AN ACT relating to game and fish; allowing for the use of artificial light including thermal or infrared imaging or other imaging outside the normal visible light spectrum while hunting predatory animals at night; making conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
Representative Haroldson
Last action
2023-02-24
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2023
Plain English Breakdown
The official source material does not provide information about the effectiveness of using artificial light in reducing predator populations.
Allowing Night Hunting with Artificial Light for Predatory Animals
This law allows hunters to use artificial light, including thermal or infrared imaging, while hunting predatory animals at night on public and state lands in Wyoming.
What This Bill Does
Allows the use of artificial light, such as thermal or infrared imaging, when hunting predatory animals at night.
Requires the Game and Fish Commission to create rules for using artificial light to hunt predatory animals.
Specifies that hunters must follow rules set by the commission about where, when, and how they can use artificial light while hunting.
Who It Names or Affects
Hunters who want to hunt predatory animals at night using artificial light.
The Game and Fish Commission, which must create rules for this type of hunting.
Terms To Know
Predatory Animals
Animals that hunt other animals for food, such as coyotes or foxes.
Artificial Light
Light made by machines or devices, like flashlights or thermal imaging cameras.
Limits and Unknowns
The law only applies to hunting predatory animals and does not allow the use of artificial light for other types of hunting.
It is unclear how strictly hunters will follow the rules set by the Game and Fish Commission.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: The amendment changes the wording of certain sections in a bill about hunting predatory animals at night and sets an effective date for when the new rules will start.
Removes specific language on page 1 line 6 and replaces it with 'an effective date.'
Adds words to allow state land use under certain conditions on page 3 line 11.
Replaces lines 1 through 13 on page 4 with a new section stating the act will be effective July 1, 2023.
The exact impact of these changes is not fully explained in the amendment text provided.
Standing Committee • House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Re
Divided
Plain English: The amendment modifies HB0104 to specify certain conditions and limitations regarding the use of artificial light for hunting predatory animals at night.
Adds a time restriction from August 1 to January 31 during which the use of artificial light while hunting predatory animals is not allowed.
Clarifies that rules made by the commission will include regulations, not just rules.
Requires the commission to specify conditions for using artificial light on public land, such as creating zones and setting valid dates.
The amendment does not provide specific details about how the restrictions and specifications will be implemented or enforced.
Standing Committee • House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Re
Corrected, Adopted
Plain English: The amendment adds language that allows the wildlife commission to create rules about using artificial lights while hunting predatory animals at night.
Adds a new section allowing the wildlife commission to specify zones and dates for hunting predatory animals with artificial light on public land.
Inserts 'and regulation' after 'rule' in the existing text.
The exact details of how and where artificial lights can be used are left up to future regulations by the wildlife commission.
Standing Committee • House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Re
Corrected, Failed
Plain English: The amendment modifies a bill to add restrictions on when artificial light can be used for hunting predatory animals at night.
Adds language that limits the use of artificial light while hunting predatory animals to certain times of the year, specifically outside the period from August 1 to January 31.
The amendment text does not specify what happens during the restricted period (August 1 to January 31), leaving some details unclear.
Standing Committee • Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural R
Adopted
Plain English: The amendment removes the requirement for rulemaking and changes the language regarding where hunting with artificial light can occur.
Removed the phrase 'requiring rulemaking;' from the bill.
Added 'or state' after 'public' and inserted new conditions related to limitations established by the commission in certain sections of the bill.
Replaced existing text on page 4 with a new effective date clause, setting it for July 1, 2023.
The amendment does not specify what exact changes will be made to hunting regulations beyond removing the rulemaking requirement and adding an effective date.
