
(iii) The adjacent area of land is privately owned;
(iv) The private landowner of the adjacent area of land consents to the designation;
(v) The designation of the adjacent area of land shall not subtract from or diminish the area described in W.S. 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) or (II).
(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 bear relocation and shall issue a press release to the media and sheriff in the county where each grizzly bear is relocated.
(b) The notice and press release shall provide the following information:
(i) The date of the grizzly bear relocation;
(ii) The number of grizzly bears relocated; and
(iii) The location of the grizzly bear relocation, as provided by commission rule and regulation.
(c) No later than January 15 of each year the department shall submit an annual report to the joint travel, recreation, wildlife and cultural resources interim committee. The annual report shall include the total number and relocation area of each grizzly bear relocated during the previous calendar year. The department shall also make available the annual report to the public.
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 provided. Purchase of a license entitles the licensee to take any animal, bird or fish provided on the license within Wyoming at the time, in a place, in a manner and in an amount as provided by law and the orders of the commission. At the time of application for a resident license under this section, the applicant shall provide a valid Wyoming driver's license or a copy thereof, or other proof of residency. The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations stating what proof of residency is required so that only bona fide Wyoming residents, as defined in W.S. 23-1-102(a)(ix), receive resident licenses. For purposes of purchasing a lifetime resident license under subsection (j) of this section, an applicant shall have been a resident as defined in W.S. 23-1-102(a)(ix) continuously for a ten (10) year period immediately preceding the application date.
(b) Repealed by Laws 1999, ch. 92, § 2.
(c) The resident's or nonresident's license must bear the signature of the landowner, lessee, or agent of the owner on whose private property he is hunting or the legitimate proof as evidence that permission to hunt has been granted.
(d) The commission may issue big or trophy game licenses in areas in which all licenses initially authorized were not purchased or in which additional harvest is desired, allowing a licensee to take a big or trophy game animal of such sex or age as designated by the commission. The fee for the license may be reduced by the commission to the level necessary to achieve the desired management objectives, but in no case shall a resident or nonresident license fee be less than the landowner's coupon fee.
(e) Resident and nonresident license applicants shall pay an application fee in an amount specified by this subsection upon submission of an application for purchase of any limited quota drawing for big or trophy game license or wild bison license. The resident application fee shall be five dollars ($5.00) and the nonresident application fee shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00). The application fee is in addition to the fees prescribed by subsections (f) and (j) of this section and by W.S. 23-2-107 and shall be payable to the department either directly or through an authorized selling agent of the department. At the beginning of each month, the commission shall set aside all of the fees collected during calendar year 1980 and not to exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the fees collected thereafter pursuant to this subsection to establish and maintain a working balance of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00), to compensate owners or lessees of property damaged by game animals and game birds.
(f) Forty percent (40%) of available nonresident elk licenses, forty percent (40%) of available nonresident deer licenses and forty percent (40%) of available nonresident antelope licenses for any one (1) calendar year shall as established by the commission, be offered to nonresident applicants upon receipt of the fee prescribed by this subsection. Seventy-five (75) of the nonresident deer licenses set aside pursuant to this subsection shall be used for a national bow hunt for deer. The licenses authorized by this subsection shall be offered by drawing to nonresident applicants prior to the drawing for the remaining nonresident licenses issued. The licenses offered under this subsection shall be issued in a manner prescribed by rules and regulations promulgated by the commission. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit any unsuccessful applicant for a nonresident license pursuant to this subsection from submitting an application for any licenses remaining after the drawing during the calendar year in which the application under this subsection was submitted. The following fees shall be collected by the department and are in addition to the nonresident license fee for the appropriate big game species imposed under subsection
(j) of this section and the application fee imposed under subsection (e) of this section:
(i) Nonresident elk license ...... $1,258.00 in addition to the license fee imposed under paragraph (j)(xix) of this section;
(ii) Nonresident deer license .... $826.00 in addition to the license fee imposed under paragraph (j)(xv) of this section;
(iii) Nonresident antelope license ..... $874.00 in addition to the license fee imposed under paragraph (j)(xxxi) of this section.
(g) In promulgating rules and regulations for the taking of bighorn sheep and moose, the commission shall not discriminate between residents and nonresidents regarding the maturity and horn size of the animals which may be taken. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as prohibiting the commission from issuing a different number of licenses for residents and nonresidents, from requiring a preference point fee from nonresidents only pursuant to subsection (m) of this section or from issuing reduced price ewe and lamb bighorn sheep licenses as provided in subsection (d) of this section.
(h) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay a voluntary fee of two dollars ($2.00) or any greater amount to fund search and rescue activities in the state. The department shall provide information on the license or tag application form that the applicant may pay the fee under this subsection. Any voluntary fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the search and rescue account created by W.S. 19-13-301.
