ASK GAME & FISH

“Jason, how do I apply for hunter management area permission slips?”

This is the perfect time to think about hunter management areas (HMA). Annually, applications for permission slips open the second Monday of July; that was July 8 for 2019. To access the 993,233 acres of land enrolled in the HMA program, you will need to first apply for permission slips through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website. Here are the steps:

After making sure you have your hunting license and vehicle information handy, navigate online to HMA webpage. On this page you can see lists of access areas, view interactive maps, download ranch rules and smartphone-ready GeoPDF maps, as well as the link to “Apply for Permissions Slips.”

Next, you’ll enter your first and last name and birth date exactly as it appears on your hunting licenses. The first time you log in, the system will also verify your address. You will then be asked to enter your vehicle and email contact information. You may enter as many vehicles as you would like, or if you are using a rental, there will be an option for that as well. If you need to update vehicle information at a later date, log back in and select the “Update Profile” link near the top right of the page. The email address is used to share important changes regarding your HMAs.

After logging in and completing your profile, click “Apply for Permission Slips.” A listing of all your current hunting licenses, each with the available options for HMAs will display. The “All Hunter Management Area Information” button will show a brief description of all HMAs available for each particular license. To apply, select the desired slip from the list in the drop down menu and click “Apply.” After confirming your choice, you will be able to download or print copies of the current ranch rules and map. Unlimited or first-come-first serve permission slips will be available to print immediately.

The Application period for draw permission slips will close at midnight the first or third Monday in August; for 2019 that’s Aug. 5 and Aug. 19 . Draws will be conducted the following day and you will be able to see draw results by logging back into the system on Aug. 8 and Aug. 22 and clicking on “View Your Hunter Management Areas.”

It is very important to first apply for the permission slip you want the most, as permission options may disappear from your profile once another is selected. Many hunt areas allow application for only one HMA or limited permission slip to maximize the opportunity for the greatest number of hunters.