040-67 Wyo. Code R. § 67-4
In accordance with the Management Plan and Tri-State MOA, when the grizzly bear is delisted from threatened status under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a final rule published in the Federal Register, management of grizzly bears in Wyoming within the DPS may include an established hunting season. If the Commission establishes any grizzly bear hunting season within the DPS after such listing, specific hunting season dates, mortality limits, hunt areas, and other limitations shall be established by regulation. Additionally, the Commission establishes the following grizzly bear regulations:
(a) No person shall take any grizzly bear outside of established grizzly bear hunting seasons or hunt areas.
(b) Any grizzly bear occurring outside of the DPS is considered "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act and is under federal protection.
(c) All discretionary mortality in the DMA shall be suspended, except as required to protect human safety, if the model-averaged Chao2 population estimate falls below 600 grizzly bears.
(d) All grizzly bear hunting shall be suspended in the DMA if total mortality limits for any sex/age class identified in the Management Plan are met at any time.
(e) No licensed hunter shall take any female grizzly bear with dependent young at side.
(f) No licensed hunter shall take any dependent young grizzly bear.
(g) Any hunting mortality that exceeds total mortality limits within the DMA in any calendar year shall be subtracted from the specific age/sex class' total mortality limit within the DMA for the following year.
(h) Within twenty-four (24) hours after taking a grizzly bear, the licensee shall report the taking of a grizzly bear by calling toll free1-800-264 -1280, and shall present the hide and skull to a Department Regional Office within five (5) days for registration purposes.
(i) Any person who makes a false statement regarding the taking of a grizzly bear 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.
(j) Any hunting season shall immediately close when specified harvest limits are reached.
(k) Wyoming, Montana and Idaho shall coordinate management of grizzly bears within the DMA through a Tri-State MOA to manage grizzly bear mortalities within the age and sex specific mortality limits identified in the Management Plan for long-term viability of grizzly bears in the DMA.
(l) A Tri-State MOA establishes that the states shall meet annually to evaluate annual population estimation and mortality in order to derive total mortality.
(m) The Commission is committed to monitoring the GYE grizzly bear population in Wyoming to ensure viability and demonstrate that recovery criteria are being achieved. Monitoring efforts shall include evaluating the genetic health of GYE grizzly bears through biological samples obtained noninvasively and from bears captured for monitoring and management purposes.
040-67 Wyo. Code R. § 67-4
Adopted, Eff. 9/6/2016.