Know the rules

In a recent interview, Biff Burton, Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) Saratoga Game Warden, listed some common violations that hunters and fisherman commit.

Trespassing on private lands, either intentionally or unintentionally, tops the list. “Part of planning the hunt is preparing where (the hunter) wants to go to hunt and preparing maps and GPS technology if they have it,” Burton said, adding, “A hunter needs to be literate in reading maps and if they are using technology like GPS they should know how to use it before they are faced with a problem.”

Other common hunting violations and issues identified by Burton include leaving gates as they are found, driving off road, leaving fires unattended, trash at campsites, hunting from vehicles and hunting after a season has closed.

Burton said that even on public lands, gates and fences are there for a purpose. “That gate might need to be open or it might need to be closed according to the cattle operation that is on one side or the other.”

Burton advises that hunters should be responsible and respectful of the lands they use. With the common use of UTVs and ATVs more hunters are tempted to travel off road and in areas not authorized for vehicle travel on state and federal lands. “It costs the Game and Fish Department money to repair some of the damage that hunters leave behind,” Burton said in reference to ruts left behind by vehicles.

Hunters should be aware that UTVs and ATVs are vehicles, and as such, shooting from them is illegal. “A point I’d like to make is you can’t take any wildlife, like prairie dogs, from a vehicle,” Burton said.

Burton also said there is indisputable evidence that wildlife avoids vehicles such as UTVs, so hunters should be sensitive to where they drive.

WGFD has relaxed regulations for sex identification for game animals according to Burton, but hunters should be aware of the current requirements. “Regulations have been a relaxed a little bit, but you still have to display evidence of sex,” Burton said. That evidence is either the head of the animal or visible genitalia. Because of issues related to diseases the head or sexual organs do not have to be attached to the animal, but they must accompany the carcass.

Hunter interactions with predators have been in the news lately. Burton said that killing a predator should be a last resort and means of self defense. The black bear season is regulated by the number of sows that can be taken and it is the responsibility of the hunter to make sure the season is still open before they harvest a bear. Burton said that the bear and mountain lion populations seem to be higher lately and hunters should be prepared to have interactions with these top level predators.

The WGFD maintains a comprehensive website with all of its rules and regulations for hunters at https://wgfd.wyo.gov/.