Wyoming Statutes
Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101 (2026)
Definitions of wildlife.
✓ current as of May 2026 Cite as: Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101 (2026)
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
WY-LEGwyoleg.gov
JustiaTitle on Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
(a) As used in this act:
(i) "Big game animal" means antelope, bighorn sheep,
deer, elk, moose or mountain goat;
(ii) "Exotic species" means any wild animals,
including amphibians, reptiles, mollusks, crustaceans or birds
not found in a wild, free or unconfined status in Wyoming;
(iii) "Furbearing animal" means badger, beaver,
bobcat, marten, mink, muskrat or weasel;
(iv) "Game bird" means grouse, partridge, pheasant,
ptarmigan, quail, wild turkey and migratory game birds;
(v) "Game fish" means bass, catfish, crappie,
grayling, burbot, northern pike, perch, salmon, sauger, sunfish,
trout, walleye or whitefish unless the species is otherwise
designated by the commission in specific waters through rule and
regulation;
(vi) "Migratory game bird" means all migratory game
birds defined and protected under federal law;
(vii) "Predacious bird" means English sparrow and
starling;
(viii) "Predatory animal" means:
(A) Coyote, jackrabbit, porcupine, raccoon, red
fox, skunk or stray cat; and
(B) Until 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, "predatory animal" includes wolves. After that date,
"predatory animal" shall include any gray wolf within areas of
the state where the state of Wyoming has jurisdiction for
wildlife management, but not within an area of the state in
which the gray wolf is:
(I) Designated as a trophy game animal
under subdivision (xii)(B)(I) or (II) of this subsection.
(II) Repealed By Laws 2012, Ch. 25, § 2.
(ix) "Protected animal" means black-footed ferret,
fisher, lynx, pika or wolverine;
(x) "Protected bird" means migratory birds as defined
and protected under federal law;
(xi) "Small game animal" means cottontail rabbit or
snowshoe hare, and fox, grey and red squirrels;
(xii) "Trophy game animal" means:
(A) Black bear, grizzly bear or mountain lion;
and
(B) 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:
(I) "Trophy game animal" shall include any
gray wolf within those tracts of land within the following
described area: northwest Wyoming beginning at the junction of
Wyoming Highway 120 and the Wyoming-Montana state line;
southerly along Wyoming Highway 120 to the Greybull River;
southwesterly up said river to the Wood River; southwesterly up
said river to the Shoshone National Forest boundary; southerly
along said boundary to the Wind River Indian Reservation
boundary; westerly, then southerly along said boundary to the
Continental Divide; southeasterly along said divide to the
Middle Fork of Boulder Creek; westerly down said creek to
Boulder Creek; westerly down said creek to the Bridger-Teton
National Forest boundary; northwesterly along said boundary to
its intersection with U.S. Highway 189-191; northwesterly along
said highway to the intersection with U.S. Highway 26-89-191;
northerly along said highway to Wyoming Highway 22 in the town
of Jackson; westerly along said highway to the Wyoming-Idaho
state line; north along said state line to the southern boundary
of Yellowstone National Park; east and north along said boundary
to the Wyoming-Montana state line; then east along said state
line to Wyoming Highway 120;
(II) "Trophy game animal" shall include any
gray wolf located, from October 15 through the last day of
February in the subsequent year, within the following described
area: beginning at the boundary described in subdivision (B)(I)
of this paragraph, where the Bridger-Teton National Forest
boundary intersects U.S. Highway 189-191 at Hoback Rim; westerly
and then southerly along said forest boundary to its
intersection with USFS Road 10125 (McDougal Gap Road); westerly
along said road to USFS Road 10138 (Grey's River Road);
southerly along said road to Sheep Creek; westerly down said
creek to Grey's River; southwesterly up said river to Bear
Creek; southwesterly up said creek to the hydrographic divide
between Bear Creek and Willow Creek; west from said divide to
USFS Road 10080 (Willow Creek Road); northwesterly along said
road to Lincoln County Road 123; southerly along said road to
USFS Road 10081 (Grover Park Road); southerly then westerly
along said road to Lincoln County Road 172; westerly along said
road to the junction with Wyoming Highway 237; westerly along
said highway to Wyoming Highway 238; southerly along said
highway to Lincoln County Road 134; westerly along said road to
the Wyoming-Idaho state line; north along said state line to
Wyoming Highway 22 where the boundary described in this
subdivision will rejoin the boundary described in subdivision
(B)(I) of this paragraph.
(xiii) "Wildlife" means all wild mammals, birds,
fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans and mollusks, and wild
bison designated by the Wyoming game and fish commission and the
Wyoming livestock board within Wyoming.
(b) Repealed By Laws 2012, Ch. 25, § 2.Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1986–2022 · leading case: Parker Land & Cattle Co. v. Wyoming Game & Fish Commission
Parker Land & Cattle Co. v. Wyoming Game & Fish Commission (1993)
“The terms "big game animals" and "trophy game animals" as used in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of the statute carry the definitions given them in Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101. See Wyo.Stat. §§ 23-1-102(a)(xiii) and 23-1-101(a)(i) and (xii).”
