New permit required for sage grouse hunting

SHERIDAN (WNE) — Starting this year, all licensed sage grouse hunters will be required to carry a free, annual sage grouse hunting permit. This new regulation aims to enhance the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s efforts to survey sage grouse hunters and gather valuable data on their hunting experiences.

All licensed sage grouse hunters must carry the permit alongside their game bird license. This requirement applies to daily, annual, lifetime and pioneer license holders.

Wyoming hunters under the age of 14 are exempt from needing the permit as they do not require a license to hunt game birds. However, nonresident hunters younger than 14 who purchase a game bird license and take their own limit will need a sage grouse permit.

Falconers hunting sage grouse must possess the sage grouse permit and their falconry and game bird licenses.

“Wyoming has about 60,000 game bird license holders each year, with only a few thousand estimated to hunt sage grouse,” said Nyssa Whitford, Game and Fish sage-grouse/sagebrush biologist. “The new annual permit system will allow Game and Fish to send targeted surveys to sage grouse hunters, ensuring more accurate and timely data to aid in the management of this iconic species.”

The sage grouse permit can be acquired at Game and Fish offices or online through the department’s website. It can be obtained as a paper copy or electronically via a mobile device. A screenshot or downloaded PDF of the permit on a mobile device is acceptable in the field. The permit will not be available at license selling agents.

This story was published on August 15, 2024.