(j) Subject to W.S. 23-2-101(f), 23-1-705(e) and the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701, the following hunting licenses and tags may be purchased for the fee indicated and subject to the limitations provided:
(i) Resident black bear license; one (1) black bear $45.00
(ii) Nonresident black bear license; one (1) black bear..........................................$371.00
(iii) Resident mountain lion license; one (1) mountain lion........................................$30.00
(iv) Nonresident mountain lion license; one (1) mountain lion.......................................$371.00
(v) Resident daily game bird/small game license; all game birds except wild turkey.....................$7.00
(vi) Nonresident daily game bird/small game license; all game birds except wild turkey...........$20.00
(vii) Resident lifetime game bird and small game license; all game birds except wild turkey..........$309.00
(viii) Resident lifetime game bird/small game and fishing license; all game birds except wild turkey. ....................................................$494.00
(ix) Resident game bird/small game license; all game birds except wild turkey........................$25.00
(x) Nonresident game bird/small game license; all game birds except wild turkey....................$72.00
(xi) Nonresident youth game bird/small game license; all game birds except wild turkey...........$40.00
(xii) Resident archery license............$14.00
(xiii) Nonresident archery license........$70.00
(xiv) Resident deer license; one (1) deer.$40.00
(xv) Nonresident deer license; one (1) deer................................................$372.00
(xvi) Resident youth deer license; one (1) deer.................................................$15.00
(xvii) Nonresident youth deer license; one (1) deer................................................$110.00
(xviii) Resident elk license; one (1) elk.$55.00
(xix) Nonresident elk license; one (1) elk, fishing privileges..................................$690.00
(xx) Resident youth elk license; one (1) elk..................................................$25.00
(xxi) Nonresident youth elk license; one (1) elk, fishing privileges.............................$275.00
(xxii) Resident bighorn sheep license; one (1) bighorn sheep.......................................$150.00
(xxiii) Nonresident bighorn sheep license; one (1) bighorn sheep.......................$3,000.00
(xxiv) Resident mountain goat license; one (1) mountain goat.......................................$150.00
(xxv) Nonresident mountain goat license; one (1) mountain goat...........................$2,750.00
(xxvi) Resident moose license; one (1) moose...............................................$150.00
(xxvii) Nonresident moose license; one (1) moose...................................$2,750.00
(xxviii) Resident grizzly bear license; one (1) grizzly bear........................................$600.00
(xxix) Nonresident grizzly bear license; one (1) grizzly bear............................$7,500.00
(xxx) Resident antelope license; one (1) antelope.............................................$35.00
(xxxi) Nonresident antelope license; one (1) antelope............................................$324.00
(xxxii) Resident youth antelope license; one (1) antelope.............................................$15.00
(xxxiii) Nonresident youth antelope license; one (1) antelope........................................$110.00
(xxxiv) Resident license to capture falcons for falconry purposes....................................$37.00
(xxxv) Nonresident license to capture falcons for falconry purposes...............................$247.00
(xxxvi) Repealed by Laws 2003, Ch. 144, § 2.
(xxxvii) License to hunt with falcon; game birds, small game animals............................$14.00
(xxxviii) Resident turkey license.........$14.00
(xxxix) Nonresident turkey license........$72.00
(xl) Wyoming interstate game tag...........$6.00
(xli) Resident game bird license; all game birds except turkey........................................$14.00
(xlii) Resident small game license........$14.00
(xliii) From and after the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23-1-108:
(A) Resident gray wolf license.......$19.00
(B) Nonresident gray wolf license...$185.00
(xliv) Resident youth archery license......$6.00
(xlv) Nonresident youth archery license...$12.00
(xlvi) Resident lifetime archery license.$206.00
(k) Any resident qualified to purchase a moose or ram bighorn sheep hunting license under subsection (j) of this section may pay a fee of seven dollars ($7.00) in lieu of applying for a moose or ram bighorn sheep hunting license. Payment of the fee for a particular species under this subsection shall authorize the person to accumulate points under W.S. 23-1-703(b) for that year in the same manner as if he had unsuccessfully applied for a hunting license for that species. Payment of the fee shall be made in compliance with application dates.
(m) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, as part of any preference point program for nonresident antelope, nonresident ram bighorn sheep, nonresident moose, nonresident deer or nonresident elk, the commission may establish a nonrefundable fee to be either withheld from the license fee remitted or submitted separately when application for a license or preference point is made through electronic licensing, and may also establish a fee to be paid in lieu of applying for licenses that are limited in quota. Retention of the established fee or payment of the fee in lieu of applying shall authorize the person to accumulate a preference point for future drawings for licenses that are limited in quota for the applicable species in accordance with rules of the commission. The rules may provide for the loss of all accumulated points for persons failing to apply or to pay the in lieu fee in two (2) consecutive calendar years. The fee for any program under this subsection for antelope, deer or elk shall be established by rule and shall not exceed seventy-five dollars ($75.00) per species. Payment of the fee shall be made in compliance with application dates. Nothing in this subsection authorizes the commission to establish or retain a fee for resident moose or resident ram bighorn sheep license preference points in addition to the fee established by subsection (k) of this section or to establish rules for ram bighorn sheep or moose preference point drawings in conflict with the provisions of W.S. 23-1-703(b). For nonresident ram bighorn sheep and nonresident moose licenses, the commission may establish by rule a nonrefundable preference point fee to be withheld from either the license fee remitted or submitted separately when application for a license or preference point is made through electronic licensing and may establish a fee in lieu of making application in an amount greater than that established under subsection (k) of this section, but neither fee shall exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). Fees established under this subsection may be set at lower amounts for youth license applicants.
(n) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to fund the purchase of access easements by the commission to provide access to public and private lands.
(o) For issuing each harvest information permit required under federal law license selling agents and commission employees shall charge the fee authorized by W.S. 23-1-701(b)(iii).
(p) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. The department shall provide information on the application form that the applicant may pay the contribution under this subsection. Funds collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to the wildlife conservation account created by W.S. 31-2-231(b). The department shall deduct and retain an amount equal to the administrative costs incurred in complying with this subsection.
(q) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay a voluntary fee of two dollars ($2.00) or any greater amount to fund predator control activities in the state. The department shall provide information on the license or tag application form that the applicant may pay the fee under this subsection. Any voluntary fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in a separate account within the game and fish fund and shall only be expended as determined by the commission for management and control of predator populations and depredating animals. The commission may consider projects that mitigate damage caused to livestock, wildlife and crops by predatory animals, predacious birds and depredating animals or for the protection of human health and safety and may also use these funds for the purposes specified in W.S. 11-6-307 and 23-1-901. As used in this subsection, "depredating animal" means any trophy game animal or furbearing animal that causes damage.
