Wyo. Stat. » Wyo. Stat. / Title 23 - Game and Fish / Chapter 2 - LICENSES; FEES / Article 4 - GUIDES AND OUTFITTERS
Wyoming Statutes

Wyo. Stat. § 23-2-401 (2026)

Guides required; exceptions; issuance of

✓ current as of May 2026
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resident guide license.

     (a) No nonresident shall hunt big or trophy game animals
on any designated wilderness area, as defined by federal or
state law, in this state unless accompanied by a licensed
professional guide or a resident guide. There shall be at least
one (1) licensed professional guide or resident guide
accompanying each two (2) nonresident hunters. The commission
may also specify other areas of the state, or specific big or
trophy game species, for which a licensed professional or
resident guide is required for nonresidents, for purposes of
proper game management, protection of hunter welfare and safety,
or better enforcement of game and fish laws. The commission may
allow licensed guides to accompany more than two (2) hunters but
no more than six (6) hunters in specific areas.

     (b) Any resident possessing a valid resident big or trophy
game animal license may apply for and receive a resident guide
license. The resident guide license shall be issued without
charge or bond by the commission, any district supervisor or
resident game warden upon receipt of an affidavit from the
resident stating the names and addresses of the nonresident
hunters to be guided, the game to be hunted, the area to be
hunted, and that the resident has not received nor will accept
directly or indirectly any compensation for his services as a
guide. A resident guide shall not guide more than two (2)
nonresident hunters in any calendar year on any national forest,
wilderness area, national game refuge, or national park, except
as provided in W.S. 23-2-401, nor shall he accept any
compensation or gratuity for his services. An exchange of guide
services shall not be considered compensation for the purposes
of this section. The name and license number of the nonresident
hunter shall be placed on the back of the resident guide license
and stamped or signed by the issuer.

     (c) A resident landowner may guide hunters on land owned
by or deeded land leased to him without a guide license, or he
may authorize nonresidents hunting without a guide on those
lands. The license must bear the signature of the landowner,
lessee, or agent of the owner on whose private property he is
hunting as evidence that permission to hunt has been granted.

    (d)   Repealed By Laws 2000, Ch. 48, § 3.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases, 1986–2005 · leading case: O'BRIEN v. State, 711 P.2d 1144 (Wyo. 1986).
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O'BRIEN v. State, 711 P.2d 1144 (Wyo. 1986). · cites it 46× “2d 412 (1973), this Court declared unconstitutional the predecessor statute to the one under which appellant was convicted and which we now consider.”
Schutz v. State of Wyoming, 415 F.3d 1128 (10th Cir. 2005). · cites it 2× “Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-401 (2002). II. Analysis A.”
Billings v. Wyoming Bd. of Outfitters & Guides, 2001 WY 81 (Wyo. 2001). “§ 23-2-401(a). Billings' argument is rejected.”
Billings v. Wyoming Bd. of Outfitters & Prof'l Guides, 2004 WY 42 (Wyo. 2004). · cites it 2× “Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-401 (a) (LexisNexis 2003) states that no nonresident “shall hunt big or trophy game animals on any designated wilderness area .”
Lineberger v. Wyoming State Bd. of Outfitters & Prof'l Guides, 2002 WY 55 (Wyo. 2002). · cites it 2× “Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-401 (a) (Lexis Supp.”
Peterson v. Wyoming Game & Fish Comm'n, 989 P.2d 113 (Wyo. 1999). “9-1-701 through 9-1-707, when enforcing W.S. 23-2-401 and 23-2-406 through 23-2-417 and board rules and regulations promulgated under W.”
Minnesota Ex Rel. Hatch v. Hoeven, 370 F. Supp. 2d 960 (D.N.D. 2005). “177(5) (2004) (resident preference categories when deer and turkey applications exceed available licenses); Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 23-2-401 (2000) (requires non-resident big game hunter to employ guides when hunting in federal wilderness area); Wyo.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-2-401(a) — 2 cases
O'BRIEN v. State, 711 P.2d 1144 (Wyo. 1986). “2d 412 (1973), this Court declared unconstitutional the predecessor statute to the one under which appellant was convicted and which we now consider.”
Billings v. Wyoming Bd. of Outfitters & Guides, 2001 WY 81 (Wyo. 2001). “§ 23-2-401(a). Billings' argument is rejected.”
— Wyo. Stat. § 23-2-401(b) — 1 case
O'BRIEN v. State, 711 P.2d 1144 (Wyo. 1986). “2d 412 (1973), this Court declared unconstitutional the predecessor statute to the one under which appellant was convicted and which we now consider.”
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