Bill History
2023-02-24LSO
Assigned Chapter Number 88
2023-02-24Governor
Governor Signed HEA No. 0052
2023-02-22Senate
S President Signed HEA No. 0052
2023-02-21House
H Speaker Signed HEA No. 0052
2023-02-21LSO
Assigned Number HEA No. 0052
2023-02-15Senate
S Appointed JCC01 Members
2023-02-14House
H Appointed JCC01 Members
2023-02-14House
H Concur:Failed 1-61-0-0-0
2023-02-13House
H Received for Concurrence
2023-02-13Senate
S 3rd Reading:Passed 27-4-0-0-0
2023-02-09Senate
S 3rd Reading:Laid Back
2023-02-08Senate
S 2nd Reading:Passed
2023-02-07Senate
S COW:Passed
2023-02-02Senate
S Placed on General File
2023-02-02Senate
S06 - Travel:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0
2023-01-31Senate
S Introduced and Referred to S06 - Travel
2023-01-30Senate
S Received for Introduction
2023-01-27House
H 3rd Reading:Passed 54-7-1-0-0
2023-01-26House
H 2nd Reading:Passed
2023-01-25House
H COW:Passed
2023-01-24House
H Placed on General File
2023-01-24House
H06 - Travel:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 6-2-1-0-0
2023-01-12House
H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel
2023-01-11House
H Received for Introduction
2023-01-11LSO
Bill Number Assigned
Official Summary Text
Bill Summary - 23LSO-0145
Bill No.:
HB0104
Effective:
7/1/2023
LSO No.:
23LSO-0145
Enrolled Act No.:
HEA No. 0052
Chapter No.:
88
Prime Sponsor:
Haroldson
Catch Title:
Hunting of predatory animals-amendments.
Subject:
Hunting predatory animals using artificial light.
Summary/Major Elements:
No person in Wyoming may use any artificial light or lighting devices to take wildlife except for predatory animals. This act specifies that a person who does use artificial light or lighting devices to take predatory animals may use lighting devices that include thermal, infrared or other light imaging.
This act also allows a person to take predatory animals using artificial light or lighting devices on public or state lands subject to regulation by the Game and Fish Commission.
The Game and Fish Commission is required to establish rules and regulations for taking predatory animals with the use of artificial light or lighting devices, including specifying zones, areas, valid dates and methods for taking predatory animals.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.
While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
23LSO-0145
ORIGINAL House
ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0104
ENROLLED ACT NO. 52,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2023 General Session
AN ACT relating to game and fish; allowing for the use of artificial light including thermal or infrared imaging or other imaging outside the normal visible light spectrum while hunting predatory animals at night; making conforming amendments; requiring rulemaking; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.
W.S. 23
‑
3
‑
103(a) and 23
‑
3
‑
306(b)(intro), (ii), by creating a new paragraph (iii) and by creating a new subsection (h) are amended to read:
23
‑
3
‑
103.
Taking predatory animals, predacious birds and trophy animals; taking furbearing animals and game birds without license prohibited.
(a)
Predatory animals and predacious birds may be taken without a license in any manner and at any time except as provided by W.S. 23
‑
2
‑
303(d) and (e), 23
‑
3
‑
112, 23
‑
3
‑
304(b), 23
‑
3
‑
305
, 23
‑
3
‑
306(b)
and 23
‑
3
‑
307. The department shall report annually to the Wyoming department of agriculture the number of predatory animals and predacious birds taken by the department's animal damage control agents, and include in the report the area where taken and the control method used.
23
‑
3
‑
306.
Use of aircraft, automobiles, motorized and snow vehicles and artificial light for hunting or fishing prohibited; exceptions; penalties.
(b)
No person shall take any wildlife with the aid of or by using any artificial light or lighting device except as otherwise provided in subsections (f)
and (g)
through (h)
of this section and except that
predators
predatory animals
may be taken with the aid of an artificial light or lighting device
including thermal or infrared imaging or other light imaging
by:
(ii)
A landowner, resident manager, or person with the landowner's or a resident manager's written permission to take
predators
predatory animals
, on land under the landowner's control for the protection of his property
;
.
(iii)
Any person taking a predatory animal on public or state land, subject to limitations established by the commission as authorized in subsection (h) of this section.
(h)
The commission shall establish by rule and regulation specifications for the taking of predatory animals with the use of artificial light or lighting devices including thermal or infrared imaging or other light imaging specified by the commission. Such specifications may include, but are not limited to, creation of zones, areas, valid dates and methods for taking predatory animals with the use of artificial light or lighting devices on public land.
Section 2.
This act is effective July 1, 2023.
(END)
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
Governor
TIME APPROVED: _________
DATE APPROVED: _________
I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.
Chief Clerk
1