(r) An applicant may elect to provide that any fee paid under this section that is refundable if the applicant is unsuccessful, or portions of the fee as provided in this subsection, be retained and deposited by the department in the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust income account created by W.S. 9-15-103(b) or the game and fish access account created by W.S. 23-1-501(h), as determined by the applicant. The department shall provide information on the application form that the applicant may elect at the time of application to make a contribution to one (1) or both of the accounts specified under this subsection if the applicant is unsuccessful. The department shall allow the applicant to contribute the entire amount of the fee or select a portion of the fee to contribute as specified by the department, not to exceed the amount of the fee. Any administrative expenses incurred by the department for donations into the account created by W.S. 9-15-103(b) shall be reimbursed to the department by the Wyoming wildlife and natural resource trust income account.
23-2-102. 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 that calendar year. Any person authorized by this subsection under the age of fourteen (14) years shall at all times when hunting be accompanied by a person over the age of majority who possesses and can exhibit a certificate of competency and safety as specified in W.S. 23-2-106 or who currently holds, or has been issued a Wyoming big game hunting license within the last five (5) years. If the person accompanying the hunter under the age of fourteen (14) years is not the parent or guardian of the hunter, the hunter shall have in his possession a permission slip signed by his parent or guardian allowing him to hunt under supervision. Each accompanying adult shall supervise not more than one (1) hunter under the age of fourteen (14) years. Any person under the age of fourteen (14) years applying for a license to hunt big or trophy game animals under this subsection shall have the application for the license co-signed by his parent or legal guardian.
(b) No person fourteen (14) years or older nor any nonresident person less than fourteen (14) years shall take any small game animal without first obtaining the proper license. A nonresident person less than fourteen (14) years need not obtain a small game animal license if accompanied by an adult possessing a valid unexpired Wyoming small game animal license in which case the nonresident person's bag limit as established by law or by commission orders shall be applied to and limited by the small game hunting license held by the adult person in his company.
(c) No person fourteen (14) years of age or older shall take any game bird without obtaining the proper license. A resident person under fourteen (14) years of age may take any game bird in this state except wild turkey without a license if accompanied by an adult. A resident or nonresident person under fourteen (14) years of age may take a wild turkey with the proper license if accompanied by an adult. The taking of any game bird by a nonresident person less than fourteen (14) years of age accompanied by an adult person possessing a valid game bird license shall, as established by law and commission order, be applied to and limited by the bag limit under the license held by the adult in company.
23-2-104. 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 arrow or crossbow.
(b) The commission may establish special hunting seasons for the taking of big game or trophy game animals by bow and arrow or crossbow in such areas as it may establish by order.
(c) No person shall hunt big game or trophy game with bow and arrow or crossbow during a special archery hunting season without first obtaining an archery license and the appropriate hunting license.
(d) No person holding an archery license shall take big game or trophy game animals during a special archery hunting season or during a limited quota archery only hunting season by the use of any type of firearm. Any person who takes a big game or trophy game animal by the use of a firearm during a special archery hunting season or during a limited quota archery only hunting season is guilty of a high misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(ii). Upon request by a game warden or other Wyoming law enforcement officer, a person who has taken a big or trophy game animal during a special archery hunting season or during a limited quota archery only hunting season shall allow testing of the animal's tissue for confirmation of compliance with this section.
(e) The commission shall establish by rule and regulation specifications for crossbows, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, arrows and broadheads for taking of big or trophy game animals. The rules and regulations promulgated under the provisions of this subsection relating to the hunting of big or trophy game animals shall also apply to the hunting of the gray wolf as a trophy game animal from and after the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23-1-108.
(f) Repealed By Laws 2007, Ch. 90, § 2.
(g) Except as otherwise provided, violation of this section or rules promulgated under subsection (e) of this section constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(v).
23-2-105. 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 with falcon entitles the licensee to take game birds and small game animals with the use of falcons or hawks so long as that person also holds a valid Wyoming hunting license for the wildlife to be hunted.
(c) The commission under such safeguards as it deems necessary may grant licenses to take falcons or hawks for lawful falconry purposes. The commission shall also regulate or prohibit the exportation of hawks or falcons from the state.
(d) The commission may establish special seasons for hunting game birds or small game animals with falcons or hawks in areas which it establishes by order.
(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 they have obtained a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of firearms as provided by subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The department shall institute and coordinate a statewide course of instruction in safety and competency in handling firearms. The department may cooperate with local governmental agencies or private organizations in providing hunter safety courses. The department may establish and charge a reasonable fee for enrollment in a hunter safety course. Attendance and successful completion of a hunter safety course offered by an association or governmental agency approved by the commission satisfies the requirements of subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a person who has not received a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of firearms as provided by subsection (b) of this section may apply to the department for a special authorization to take wildlife with the use of a firearm while being accompanied by a person who has attained the age of majority, acting as a mentor, who possesses or can demonstrate he has obtained a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of firearms and who possesses a valid Wyoming hunting license. A mentor shall not provide supervision for more than one (1) person, other than immediate family members, at a time in the field. The special authorization shall be valid for not more than one (1) year. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as altering the requirements of W.S. 23-2-102(a). The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e) of this section.
(d) The requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to the following persons:
(i) Any active member, honorably discharged past member or veteran of the armed forces of the United States;
(ii) Any active or retired Wyoming peace officer who has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707.
(e) A person under fourteen (14) years of age who has not yet received a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of firearms may take small game and game birds without receiving special authorization from the department under subsection (c) of this section while being accompanied by a person who has attained the age of majority, acting as a mentor, who possesses or can demonstrate he has obtained a certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of firearms, unless otherwise exempted as provided in subsection
(a) of this section, and who possesses a valid Wyoming small game or game bird license. A mentor shall not provide supervision for more than one (1) person, other than immediate family members, at a time in the field.
(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 department for a wild bison license.
(b) Repealed by Laws 1999, ch. 92, § 2.
(c) The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations regulating wild bison licenses and the management of wild bison. The rules shall provide for:
(i) License drawing procedures;
(ii) Repealed by Laws 2017, ch. 159, § 2.
