Enjoy amazing hunting activities in the untamed environment during state game season. Take advantage of your quest and enjoy the thrills of the outdoors.
This page will give you a rundown of the dates and schedules category wise, including everything from license costs and age limits to point systems and prohibited weapons.
Wyoming Hunting Seasons
The state provides hunters a chance for a one-of-a-kind outdoor adventure, with a wide range of animals to pursue, including deer, elk, antelope, and more.
🦌 Big Game
Elk
| Season Type | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 1-30 | Some areas through Oct 31 |
| General Rifle | Oct 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026 | Varies by hunt area |
Deer (Mule & White-tailed)
| Season Type | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 15 – Sep 30 |
| Rifle | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
Antelope
| Season Type | Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 15 – Oct 4 |
| General | Oct 1 – Dec 31 |
Moose
| Season Type | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 1-30 | Limited quota draw only |
| Regular | Oct 1 – Nov 20 | Area-specific variations |
🐻 Predators & Furbearers
Black Bear
| Season Type | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Apr 1 – Jun 15 | |
| Fall | Sep 1 – Nov 30 | Baiting permitted |
Mountain Lion & Wolf
| Species | Dates |
|---|---|
| Mountain Lion | Sep 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 |
| Gray Wolf | Oct 1 – Dec 31 (select areas) |
Furbearers
| Species | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Season | Oct 1, 2025 – Apr 30, 2026 | |
| Bobcat | Nov 1 – Mar 31 | Tagging required |
| Marten | Oct 1 – Jan 31 |
🦃 Upland Birds & Small Game
Turkey
| Season Type | Dates |
|---|---|
| Spring General | Apr 20 – May 31, 2026 (Area 1) |
| Fall Archery | Sep 1 – Dec 31 |
| Fall General | Sep 1 – Nov 30 |
Upland Birds
| Species | Dates | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Sage Grouse | Sep 1 – Dec 31 | 2 daily, 6 possession |
| Pheasant | Nov 1 – Dec 31 | Zone-specific |
Small Game
| Species | Dates |
|---|---|
| Rabbit | Sep 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026 |
| Squirrel | Sep 1, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026 |
🦆 Waterfowl
Ducks & Geese
| Type | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Flyway | Sep 27, 2025 – Jan 9, 2026 | |
| Canada Goose | Sep 27 – Jan 1, 2026 | Zone-specific limits |
| Snow Goose | Sep 27 – Jan 1 + Feb 16-Apr 30 | Conservation order applies |
Other Waterfowl
| Species | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sandhill Crane | Sep 1 – Nov 2 | Limited quota areas |
| Coots | Follow duck seasons | 15 daily limit |
🎯 Special Hunts
- Youth/Veteran Days: Sep 20-21, 2025
- Predators (Coyote, Fox): No closed season
Always check Wyoming Game & Fish regulations for updates.
Hunting Applications
Wyoming antelope and deer licenses must be applied for online between January 2 and May 31. Update or remove species applications by May 31. Six hunters may apply for deer or antelope, and their preference points will be averaged. Draw results are available on June 16. Online applications for elk games are accepted from January 3 through January 31 and for moose, sheep, and mountain goats from January 3 to February 28. Residents must apply by May 31.
Moose, sheep, mountain goats, and bison applications must be changed or withdrawn by April 15. Elk permit applications may include six hunters, but moose, sheep, mountain goats, and bison cannot. Online applicants may request points for any species.
License Fees & Permits
The state distributes big game licenses: 75% to residents and 25% to non-residents for bighorn sheep and mountain goats. All candidates’ first species choices are considered before the second.
Non-resident applicants in Wyoming must additionally pay a $15 (non-refundable) application fee for each species they wish to hunt (if paying by credit card). Unless participating in a type 9 archery hunt, non-residents must purchase a $72 archery license. Visa, MasterCard, or Discover are accepted for application fees. If not chosen, the applicant’s credit card will be reimbursed.
Regulations
- Large game hunters must wear orange or pink headgear, shirts, jackets, coats, vests, and sweaters. Rule suspended during archery season.
- Born after January 1, 1966, big game hunters must have a safety certificate.
- Large game hunting requires fluorescent orange or pink hats, shirts, jackets, coats, vests, and sweaters. This regulation is lifted when archery is allowed.
- Preference point system is available to non-resident hunters, except mountain goats and bison. Non-Canadians and Americans may utilize a point system for taking moose and sheep. During the points-only application period, non-residents may only buy a point (July 1-October 31). Your preference points will be rounded up if your application is approved.
- Elk, sheep, and moose licenses are 75% random, with the most preference points. The remaining 25% of non-resident hunts will be picked at random. First-time applicants are treated equally in the random draw. Licenses won’t be randomly assigned for hunts with less than four non-resident permits.
- Sheep, moose, and elk may earn 27 points. Your scores reset every two years or if your first option is randomly assigned. Third- or fourth-choice elk won’t cost you points.
- Under 18 and 11, and 12 years old may get a youth license. Non-resident youth elk permits cost $115 to $290; deer, antelope, and turkey licenses cost $34 to $125. Deer, antelope, and elk earn young hunters $20. Wyoming Commission grants deer and antelope tags to nonprofits for ill children and teens under 20.
- Bighorn sheep, mountain goats, elk, moose, and bison need 40 pounds. Crossbows are permitted during archery season if they meet certain requirements (90-pound draw, 16-inch bolt, 7/8-inch broadhead). Silencers are permitted but not full-auto firearms. Deer and antelope hunting need a 40-pound bow draw. Minimum.40 caliber muzzleloading rifle with expanding point bullets and 50 grains of black powder. Lenses magnify crossbows and muzzleloaders.
- Non-residents may acquire landowner elk tags. Only landowners’ families may transfer tags.
WY Hunting Contacts
Address:
Wyoming Game & Fish,
Department Headquarters,
5400 Bishop Blvd,
Cheyenne, WY-82006
Phone Number:
(307) 777-4600
FAQ
When does the Wyoming Hunting Season begin?
It commences on September 1, for the general season. However, On August 15, 2023, several seasons, such as the elk archery season, begin early.
What type of license do you require to hunt a Deer in Wyoming?
It offers limited and general deer licenses. The license needed varies on the deer, hunting location, and weapon. Deer permits for non-residents are regional. However, public land hunters and deer make it difficult to get some permits. Hunters may request permission to hunt on private property. The state chooses and distributes licenses yearly.
What to do after harvesting a deer in Wyoming?
Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department compels hunters to report deer harvests. Hunters may meet this requirement by mailing a postcard, accessing the official website, or phoning 1-800-216-0477. Wildlife management relies on harvest reports for conservation and sustainable hunting. Hunters help Wyoming maintain healthy deer populations and the culture by quickly reporting their harvest.
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