The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has 38 Wildlife Habitat Management Areas (WHMA) that provide big game winter range and other benefits. These areas are beginning to open for the season, after being closed to protect key winter habitat. Several areas open beginning May 1, and some have changes to traditional opening dates and times. These changes were made to protect wildlife and to improve public safety on these areas.

Ray Bredehoft, Wyoming Game and Fish Habitat and Access Branch Chief said, “Seasonal closures minimize stress-causing disturbance to wintering deer, elk and other wildlife. We appreciate the public’s cooperation to help animals make it through the winter and we are excited to open up these lands for the public to enjoy this spring, summer and fall. We do ask that in the early spring that the public is cautious around wildlife. Elk, deer, pronghorn, moose and others are about to start fawning and calving.”

The closures also reduce the human and recreational impacts to the forage, which supports wintering wildlife. Some areas have shifted to a later opening date than previous years; the public should confirm opening dates before entering any WHMA. 
Users are reminded to stay on designated travel routes, obey all signs, and camp in designated areas where required.  If roads become too wet due to spring moisture, users are asked to please try and avoid traveling those roads to reduce resource damage.

WHMA SEASONAL DATE TABLE

WHMAs OPEN YEAR-ROUND

PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS WITH SEASONAL CLOSURES