(iii) Notification of license recipients as to when and where they may hunt;
(iv) Open and closed hunting seasons;
(v) Tagging requirements for carcasses, skulls and hides;
(vi) Possession limits; and
(vii) Requirements for transportation and exportation.
(d) Any person who takes a wild bison without a license in an area open to hunting or takes a bison within a closed area is guilty of a high misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(ii).
(e) A resident applicant shall pay a license fee of four hundred twelve dollars ($412.00) for a license to harvest any wild bison or two hundred fifty-eight dollars ($258.00) for a license to harvest a female or calf wild bison and shall pay the fee required by W.S. 23-2-101(e). A nonresident applicant shall pay a license fee of six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) for a license to harvest any wild bison or two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($2,750.00) for a license to harvest a female or calf wild bison and shall pay the fee required by W.S. 23-2-101(e). The fee charged under W.S. 23-1-701 shall be in addition to the fee imposed under this subsection.
(f) No person may apply for or receive more than one (1) cow or calf wild bison license in any consecutive five (5) year period, except as authorized pursuant to W.S. 23-1-703(c).
(i) Repealed by Laws 2022, ch. 43, § 2.
(ii) Repealed by Laws 2022, ch. 43, § 2.
23-2-109. 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 license has been limited by the commission. A violation of this subsection shall be punishable as a high misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(ii), by the loss of all points then assigned to the person pursuant to W.S. 23-1-703(b) or (g), and disqualification in the year of submission for any license for the species for which the multiple applications were submitted.
23-2-201. 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 in an amount as provided by law and the orders of the commission. At the time of application for a resident license under this section, the applicant shall provide a valid Wyoming driver's license or a copy thereof, or other proof of residency. The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations stating what proof of residency is required so that only bona fide Wyoming residents, as defined in W.S. 23-1-102(a)(ix), receive resident licenses. For purposes of purchasing a lifetime resident license under subsection (d) of this section and except for the resident disabled veteran's lifetime license issued under subsection (f) of this section, an applicant shall have been a resident as defined in W.S. 23-1-102(a)(ix) continuously for a ten (10) year period immediately preceding the application date.
(b) Repealed by Laws 1999, ch. 92, § 2.
(c) In addition to other fees under this section, persons purchasing a fishing license under this section may pay a voluntary fee of two dollars ($2.00) or any greater amount to fund search and rescue activities in the state. The department shall provide information on the license form that the purchaser may pay the fee under this subsection to be credited to the search and rescue account. Any voluntary fees collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the search and rescue account created by W.S. 19-13-301(a).
(d) The following fishing licenses may be purchased for the fee indicated in addition to the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701 and subject to the limitations provided:
(i) Resident fishing license..............$25.00
(ii) Nonresident fishing license.........$100.00
(iii) Nonresident youth fishing license...$15.00
(iv) Resident youth fishing license (between their 14th and 18th birthdays)........................$3.00
(v) Repealed By Laws 2000, Ch. 27, § 2.
(vi) Nonresident daily fishing license....$12.00
(vii) Resident daily fishing license.......$4.00
(viii) Resident lifetime fishing license.$309.00
(ix) Nonresident five (5) consecutive day fishing license......................................$54.00
(e) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license or tag under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to fund the purchase of access easements by the commission to provide access to public and private lands.
(f) Any resident disabled veteran who receives fifty percent (50%) or more service connected disability compensation from the United States department of veteran's affairs may apply to the department for a resident disabled veteran's lifetime fishing license. The license entitles the resident disabled veteran to take any fish within Wyoming at the time, in a place, in a manner and in an amount as provided by law and the orders of the commission. Application shall include proof of residency required under subsection (a) of this section, certification of the applicant's service connected disability and other information required by rule and regulation of the commission. Notwithstanding subsection (a) and paragraph (d)(viii) of this section, a disabled veteran's lifetime fishing license shall be issued to an eligible applicant without payment of any fee.
(g) Any resident who is on active duty in the United States military deployed to a combat zone who is home on leave may apply to the department for a resident daily fishing license. Application under this section shall include proof of residency required under subsection (a) of this section, certification of the applicant's active duty deployment to a combat zone and other information required by rule and regulation of the commission. Notwithstanding subsection (a) and paragraph (d)(vi) of this section, a resident daily fishing license issued pursuant to this subsection shall be issued to the eligible applicant without charge. For purposes of this subsection, a combat zone is any area which the president of the United States designates by executive order as an area in which the armed forces of the United States are engaged in combat.
(h) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a license under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. The department shall provide information on the application form specifying that the applicant may pay the contribution under this subsection. Funds collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to the wildlife conservation account created by W.S. 31-2-231(b).
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 preserve, without first obtaining a proper license. A nonresident person less than fourteen (14) years need not obtain a proper fishing license if accompanied by an adult possessing a valid unexpired Wyoming fishing license in which case the nonresident person's bag limit as established by law or by commission orders shall be applied to and limited by the fishing license held by the adult person in his company.
(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 apparatus is permissible. No game fish may be taken unless the underwater fisherman is completely submerged.
(b) Repealed By Laws 1996, ch. 121, § 3.
23-2-207. Special limited fishing permit for hospitalized
veterans, residents of state institutions, court placed children and residents of licensed nursing care facilities; students.
