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Wyoming Hunting Season Dates 2026–27

Season openers, closers, and tag requirements by species. Always confirm against Wyoming Game & Fish Department before you hunt. Dates can change.

License: resident $24 · nonresident $75. Species tags and permits are extra. See each section below.

Deer (Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer) Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Oct. 1 or later (most of Wyoming)Sep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Deer licence valid for the hunt area + archery licence
Special archery - western hunt areas whose regular season opens Sept. 15Sep 1, 2026Sep 14, 2026Deer licence valid for the hunt area + archery licence

Wild Turkey Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Fall, archery only - statewide (Hunt Area 1)Sep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026General or Type 3 fall wild turkey licence
Fall, any legal weapon - statewide (Hunt Area 1)Oct 1, 2026Jan 31, 2027General or Type 3 fall wild turkey licence
Spring, Type 3 limited quota - five countiesApr 1, 2027May 31, 2027Type 3 spring wild turkey licence, quota 800, valid in Converse, Natrona, Campbell, Johnson and Sheridan counties
Spring, General - statewide (Hunt Area 1)Apr 20, 2027May 31, 2027General spring wild turkey licence; Hunter Management Area permission slip required on the Yellowtail WHMA

Black Bear Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Spring special archery - most hunt areasApr 15, 2026Apr 30, 2026General black bear licence + archery licence
Spring regular season - most hunt areasMay 1, 2026Jun 15, 2026General black bear licence
Fall special archery - many hunt areasAug 15, 2026Aug 31, 2026General black bear licence + archery licence
Fall regular season - most hunt areasSep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026General black bear licence

Rocky Mountain Elk Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Oct. 1 (the large majority)Sep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Elk licence valid for the hunt area + archery licence

Bighorn Sheep Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Sept. 1 (the majority)Aug 15, 2026Aug 31, 2026Limited quota bighorn sheep licence + archery licence
Regular season - hunt areas opening Sept. 1 and closing Oct. 31 (the most common configuration)Sep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Limited quota bighorn sheep licence

Wild Bison Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Any wild bison - Hunt Area 2 (Jackson): Wild Bison Hunt Area 2 (Jackson)Aug 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Type 1 wild bison licence, quota 30. National Elk Refuge permit required to hunt the refuge.
Female or calf wild bison - Hunt Area 2 (Jackson): Wild Bison Hunt Area 2 (Jackson)Aug 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Type 4 wild bison licence, quota 70. National Elk Refuge permit required to hunt the refuge.

Mourning Dove Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular, statewide (single segment)Sep 1, 2026Nov 29, 2026Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp + Wyoming HIP permit
Extended falconry, statewideNov 30, 2026Dec 16, 2026Falconry permit + game bird licence + HIP; 3 daily, 9 in possession, in the aggregate with all other migratory game birds

Grouse Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Blue (dusky) grouse - statewide (Area 1)Sep 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Ruffed grouse - statewide (Area 1)Sep 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Sharp-tailed grouse - east of the Continental Divide: Sharp-tailed Grouse Hunt Area 1Sep 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Sage grouse - Hunt Area 1 only: Sage Grouse Hunt Area 1Sep 19, 2026Sep 30, 2026Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp + FREE sage grouse hunting permit; 2 daily, 4 in possession

Shiras Moose Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Oct. 1 (the majority)Sep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Limited quota moose licence + archery licence
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Sept. 15Sep 1, 2026Sep 14, 2026Limited quota moose licence + archery licence
Regular season - hunt areas opening Oct. 1 and closing Oct. 31 (the most common configuration)Oct 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Limited quota moose licence

Mountain Goat Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - Hunt Areas 1, 2 and 3Aug 15, 2026Aug 31, 2026Limited quota mountain goat licence + archery licence
Regular season - Hunt Areas 1, 2 and 3Sep 1, 2026Oct 31, 2026Limited quota mountain goat licence

Mountain Lion Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular season - hunt areas running Sept. 1 to Mar. 31 (the majority)Sep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Mountain lion licence + conservation stamp

Mule Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Oct. 1 or later (most of Wyoming)Sep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Deer licence valid for the hunt area + archery licence
Special archery - western hunt areas whose regular season opens Sept. 15Sep 1, 2026Sep 14, 2026Deer licence valid for the hunt area + archery licence

