The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has scheduled a series of public meetings across the state in June and July 2025 to discuss proposed changes to two Wyoming Game and Fish Commission regulations: Chapter 52, Take of Nongame Wildlife from within Wyoming, and Chapter 71, Commercially Guided Fishing Boat. Announced on June 11, 2025, these meetings aim to gather public input before the Commission’s final review at its September 9-10 meeting in Lander.
The proposed updates to Chapter 52 reclassify otters as nongame wildlife, aligning with recent legislative action, and establish reporting and turnover requirements for unintentionally taken otters. The regulation also clarifies procedures for reporting and tagging unintentionally taken gray and swift foxes to support species management and updates scientific names for reptiles and amphibians to ensure taxonomic accuracy. These changes aim to enhance wildlife management practices across Wyoming’s diverse ecosystems.
Chapter 71, a new regulation effective January 1, 2026, responds to a Wyoming Legislature directive to regulate commercially guided fishing boats and trailers. It introduces registration requirements, annual fees, and issuance of registration stickers for boat owners, along with record-keeping obligations and conditions for registration revocation. This regulation seeks to ensure accountability and safety in Wyoming’s growing commercial fishing industry.
Public meetings will be held in eight regions, with specific dates and locations as follows:
- Jackson Region: June 25 at 5:00 p.m. (Jackson Game & Fish Regional Office, 420 N. Cache St., Chapter 52); July 8 at 6:00 p.m. (Thayne Community Center, 250 Van Noy Pkwy., Chapter 71); July 9 at 6:00 p.m. (Teton County Library, 125 Virginian Ln., Chapter 71).
- Lander Region: June 26 at 6:00 p.m. (Lander Game & Fish Regional Office, 260 Buena Vista Dr., Chapter 52).
- Sheridan Region: June 30 at 5:00 p.m. (Sheridan Game & Fish Regional Office, 700 Valley View Dr., Chapter 52).
- Cody Region: June 30 at 6:00 p.m. (Thermopolis Fire Hall, 400 S. 14th St., Chapter 71); July 1 at 6:00 p.m. (Cody Game & Fish Regional Office, 2 Tilden Trail, Chapters 52, 71).
- Laramie Region: July 1 at 6:00 p.m. (Laramie Game & Fish Regional Office, 1212 S. Adams St., Chapter 52); July 7 at 6:30 p.m. (Platte Valley Community Center, 210 W. Elm Ave., Saratoga, Chapter 71); July 8 at 6:30 p.m. (Laramie Game & Fish Regional Office, Chapter 71).
- Pinedale Region: July 7 at 6:00 p.m. (Pinedale Game & Fish Regional Office, 432 E. Mill St., Chapters 52, 71).
- Green River Region: July 8 at 6:00 p.m. (Green River Game & Fish Regional Office, 351 Astle Ave., Chapter 52).
- Casper Region: July 28 at 6:00 p.m. (Casper Game & Fish Regional Office, 3030 Energy Lane, Chapter 71); July 30 at 5:00 p.m. (Casper Game & Fish Regional Office, Chapter 52).
Written comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on July 31, 2025, via the WGFD’s public input page at wgfd.wyo.gov, at public meetings, or by mail to Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Attn: Regulations, 3030 Energy Lane, Casper, WY 82604. Draft regulations are available online or at the Casper Game & Fish Office. The WGFD encourages public participation to shape these regulations, which impact Wyoming’s wildlife management and commercial fishing operations.
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