(a) Upon an appropriate form furnished by the appropriate institution or facility as prescribed by rule and regulation of the commission, a special limited fishing permit may be issued without charge by:
(i) Any veterans administration hospital within Wyoming to any hospitalized veteran under its care and supervision, which entitles the hospitalized veteran to fish while under the direct control of the hospital;
(ii) The department of health or the department of family services to any resident in the veterans' home of Wyoming, Wyoming state hospital, Wyoming life resource center, Wyoming boys' school and the Wyoming girls' school, which entitles the institutionalized resident to fish while under the direct supervision of the appropriate institution;
(iii) Any Wyoming private residential facility or group home to any child who is placed in the facility or home pursuant to court order and who is in either protective or temporary legal custody of the state, which entitles the child to fish only while under the direct control and supervision of the facility or home;
(iv) Any nursing care facility as defined by W.S. 35-2-901(a)(xvi) and licensed under W.S. 35-2-901 through 35-2-910, to any person under the care and supervision of and residing in the facility, which entitles this person to fish while under the direct control of the facility;
(v) Any Wyoming accredited school, to any enrolled student who is participating in a curriculum based program as described in W.S. 21-9-101, which entitles the student to fish while under the direct supervision of the school.
(b) The commission may by rule and regulation limit the area within which a special limited fishing permit is valid.
Notwithstanding W.S. 23-2-202, any individual who owns land wholly containing a lake, pond or ponds which derive their source of water from surface runoff, natural springs or wells may stock the lake, pond or ponds with eggs or fish with the consent and under the supervision of the department or its authorized personnel provided that other game fish regulated by the commission do not occur in the lake, pond or ponds. The individual landowner and the landowner's spouse, children and grandchildren may fish in the lake, pond or ponds without first obtaining a fishing license. Upon removal from the landowner's property containing the authorized lake, pond or ponds, the individual landowner shall provide a written statement to the possessor of any fish verifying the number and species of fish caught, kept and removed from such property. The lake, pond or ponds shall be approved by the department pursuant to commission rule and regulation.
23-2-209. Wyoming sport fishing day; fishing exempt from licensure.
The commission may annually designate not more than one (1) day each calendar year as a free sport fishing day. Residents and nonresidents may during the designated free sport fishing day, without payment of any fee and without acquiring a license pursuant to W.S. 23-2-201 or a conservation stamp under W.S. 23-2-306, exercise the privileges of sport fishing licensees subject to limitations imposed upon licensees by law and commission rule and regulation.
23-2-301. Miscellaneous fees; verification of residency required.
(a) Repealed by Laws 1999, ch. 92, § 2.
(b) Repealed by Laws 2004, ch. 124, §3.
(c) The following licenses and tags may be purchased for the fee indicated in addition to the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701 and subject to other requirements of this article:
(i) Resident trapping license-furbearing..$43.00
(ii) License to capture furbearing animals for domestication....................... ................$19.00
(iii) Resident fur dealer's license.......$52.00
(iv) Nonresident fur dealer's license....$283.00
(v) Taxidermist's license.................$67.00
(vi) Nonresident taxidermist's license...$721.00
(vii) Game bird farm license.............$134.00
(viii) Fishing preserve license..........$134.00
(ix) Commercial fish hatchery license....$185.00
(x) License to seine or trap fish.........$19.00
(xi) License to deal in live bait.........$67.00
(xii) Nonresident trapping license-Furbearing... ....................................................$247.00
(xiii) Resident youth trapping license (residents under the age of seventeen (17) years of age)..................................................$6.00
(xiv) Pioneer resident trapping license-furbearing (residents aged sixty-five (65) years of age or older, who have resided in Wyoming for thirty (30) years) .......... $20.00
23-2-302. Taxidermist's license; bond; game specimens must be tagged; records.
(a) Any person who conducts business for the purpose of mounting, preserving or preparing wildlife specimens shall apply for and receive a taxidermist's license upon payment of the proper fee prior to receiving wildlife specimens.
(b) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 42, § 2.
(c) Repealed By Laws 2014, Ch. 42, § 2.
(d) Repealed By Laws 2014, ch. 42, § 2.
(e) Licensed taxidermists and persons shipping wildlife specimens to, or receiving wildlife specimens from, a licensed taxidermists are exempt from the requirements of W.S. 23-3-106(a) and (b).
(f) A licensed taxidermist shall maintain records of wildlife specimens received. Those records shall be available for a regulatory inspection upon a forty-eight (48) hour notification by the department. The records shall be submitted to the department by January 31 each year for the preceding year.
23-2-303. Trapping licenses; tagging; traps and snares;
penalty; confiscation; inspection; interference with trapping.
(a) Any person may, in the discretion of the department upon application and the payment of the proper fee, receive a license to trap any furbearing animal. The department shall issue a trapping license to a nonresident only if his state issues licenses to Wyoming residents to trap the same species for which residents of that state may be licensed to trap in that state. Any nonresident applying for a Wyoming trapping license shall furnish:
(i) A notarized affidavit stating the applicant's legal address including his state of residence; and
(ii) A copy of the most current statutes or rules and regulations of the applicant's state of residence which show that the state issues nonresident trapping licenses which authorize Wyoming residents to trap the same species for which residents of that state may be licensed to trap in that state.
(b) At the time of application for a trapping license, the department shall determine:
(i) The area in the district where the trapper may take furbearing animals;
(ii) Allowable harvests of furbearing animals within designated areas which may be taken in a given time.
(c) Repealed by Laws 1987, ch. 156, § 2.
(d) The commission, following consultation with other affected entities, may promulgate rules and regulations establishing specifications for snares, breakaway weights, location of breakaway devices, loop size and anchors for trapping and snaring of furbearing and predatory animals. All traps and snares used for furbearing or predatory animals shall be permanently marked or tagged with the name and address of the owner or the identification number assigned to the owner by the department. Any identification number attached to a trap or snare pursuant to this subsection is solely for the use of the department or appropriate law enforcement officers and is not a public record for purposes of W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205. No trap or snare shall be set for furbearing or predatory animals within thirty (30) feet of any exposed bait or carcass over five (5) pounds in weight. As used in this subsection, "exposed bait or carcass" means the meat or viscera of any part of a mammal, bird or fish, excluding dried bones. All snares used for taking furbearing or predatory animals shall be equipped with a break-away device. Unless otherwise specified in this subsection, all steel-jawed leghold traps shall be checked by the owner at least once during each seventy-two (72) hour period unless extensions are granted by the department. All snares and quick kill body grip traps shall be checked by the owner not less than once each week unless extensions are granted by the department. All wildlife caught in any trap or snare shall upon discovery, be removed immediately by the owner. Violation of this subsection constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(v).
