Keeping Law SimpleLegislation, clearly explained
Back to Wyoming
Wyoming2018Did Not Pass

HB0005

Ban on Selling Specific Wildlife Location Data

Last scannedOct 18, 2026, 2:19 AM

In one sentence

This bill would make it illegal to sell specific location and identification details about a previously scouted big or trophy game animal to help a hunter take that exact animal.

What it does

  • Prohibits advertising or providing the location and identification information of a previously scouted big or trophy game animal to a hunter for payment.
  • Defines location information as geographical coordinates, maps, drawings, illustrations, or other documents that show where the animal is.
  • Defines identification information as photographs, drawings, descriptions, or other information that identify the specific animal.
  • Allows exceptions for governmental agencies, licensed professional guides, resident guides, resident landowners guiding hunters on their own land, and other outfitting services operating under specific state laws.
  • Sets a penalty of a high misdemeanor for anyone who violates the rule.

Who it affects

  • People who advertise or sell hunting information for payment.
  • Hunters who buy specific location and identification data for a targeted animal.
  • Licensed professional guides, resident guides, and resident landowners who guide hunters under existing state laws.

Limits and unknowns

  • The bill did not pass in the 2018 session and did not become law.
  • The bill does not define how law enforcement would verify if an animal was 'previously scouted.'
  • The bill does not explain how this rule interacts with other existing hunting regulations outside of the listed exceptions.

Plain language

Terms to know

Big or trophy game animal
A wild animal that is hunted for sport, often selected for its size or features.
High misdemeanor
A type of criminal offense that is less severe than a felony but more serious than a standard misdemeanor.
Remuneration
Payment or money given in exchange for a service.

Official record

Sources

Source checked
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill text

Public statements

Why lawmakers voted

Last checked Sep 12, 10:59 AM

Voted Yes

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker supports the bill because it addresses public concerns about websites selling specific locations of trophy deer for a fee, which violates fair chase hunting ethics.

Public statementFloor statement at 57:35 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker opposes the bill, arguing that it fails to meet strict scrutiny tests under the First Amendment and therefore should not be passed despite potential lack of legal challenge.

Public statementFloor statement at 59:44 Watch the statement
Voted No

Why they voted this way

The lawmaker votes no due to unresolved questions regarding how the state would prosecute sellers located in other states or countries and shut down their websites.

Public statementFloor statement at 1:00:32 Watch the statement

If a lawmaker is not listed, we couldn't find a published reason.

Wyoming roll calls

Recorded votes

2 roll calls

H06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 7-2-0-0-02018-02-16 · House7 yes 2 no
Yes
7
No
2
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 7

James R AllenH33Jamie L FlitnerH26John L FreemanH60Joseph E MacGuireH35Martha D HalversonH22Mike GierauD · H16William H Mr. HaleyH46

No 2

Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Scott M ClemH31
H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel 40-20-0-0-02018-02-13 · House40 yes 20 no
Yes
40
No
20
Absent
0
Excused
0
Conflict
0

Yes 40

Albert P Sommers Jr.H20Bob NicholasR · H08Carl R LoucksH59Cheri SteinmetzR · H05Dan FurphyH14Dan R KirkbrideH04Dan ZwonitzerH43David E NorthrupH50Debbie BoveeH36Donald E Burkhart JrH15Evan J SimpsonH21Hans HuntH02James R AllenH33James W ByrdH44Jamie L FlitnerH26Jared OlsenR · H11Jerry A ObermuellerH56Jerry D PaxtonH47JoAnn R DaytonH17John C EklundH10John L FreemanH60Joseph E MacGuireH35LARSEN LLOYDMartha D HalversonH22Michael D GreearH27Mike GierauD · H16Nathan A WintersH28Robert A ClausenH06Scott CourtH24Stanley L BlakeH39Steve HarshmanR · H37Susan S WilsonH07Thomas D CrankH18Thomas J WaltersH38Timothy P HallinanH32Tim SalazarR · H34Tyler E LindholmH01William D HendersonH41William H Mr. HaleyH46William H PownallH52

No 20

Andrew W SchwartzH23Bo BitemanR · H51Catherine R ConnollyH13Charles F PelkeyH45Charles J GrayH57Clark D StithH48Clifford M JenningsH30Danny EyreH19David R MillerH55Eric BarlowR · H03Garry C PiiparinenH49Landon BrownR · H09Lars O LoneH12LAURSEN DANMark S KinnerH29Michael K MaddenH40Patrick SweeneyH58Roy H EdwardsH53Scott M ClemH31Theodore J BlackburnH42

Official activity

Bill history

  1. H Did Not Consider in CoWHouse
  2. H COWHouse
  3. H Placed on General FileHouse
  4. H06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 7-2-0-0-0House
  5. H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel 40-20-0-0-0House
  6. H Received for IntroductionHouse
  7. Bill Number AssignedLSO