§ 23-3-109 — Use of dogs; dogs injuring big or trophy game animals may be killed; citation of owners of dogs harassing game animals; penalties; leashed dogs for tracking

Wyoming § 23-3-109

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 23: Game and Fish
• Ch. 3: GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS
• Art. 1: BIRD AND ANIMAL PROVISIONS

Text

(a) No person shall use any dog to hunt, run or harass any
big or trophy game animal, protected animal or furbearing animal
except as otherwise provided by this act. The commission shall
regulate the use of dogs to take mountain lions and bobcats by
residents and nonresidents during hunting or trapping seasons.
The commission shall regulate the use of dogs to pursue mountain
lions by residents during hunting or trapping seasons.
(b) In cases where big game animals have been injured or
are being threatened with immediate injury by dogs, a peace
officer may kill such dog or dogs where the vicious character of
the dog or dogs is manifest. A peace officer killing a dog
pursuant to this subsection shall make reasonable efforts to
ascertain the ownership of the dog and inform the owner of the
dog's death and the circumstances surrounding the death. Any
peace officer who kills a dog pursuant to this subsection or has
received a report that a dog has been killed shall file a report
with his employing agency within twenty-four (24) hours of his
action or of receiving a report.
(c) It is unlawful for any person to recklessly allow or
direct a dog which he owns or is under his control to injure or
threaten a big game animal with injury, whether or not the big
game animal is actually injured by the dog, unless the dog was
attempting to protect livestock or other property. A conviction
under this subsection is punishable by a fine imposed for a low
misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(v).
(d) A person may use one (1) leashed blood-trailing dog to
track a wounded or killed big game animal within seventy-two
(72) hours of shooting the animal. A person using a dog in this
manner:
(i) Shall maintain physical control of the dog at all
times by means of a maximum fifty (50) foot leash attached to
the collar or harness of the dog;
(ii) Shall wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent
pink consistent with W.S. 23-3-113(a);
(iii) May kill the wounded animal using any weapon
authorized under the hunting license;
(iv) Shall, in accordance with W.S. 23-3-104, attach
the proper coupon to the carcass of any animal killed under the
hunting license.
(e) A person acting solely as a dog handler accompanying
the licensed hunter that wounded the game animal is exempt from
the licensing requirements of this act. Nothing in this section
shall be construed to allow a dog handler to hunt without a
license.