(e) After the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23-1-108 the commission may enact rules and regulations setting forth the specifications for traps and snares used for the taking of gray wolves and the time period for checking such traps and snares. Except as otherwise provided by commission rule, the provisions in this section regulating the trapping of furbearing and predatory animals shall apply to the trapping of gray wolves.
(f) Any trap or snare found in the field not bearing the name and address of the owner of the trap or snare or the identification number assigned by the department to the owner of the trap or snare may be confiscated by any employee of the department. Any landowner or his agent may inspect any trap or snare set on his property, may remove the trap or snare and may release or remove from the trap or snare any wildlife which has not been taken lawfully. The landowner or his agent shall notify the department of any such wildlife, excluding predatory animals, as soon as practicably possible after removing the wildlife from a trap or snare.
(g) A violation of this subsection constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(v). Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall intentionally:
(i) Tamper with or remove a trap or snare set and maintained in compliance with this act; or
(ii) Release or remove a furbearer or predator from a trap or snare set and maintained in compliance with this act.
(a) Any person who desires to engage in the business of buying, collecting, selling, or shipping raw furs other than hides from cloven hoof big game animals shall apply for and pay to the department the proper fee for a resident fur dealer's license or a nonresident fur dealer's license prior to commencing the business.
(b) Fur dealers may receive, purchase, store, handle, ship, sell, transport, and deliver hides from cloven hoof big game animals either within or without the state without tagging the hides with a Wyoming game tag so long as proper records are kept.
(c) Repealed by Laws 1987, ch. 156, § 2.
(d) Fur dealers bringing hides or furs into Wyoming lawfully obtained in another state shall not remove any tag, tattoo mark, or other identification attached to or placed upon the hide or fur by the authorities of another state.
23-2-305. Capture of furbearing animals for domestication; license; fee.
Any resident person who desires to capture furbearing animals for domestication or propagation shall apply for and pay to the department the proper fee for a license to capture furbearing animals for the purposes of domestication or propagation. The department may issue the license under such restrictions as it deems necessary.
(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section and the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701, each sportsman licensed under W.S. 23-2-101, 23-2-107 or 23-2-201 shall purchase a single conservation stamp for twenty-one dollars ($21.00) which shall be valid for the time period specified in commission rules not to exceed twelve (12) months. The stamp or an authorization signifying purchase of the stamp shall be in the possession of any person exercising rights under any fishing or hunting license issued pursuant to W.S. 23-2-101, 23-2-107 or 23-2-201. Holders of special limited fishing permits issued under W.S. 23-2-207 and holders of licenses only under W.S. 23-1-302(q), 23-2-101(j)(v) and (vi), 23-2-201(d)(vi),
(vii) and (ix), 23-2-201(f) and 23-2-201(g) are exempt from the provisions of this section when exercising hunting or fishing privileges provided under those specific licenses. Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, revenues collected from the sale of each stamp under this subsection shall be deposited as follows:
(i) Twenty-five percent (25%) of the revenues collected under this subsection into the account created under W.S. 23-1-501(e);
(ii) Of the amount remaining:
(A) Fifty percent (50%) into the trust account created under W.S. 23-1-501(f); and
(B) Fifty percent (50%) into the game and fish fund.
(b) A lifetime conservation stamp may be purchased for one hundred eighty-five dollars ($185.00) plus the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701. Revenues collected from the sale of each stamp under this subsection shall be deposited as follows:
(i) Fifty percent (50%) into the trust account created under W.S. 23-1-501(f); and
(ii) Fifty percent (50%) into the account created under W.S. 23-1-501(e).
(c) Holders of licenses issued under W.S. 23-1-705(d), (e) or (k) are exempt from the provisions of this section when exercising any hunting or fishing privileges licensed under this act. Licenses issued under W.S. 23-1-705(d), (e) or (k) shall be in possession of the person exempted under this subsection when exercising any hunting or fishing privilege licensed under this act.
(d) In addition to other fees under this section, persons applying for a conservation stamp or a lifetime conservation stamp under this section may pay any whole dollar amount to support wildlife conservation efforts related to the transportation system. The department shall provide information on the application form specifying that the applicant may pay the contribution under this subsection. Funds collected under this subsection shall be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to the wildlife conservation account created by W.S. 31-2-231(b). The department shall deduct and retain an amount equal to the administrative costs incurred in complying with this subsection.
(e) Of the twenty-one dollars ($21.00) collected under subsection (a) of this section, nine dollars ($9.00) collected from the sale of each stamp shall be deposited into the account created under W.S. 23-1-501(h).
(a) The commission may by rule and regulation define those special management programs which require additional expenditures for the propagation, stocking or feeding of wildlife, for designated trophy management areas and for hunting and fishing field development. Any person participating in a special management program shall be required to purchase a special management permit for the program.
(b) Special management permits may be purchased from the department or its authorized selling agents for fifteen dollars ($15.00) plus the applicable fee under W.S. 23-1-701 and, if issued on or after January 1, 2019, shall expire as provided in commission rules.
(c) The commission may by rule require the purchase of a special management permit by any person participating in resident mountain lion pursuit seasons.
23-2-401. Guides required; exceptions; issuance of resident guide license.
(a) No nonresident shall hunt big or trophy game animals on any designated wilderness area, as defined by federal or state law, in this state unless accompanied by a licensed professional guide or a resident guide. There shall be at least one (1) licensed professional guide or resident guide accompanying each two (2) nonresident hunters. The commission may also specify other areas of the state, or specific big or trophy game species, for which a licensed professional or resident guide is required for nonresidents, for purposes of proper game management, protection of hunter welfare and safety, or better enforcement of game and fish laws. The commission may allow licensed guides to accompany more than two (2) hunters but no more than six (6) hunters in specific areas.
