Wyoming Administrative Code › Agency 040 - Game and Fish Commission › Sub-Agency 0001 - Game and Fish Commission Regulations › Chapter 67 - GRIZZLY BEAR MANAGEMENT REGULATION › Section 67-4 - Management of Grizzly Bears in Wyoming

Current through July 13, 2024
In accordance with the Management Plan and Tri-State MOA,
				  when the grizzly bear is delisted from threatened status under the Endangered
				  Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a final rule published in
				  the Federal Register, management of grizzly bears in Wyoming within the DPS may
				  include an established hunting season. If the Commission establishes any
				  grizzly bear hunting season within the DPS after such listing, specific hunting
				  season dates, mortality limits, hunt areas, and other limitations shall be
				  established by regulation. Additionally, the Commission establishes the
				  following grizzly bear regulations:
(a)
				No person shall take any grizzly bear outside of established grizzly bear
				hunting seasons or hunt areas.
(b)
				Any grizzly bear occurring outside of the DPS is considered "threatened" under
				the Endangered Species Act and is under federal protection.
(c) All discretionary mortality in the DMA
				shall be suspended, except as required to protect human safety, if the
				model-averaged Chao2 population estimate falls below 600 grizzly
				bears.
(d) All grizzly bear hunting
				shall be suspended in the DMA if total mortality limits for any sex/age class
				identified in the Management Plan are met at any time.
(e) No licensed hunter shall take any female
				grizzly bear with dependent young at side.
(f) No licensed hunter shall take any
				dependent young grizzly bear.
(g)
				Any hunting mortality that exceeds total mortality limits within the DMA in any
				calendar year shall be subtracted from the specific age/sex class' total
				mortality limit within the DMA for the following year.
(h) Within twenty-four (24) hours after
				taking a grizzly bear, the licensee shall report the taking of a grizzly bear
				by calling toll free1-800-264 -1280, and shall present the hide and skull to a
				Department Regional Office within five (5) days for registration
				purposes.
(i) Any person who makes
				a false statement regarding the taking of a grizzly bear shall be in violation
				of this regulation and such violation shall be punishable as provided by Title
				23, Wyoming Statutes for violation of Commission regulations.
(j) Any hunting season shall immediately
				close when specified harvest limits are reached.
(k) Wyoming, Montana and Idaho shall
				coordinate management of grizzly bears within the DMA through a Tri-State MOA
				to manage grizzly bear mortalities within the age and sex specific mortality
				limits identified in the Management Plan for long-term viability of grizzly
				bears in the DMA.
(l) A Tri-State
				MOA establishes that the states shall meet annually to evaluate annual
				population estimation and mortality in order to derive total
				mortality.
(m) The Commission is
				committed to monitoring the GYE grizzly bear population in Wyoming to ensure
				viability and demonstrate that recovery criteria are being achieved. Monitoring
				efforts shall include evaluating the genetic health of GYE grizzly bears
				through biological samples obtained noninvasively and from bears captured for
				monitoring and management purposes.