Wolf management.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF WYOMING
07LSO-0577.E1

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0135

Wolf management.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Burns and Representative(s) Childers

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to wolf management; providing for classification of gray wolves; providing for management of gray wolves within the state as specified; providing an appropriation; approving additional positions; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.
W.S. 11
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6
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302(a)(ix)(B)(II), (x)(B)(I) and (II), 23
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101(a)(viii)(B)(II), (xii)(B)(I) and (II), 23
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302(a)(xxix), 23
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304(a), (c) and (e) and 23
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3
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115(c) are amended to read:

11
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6
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302.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this article:

(ix)

"Predatory animal" means:

(B)

Until the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23
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1
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108, "predatory animal" includes wolves. After that date, "predatory animal" shall include any gray wolf not within an area of the state in which the gray wolf is:

(II)

Classified as a trophy game animal by the game and fish commission pursuant to W.S.
23
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1
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304(b)(i)(A)
23
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304(a)
.

(x)

"Trophy game animal" means:

(B)

From and after the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23
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1
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108:

(I)

"Trophy game animal" shall include any gray wolf within those tracts of land within the boundaries of Wyoming designated as Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park
,
and
the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
;
, and those federally designated wilderness areas contiguous to these national parks and this parkway as defined by the United States congress as of January 1, 2003;
and

(II)

"Trophy game animal" shall include any gray wolf within any area of the state where gray wolves are classified as trophy game animals by the game and fish commission pursuant to W.S.
23
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1
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304(b)(i)(A)
23
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1
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304(a)
.

23
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1
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101.

Definitions of wildlife.

(a)

As used in this act:

(viii)

"Predatory animal" means:

(B)

Until the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23
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1
‑
108, "predatory animal" includes wolves. After that date, "predatory animal" shall include any gray wolf not within an area of the state in which the gray wolf is:

(II)

Classified as a trophy game animal by the commission pursuant to W.S.
23
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1
‑
304(b)(i)(A)
23
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1
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304(a)
.

(xii)

"Trophy game animal" means:

(B)

From and after the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23
‑
1
‑
108:

(I)

"Trophy game animal" shall include any gray wolf within those tracts of land within the boundaries of Wyoming designated as Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park
,

or
the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
;
, and those federally designated wilderness areas contiguous to these national parks and this parkway as defined by the United States congress as of January 1, 2003;
and

(II)

"Trophy game animal" shall include any gray wolf within any area of the state where gray wolves are classified as trophy game animals by the commission pursuant to W.S.
23
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1
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304(b)(i)(A)
23
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1
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304(a)
.

23
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1
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302.

Powers and duties.

(a)

The commission is directed and empowered:

(xxix)

After the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23
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1
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108, to classify gray wolves as predatory or trophy game animals in accordance with W.S. 23
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1
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304, and to regulate the number of gray wolves which may be taken under a license issued under this act
or as necessary to carry out the commission's duties under this act
.

23
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304.

Classification of gray wolves.

(a)

The commission shall
determine the classification of gray wolves as provided in this section. In making this classification the commission shall rely upon information provided by department personnel and shall consult with the Wyoming animal damage management board created by W.S. 11
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6
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303 and the director of the Wyoming department of agriculture, and consider any additional information provided by that board and by that director
by rule and regulation establish areas within the state where gray wolves are classified as trophy game animals and set seasons and bag limits within those areas. The areas designated, seasons and bag limits shall be set annually in a manner the commission determines, through rule and regulation, is necessary to reasonably ensure at least seven (7) breeding pairs of gray wolves are located in this state and primarily outside of Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway at the end of the current calendar year
.

(c)

For purposes of this section
"pack"
"breeding pair"
means
five (5) or more gray wolves traveling together. If a group of gray wolves consists of more than ten (10) animals known to be traveling together, the commission may, at its discretion, recognize the number of packs within such a group to be equal to the number of
a
reproductively mature
females bearing
male and a female gray wolf known to be traveling together with reared
young
.
found within that group of wolves.

(e)

The department shall actively monitor big game animal herd populations statewide to determine whether and to what extent the gray wolf is negatively impacting big game animal herds, and thereby hunting opportunities. To the extent permitted by this title,
and notwithstanding other provisions of this title by those means authorized by the commission,
the department shall manage the gray wolf population, as necessary to ensure the long-term health and viability of any big game animal herd that is being threatened in this state.

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115.

Taking black bear, mountain lion, gray wolf, bobcat, weasel, badger, squirrels or muskrat for damaging property.

(c)

The provisions of subsection (a) of this section relating to the taking of animals doing damage to private property shall apply to gray wolves from and after the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23
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108. The owner, employee or lessee acting under authority of this section shall notify the department of the killing of a gray wolf within an area of the state in which the gray wolf is classified as a trophy game animal. The notification shall be made within ten (10) days of the kill unless the gray wolf was taken in an area where wolves have been classified as trophy game animals pursuant to W.S.
23
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304(b)(i)(A)
23
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304(a)
in which case the notification shall be made within seventy-two (72) hours.

Section 2.

2003 Wyoming Session Laws, Chapter 115, Section 4(c) is amended to read:

Section 4.

(c)

In order to accomplish the purposes of this act, the game and fish commission shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with appropriate federal agencies under which the commission and federal agencies shall endeavor to manage the prey base for gray wolves in a manner to maintain a sufficient prey base in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway within the state for at least eight (8)
packs
breeding pairs
of wolves. The game and fish commission shall endeavor to manage big game populations providing a prey base for seven (7)
packs
breeding pairs
of gray wolves in all other areas of the state in such a manner as to mitigate to the greatest extent possible, adverse effects on opportunities for licensed hunters to take big game.

Section 3.

W.S. 23
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304(b) is repealed.

Section 4.

There is appropriated from the general fund to the game and fish commission for the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2008, two million four hundred thousand dollars ($2,400,000.00) for purposes of managing gray wolves.

Section 5
.

There are approved eight (8) full-time positions and three (3) full-time at-will-employee contract (AWEC) positions for the game and fish commission as a part of the appropriation from the general fund. The commission shall develop, with the department of administration and information, an expense organization which appropriates any future funding for purposes of managing grey wolves.

Section 6.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

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SF0135