(b) Any resident possessing a valid resident big or trophy game animal license may apply for and receive a resident guide license. The resident guide license shall be issued without charge or bond by the commission, any district supervisor or resident game warden upon receipt of an affidavit from the resident stating the names and addresses of the nonresident hunters to be guided, the game to be hunted, the area to be hunted, and that the resident has not received nor will accept directly or indirectly any compensation for his services as a guide. A resident guide shall not guide more than two (2) nonresident hunters in any calendar year on any national forest, wilderness area, national game refuge, or national park, except as provided in W.S. 23-2-401, nor shall he accept any compensation or gratuity for his services. An exchange of guide services shall not be considered compensation for the purposes of this section. The name and license number of the nonresident hunter shall be placed on the back of the resident guide license and stamped or signed by the issuer.
(c) A resident landowner may guide hunters on land owned by or deeded land leased to him without a guide license, or he may authorize nonresidents hunting without a guide on those lands. The license must bear the signature of the landowner, lessee, or agent of the owner on whose private property he is hunting as evidence that permission to hunt has been granted.
(d) Repealed By Laws 2000, Ch. 48, § 3.
(a) As used in this act:
(i) "Advertises" means attempting by any means, including the Internet, the World Wide Web or a similar proprietary or common carrier electronic system, to induce persons to enter into an agreement with an outfitter to receive guide or packing services;
(ii) "Board" means the Wyoming state board of outfitters and guides established under this act;
(iii) "Guide services" means for hire or remuneration, accompanying and providing assistance to a hunter in the field relating to the taking of any big or trophy game animal except as provided in W.S. 23-2-401(b) and (c);
(iv) "Outfitter" means a person including a hunting club, who advertises or holds himself out to the public for hire for the purpose of financial gain in order to provide guide or packing services for the purpose of taking any big or trophy game animal, excluding any person who furnishes pack or riding animals and other equipment only to a hunter for his personal temporary use and any landowner providing outfitter services on private lands owned or leased by him. As used in this paragraph:
(A) "Hunting club" means any person requiring dues or remuneration for providing personal services in the field for the taking of any big or trophy game animal;
(B) "Landowner" means any person, firm or corporation holding title to, or occupying under a contract of purchase, agricultural land or any person whose family owns at least a majority of the stock in a Wyoming corporation and who provides services specified in this paragraph on lands owned by the corporation and used primarily for agricultural purposes.
(v) "Outfitter of record" means the licensed outfitter designated by any unlicensed owner of an outfitting business who is specifically authorized to represent the outfitting business and is responsible and accountable for the operation of the outfitting business;
(vi) "Professional guide" means any person employed by or operating under an independent contract with a licensed outfitter to furnish personal services for the conduct of outdoor recreational activities for the purpose of hunting animals except any person employed by a licensed outfitter solely to care for, groom or saddle livestock, cook, cut wood or to transport people, equipment and personal property;
(vii) "Packing services" means transporting for hire or remuneration, hunters, game animals or equipment in the field for the purpose of taking any big or trophy game animal;
(viii) "Take" means hunt, catch, capture, shoot, trap, kill or possess or attempt to hunt, catch, capture, shoot, trap, kill or possess any big or trophy game animal;
(ix) "This act" means W.S. 23-2-406 through 23-2-418.
23-2-407. License required for outfitters and professional guides.
(a) No person shall hold himself out as, engage in the business of or act in the capacity of an outfitter or shall provide guide services or packing services for the purpose of taking any big or trophy game animal unless he is licensed as an outfitter or professional guide pursuant to this act.
(b) No person engaged in the business of or acting in the capacity of an outfitter or a professional guide is entitled to maintain an action for compensation of outfitting or guiding services provided to any other person unless he is licensed under this act at the time of providing services.
(c) No person shall advertise outfitter or guide services to be performed in Wyoming without listing the Wyoming outfitter license number of one (1) or more outfitters who are contractually obligated to provide the services advertised. This subsection shall not apply to landowners as defined in W.S. 23-2-406(a)(iv)(B).
23-2-408. Wyoming state board of outfitters and professional guides; membership; meetings; compensation.
(a) The Wyoming state board of outfitters and professional guides is established within the department of administration and information and shall consist of seven (7) members as follows:
(i) Two (2) members appointed by the governor from the public-at-large who are not employed by and do not receive any income or compensation from outfitters or professional guides;
(ii) One (1) member of the Wyoming game and fish commission or its designated representative; and
(iii) Four (4) members representing a variety of types and sizes of outfitters appointed by the governor from a list of nominations submitted by licensed outfitters in Wyoming. Nominees shall be licensed outfitters or professional guides with not less than five (5) years experience in outfitting or professional guiding in this state. Two (2) nominees shall be submitted for each board vacancy and appointments shall rotate among game and fish commission appointment districts within the state.
(b) Appointed members shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101 through 28-12-103 and may be removed by the governor as provided by W.S. 9-1-202. Except as otherwise provided for initial appointees, the term of an appointed member shall be three (3) years.
(c) If a vacancy occurs in the membership of any appointed term, the governor with the advice and consent of the senate shall appoint a member with qualifications similar to the member to be replaced, to serve the unexpired term of that member. Any vacancy occurring between sessions of the legislature may be filled by the governor in accordance with W.S. 28-12-101(b).
(d) The board shall select one (1) member to serve as chairman and one (1) member as vice-chairman. The terms of office shall not exceed one (1) year.
(e) The board shall meet upon the call of the chairman, at the call of a majority of board members or upon request of the governor. Four (4) members constitute a quorum.
(f) Appointed members of the board shall serve without compensation but when engaged in actual duties of the board, shall receive per diem and mileage as provided in W.S. 33-1-302(a)(vii).
