The provisions in this section shall only apply to the registration, number, placement, removal and identification of baits on federal lands or state lands, including lands owned or administered by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission.
(a) Registration of bait site(s). - (i) A person who registers a bait site(s) for the first time shall only register in person or by a representative of the applicant at any Department Regional Office beginning April 1 at 8:00 a.m. for the current calendar year. If April 1 occurs on a day when Department Regional Offices are closed, applications to register a bait site shall be accepted beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the next business day. Applications for bait site registration shall be accepted only if a bait site location is available. Following the preference period, first time registration of a bait site shall be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
- (ii) A person may register the same bait site(s) he registered in the previous calendar year by telephone, mail, facsimile or on the Department website. Bait site registration renewal may be applied for in person or by a representative of the applicant. Persons who had a bait site(s) registered the previous calendar year shall receive preference during March 1 through March 20 to register the same bait site(s). Applications to register a bait site(s) shall not be accepted by the Department prior to 8:00 a.m. March 1, or 8:00 a.m. of the first business day following March 1 if March 1 occurs on a day when Department Regional Offices are closed. If March 20 occurs on a day when Department Regional Offices are closed, applications to register a bait site shall be accepted up to 5:00 p.m. on the next business day. Bait sites that are not renewed during the preference period shall be available for registration beginning April 1.
- (A) For the purpose of receiving preference to register a bait site, any person who fails to either place a bait at a properly registered bait site or provide GPS coordinates for that bait site during the previous calendar year shall lose all preference to register that bait site and shall be considered as a first time registrant for that site the following calendar year.
- (iii) A person shall not change a registered bait site location during the calendar year for which the bait site was registered by the Department.
- (iv) A registered bait site shall not be transferred to another person in the same calendar year in which the bait site was registered.
- (v) Bait site(s) registration shall be valid for the calendar year in which the site(s) was registered.
- (vi) Prior to placement of a bait(s), the bait site(s) registration shall be approved by the Department.
- (A) To register a bait site(s), an applicant or representative of an applicant registering the bait site(s) shall provide all information required on the bait site registration form. Any person who makes a false statement on the bait site registration form shall be in violation of this regulation and such violation shall be punishable as provided by Title 23, Wyoming Statutes for violation of Commission regulations.
- (B) The Department shall review the information provided on the bait site(s) registration form. If the Department approves the bait site registration, the applicant shall be furnished a copy indicating the site has been approved. The registration form shall include the name, address, telephone number and valid Wyoming black bear hunting license number of the person desiring to register the bait; and, the name of the person registering the bait site(s) if the registration is by a representative other than a licensed outfitter. If a licensed outfitter desires to utilize the bait site(s) for outfitting black bear hunters, the outfitter's license number shall be furnished in lieu of the valid Wyoming black bear hunting license number. The registration form shall include the legal description of the bait site location to include the range, township, section and GPS coordinates. GPS coordinates of a registered bait site shall be provided on the bait site registration form at the time of application, or within seven (7) days after placing any bait at a registered bait site. A registration form which has not been completed with all required information shall not be considered a valid registration and shall be denied by the Department.
(b) Number of black bear baits and bait density. No hunter shall register or place more than two (2) baits during the calendar year. A person licensed as an outfitter in Wyoming for the current calendar year shall register or place no more than twenty (20) baits for their outfitting business use during the calendar year. Bait density shall be no more than one (1) bait per section as illustrated on U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management maps.
(c) Placement and removal of baits. No person shall place a bait or hunt over a bait that is not enclosed in a rigid container(s) of wood, metal or plastic not to exceed a combined total of eight (8) cubic feet, the approximate size of a fifty-five (55) gallon drum. Holes in containers shall be smooth and not constructed to function as a trap. No person shall place a bait or hunt over a bait that has not been registered with the Department in accordance with this regulation. No person shall place a bait or hunt over a bait that is less than two hundred (200) yards from water; less than two hundred (200) yards from roads or pack trails; nor less than one-half (1/2) mile from a developed campground, picnic ground or building. Upon request, persons placing bait(s) shall be required to escort the Regional Wildlife Supervisor or his designee to the bait site(s). No person shall place a bait within a hunt area more than seven (7) days prior to the opening day of the black bear special archery or general season as listed in Section 10 of this regulation. Registered baits placed in the spring season, including all containers and bait materials, shall be removed within seven (7) days after the close of the spring season as listed in Section 10 of this regulation. Registered baits placed in the fall season, including all containers and bait materials, shall be removed within seven (7) days after the close of the fall season as listed in Section 10 of this regulation. Burial of the bait shall be specifically prohibited and shall not constitute removal of the bait.
(d) Identification of bait site(s). The name and address or the current year's black bear license number of the person who registered the bait, or the name and address or current year's outfitter's license number of the licensed outfitter registering the bait site(s) shall be legible and permanently affixed to or painted on the outside of the container(s) enclosing the bait.