CASPER, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department presented a timeline to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission during its meeting this week in Buffalo outlining a process to change the way elk hunting licenses are allocated in Wyoming.
In November, Game and Fish will launch a public input process on draft regulation changes to Chapter 44 to remove a 7,250 license limit for nonresident elk hunting licenses in the initial draw. This proposed change is based on a recommendation from the Wyoming Wildlife Taskforce, according to Game and Fish.
The 7,250 cap on nonresident elk licenses was established in the 1980s and was based on the average number of nonresident license sales at the time, the taskforce’s recommendation letter stated.
“There was no biological purpose for this number,” the letter said. “The state elk population has increased significantly since the 1980s and new methods are required to manage these herds in Wyoming. With the cap removed, game managers will have greater flexibility to control harvest.”
The taskforce also looked into the concept of regionalizing the allocation of nonresident general elk licenses.
“Recent Wyoming Game and Fish Department analysis concluded that regionalizing non-resident elk licenses would provide game managers more precise abilities to manage the elk populations across the state,” the taskforce’s recommendation letter said. “If implemented this measure could result in allocation of licenses in areas where additional elk harvest is needed and also provide additional options to manage hunter crowding.”
The recommendation was approved by the taskforce on a 10–3 vote at its June 8 meeting. Five members of the taskforce were absent from the meeting, according to the recommendation letter. People were given the opportunity to provide feedback and comments prior to the vote.
The proposed change to nonresident elk hunting licenses is just one of the recommendations the taskforce is making for the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, the Wyoming Legislature and the governor to consider. Letters regarding each of the taskforce’s recommendations are available via the following links:
- Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Big 5 species
- 90/10 license allocation for Big 5 species
- Fully fund the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust
- Grizzly bear management
- Preference Points Transition to Bonus Points
- Splitting Deer Species
- Request for Statute Language Change – Mule Deer / Whitetail Deer as Separate Species
- 7,250 Elk Cap and Regionalization of Non-Resident General Elk Licenses
