§ 23-1-304 — Classification of gray wolves

(a) The commission shall by rule and regulation set
seasons and bag limits within those areas where gray wolves are
designated as trophy game animals pursuant to W.S.
23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) and (II). The seasons and bag limits
shall be set annually in a manner the commission determines,
through rule and regulation, as necessary to reasonably ensure
at least ten (10) breeding pairs of gray wolves and a total of
at least one hundred (100) individual gray wolves are located in
this state outside of Yellowstone National Park and the Wind
River Indian Reservation at the end of the current calendar
year.
(b) Repealed by Laws 2007, Ch. 168, § 5.
(c) For purposes of this section "breeding pair" means an
adult male and an adult female gray wolf raising at least two
(2) pups of the year until December 31. The number of breeding
pairs shall be certified by the department prior to January 31
of each year.
(d) The department shall institute and maintain an active
program of population monitoring statewide subject to the
following:
(i) Population monitoring shall include techniques
that accurately determine the population and movement of gray
wolves in areas of the state where gray wolves are designated as
trophy game animals;
(ii) The commission is authorized to enter into
memoranda of understanding with the United States fish and
wildlife service or other federal agencies to ensure accurate
and adequate monitoring of wolf population levels and movements;
(iii) In all areas of the state, except where
otherwise provided, any person who takes a wolf shall notify the
department where the take occurred within ten (10) days;
(iv) In areas of the state where gray wolves are
designated as trophy game animals, any person who takes a wolf
shall notify the department of the take and where the take
occurred within a time period set by rule and regulation, which
shall not exceed seventy-two (72) hours;
(v) In areas of the state where gray wolves are
designated as trophy game animals, any person who takes a wolf
shall submit the wolf or parts thereof, as defined by rule and
regulation, to the department for inspection within a time
period established by rule and regulation which will not exceed
ten (10) days;
(vi) Any information regarding the number or nature
of wolves legally taken within the state of Wyoming shall only
be released in its aggregate form and no information of a
private or confidential nature shall be released without the
written consent of the person to whom the information may refer.
Information identifying any person legally taking a wolf within
this state is solely for the use of the department or
appropriate law enforcement offices and is not a public record
for purposes of W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205.
(e) The department shall actively monitor big game animal
herd populations statewide to determine whether and to what
extent the gray wolf is negatively impacting big game animal
herds, and thereby hunting opportunities. To the extent
permitted by this title, and notwithstanding other provisions of
this title by those means authorized by the commission, the
department shall manage the gray wolf population as necessary to
ensure the long-term health and viability of any big game animal
herd that is being threatened in this state.
(f) This section shall apply from and after the date gray
wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential
population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming
as provided by W.S. 23-1-108.
(g) The commission is authorized, through rule and
regulation, to use management techniques including the use of
aerial hunting and hazing by the department and issuance of
permits to private landowners to take wolves to protect private
property including, but not limited to, livestock and other
domesticated animals from wolf depredation.
(h) Within forty-eight (48) hours of receiving
notification from a landowner or his designee that any gray wolf
in those areas of the state where gray wolves are designated as
trophy game animals has harassed, injured, maimed or killed
livestock or any domesticated animal, the department shall
respond and initiate appropriate management actions. The
department may use the management techniques authorized under
subsection (g) of this section or any other management methods
necessary, to minimize the harassing, injuring, maiming or
killing of livestock and other domesticated animals in those
areas of the state where gray wolves are designated as trophy
game animals.
(j) At any time that there exists the number of breeding
pairs of gray wolves and the number of individual gray wolves
specified in subsection (a) of this section, the department is
authorized to take any action necessary to reduce the effects of
gray wolf predation on wild ungulate herds in areas of the state
experiencing unacceptable impacts from gray wolf predation.
(k) The commission is authorized to enter into memoranda
of understanding with any federal agency or other state's
wildlife agency to carry out any provision of this section and
Wyoming's wolf management plan, including the use of aerial
hunting.
(m) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations
authorizing lethal control of wolves harassing, injuring,
maiming or killing livestock or other domesticated animals and
for wolves occupying geographic areas where chronic wolf
predation occurs. The rules and regulations shall provide that
nonlethal control actions will be used if lethal control could
cause relisting of wolves under the endangered species act or if
requested by the livestock or domesticated animal owner or
agent.
(n) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations
providing for issuance of permits to landowners or livestock
owners for removing wolves which are harassing, injuring,
maiming or killing livestock or other domesticated animals and
for wolves occupying geographic areas where chronic wolf
predation occurs. Permits issued or renewed under this
subsection shall be valid for not more than forty-five (45) days
from issuance or renewal. The permits shall be issued as long
as the removals authorized by such permits could not reduce the
numbers of gray wolves below ten (10) breeding pairs or a total
of one hundred (100) individual gray wolves within the state and
outside of Yellowstone National Park and the Wind River Indian
Reservation. The rules shall provide for suspending the
issuance of permits or cancelling existing permits if further
lethal control could cause the numbers of gray wolves to be
reduced below ten (10) breeding pairs or a total of one hundred
(100) individuals in the state outside of Yellowstone National
Park and the Wind River Indian Reservation.
(o) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations
establishing a fair compensation program to compensate for wolf
predation on livestock as provided in W.S. 23-1-901.
(p) Repealed by Laws 2008, Ch. 44, § 2.