On Aug. 21, 2024, multiple fires started in northeast Wyoming after storms moved through the area. The fires are at various levels of containment. These fires are currently burning within Elk Hunt Area 129, Antelope Hunt Areas 16, 17, 22, and Deer Hunt Areas 17, 26, and 29. This page features info and resources to monitor current fire updates.

Impacts to hunters: 

• If you had planned a hunt through an outfitter, please contact them to find out the current situation of your hunt.
• If you have arranged to hunt private lands, you are encouraged to contact the landowner directly.  However, please be mindful that this is still an active fire that has not yet been contained, so exercise patience and discretion when reaching out to private landowners. 
• If you plan to hunt public land, you are encouraged to contact Sheridan region Game and Fish personnel at 307-672-7418 to inquire about hunting opportunities.

License refunds and reservations: 

If a hunter’s opportunity is lost for this year, Commission regulation (Chapter 44 sec. 21 and 24) allows a full-price, limited quota license holder to request a license reservation for the same species, hunt area and license type for the following hunting season or a license refund when the department determines licenses cannot be used for a good cause due to a natural disaster, such as wildfire. 

If it is determined that a hunter has lost their hunting opportunity/location due to a fire, they can request a license reservation or refund through the department’s license section in Cheyenne by calling 307-777-4600. 

• Accumulated preference points will be reinstated if a refund is granted to nonresident hunters. Anyone who receives a refund will be eligible to purchase a preference point for 2024.
• Chapter 44 does not allow for resident general deer or elk licenses to be refunded or reserved for the next year. 
• Nonresident regional deer and elk full-price licenses are eligible for a reservation or refund.
• Any hunter who has hunted on a license cannot receive a refund or reservation, regardless of whether or not they harvested an animal.

Game and Fish wildlife managers are monitoring multiple other wildfires in northeast Wyoming. Depending on fire behavior and movement, there may be further impacts to habitat, wildlife and hunting opportunities. Game and Fish will contact potentially impacted hunters in coming days if warranted.