Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 040 - Game and Fish Commission
Here’s a clear and detailed summary of Wyoming Administrative Code — Agency 040: Game & Fish Commission:
🧭 What is Agency 040?
Agency 040, also known as the Wyoming Game & Fish Commission, is a sub-agency of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. It establishes regulations covering hunting, fishing, wildlife management, licensing, enforcement, and use of state-managed lands and waters (law.cornell.edu).
📑 Major Structure & Chapters
All rules under Agency 040 fall within Subagencies 0001–0001 (one program), containing over 70 chapters. These include:
Chapter 1 – Access to Records
Chapter 2 – General Hunting Regulations
Chapters 3–9 – Seasons for black bear, antelope, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep & mountain goats
Chapters 10–20 – Wildlife importation, upland and migratory game birds, bison, turkey
Chapters 21–30 – Wolf management, land/water use, licensing agents, firearm/archery regulations
Chapters 31–40 – Permits, disability hunts, taxidermy, game bird farms (e.g., Chapter 40: Commercial Game Bird Farms) (regulations.justia.com, wgfd.wyo.gov)
Chapters 41–70 – Bison ownership, closures, fishing regulations, invasive species, roadkill, baiting rules, and more
🛠️ Example: Chapter 40 – Commercial Game Bird Farms
This chapter sets out regulations for licensed game bird farms:
Definitions (40‑2): Terms like “Certificate of Veterinary Inspection,” “Legal Fence,” “Quarantine,” etc. (regulations.justia.com)
Licensing: Requirements for land, species, and approvals
Imports & Health: Certificates, disease-free certification, quarantine
Operations: Facility standards, tagging, bird releases, recordkeeping, inspections
Enforcement: License revocation procedures in line with Chapter 27 contested-case rules; amended effective November 2, 2017 (wgfd.wyo.gov)
🌲 Example: Chapter 23 – Lands & Waters Use
These rules regulate public use of Commission-managed lands and waters:
Only allowed activities (hunting, fishing, trapping) in designated areas
Vehicle use on specified roads
Camping limits (max 14 days, must vacate for 72 hours before resuming)
Restrictions on livestock, fireworks, collecting plants or artifacts, structures, fires, litter
Special rules for Access‑Yes program lands (law.cornell.edu)
🧾 Commission’s Authority
Under Wyoming Statutes § 23‑1‑302, the Commission is empowered to:
Set hunting/fishing seasons and limits (including for disability hunts)
Acquire/manage lands and water bodies for wildlife habitat and public use
Capture, relocate, stock wildlife
Regulate state fish hatcheries, game farms, and bird farms (codes.findlaw.com)
🔗 Resources & How to Access
Full text of Agency 040 rules (Chapters 1–70) available via Cornell LII or Justia (regulations.justia.com)
For authoritative, up-to-date versions, refer to the Wyoming Secretary of State’s rules site (“rules.wyo.gov”) (rules.wyo.gov)
The Wyoming Game & Fish Department website provides PDFs and regulation brochures by topic (wgfd.wyo.gov)
✅ Summary
Agency 040 sets the framework for wildlife management, hunting, fishing, land use, licensing, and wildlife-related commerce in Wyoming.
With 70+ chapters, the code spans specific species regulations to general land use rules.
Key chapters include Chapter 40 (game bird farms) and Chapter 23 (land and water use).
The Commission’s legal authority is derived from state statute (Title 23) and rules are periodically updated (quarterly).
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