Small game

[stackem]

I'm coming out for antelope in areas 47 and 43. I've got a cousin that wants to come out for the ride along for the rise, but I'm planning on using him as my pack mule. What can we expect for small game and what license does he need?
Thanks

 

[junior]

Sage grouse and rabbits. Not sure on licence..go to website

 

[jm77]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-23-17 AT 10:14AM (MST)[p]You need a Small Game license, but I wouldn't mess with cottontails until after several hard freezes( Oct or Nov). Sage grouse has a very limited season and require a Game Bird license.

If he has to kill something to have fun with you, have him take it out on coyotes; no license required.

 

[wytex]

You might get in some dove hunting if they are still around in addition to sage grouse. Fishing would be fun too. Some good lakes and river around your areas. A short drive would get you into the mountains for dusky grouse hunting.

 

[Mudminnow56]

Maybe you guys can shed some light on this. This will be our third year hunting Wyoming in unit "C" around Buffalo. In 2015 there were both cotton tails and jackrabbits everywhere along with grouse and other kind of game birds up the wazoo. Not sure of all the bird species in Wyoming. Last year there was very few rabbits and no grouse seen at all. Is this all a cycle or is there something else going on? Any insight would help. Thanks

 

[ICMDEER]

There are quite a few prairie dogs and I'd have him do that or coyotes. No license required. Jackrabbits also don't require a license.

And yes, the rabbits are cyclical. But the cycles have been longer and more sporadic in recent times.

 

[TOPGUN]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-24-17 AT 07:52AM (MST)[p]Rabbits are especially cyclical and two years ago there were so many cottontails out there that it was unreal. Last year not so much, but still in good numbers.

 

[Mudminnow56]

I couldn't believe the amount of rabbits in 2015. Never seen anything like that. It's like they were under every piece of sage brush out there. So what about the grouse and ( I can't remember the other birds we seen?) They were everywhere in 2015 and didn't see a one in 2016.

 

[wytex]

Out and about early this weekend and the foxes were everywhere, just south and east of your antelope areas.
You might call in some red or swift foxes, they are predators in Wyoming and no license needed.

Haven't seen this number of foxes in a while so they must be cycling back with the rabbits, damned distemper.

 

[jm77]

>Out and about early this weekend
>and the foxes were everywhere,
>just south and east of
>your antelope areas.
>You might call in some red
>or swift foxes, they are
>predators in Wyoming and no
>license needed.
>
>Haven't seen this number of foxes
>in a while so they
>must be cycling back with
>the rabbits, damned distemper.


As far as I know you CANNOT kill swift fox in Wyoming. They are protected.

 

[wytex]

I see now they are listed with grey fox as non game "protected".
In the past they were legal or not? Funny how the regs read about how the pelt can be sold but only if unintentional take?

Thanks jm77.


Red Fox are definitely on the upswing around here.

 

[BuzzH]

Swift fox have never been legal since I moved to Wyoming in 2000.

Not sure prior to 2000.

 

[wytex]

You're right Buzz.
I doing some light reading this weekend, need to get brushed up on the regs.
I try to read them all the way through when they make changes but have failed miserably in the last few years.
We did see many red fox just on a short drive in areas they have been scarce the last few years.

Can you feel it,Fall is in the air.