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SF0027 • 2026

Leashed dogs for tracking-black bear.

AN ACT relating to game and fish; allowing a person to use a leashed blood-trailing dog to track and recover a killed or wounded black bear; and providing for an effective date.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Senator Landen
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2026

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify a time limit of 72 hours for using leashed blood-trailing dogs to track wounded or killed black bears. This detail was removed as it is not supported by the provided material.

Using Leashed Dogs to Track Wounded Black Bears

This law allows hunters to use a leashed blood-trailing dog to track and recover wounded or killed black bears.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows hunters to use one leashed blood-trailing dog to track a wounded or killed black bear.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Hunters who want to use leashed blood-trailing dogs to track wounded or killed black bears.

Terms To Know

Blood-trailing dog
A trained dog used to find and follow the scent of a wounded animal after it has been shot by a hunter.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies to black bears, not other types of big game animals.
  • It does not specify what happens if the dog is off its leash while tracking.
  • The effective date for this act is July 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 43

  2. 2026-03-05 Governor

    Governor Signed SEA No. 0022

  3. 2026-03-02 House

    H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0022

  4. 2026-03-02 Senate

    S President Signed SEA No. 0022

  5. 2026-02-27 LSO

    Assigned Number SEA No. 0022

  6. 2026-02-27 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 59-0-3-0-0

  7. 2026-02-26 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  8. 2026-02-25 House

    H COW:Passed

  9. 2026-02-24 House

    H Placed on General File

  10. 2026-02-24 House

    H06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  11. 2026-02-23 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H06 - Travel

  12. 2026-02-20 House

    H Received for Introduction

  13. 2026-02-20 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 31-0-0-0-0

  14. 2026-02-19 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  15. 2026-02-18 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  16. 2026-02-17 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  17. 2026-02-17 Senate

    S06 - Travel:Recommend Do Pass 5-0-0-0-0

  18. 2026-02-10 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S06 - Travel 30-0-1-0-0

  19. 2026-01-05 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  20. 2025-12-29 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 26LSO-0203

Bill No.:

SF0027

Effective:

7/1/2026

LSO No.:

26LSO-0203

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0022

Chapter No.:

43

Prime Sponsor:

Landen

Catch Title:

Leashed dogs for tracking-black bear.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Blood-trailing dogs tracking black bear.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act authorizes hunters to use leashed blood-trailing dogs to track a wounded or killed black bear.

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
26LSO-0203

ORIGINAL Senate

File No
.
SF0027

ENROLLED ACT NO. 22,

SENATE

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to game and fish; allowing a person to use a leashed blood-trailing dog to track and recover a killed or wounded black bear; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1
.

W.S. 23
‑
3
‑
109(d)(intro) is amended to read:

23
‑
3
‑
109.

Use of dogs; dogs injuring big or trophy game animals may be killed; citation of owners of dogs harassing game animals; penalties; leashed dogs for tracking.

(d)

A person may use one (1) leashed blood
‑
trailing dog to track a wounded or killed big game animal
or black bear
within seventy
‑
two (72) hours of shooting the animal. A person using a dog in this manner:

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2026
.

(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

1