The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has 39 wildlife habitat management areas (WHMAs) that provide big game winter range and other benefits. These areas are opening for the season, after being closed to protect key winter habitat. Several areas open May 1.
“Seasonal closures minimize stress-causing disturbance to wintering deer, elk and other wildlife,” Ray Bredehoft, Wyoming Game and Fish habitat and access branch chief said. “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 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.
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.
WHMA SEASONAL DATE TABLE
| HABITAT AREAS | NEAREST TOWN | DATES AREA OPEN | RESTRICTIONS |
| Forbes/Sheep Mountain | Albany | May 1 through Dec. 31 | Gate will open at 8 a.m. May 1. |
| Grey’s River | Alpine | May 1 through Nov. 30 | |
| 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. |
| Bud Love | Buffalo | May 15 through Dec. 31 | Gate will open at 8 a.m. May 15. |
| Sunlight | Cody | May 1 through Dec. 15 | Gate will open at 8 a.m. May 1. |
| Inberg/Roy (East Fork) | Dubois | May 16 through Dec. 17 | Gates will open at 8 a.m. May 16 . |
| Spence & Moriarity | Dubois | May 16 through Dec. 17 | East Fork County Road and that portion east of the road is open all year. Gates will open at 8 a.m. May 16 . |
| 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. |
| Medicine Lodge | Hyattville | June 1 through Dec. 31 | Medicine Lodge Creek open to foot access for fishing. |
| Renner | Hyattville | June 1 through Dec. 31 | Lower portion remains open year round. |
| Camp Creek | Jackson | May 1 through Nov. 30 | |
| Horse Creek | Jackson | May 1 through Nov. 30 | |
| South Park | Jackson | May 1 through Nov. 30 | Signed area open to foot traffic Dec. 1-31. |
| Ed O. Taylor | Kaycee | May 15 through Dec. 31 | Gates will open at 8 a.m. May 15. |
| 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 | |
| Soda Lake | Pinedale | May 1 through Nov. 30 | |
| Fall Creek | Pinedale | May 1 through Nov. 20 | |
| Luke Lynch | Pinedale | May 1 through Nov 30 | |
| 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. May 1. |
| Amsden Creek | Sheridan | May 15 through Oct. 31 |
Open to motor vehicles. Gates will open at 8 a.m. May 15. |
| Amsden Creek | Sheridan | May 15 through Nov. 15 | Open to human presence. Gates will open at 8 a.m. May 15. |
| Kerns | Sheridan | June 1 through Oct. 31 | Open to motor vehicles. Gates will open at 8 a.m. June 1. |
| Kerns | Sheridan | June 1 through Nov. 15 | Open to human presence.Gates will open at 8 a.m. June 1. |
| 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. |
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 reservoir from February through May 31. 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 |
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 |
(Sara DiRienzo (307-777-4540))