040-60 Wyo. Code R. §§ 60-8 - Acquiring Sage Grouse for Captive Rearing

(a) Sage grouse shall not be imported into Wyoming for the purpose of propagation on game bird farms.

(b) A maximum of two hundred fifty (250) sage grouse eggs may be collected during a calendar year by a licensee as annually determined and authorized by the Department.

(c) The Department may supervise the collection of sage grouse eggs to assure minimal impact to nesting sage grouse. If the Department determines there is an unacceptable impact to nesting sage grouse, the Department shall not allow the licensee to collect additional sage grouse eggs.

(d) No person shall collect sage grouse eggs on private land without first obtaining written permission from the landowner, lessee or person in charge of the property.

(e) Additional limitations may be imposed upon sage grouse egg collection as stipulated on the certification, or a complete suspension of sage grouse egg collection may be mandated immediately upon notification as determined by the Department.

(f) A licensee desiring to collect sage grouse eggs shall annually obtain a Certification from the Department which shall, at a minimum, identify:

(i) Designated sage grouse egg collection areas;

(ii) Authorized methods of egg collection;

(iii) Techniques that shall be used to minimize disturbance to nesting and breeding sage grouse;

(iv) The maximum number of nests where a licensee may collect sage grouse eggs in each authorized egg collection area;

(v) Sage grouse egg collection shall only take place for up to twenty (20) days from April through May as determined by the Department;

(vi) A licensee shall spend no more than one (1) day collecting sage grouse eggs in each assigned collection area;

(vii) The time of day for sage grouse egg collection shall be determined by the Department in conjunction with the approved methods of egg collection;

(viii) The use of pointing breed dogs shall be permitted for locating sage grouse nest sites and egg collection;

(ix) A licensee shall collect all sage grouse eggs from each individual sage grouse nest utilized for egg collection;

(x) All sage grouse eggs that are damaged or destroyed during the collection process, including eggs damaged in a nest due to a fleeing hen, shall count toward a licensee's maximum authorized egg collection total for the year; and,

(xi) Measures that shall be followed to provide necessary protection to the viability of sage grouse eggs collected.

Notes

040-60 Wyo. Code R. §§ 60-8

Adopted, Eff. 11/2/2017. Amended, Eff. 1/17/2023.