Game and fish-authority revisions.

WORKING DRAFT

ORIGINAL SENATE
FILE

NO.
0017

ENROLLED ACT NO. 21, SENATE

SIXTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2012 BUDGET SESSION

AN ACT relating to
game and fish; providing for commission authority to establish specifications for weapons and ammunition allowed for hunting; providing for commission authority to allow baiting of big game animals as specified;
and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
104(e)
and (g)
, 23
‑
3
‑
110(a)
and (c)
, 23
‑
3
‑
111(a)(intro)
and (b)
and 23
‑
3
‑
304(d) by creating a new paragraph (iv) are amended to read:

23
‑
2
‑
104.

Archery licenses; special seasons; prohibition against firearms; equipment.

(e)

When hunting antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, deer, mountain goat or mountain lion the longbow hunter must be equipped with a longbow of not less than forty (40) pounds draw weight or possessing the ability to cast a hunting arrow of four hundred (400) grain weight at least one hundred sixty (160) yards. When hunting elk, grizzly bear or moose, the longbow hunter must be equipped with a longbow of not less than fifty (50) pounds draw weight or possessing the ability to cast a hunting arrow of five hundred (500) grain weight at least one hundred sixty (160) yards. The crossbow hunter must be equipped with a crossbow of not less than ninety (90) pounds draw weight which has a minimum draw length of fourteen (14) inches (from front of bow to back of string in the cocked position) and a positive safety mechanism. Crossbow bolts must be at least sixteen (16) inches long. The broadhead of arrows or bolts shall be of sharp steel with a minimum cutting width of one (1) inch

The commission shall establish by rule and regulation specifications for crossbows, longbows, recurve bows, compound bows, arrows and broadheads for taking of
big or trophy game animals
.
The
rules and regulations promulgated under the

provisions of this subsection relating to the hunting of
antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, deer, mountain goat and mountain lion

big or trophy game animals
shall also apply to the hunting of the gray wolf as a trophy game animal 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.

(g)

Except as otherwise provided, violation of this section

or rules promulgated under
subsection (e) of
this section
constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23
‑
6
‑
202(a)(v).

23
‑
3
‑
110.

Firearms; types permitted for hunting game birds.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided,
The commission shall establish by rule and regulation firearm and ammunition specifications for taking

game birds

excluding ruffed and blue grouse may only be taken with a shotgun not larger than ten (10) gauge. Automatic loading, pump, or repeating shotguns must be plugged to admit no more than one (1) shell in the chamber and two (2) shells in the magazine

or wild turkeys
.

(c)

Violation of this section

or rules promulgated under this section
constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23
‑
6
‑
202(a)(v).

23
‑
3
‑
111.

Firearms; size of guns to be used in hunting big or trophy game animals.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided,

The commission shall establish by rule and regulation firearm and
ammunition specifications for taking
big or trophy game animals
.

may only be taken with the following types of firearms:

(b)

Violation of this section

or rules promulgated under this section
constitutes a low misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23
‑
6
‑
202(a)(v).

23
‑
3
‑
304.

Certain trapping devices unlawful; game for bait prohibited; baiting big game animals prohibited; penalties.

(d)

No person shall place any bait for the purpose of taking a big game animal nor shall any person knowingly take a big game animal by the use of any bait that has been deposited, placed, distributed or scattered in a manner to constitute a lure, attraction or enticement to, on or over the area where any hunter is taking big game animals. Nothing in this subsection shall:

(iv)

Apply to the placement, distribution, depositing or scattering of bait for the taking of big game animals in hunt areas
to address population management, damage, disease or human safety issues. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the provisions of this paragraph.

Section 2.

W.S. 23
‑
3
‑
110(b) and 23
‑
3
‑
111(a)(i) and (ii) are repealed.

Section 3
.

Th
is act is effective July 1, 2012
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

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