CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is gathering public comment on a draft regulation that would govern road kill harvesting in Wyoming.
Game and Fish will be holding a public meeting to discuss the proposed regulations at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 26 at the Casper Game and Fish Office.
The draft regulations for road kill harvesting would prohibit roadkill harvesting from certain roadways, including:
- Interstate 25, I-80 and I-90
- Active construction and maintenance zones
- Any roads within the “exterior boundary of lands administered by the National Park Service”
Road killed wildlife that could potentially be harvested would include antelope, deer, elk, moose, wild bison or wild turkey “killed as the result of an unintentional vehicle collision.” People would not be authorized to euthanize wildlife injured due to unintentional collisions with vehicles on public roads or highways.
The proposed regulations would require anyone wishing to harvest a road killed animal to first apply for authorization from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
Game and Fish could authorize people to harvest road killed wildlife in one of four ways:
- Via an electronic reporting/authorization process
- By issuing a permit for someone to possess road killed wildlife
- By issuing a donation coupon
- By issuing an Interstate Game Tag
People making false statements in order to get authorization to harvest road kill would be considered in violation of the regulation.
Road kill harvesting would only be allowed for wildlife killed on public roads and highways. Two-track roads would not be considered public roads under the proposed regulation. People would not be allowed to trespass onto private property to retrieve road killed wildlife without permission from the landowner.
Restrictions on how the harvesting must be done under the proposed regulations include:
- Harvesting could occur only between sunrise and sunset
- Vehicles must be parked at least two feet to the right of the solid white line of a highway or at least two feet off of paved of gravel public roads
- Emergency flashers must be activated during the entire time the collection vehicle is parked
- The entire carcass of a road killed animal must be removed, including edible and inedible portions
- Road killed wildlife cannot be field dressed within any public road or highway
- People may be required to present the road killed wildlife to Game and Fish for inspection
People who harvest road killed deer, elk or moose would be required to “properly dispose” of carcasses. Deer, elk and moose carcasses could be transported within the state to a camp, a private residence for processing, a taxidermist, a processor or a chronic wasting disease sample collection site.
“The head and all portions of the spinal column shall be disposed of in any approved landfill or approved incinerator in Wyoming,” the draft regulations state.
After processing, only the following parts of deer, elk or moose could be transported in Wyoming or out of state:
- Edible portions with no part of the spinal column or head
- Cleaned hide without the head
- Skull, skull plate or antlers that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue
- Teeth
- Finished taxidermy mounts
Whole deer, elk and moose carcasses taken in Wyoming cannot be transported out of Wyoming.
In addition to the proposed road kill harvesting regulation, Game and Fish is also accepting public comment on some proposed changes to Chapter 44 regulations.
People can submit public comments online or by mail through 5 p.m. Tuesday, September 21. Comments by mail should be sent to:
Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Regulations
3030 Energy Lane
Casper, WY 82604
“Written comments shall be presented to the Game and Fish Commission prior to the public hearing at their Nov. 16-17, 2021 meeting in Riverton,” Game and Fish notes.
