CHEYENNE — As big game hunting season comes to a close, Wyoming hunters are gearing up for migratory game bird and pheasant season. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has some reminders going into the season. 

Migratory game bird hunting

Here are the Wyoming requirements:

1. A daily or 12-month game bird hunting license: Hunters under 14 do not need a license if accompanied by an adult hunter with a valid game bird license. All hunters need a permit to hunt sandhill cranes.
2. Proof of hunter safety: Hunters born after Jan. 1, 1966, must have been certified and carry their hunter safety card, or if their license shows their hunter safety number.
3. Conservation stamp: All licensed hunters over the age of 14 must possess a conservation stamp, with the exception of a daily hunting license or holder of a special license. 
4. The Wyoming Harvest Information Program:. The HIP permit is free but is specific to each state. Licensed hunters will need to obtain a Wyoming HIP permit to hunt migratory birds in Wyoming and can do so on the  Game and Fish website.
5. The Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp: The stamp, commonly called the Duck Stamp, is required for hunting ducks, geese and mergansers, but is not required for other migratory game bird species. This is only required for hunters 16 years of age or older, and is valid July 1-June 30. This stamp can be purchased on the  Game and Fish website, duckstamp.com, usps.com, at most post offices and some outdoor recreation stores.

Duck hunters should examine harvested birds for a leg band and report the number to the North American Bird Banding Program along with the location of the harvest, species and band number.  

Pheasant hunting

Here are the Wyoming requirements: 

1. A daily or 12-month game bird hunting license: Hunters under 14 do not need a license if accompanied by an adult hunter with a valid game bird license. All hunters need a permit to hunt pheasant.
2. Proof of hunter safety: Hunters born after Jan, 1, 1966, must have been certified and carry their hunter safety card or if their license shows their hunter safety number.
3. A conservation stamp: All licensed hunters over the age of 14 must possess a conservation stamp, with the exception of a daily hunting license or holder of a special license.
4. Pheasant Special Management Permit: Hunters must possess a pheasant special management permit when hunting on specific lands in Wyoming. Refer to Game and Fish regulations for exempt lands. 

“We’ve had a relatively mild fall to date, with increasing waterfowl movement into some portions of the state. Weather to the north will have to shift significantly colder before larger numbers of birds make the southerly journey to and through Wyoming,” said Courtney Rudd, Game and Fish migratory game bird and wetland biologist. 

When hunting for ducks, mergansers, coots or geese, nontoxic shot is required. Nontoxic shot also is required when using a shotgun to take game birds and small game on the Springer and Table Mountain wildlife habitat management areas. 

For migratory, pheasant and other game bird requirements and season dates, hunters should see the regulations.

— WGFD —