To protect wildlife on their winter range, the majority of Wyoming Game and Fish Department wildlife habitat management areas close or have restrictions for the winter annually. Many WHMAs are closing to human presence — or already have — for the season.
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, Game and Fish habitat and access branch chief. “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-April 30. | Closed to human presence. |
Greys River | Alpine | Dec. 1- 6 a.m. May 1. | Closed to human presence. |
Wick/Beumee | Arlington | Dec. 1-May 15. | Only lands south of Interstate 80 are closed. Vehicles restricted to FS-111 for access to the U.S. Forest Service boundary, otherwise closed to human presence. |
Bud Love | Buffalo | Jan.1-May 14. | Closed to human presence. |
Sunlight | Cody | Dec. 16-April 30. | Fishing along Sunlight Creek is open year-round. |
Inberg/Roy (East Fork) | Dubois | Dec. 16-May 15. | Closed to human presence. |
Spence & Moriarity | Dubois | Dec. 16-May 15. | East Fork County Road and that portion east of the road is open year-round. The rest of the WMA is closed to human presence. |
Whiskey Basin | Dubois | Dec. 1-May 15. | Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic. |
Medicine Lodge | Hyattville | Jan. 1-May 31. | The lower campground portion is open year-round.Turkey hunting allowed in lower portion during the seasonal closure. |
Renner | Hyattville | Jan. 1-May 31. | The upper portion closed to human presence. Lower portion remains open year- round.
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Camp Creek | Jackson | Dec. 1-6 a.m. May 1. | Closed to human presence. |
Horse Creek | Jackson | Dec. 1-6 a.m. May 1. | Closed to human presence. |
South Park | Jackson | Jan. 1-6 a.m. May 1. | Closed to vehicle traffic Dec. 1-April 30. Signed area open to foot traffic Dec. 1-31. Closed to all human presence Jan 1- 6 a.m. May 1. |
Ed O. Taylor | Kaycee | Jan. 1-May 14. | Closed to human presence. |
Ellis | Kaycee | Jan. 1-May 31. | Closed to vehicles Sept. 1-May 31. Closed to human presence Jan. 1-May 31. |
Red Canyon | Lander | Dec. 1-April 30. | Closed to human presence. |
Sunshine | Meeteetse | Jan. 1-May 31. | Closed to human presence after cow elk hunting seasons ends. |
Half Moon | Pinedale | Dec. 1-April 30 | Closed to human presence. |
Soda Lake | Pinedale | Dec. 1-April 30. | Closed to human presence. |
Fall Creek | Pinedale | Dec. 1-April 30. | Closed to human presence. |
Luke Lynch | Pinedale | Nov. 1-April 30. | Closed to vehicle traffic Nov 1 -Dec 1. Closed to all human presence Dec 1- April 30. |
Black Butte | Pinedale | Dec. 1-April 30. | Closed to human presence. |
Morgan Creek | Rawlins | Nov. 1-April 30. | Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic. |
Pennock Mountain | Saratoga | Nov. 15-April 30. | Closed to vehicles only. Open to foot/horse traffic. |
Amsden Creek | Sheridan | Nov. 1-May 14. | Closed to vehicles. Open to foot/horse traffic Nov. 1-15. |
Amsden Creek | Sheridan | Nov. 16-May 14. | Closed to human presence. |
Kerns | Sheridan | Nov. 1-May 31. | Closed to vehicles. Open to foot/horse traffic Nov. 1-15. |
Kerns | Sheridan | Nov. 16-May 31. | Closed to human presence. |
Laramie Peak | Wheatland | Feb. 1-April 30. | Laramie Peak is open year-round, except for specific WGFC lands - Hay Canyon, Tony Ridge and Duck Creek Canyon - which are closed to human presence annually. |
Pilot Hill | Laramie | Feb. 1-April 30. | Closed to human presence. |
Mule Creek Ranch | Medicine Bow | Jan. 1-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 | Vehicular access is restricted to the roads and parking areas. Off-road vehicle access prohibited. | |
North Glendo | Glendo | ||
Jelm | Laramie | Vehicular access is restricted to the parking area. Off-road vehicle access prohibited. | |
Rawhide | Lingle | Vehicular access is restricted to the parking area. Off-road vehicle access prohibited. | |
Springer/Bump Sullivan | Yoder | Closed to motorized vehicles Oct. 1-May 15. Off-road vehicle access prohibited. | |
Table Mountain | Torrington | Closed to motorized vehicles Oct. 1-May 15. Off-road vehicle access prohibited. | |
Tom Thorne/Beth Williams | Wheatland | Closed to motorized vehicles west of the reservoir Feb. 1-May 31. Open year-round to foot and horseback access. | |
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. | |
Sand Creek | Sundance | ||
PUBLIC ACCESS AREAS WITH SEASONAL CLOSURES | |||
HABITAT AREA | NEAREST TOWN | DATES AREA CLOSED | RESTRICTIONS |
Mexican Creek | Lander | Jan. 1-Aug. 31. | County access road closed Nov. 22. |
Mud Springs | Lander | Open during big game hunting seasons. | Non-motorized access through adjacent public lands. Hunting for pronghorn, white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk only. |
Killebrew | Pavillion | Jan. 1-Aug. 31. | |
Von Gontard Landing | Jackson | Dec. 1-March 1. | Weather may affect closing and opening dates. |
Pitcher/ Brokaw | Arlington | Jan. 1-July 31 | Off-road vehicles are prohibited. |
Carter/Billy Miles | Ten Sleep | Jan. 1-Aug. 31. | |
Coco Belle VanMeerendonk | Jackson | Dec. 1-April 14. | Closed to wheeled motorized vehicles. |
-WGFD-
