§ 23-3-206 — Commercially guided fishing boats; regulatory authority; advisory board; definitions

Wyoming § 23-3-206

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 23: Game and Fish
• Ch. 3: GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS
• Art. 2: FISH PROVISIONS

Text

(a) To protect the quality of the fishing experience, the
fishery and other aquatic resources and species in this state,
the commission may set limits on or otherwise regulate the
number of commercially guided fishing boats allowed to launch
into or use any river or lake or section thereof in this state.
This subsection shall not apply to a person who uses a city,
town, county or state boat ramp or other access point to launch
a commercially guided fishing boat to guide fishermen if the
person is guiding the fishermen to a location where the lands
are owned or leased by the person or the person's immediate
family member.
(b) There is created a commercially guided fishing boats
advisory board. The board shall consist of seven (7) members
appointed by the commission. One (1) member shall be appointed
from each appointment district pursuant to W.S. 9-1-218 and at
least two (2) members appointed shall be Wyoming owned drift
boat guide business owners. Members shall serve a four (4) year
term. The commission may remove any member of the board, subject
to W.S. 9-1-202. Vacancies of the board shall be filled by
appointment for the unexpired term. The board shall provide
recommendations to the commission for promulgating rules under
subsection (c) of this section. Members of the board shall
receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed by the
commission for per diem and travel expenses incurred in the
performance of their official duties in the same manner and
amount as state employees.
(c) The commission may promulgate rules governing the
registration and means of tracking the number of commercially
guided fishing boats launching into or using any river or lake
or section thereof. The commission may hold public meetings in
each county in which its rules apply. The rules shall require
registration and payment of an annual fee for each commercially
guided fishing boat beginning January 1, 2026. The department
shall provide two (2) registration stickers one (1) of which
shall be displayed on each commercially guided fishing boat and
trailer registered under this subsection.
(d) As used in this section:
(i) "Commercially guided fishing boat" means a
fishing boat that is operated by an outfitter or professional
fishing guide to provide fishing guide services for financial
gain;
(ii) "Fishing guide services" means for hire or
remuneration, accompanying and providing assistance to a person
on a river or lake or section thereof for the purposes of
fishing;
(iii) "Operate" means to navigate or otherwise use a
commercially guided fishing boat;
(iv) "Outfitter" or "professional fishing guide"
means a person who advertises or holds himself out to the public
for hire for the purpose of financial gain to provide fishing
guide services, excluding any person who furnishes fishing
equipment or boats to a person for exclusively personal and
temporary use. "Outfitter" or "professional fishing guide"
includes any person requiring the payment of fees or
remuneration for providing personal services on a river or lake
or section thereof for the purposes of fishing.