Opinion ID: 2543698
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the statutory construct

Text: [¶ 4] Non-residents may not hunt big or trophy game animals on wilderness areas in Wyoming unless accompanied by a licensed professional guide or a resident guide. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-401(a) (Lexis Supp.2000). The Board is responsible for licensing guides under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-410 (LexisNexis 2001): (a) The board shall:    (ii) Carry out the provisions of this act and in accordance with the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act, adopt necessary rules and regulations for carrying out this act including requirements for training, experience and knowledge of relevant law and rules and regulations as may be imposed upon outfitters and professional guides, the content and requirements for examination of license applicants and other necessary and reasonable rules[.]    (c) The board shall license and regulate outfitters and professional guides in this state and shall: (i) Examine applicants for licensure under this act; (ii) Deny or approve applications for licensure and may revoke or suspend licenses in accordance with this act and its rules and regulations; (iii) Conduct hearings upon complaints received relative to licensees; (iv) Impose reasonable restrictions and limitations upon licensees as necessary to implement this act; (v) Designate areas within the state as recommended by the commission for game management purposes in which a licensee may conduct outfitting or professional guiding under the license[.] [¶ 5] Specific statutory qualifications for a professional guide's license are contained in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-412(a) (LexisNexis 2001): (a) An applicant for a professional guide's license under this act shall meet the following qualifications: (i) At least eighteen (18) years of age; (ii) Employed by or operating under an independent contract with a licensed outfitter[.] The same statute, in subsection (e), adds the following requirements: (e) In addition to subsection (a) of this section, an applicant for a professional guide's license shall report: (i) Any conviction or forfeiture of any bond amount for a violation of federal or state law or applicable regulation relating to wildlife, game and fish within five (5) years before the date of filing license application; (ii) Any felony conviction; and (iii) Any conviction for a violation of federal or state law relating to criminal fraud and occurring within five (5) years prior to the date of filing application. [¶ 6] The Board's authority to require examination before licensure is found in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-413 (LexisNexis 2001). Under subsection (c) of that section, the Board is authorized to investigate the qualifications of the applicant to ensure compliance with this act. Once the applicant has passed the required examination and the Board has determine[d] the applicant is otherwise in compliance with the requirements of this act and its rules and regulations, the Board may issue a license. Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-414(a) (LexisNexis 2001). [¶ 7] Of specific significance to the issue at hand is the limitation found in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-414(b): A license issued under this act is valid for the calendar year in which issued and shall expire on December 31 of that year unless earlier expiring pursuant to W.S. 23-2-412(b) or otherwise suspended or revoked.