(a)Except as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (e) of
this section, no person born on or after January 1, 1966, may
take any wildlife by the use of firearms on land other than that
of his own family, unless the person possesses or can
demonstrate they have obtained a certificate of competency and
safety in the use and handling of firearms as provided by
subsection (b) of this section.
(b)The department shall institute and coordinate a
statewide course of instruction in safety and competency in
handling firearms. The department may cooperate with local
governmental agencies or private organizations in providing
hunter safety courses. The department may establish and charge a
reasonable fee for enrollment in a hunter safety course.
Attendance and successful completion of a hunter safety
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
(a) Except as provided in subsections (c), (d) and (e) of
this section, no person born on or after January 1, 1966, may
take any wildlife by the use of firearms on land other than that
of his own family, unless the person possesses or can
demonstrate they have obtained a certificate of competency and
safety in the use and handling of firearms as provided by
subsection (b) of this section.
(b) The department shall institute and coordinate a
statewide course of instruction in safety and competency in
handling firearms. The department may cooperate with local
governmental agencies or private organizations in providing
hunter safety courses. The department may establish and charge a
reasonable fee for enrollment in a hunter safety course.
Attendance and successful completion of a hunter safety course
offered by an association or governmental agency approved by the
commission satisfies the requirements of subsection (a) of this
section.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section,
a person who has not received a certificate of competency and
safety in the use and handling of firearms as provided by
subsection (b) of this section may apply to the department for a
special authorization to take wildlife with the use of a firearm
while being accompanied by a person who has attained the age of
majority, acting as a mentor, who possesses or can demonstrate
he has obtained a certificate of competency and safety in the
use and handling of firearms and who possesses a valid Wyoming
hunting license. A mentor shall not provide supervision for
more than one (1) person, other than immediate family members,
at a time in the field. The special authorization shall be
valid for not more than one (1) year. Nothing in this subsection
shall be construed as altering the requirements of W.S.
23-2-102(a). The commission shall promulgate rules and
regulations to carry out the purposes of this subsection and
subsection (e) of this section.
(d) The requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this
section shall not apply to the following persons:
(i) Any active member, honorably discharged past
member or veteran of the armed forces of the United States;
(ii) Any active or retired Wyoming peace officer who
has qualified pursuant to W.S. 9-1-701 through 9-1-707.
(e) A person under fourteen (14) years of age who has not
yet received a certificate of competency and safety in the use
and handling of firearms may take small game and game birds
without receiving special authorization from the department
under subsection (c) of this section while being accompanied by
a person who has attained the age of majority, acting as a
mentor, who possesses or can demonstrate he has obtained a
certificate of competency and safety in the use and handling of
firearms, unless otherwise exempted as provided in subsection
(a) of this section, and who possesses a valid Wyoming small
game or game bird license. A mentor shall not provide
supervision for more than one (1) person, other than immediate
family members, at a time in the field.