040-47 Wyo. Code R. §§ 47-4 - Hunting Regulations for Gray Wolves Designated as Trophy Game Animals

(a) All gray wolves within the Wolf Trophy Game Management Area and Seasonal Wolf Trophy Game Management Area as described in W.S. § 23-1-101(a) (xii) (B) (I) and (II) are designated as trophy game animals. These regulations, and any allowance for hunting, do not apply to lands administered by the National Park Service within Grand Teton National Park or the National Elk Refuge. Gray wolves in Wyoming are designated as predatory animals as defined in W.S. § 23-1-101(a) (viii) (B) except for:

(i) Those areas where gray wolves are designated as trophy game animals; and,

(ii) Yellowstone National Park; and,

(iii) The Wind River Reservation, except on non-Indian owned fee titled lands.

(b) Gray wolves designated as trophy game animals shall only be taken during open gray wolf hunting seasons with legal firearms and archery equipment as set forth in Commission regulation, except as otherwise provided by Wyoming statutes.

(c) Open hours for the taking of gray wolves. Gray wolves may only be taken from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.

(d) No person, except as authorized by the Department, shall take a gray wolf with the use of or by the aid of radio tracking equipment.

(e) Bag and possession limit. The bag and possession limits for any person with a proper license shall be one (1) gray wolf per license during any one (1) calendar year (January 1 - December 31). A person may purchase up to two (2) gray wolf hunting licenses during any one (1) calendar year. Licensed hunters may take any gray wolf.

(f) Reporting and registering kills. Hunters taking a gray wolf in the hunt areas described in Section 6 shall retain the pelt and skull from each gray wolf for registration purposes. Even if the skull is damaged, it shall accompany the pelt for registration purposes. Visible external evidence of sex shall remain naturally attached to the pelt. The pelt and skull shall be presented in an unfrozen condition to allow collection of biological samples and to determine the age and sex of the gray wolf.

(i) Within twenty-four (24) hours after taking a gray wolf, the licensee shall either report the taking of a gray wolf by calling toll free 1-800-264-1280 or present the pelt and skull to a district game warden, district wildlife biologist or Department personnel at a Department regional office during business hours for reporting and registration. The report shall include the name and phone number of the person making the report, hunter's name and license number, date of the kill, sex of gray wolf taken and location of the site of kill to include hunt area.

(ii) After a licensee has properly reported taking a gray wolf to the toll free number in Section 4(f)(i), and within seventy-two (72) hours after taking a gray wolf, the licensee taking the gray wolf shall present the pelt and skull to a district game warden, district wildlife biologist or Department personnel at a Department regional office during business hours for registration. The licensee shall provide their license number, date of kill and location of the site of kill to include hunt area, section, township and range or UTM coordinates.

(A) A hunter taking a gray wolf in a designated wilderness area shall present the pelt and skull to a district game warden, district wildlife biologist or Department personnel at a Department regional office during business hours for registration within seventy-two (72) hours after returning from the wilderness or within ten (10) days from the date of harvest, whichever occurs first.

(iii) At the time of registration, the licensee shall furnish the Department their license number, date of kill and location of the site of kill to include hunt area, section, township and range or UTM coordinates.

(iv) Any person who makes a false statement on the registration is in violation of this regulation.

(g) Surrender of electronic radio tracking devices. Any person taking a gray wolf wearing an electronic radio tracking device within the hunt areas described in Section 6 shall surrender the device to the Department in accordance with registration dates in Section 4(f) (ii) of this chapter.

(h) Hunt Areas, Season Dates, Mortality Limit and Limitations.

Hunt Area	Season Dates		Mortality Limit
	Opens	Closes
1, 2	Sep. 15	Dec. 31	6
3, 4	Sep. 15	Dec. 31	5
5	Sep. 15	Dec. 31	4
6, 7	Sep. 15	Dec. 31	5; SEE SECTION 4 (i)
8, 9, 10, 11	Sep. 15	Dec. 31	12
12	Oct. 15	Dec. 31	2; SEE SECTION 4 (j)
13	Sep. 15	Mar. 31	2
14	Sep. 15	Dec. 31	2

(i) Gray wolf hunting shall be closed in that portion of Hunt Area 6 in the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway.

(j) Gray wolves located in Hunt Area 12 are designated as trophy game animals from October 15 through the last day of February in the subsequent year, but the hunting season shall end on December 31 or when the mortality limit has been reached, whichever occurs first, as set forth in Section 4(h) of this chapter. Gray wolves located in Hunt Area 12 are designated as predatory animals from March 1 through October 14 and during this time period may be taken without a license.

(k) Hunt area mortality limitation. The gray wolf hunting season shall close in each gray wolf hunt area when the mortality limit for that area has been reached. If the mortality limit is not reached, the season shall close upon the date specified in Section 4(h) of this chapter. Prior to hunting, it is the hunter's responsibility to confirm the hunt area the person intends to hunt is open. The status of hunt area closures shall be available twenty-four (24) hours a day by calling toll free 1-800-264-1280.

Notes

040-47 Wyo. Code R. §§ 47-4

Amended, Eff. 8/24/2017. Amended, Eff. 8/15/2018. Amended, Eff. 8/29/2019. Amended, Eff. 8/24/2020. Amended, Eff. 9/3/2021. Amended, Eff. 9/15/2022. Amended, Eff. 9/8/2023. Amended, Eff. 8/20/2024.