Many of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Habitat Management Areas are closing to human presence — or already have — for the season to provide protections for wildlife on their winter ranges. The majority of WHMAs close or have restrictions for the winter annually.
Protecting crucial habitat for wildlife is one of the main reasons the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission invests in land throughout Wyoming. WHMAs provide a refuge for big game that must conserve energy and rely on fat stores to survive the coldest months of the year.
“Seasonal closures are essential for minimizing stress-causing disturbances to wintering deer, elk, bighorn sheep and other wildlife,” said Ray Bredehoft, habitat and access branch chief for Game and Fish. “Closures also reduce the human and recreational impacts to the forage, which supports the wildlife on their winter ranges.”
The closures are for any human presence unless otherwise noted.
WHMA CLOSURE DATES
| HABITAT AREA | NEAREST TOWN | DATES AREA CLOSED | RESTRICTIONS |
| Forbes/Sheep Mountain | Albany | Jan. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Greys River | Alpine | Dec. 1 thorugh April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Wick/Beumee | Arlington | Dec. 1 through May 15 | Only lands south of I-80 are closed. Vehicles restricted to FS-111 for access to the Forest Service boundary, otherwise closed to human presence. |
| Bud Love | Buffalo | Jan. 1 through May 14 | Closed to human presence. |
| Sunlight | Cody | Dec. 16 through April 30 | Fishing along Sunlight Creek is open year round. |
| Inberg/Roy (East Fork) | Dubois | Dec. 16 through May 15 | Closed to human presence |
| Spence & Moriarity | Dubois | Dec. 16 through May 15 | East Fork County Road and that portion east of the road is open year-round. Rest of the WMA is closed to human presence. |
| Whiskey Basin | Dubois | Dec. 1 through May 15 | Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic. |
| Medicine Lodge | Hyattville | Jan. 1 through May 31 | Lower campground portion is open year-round.Turkey hunting allowed in lower portion during the seasonal closure. |
| Renner | Hyattville | Jan. 1 through May 31 | Upper portion closed to human presence. Lower portion remains open year- round. |
| Camp Creek | Jackson | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Horse Creek | Jackson | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| South Park | Jackson | Jan. 1 through April 30 | Closed to vehicle traffic Dec 1 through April 30. Signed area open to foot traffic Dec 1. Through Dec. 31. Closed to all Human presence Dec 31- April 30. |
| Ed O. Taylor | Kaycee | Jan. 1 through May 14 | Closed to human presence. |
| Red Canyon | Lander | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence |
| Sunshine | Meeteetse | Jan. 1 through May 31 | Closed to human presence after cow hunting seasons ends. |
| Half Moon | Pinedale | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Soda Lake | Pinedale | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Fall Creek | Pinedale | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Luke Lynch | Pinedale | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Black Butte | Pinedale | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
| Morgan Creek | Rawlins | Nov. 1 through April 30 | Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic |
| Pennock Mountain | Saratoga | Dec. 1 through April 30 | Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic. |
| Amsden Creek | Sheridan | Nov. 1 through May 14 | Closed to vehicles. Open to foot/horse traffic Nov. 1 through Nov. 15. |
| Amsden Creek | Sheridan | Nov. 16 through May 14 | Closed to human presence. |
| Kerns | Sheridan | Nov. 1 through May 31 | Closed to vehicles. Open to foot/horse traffic Nov. 1 through Nov. 15. |
| Kerns | Sheridan | Nov. 16 through May 31 | Closed to human presence. |
| Laramie Peak | Wheatland | Feb. 1 through April 30 | Laramie Peak is open all year except the Hay Canyon, Tony Ridge, and Duck Creek Canyon areas shall be closed to human presence from Feb. 1 through April 30 each year. |
| Pilot Hill | Laramie | Feb. 1 through April 30 | Closed to human presence |
WHMAs OPEN YEAR-ROUND
| HABITAT AREA | NEAREST TOWN | DATES AREA CLOSED | RESTRICTIONS |
| Ocean Lake | Riverton | ||
| Sand Mesa | Shoshoni | ||
| Chain Lakes | Wamsutter | ||
| Cottonwood Draw/Grayrocks | Wheatland | ORV access prohibited. | |
| Jelm | Laramie | Vehicular access is restricted to parking areas. ORV access prohibited. | |
| Rawhide | Lingle | Vehicular access is restricted to parking areas. ORV access prohibited. | |
| Springer/Bump Sullivan | Yoder | Closed to motorized vehicles from Oct. 1 through May 15. ORV access prohibited. | |
| Table Mountain | Torrington | Closed to motorized vehicles from Oct. 1 through May 15. ORV access prohibited. | |
| Tom Thorne/Beth Williams | Wheatland | Closed to motorized vehicles beyond the reservoir from Feb. 1 through May 31. | |
| Yellowtail | Lovell | ||
| Red Rim/Daley | Rawlins | Drifting snow closes most trails in early winter. | |
| Red Rim/Grizzly | Rawlins | ||
| Sand Creek | Sundance |
PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS WITH SEASONAL CLOSURES
| HABITAT AREA | NEAREST TOWN | DATES AREA CLOSED | RESTRICTIONS |
| Mexican Creek | Lander | Jan. 1 through Aug. 31 | County access road closed Nov. 22. |
| Mule Creek Ranch | Laramie | Feb. 1 through Oct 14. | HMA Permission slip required. |
| VonGontard Landing | Jackson | Dec. 1 through Mar. 1 | Weather may affect closing and opening dates. |
| Pitcher/Brokaw | Arlington | Jan. 1 through July 31 | ORV prohibited. |
| Cater/Billy Miles | Ten Sleep | Jan. 1 through Aug. 31 | |
| Coco Belle VanMeerendonk | Jackson | Dec. 1 through April 14 | Closed to wheeled motorized vehicles. |
