LANDER — The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission held a meeting in Lander Sept. 9-10 and approved recommended changes to several regulations, attended the 2025 Landowner of the Year awards banquet and held discussion for the Sublette Antelope Migration Corridor designation.

Chapter 52: Take of Nongame Wildlife

The Commission approved a revised regulation, which clarifies the management status of otters and establishes new reporting requirements for unintentionally taken grey and swift fox. 

The approved changes were prompted by House Bill 0045 from the 2025 legislative session, which removed otters from the definition of a protected animal and reclassified them as nongame wildlife. The new regulation establishes that anyone who unintentionally takes an otter — other than in a vehicle collision — must notify a Game and Fish law enforcement officer and turn over the unskinned carcass.

Additionally, the regulation clarifies requirements for reporting and tagging unintentionally taken gray and swift foxes. Pelts from these foxes may be retained or sold with authorization from a law enforcement officer, but they first must be tagged by the department. This process is intended to help the department better understand the distribution and population dynamics of these species.

Chapter 71: Commercially Guided Fishing Boat Regulations

The Commission approved a revised regulation for commercially guided fishing boats, which includes key changes to registration fees and a more flexible decal system. The new regulation, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, is the result of a public, collaborative process and is aimed at balancing the needs of the outfitting community with the state’s need for better data collection on its waterbody usage.

The revised regulation addresses feedback from the public comment period, which ran from June 11-July 31. Following a series of eight public meetings and 40 written comments, the department made several key changes to the initial draft. The advisory board recommended, and the Commission approved, the following:

• Fee structure: The dual fee structure of $600 for the first boat and $100 for additional boats was eliminated. In its place, the Commission approved a single, reduced fee of
   $325 per registration sticker. This change is intended to be more equitable for smaller operators and part-time guides.
• Decal transferability: The decals, which include a number to identify the registrant, are now transferable between boats and trailers. This allows outfitters to purchase only the number of stickers they need for the number of boats on the water at one time, rather than for every boat they own.
• Vehicle identification: A commercial fishing guide vehicle identification slip was added. The slip is to be displayed on the dashboard of a vehicle when transporting a commercially guided boat, which will help with enforcement and eliminate the need for boaters to cover or obscure decals during private trips

Sublette Antelope Migration Corridor

The Commission voted to approve all 10 sections of the Sublette Antelope Migration Corridor, including areas east of Farson and the Red Desert. The decision came after initial recommendations from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, followed by public comment and discussion.

Game and Fish worked to officially designate these corridors through the process outlined in the Governor's Migration Corridor Executive Order. The goal is to identify and mitigate threats such as off-road vehicle use, fencing, invasive plants and habitat fragmentation from development. A formal designation ensures these crucial landscape features continue to function for generations to come, which is vital for herd survival. Threats that are evaluated for all corridors include off-road vehicle use, impermeable fencing, invasive annual grasses and poor habitat quality. This careful delineation of seasonal use aids in the long-term management of the herd.

Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said the final decision is a win for wildlife, and the decision helped balance the scientific data with stakeholder input that will make the designation a long-lasting success.

“The Commission's ongoing oversight and public feedback are key components in our process of balancing scientific data with socio-economic needs,” Bruce said. “While the department's focus is on providing the best available science for decision-making, the Commission is vital in considering the broader context and what it means for our stakeholders. This is crucial for creating and maintaining designated wildlife corridors, which are essential for providing healthy habitat in the state.”

The Sublette Antelope Migration Corridor is a designated path for one of Wyoming's largest antelope populations, spanning up to 165 miles across Fremont, Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Teton counties. The corridor was formally identified in March 2024 to protect antelope as they migrate between summer and winter ranges. Game and Fish used data from more than two decades of research, including GPS collar data from more than 500 antelope, to understand and manage these movements.

For more information on Game and Fish’s work with migration in Wyoming, visit the Game and Fish’s big game migration information page.

The next Commission meeting will be Nov. 5-6 in Laramie. All agendas and presentations for upcoming and past meetings, as well as information on how to participate in public commenting, are posted on the Game and Fish Commission page.

-WGFD-