NEWS

Game and Fish wildlife habitat management areas begin to open May 1

Antler collection closures end at 6 a.m. May 1

4/18/2022 5:35:17 PM

Cheyenne - The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has 44 wildlife habitat management areas that provide crucial habitat for big game winter ranges. These areas are opening for the season, after being closed to minimize disturbance to wintering big game animals and other wildlife, while protecting habitat from resource damage. Several WHMAs open May 1.

“Seasonal closures minimize stress-causing disturbance to wintering deer, elk and other wildlife. The closures also reduce the human and recreational impacts to the forage, which supports wintering wildlife,” said Ray Bredehoft, Game and Fish habitat and access branch chief. “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.”

Bredehoft also asks the public to be cautious around wildlife during the spring when elk, deer, pronghorn, moose and other wildlife begin to have their young and bears emerge from winter dens.

“For a lot of wildlife May 1 will be the first time in months they see humans, so practicing safety is very important. Pack bear spray and stay alert,” Bredehoft said.

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 try and avoid traveling those roads to reduce resource damage.

Antler hunters should be aware that the closure to collect shed antlers on public lands ends at 6 a.m. May 1 within the antler hunting area boundaries. Collect means to search for, locate, stockpile or possess shed antlers and ho ers and horns of big game animals on public land during the closed season. A violation of this regulation carries the same penalties as many other Game and Fish violations.

More details on antler collection regulations and maps are available on the Game and Fish website.

WHMA SEASONAL DATE TABLE

HABITAT AREAS	NEAREST TOWN	DATES AREA OPEN	RESTRICTIONS	GATE OPENING TIME
Forbes/Sheep Mountain	Albany	May 1 through Dec. 31	Area opens to human presence at 8 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Grey’s River	Alpine	May 1 through Nov. 30	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m.on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
Wick/Beumee	Arlington	May 16 through Nov. 15	Only lands South of I-80 are closed. South gates will open at 8 a.m. May 16.	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Bud Love	Buffalo	May 15 through Dec. 31	Area opens to human presence at 8 a.m. on May 15	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Sunlight	Cody	May 1 through Dec. 15	Area opens to human presence at 8 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Inberg/Roy (East Fork)	Dubois	May 16 through Dec 15.	Area opens to human presence at 8 a.m. on May 16	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Spence & Moriarity	Dubois	May 16 through Dec. 15	East Fork County Road and that portion east of the road is open all year. Gates will open at 8 a.m. May 16 .	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Whiskey Basin	Dubois	May 16 through Nov. 30	Closed to vehicles, only open to foot/horse traffic. Gates will open at 8 a.m. May 16.	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Medicine Lodge	Hyattville	June 1 through Dec. 31	Medicine Lodge Creek open to foot access for fishing.	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Renner	Hyattville	June 1 through Dec. 31	Lower portion remains open year round.	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Camp Creek	Jackson	May 1 through Nov. 30	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
Horse Creek	Jackson	May 1 through Nov. 30	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
South Park	Jackson	May 1 through Nov. 30	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
Ed O. Taylor	Kaycee	May 15 through Dec. 31	Area opens to human presence at 8 a.m. on May 15	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Red Canyon	Lander	May 1 through Nov. 30
Sunshine	Meeteetse	June 1 through Nov. 30	Closed to motor vehicles year-round — open to foot/horse traffic. Will remain open while big game seasons are open.
Half Moon	Pinedale	May 1 through Nov. 20	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
Soda Lake	Pinedale	May 1 through Nov. 30	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
Fall Creek	Pinedale	May 1 through Nov. 20	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
Luke Lynch	Pinedale	May 1 through Nov 30	Area opens to human presence at 6 a.m. on May 1	Gate will open at 6 a.m.
Morgan Creek	Rawlins	May 1 through Oct. 31	Closed to motor vehicles, except BLM Road 3159; open to foot traffic during closure dates.
Pennock Mountain	Saratoga	May 1 through Nov. 30	Closed to vehicles only — open to foot/horse traffic.	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Amsden Creek	Sheridan	May 15 through Nov 15	Area opens to human presence at 8 a.m. May 15 Closed to motor vehicles Nov. 1-15 .	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Kerns	Sheridan	June 1 through Nov. 15	Area opens to human presence at 8 a.m. June 1. Closed to motor vehicles Nov. 1-15.	Gate will open at 8 a.m.
Laramie Peak	Wheatland	May 1 through Jan 31	Laramie Peak is open all year except for Hay Canyon, Tony Ridge and Duck Creek Canyon areas which are closed from Feb. 1 through April 30 each year.
Pilot Hill	Laramie	May 1 through Jan 31		Gate will open at 8 a.m.

WHMAs OPEN YEAR-ROUND

HABITAT AREA	NEAREST TOWN	RESTRICTIONS
Ocean Lake	Riverton
Sand Mesa	Shoshoni
Chain Lakes	Wamsutter
Grayrocks	Wheatland
Jelm	Laramie
Rawhide	Lingle	Vehicular access restricted to parking areas. ORV access not allowed.
Springer/Bump Sullivan	Yoder	Closed to motorized vehicles from Oct. 1 through Memorial Day weekend. ORV travel is not allowed.
Table Mountain	Torrington	Closed to motorized vehicles from Oct. 1 through Memorial Day weekend. ORV travel is not allowed.
Tom Thorne/Beth Williams	Wheatland	Closed to motor vehicles past the reservoir from February through May 31; open to foot/horse traffic. Gate will open at 8 a.m. June 1.
Yellowtail	Lovell
Red Rim/Daley	Rawlins	Drifting snow closes most trails in early winter.
Red Rim/Grizzly	Rawlins	Drifting snow closes most trails in early winter.

PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS WITH SEASONAL CLOSURES

HABITAT AREA	NEAREST TOWN	DATES AREA OPEN	RESTRICTIONS
Mexican Creek	Lander	Sept. 1 through Dec. 31	County access road closes on Nov. 22.
VonGontard Landing	Jackson	Mar. 15 through Nov 30	Weather may affect opening dates.
Pitcher/ Brokaw	Arlington	Aug. 1 through Dec. 31
Billy Miles/Carter	Ten Sleep	Sept. 1 through Dec. 31