O'BRIEN v. State (1986)
“The question is then whether there is a rational relationship between that classification between nonresidents and residents and a legitimate legislative state objective.”
Wyoming v. United States Department of the Interior (2005)
“See Wyo. Stat. §§ 23-1-101(a)(viii) and (xii)(B)(I & II).”
In the Matter of the Claim for Damages Filed By Josh Longwell With the Wyoming Game and Fish Department: Josh Longwell v (2022)
“Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-1-101 (a)(xii)(A) (LexisNexis 2021) (defining “[t]rophy game animal”).”
Greater Yellowstone Coalition v. State of Wyoming (2011)
“For example, Wyoming statutes define a grizzly bear as a “[t]rophy game animal,” Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-1-101 (a)(xii)(A), and require a hunting license, id.”
Defenders of Wildlife v. Ryan Zinke (2017)
“, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-1-101 (a)(xii)(B)(I), (II); id.”
Wyoming Coalition v. Wyoming Game & Fish Commission (1994)
“§ 23-1-103, we find a policy and mission statement for the Wyoming Game and Fish Act (Wyo.Stat. §§ 23-1-101 to -6-207 (1991 & Supp.”
Clajon Production Corp. v. Petera (1994)
“See generally Wyo. Stat. §§ 23-1-101 to -901 (1991). The purpose of this legislation was to codify the “policy of [the State of Wyoming] to provide an adequate and flexible system for control, propagation-, management, protection and regulation of all Wyoming wildlife[.”
Steil v. Smith (1995)
“Further, we hold that Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(i) (1991), when read in combination with Wyo.”
Defenders of Wildlife v. Hall (2008)
“Specifically, the Wyoming Fish & Wildlife Commission may diminish the trophy game area if it “determines the diminution does not impede the delisting of gray wolves and will facilitate Wyoming’s management of wolves.”
Clajon Production Corp. v. Petera (1995)
“See Wyo.Stat. §§ 23-1-101 to 901 (1991). This statutory scheme aspired to “provide an adequate and flexible system for control, propagation, management, protection and regulation of all Wyoming wildlife.”
Dorrance v. McCarthy (1992)
“In 1989 and 1990, he applied for a permit from Defendants to import, possess, and manage certain animals that are classified as big game animals by statute in Wyoming, see Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101, for the purposes of breeding and rearing, exhibition, weed control research, meat…”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(i) — 3 cases
Parker Land & Cattle Co. v. Wyoming Game & Fish Commission (1993)
“The terms "big game animals" and "trophy game animals" as used in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of the statute carry the definitions given them in Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101. See Wyo.Stat. §§ 23-1-102(a)(xiii) and 23-1-101(a)(i) and (xii).”
O'BRIEN v. State (1986)
“The question is then whether there is a rational relationship between that classification between nonresidents and residents and a legitimate legislative state objective.”
Steil v. Smith (1995)
“Further, we hold that Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(i) (1991), when read in combination with Wyo.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(viii) — 2 cases
Parker Land & Cattle Co. v. Wyoming Game & Fish Commission (1993)
“The terms "big game animals" and "trophy game animals" as used in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of the statute carry the definitions given them in Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101. See Wyo.Stat. §§ 23-1-102(a)(xiii) and 23-1-101(a)(i) and (xii).”
Wyoming v. United States Department of the Interior (2005)
“See Wyo. Stat. §§ 23-1-101(a)(viii) and (xii)(B)(I & II).”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(xii) — 1 case
Parker Land & Cattle Co. v. Wyoming Game & Fish Commission (1993)
“The terms "big game animals" and "trophy game animals" as used in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of the statute carry the definitions given them in Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101. See Wyo.Stat. §§ 23-1-102(a)(xiii) and 23-1-101(a)(i) and (xii).”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B) — 1 case
Wyoming v. United States Department of the Interior (2005)
“See Wyo. Stat. §§ 23-1-101(a)(viii) and (xii)(B)(I & II).”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(xii)(B)(I) — 1 case
Defenders of Wildlife v. Hall (2008)
“Specifically, the Wyoming Fish & Wildlife Commission may diminish the trophy game area if it “determines the diminution does not impede the delisting of gray wolves and will facilitate Wyoming’s management of wolves.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101(a)(xiii) — 2 cases
Parker Land & Cattle Co. v. Wyoming Game & Fish Commission (1993)
“The terms "big game animals" and "trophy game animals" as used in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of the statute carry the definitions given them in Wyo.Stat. § 23-1-101. See Wyo.Stat. §§ 23-1-102(a)(xiii) and 23-1-101(a)(i) and (xii).”
O'BRIEN v. State (1986)
“The question is then whether there is a rational relationship between that classification between nonresidents and residents and a legitimate legislative state objective.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-1-101(xii)(A) — 1 case
Wyoming v. United States Department of the Interior (2005)
“See Wyo. Stat. §§ 23-1-101(a)(viii) and (xii)(B)(I & II).”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.