Wyoming Hunting Laws

What makes land legally posted in Wyoming?

Posting is not required to protect land from hunters: no one may enter, cross or return across private property to hunt, fish, trap or collect antlers without the owner's permission, whether or not it is posted. For general criminal trespass, notice can be given in person or by signs reasonably likely to come to an intruder's attention. The law sets no sign size or spacing.

Under the statute, 'travel through or return across' requires physically touching or driving on the surface of the private property.

Source: W.S. 23-3-305(b); W.S. 6-3-303 · official source

Does Wyoming have a purple paint law?

Wyoming has no purple-paint statute. Hunters need permission for any private land, posted or not.

No paint-mark provision appears in the criminal trespass statute or the game and fish title.

Source: W.S. 6-3-303; W.S. 23-3-305 · official source

Do you need written permission to hunt private land in Wyoming?

Permission is required for all private land. Game and Fish says your license must carry the signature of the landowner, lessee or agent, or you must have other legitimate proof that permission was granted. Hunting at night on private or leased land requires the owner's or lessee's written permission.

Walk-In Areas need no separate permission; Hunter Management Areas need a printed permission slip.

Source: W.S. 23-3-305(b), (e); WGFD · official source

Can you retrieve a deer or a hunting dog from posted land in Wyoming?

Wyoming's statute has no exception for retrieving game or dogs: entering or crossing private land to take wildlife without the owner's permission is a violation. Hunters must make a reasonable effort to retrieve game they wound, so get permission before following an animal onto private land.

Source: W.S. 23-3-305(b); WGFC Ch. 2 § 13 · official source

What is the penalty for hunting trespass in Wyoming?

Entering, crossing or returning across private land to hunt, fish, trap or collect antlers without permission is a low misdemeanor: up to $1,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail. General criminal trespass carries up to $750 and 6 months.

Using a suppressor while illegally taking big game on private land is a separate high misdemeanor (W.S. 23-3-112).

Source: W.S. 23-3-305(b); 23-6-202(a)(v); 6-3-303 · official source

How close to a house can you hunt in Wyoming?

Wyoming has no statewide minimum distance from houses or buildings for hunting: neither the state's game and fish statutes (W.S. Title 23) nor the Game and Fish Commission's general hunting regulation sets one. The nearest statewide rules are that you may not fire a rifle from one person's enclosed land onto or across another's without both owners' permission, and may not shoot from or across a public road.

Checked: full text of W.S. Title 23 and WGFC Chapter 2 (wgfd.wyo.gov/media/29981/download). Permission is required to hunt private land in Wyoming regardless of distance.

Source: W.S. Title 23 (incl. § 23-3-305(d)); WGFC Chapter 2, General Hunting Regulation · official source

Can you hunt from or near a road in Wyoming?

You may not hunt or shoot at wildlife from a public road or highway, or fire any gun from, upon, along or across one. A road includes the area between the fences or, if unfenced, 30 feet from the edge of the road surface. You also may not hunt from a vehicle, or fire a rifle from one person's enclosed land across another's without both owners' permission.

Two-track trails on public land are not public roads.

Source: W.S. 23-3-305(a), (c), (d); 23-3-306; WGFC Ch. 2 § 2 · official source

What are legal shooting hours in Wyoming?

Big game, trophy game and small game may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Upland game birds and turkey close at sunset.

Source: WGFC Regulations Ch. 2 § 5 · official source

What are the blaze orange requirements in Wyoming?

Anyone hunting big or trophy game must wear at least one visible exterior garment (hat, shirt, jacket, coat, vest or sweater) in fluorescent orange or pink. Fluorescent orange camouflage counts. Archers and crossbow hunters in a special archery season or Type 9 archery-only season are exempt.

Low misdemeanor. No square-inch minimum. Recommended for small game; required for pheasants on certain WGFD and Reclamation lands.

Source: W.S. 23-3-113 · official source

Is night hunting legal in Wyoming?

Taking wildlife with an artificial light is illegal, a high misdemeanor (up to $10,000 and 1 year). Predatory animals (such as coyotes) may be hunted with lights or thermal by landowners or those with their written permission on private land, and on public or state land under Commission rules. Raccoons may be hunted on foot with a handlight and a raccoon dog.

Any night hunting on private land needs the landowner's written permission. Game animals may only be hunted 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Source: W.S. 23-3-306(b)-(e); 23-3-305(e) · official source

Who needs hunter education in Wyoming?

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1966 must have a hunter safety certificate to hunt with a firearm anywhere except their own family's land. Without one, you can get a one-year special authorization to hunt with an adult mentor who is certified and licensed. Children under 14 may hunt small game and game birds with such a mentor without the authorization.

Military members and veterans, and qualified Wyoming peace officers, are exempt. One mentee per mentor (family excepted).

Source: W.S. 23-2-106 · official source

Is Sunday hunting legal in Wyoming?

Yes. Wyoming law does not restrict hunting on Sundays.

Source: W.S. Title 23 (no Sunday restriction) · official source

Is it legal to bait deer in Wyoming?

No. Baiting big game is prohibited, except for legally blind hunters, hunters in wheelchairs, and holders of certain disability permits or licenses. Intentionally feeding elk is also illegal.

The rule covers big game; check the black bear regulations for bear-specific bait rules.

Source: WGFC Regulations Ch. 2 § 14; W.S. 23-3-309 · official source

Can you use a crossbow during archery season in Wyoming?

Yes. Game and Fish allows crossbows in special archery seasons with an archery license. The crossbow must have at least a 90-pound draw and bolts of at least 16 inches with broadheads cutting at least 1 inch wide.

Source: W.S. 23-2-104; WGFD · official source

Can you use a drone to scout or recover game in Wyoming?

Wyoming law treats drones as aircraft. You may not use one to spot, locate or help anyone take any licensed wildlife except predatory animals, a high misdemeanor. Commission rules also ban using any aircraft to locate big game from August 1 through January 31, or trophy game during any open season.

Source: W.S. 23-3-306(a); WGFC Ch. 2 § 12 · official source

Are trail cameras restricted in Wyoming?

Cellular and Wi-Fi trail cameras, and any real-time video, thermal or infrared device, may not be used to spot or locate big game, trophy game or bison for hunting. Ordinary trail cameras that only store images on the device are allowed. Selling or trading location information on these animals is also prohibited.

Source: WGFC Regulations Ch. 2 § 20 · official source

Is a landowner liable if someone gets hurt hunting on their land in Wyoming?

A landowner owes no duty to keep land safe for, or to warn, people using it for recreation, and letting people on for free does not make them invitees or make the owner liable for their acts. The protection does not apply to willful or malicious failure to warn, or when the owner charges for entry.

Lease payments from the state are not a 'charge'.

Source: W.S. 34-19-102, -103, -105 · official source