CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Many sections of public lands in western and southern Wyoming are actually closed for deer antlers and antler looking. The annual shutdown for parts of public land, state land, and Wyoming Recreation and Fish Fee wildlife habitat administration areas in Wyoming takes impact at midnight on January 1.

A Wyoming Recreation and Fish Fee regulation prohibits anybody from gathering shed antlers or antlers on public lands akin to U.S. Forest Service and Land Administration Bureau lands, state lands, and Wyoming Recreation and Fish Fee owned or managed lands west of the Continental Divide. From 1 January to six am on 1 Might annually, apart from the Nice Divide Basin and a few lands west of Laramie. A map of the containment area is available online and the boundaries are detailed in the regulation.

“Closing the annual antler and antler assortment is to attenuate discomfort and stress on giant sport in winter ranges,” mentioned Rick King, Recreation and Fish’s vp of wildlife. “It is extremely necessary that our massive sport animals don’t expertise extreme stress throughout the winter months.”

Gathering means looking for, discovering, stockpiling or preserving giant sport shed antlers and antlers on public land, or looking for, discovering, stocking or trying to retain giant sport antlers and antlers shed on public or authorities land throughout the off season. . Violation of this regulation consists of the identical potential penalties as many different Recreation and Fish violations, akin to fines, confiscation of captured horns and antlers, and lack of looking and fishing privileges.

“Horn fanatics can help wildlife by complying with antler and antler looking laws and different winter vary closures throughout the state,” King mentioned. “And all wildlife fanatics may also help out the large sport by inserting them all through the winter and early spring.”

It’s unlawful to enter any individual’s personal property to gather horns or antlers, at any time of the 12 months, with out the permission of the proprietor or individual in command of the property.

For questions, contact the Laramie, Inexperienced River, Pinedale, and Jackson regional places of work. To report antler casting or antler harvesting violations, name the STOP Poaching Helpline at 1-877-943-3847 or textual content the key phrase WGFD to TIP411. Violations can be reported on-line at: Game and Fish website.