(g) The board is transferred to the department of administration and information as a Type 3 transfer in accordance with W.S. 9-2-1707(b)(iii).
The board may request the attorney general of this state to provide legal opinions or may employ an attorney to represent the board. Fees and expenses of the attorney general arising from such duties shall be paid from the account created by W.S. 23-2-414(d) if billed to the board by the attorney general.
23-2-410. Powers and duties of board; generally; employees; licensing and regulation.
(a) The board shall:
(i) Adopt an official seal;
(ii) Carry out the provisions of this act and in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act, adopt necessary rules and regulations for carrying out this act including requirements for training, experience and knowledge of relevant law and rules and regulations as may be imposed upon outfitters and professional guides, the content and requirements for examination of license applicants and other necessary and reasonable rules;
(iii) Report to the governor in accordance with W.S. 9-2-1014.
(b) The board may employ personnel as required to carry out this act and establish compensation for any employees subject to legislative budget authorization. The board may investigate alleged violations of this act, including but not limited to violations of W.S. 23-2-407(a). In enforcing this act and its rules and regulations, the board shall require investigators to receive peace officer training and qualification under W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-708.
(c) The board shall license and regulate outfitters and professional guides in this state and shall:
(i) Examine applicants for licensure under this act;
(ii) Deny or approve applications for licensure and may revoke or suspend licenses in accordance with this act and its rules and regulations;
(iii) Conduct hearings upon complaints received relative to licensees. The board may require the complainant to appear before the board in an investigation or a hearing the board conducts. The board may summarily dismiss a complaint upon failure of the complainant to appear or otherwise cooperate with the board;
(iv) Impose reasonable restrictions and limitations upon licensees as necessary to implement this act;
(v) Designate areas within the state as recommended by the commission for game management purposes in which a licensee may conduct outfitting or professional guiding under the license;
(vi) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 156, § 2.
(d) Unless a court issues a search warrant based on probable cause that a private property owner is engaged in illegal outfitting activities, investigators of the board shall not enter onto private property without express permission from the property owner. The board shall not require private landowners to sign an authorization form for outfitters licensed by the board to enter lands owned by the person.
23-2-411. Outfitter qualifications for licensure; licensed
outfitter may act as professional guide; required reporting of criminal history.
(a) An applicant for an outfitter's license shall in addition to any other criteria imposed by rule and regulation of the board, possess the following qualifications:
(i) At least eighteen (18) years of age;
(ii) Experience as a licensed professional guide for not less than one (1) year or similar experience accepted by the board;
(iii) Possess through ownership, lease or as a representative of an owner or lessee, equipment and facilities necessary to the type of services the applicant offers and applicable to the area conditions in which the applicant operates;
(iv) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 156, § 2.
(v) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 156, § 2.
(vi) Have committed no violations of W.S. 23-2-416(a).
(b) Any person holding an outfitter's license under this act may operate as a professional guide without holding a separate professional guide's license.
(c) In addition to subsection (a) of this section, an applicant for an outfitter's license shall report:
(i) Any conviction or forfeiture of any bond amount for a violation of federal or state law or applicable regulation relating to wildlife, game and fish within five (5) years before the date of filing license application;
(ii) Any felony conviction; and
(iii) Any conviction for a violation of federal or state law relating to criminal fraud and occurring within five (5) years prior to the date of filing application.
23-2-412. Qualifications for professional guide's license; valid during employment by outfitter only.
(a) An applicant for a professional guide's license under this act shall meet the following qualifications:
(i) At least eighteen (18) years of age;
(ii) Employed by or operating under an independent contract with a licensed outfitter;
(iii) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 156, § 2.
(iv) Repealed by Laws 1991, ch. 156, § 2.
(v) Have committed no violations of W.S. 23-2-416(a).
(b) A professional guide's license issued under this act is valid only while the licensee is employed by or operating under an independent contract with a licensed outfitter.
(c) Once in every twelve (12) month period, an applicant may receive a license allowing him to provide guiding services under this act for not more than fourteen (14) consecutive days by paying the fee set forth in W.S. 23-2-414.
(d) A licensed outfitter contracting with a professional guide for guiding services shall be responsible for the conduct of the independent contractor guide as if he were an employee.
(e) In addition to subsection (a) of this section, an applicant for a professional guide's license shall report:
(i) Any conviction or forfeiture of any bond amount for a violation of federal or state law or applicable regulation relating to wildlife, game and fish within five (5) years before the date of filing license application;
(ii) Any felony conviction; and
(iii) Any conviction for a violation of federal or state law relating to criminal fraud and occurring within five (5) years prior to the date of filing application.
23-2-413. Application for licensure; fee; required
examination; investigation by board; liability insurance required for outfitters.
(a) Application for a license authorized by this act shall be made upon a form prescribed and furnished by the board, contain information required by the board and be signed by the applicant. The board may impose an application fee of not to exceed a reasonable amount necessary to defray the costs incurred in processing the application, administering the examination required by this section and conducting necessary investigation.
(b) Each applicant for a license under this act shall submit to examination by the board. The examination shall be administered by the board and shall:
(i) Be standardized for each type of license issued under this act;
(ii) Require sufficient knowledge of the services to be provided under the license;
(iii) Test the ability of the applicant to perform services under the license in a safe manner; and
(iv) Require special knowledge applicable to the particular type of license for which application is made.
(c) In addition to examination under subsection (b) of this section, the board may investigate the qualifications of the applicant to ensure compliance with this act.
(d) The board shall require the applicant for a license under this section to post and maintain a liability insurance policy to protect clients and property owners against injury or damage as a result of negligence by outfitters or their agents or employees. The limits of coverage shall be not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) for property damage and for personal injury or death, not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for injury to or death of one (1) person and not less than three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.00) for all injuries or death from any one (1) occurrence.