(a) No person shall take or wound any game animal, game bird, or game fish by use of any pit, pitfall, net, trap, deadfall, poison, or other similar device except as otherwise provided. From and after the date gray wolves are removed from the list of experimental nonessential population, endangered species or threatened species in Wyoming as provided by W.S. 23-1-108, gray wolves may be taken with a trap or snare only as allowed by and in accordance with rules and regulations of the commission.
(b) No person shall take a game animal, game bird, or game fish, and use any parts thereof, for bait to trap or poison any wildlife of Wyoming.
(c) Violation of this section constitutes a high misdemeanor punishable as provided in W.S. 23-6-202(a)(ii).
(d) No person shall place any bait for the purpose of taking a big game animal nor shall any person knowingly take a big game animal by the use of any bait that has been deposited, placed, distributed or scattered in a manner to constitute a lure, attraction or enticement to, on or over the area where any hunter is taking big game animals. Nothing in this subsection shall:
(i) Apply to normal or accepted agricultural management practices;
(ii) Prohibit taking big game animals over stored and standing crops, salt, mineral or other feed scattered solely as a result of normal and accepted agricultural practices;
(iii) Apply to the placement, distribution, depositing or scattering of bait, as approved by the game and fish commission, for the taking of big game animals by any legally blind person, person confined to a wheelchair or person hunting with a license issued pursuant to W.S. 23-1-705(j).
(iv) Apply to the placement, distribution, depositing or scattering of bait for the taking of big game animals in hunt areas to address population management, damage, disease or human safety issues. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the provisions of this paragraph.
(e) As used in subsection (d) of this section, “bait” means the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, hay, grain, fruit, nuts or chemical, mineral or other feed as an attraction or enticement for big game animals, regardless of the kind and quantity. A chemical used as an attractant or mask rather than for consumption shall not be considered “bait”.
(f) Repealed by Laws 2007, ch. 62, § 2.
CREDIT(S)
Laws 1921, ch. 83, § 61; Laws 1929, ch. 93, § 19; Laws 1967, ch. 168, § 1; Laws 1973, ch. 249, § 1; Laws 2001, ch. 27, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2003, ch. 115, § 2, eff. March 4, 2003; Laws 2005, ch. 7, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2007, ch. 62, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2012, ch. 54, § 1, eff. July 1, 2012.