◆ What does a successful hunt mean to you?
Provided by
Wyoming Game and Fish
CHEYENNE – A successful hunting season can mean a lot of different things. For some hunters, it’s seeing lots of game, but being selective in the take. For others, it might mean spending time outdoors with friends and family, harvesting second to the memories made. Whatever the definition, Wyoming’s fall hunting season offers it up for grabs to those who head outdoors.
“Wyoming has a tremendous hunting season upcoming, and I want to extend a thank you to hunters for their support to conserve our state’s wildlife,” said Brian Nesvik, Wyoming Game and Fish Department director. “Enjoy your time, and don’t forget to think about our young aspiring hunters by giving them new opportunities to experience the things that keep seasoned hunters coming back season after season. Inspire a kid; it’s for life!”
Hunters should know many parts of Wyoming are facing another year of drought, following several impactful wildfires. Game from bears to birds are contending with less water, less food and less cover. In turn, game will select the best habitat. Those are the lush places with water holes and something green to eat. That’s where hunters should head.
Again this fall, Game and Fish is asking hunters to help with chronic wasting disease management. Hunters are a key part of CWD management.
Hunters are asked to provide a lymph node sample from your deer, elk or moose, for chronic wasting disease testing especially if hunting in a CWD priority monitoring area or a mandatory testing area. These samples are important to determine and monitor CWD prevalence for the health of the herd.
Additionally, follow all carcass transport and disposal regulations to help limit the spread of CWD, both within Wyoming and other states. Please read all you can about CWD, how you can help and the requirements for hunters on our website.”
New hunters who haven’t been able to take a required hunter safety course can participate in the hunter mentor program. The program gives new hunters or those who have been unable to attend a hunter education course the opportunity to hunt under the close guidance of an experienced mentor. Forms are available on the Game and Fish website.
Hunters finalizing plans can use the Game and Fish Hunt Planner for maps and previous year’s harvest statistics. Maps are available for offline use, making the hunt boundary and land status lines clear for even the most remote hunt areas. As always, big game hunters are reminded that hunt areas denoted with an asterisk (*) have limited public hunting access and are largely comprised of private lands.
Hunting regulations are available on the Game and Fish website. Public access information is available through Access Yes, including walk-in hunting areas and hunter management areas.
Those with questions about regulations or licensing can call (307) 777-4600.