Ring-necked Pheasant Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Springer permit season - Hunt Area 8: Pheasant Hunt Area 8 (Springer/Bump-Sullivan)Oct 15, 2026Oct 31, 2026Springer permit (draw, valid for one printed day) + game bird licence + Pheasant Special Management Permit; 3 daily, season limit 9
Regular - Hunt Area 1: Pheasant Hunt Area 1Nov 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + conservation stamp; 3 daily, 9 in possession; male only except designated Sheridan and Johnson county permit areas
Regular (any pheasant segment) - Hunt Area 2: Pheasant Hunt Area 2Nov 1, 2026Nov 30, 2026Game bird licence + Pheasant Special Management Permit; 2 daily, 6 in possession
Regular (male only segment) - Hunt Area 2: Pheasant Hunt Area 2Dec 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + Pheasant Special Management Permit; 2 daily, 6 in possession
Regular - Hunt Area 5: Pheasant Hunt Area 5Nov 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + Pheasant Special Management Permit; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Regular - Hunt Area 7: Pheasant Hunt Area 7Nov 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + conservation stamp; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Regular - Hunt Area 8: Pheasant Hunt Area 8 (Springer/Bump-Sullivan)Nov 1, 2026Nov 30, 2026Game bird licence + Pheasant Special Management Permit; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Regular - Hunt Area 9 (Glendo): Pheasant Hunt Area 9 (Glendo)Nov 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + Pheasant Special Management Permit; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Regular - Hunt Area 11 (rest of state): Pheasant Hunt Area 11Nov 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + conservation stamp; 3 daily, 9 in possession
Youth only - Springer permit season, Hunt Area 8: Pheasant Hunt Area 8 (Springer/Bump-Sullivan)Oct 17, 2026Oct 17, 2026Youth Springer permit; youths under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. No adult may take a pheasant on a youth day.
Youth only - Bud Love WHMA and Hunt Area 2: Pheasant Hunt Area 2Nov 14, 2026Nov 14, 2026Youth only; youths under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. No adult may take a pheasant.
Youth only - Yellowtail WHMA north of the Shoshone River: Pheasant Hunt Area 5Nov 13, 2026Nov 15, 2026Youth only; youths under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. No adult may take a pheasant.

Pronghorn Antelope Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Oct. 1 (the most common configuration)Aug 15, 2026Sep 30, 2026Antelope licence valid for the hunt area + archery licence

Cottontail Rabbit and Snowshoe Hare Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Cottontail rabbit - statewide (Area 1)Sep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Wyoming game bird/small game licence + conservation stamp; 10 daily, 20 in possession
Snowshoe hare - statewide (Area 1)Sep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Wyoming game bird/small game licence + conservation stamp; 4 daily, 8 in possession

Sora and Virginia Rail Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular, statewideSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp + HIP permit
Extended falconry, statewideNov 10, 2026Dec 16, 2026Falconry permit + game bird licence + HIP; 3 daily, 9 in possession, in the aggregate

Sandhill Crane Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Limited quota - Hunt Area 1: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 1Sep 1, 2026Sep 20, 2026Limited quota sandhill crane permit, 62 permits; carcass coupon must be attached at the site of kill
Limited quota - Hunt Area 2: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 2Sep 1, 2026Sep 20, 2026Limited quota sandhill crane permit, 62 permits
Limited quota - Hunt Area 3: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 3Sep 1, 2026Sep 13, 2026Limited quota sandhill crane permit, 249 permits
Limited quota - Hunt Area 4: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 4Sep 26, 2026Oct 18, 2026Limited quota sandhill crane permit, 249 permits
Limited quota - Hunt Area 5: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 5Sep 1, 2026Sep 15, 2026Limited quota sandhill crane permit, 62 permits
Limited quota - Hunt Area 6: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 6Sep 5, 2026Oct 4, 2026Limited quota sandhill crane permit, 249 permits
Limited quota - Hunt Area 8: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 8Sep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Limited quota sandhill crane permit, 93 permits
General permit - Hunt Area 7: Sandhill Crane Hunt Area 7Sep 12, 2026Nov 8, 2026General sandhill crane permit, no draw; 3 daily, 9 in possession

Squirrel, Chukar and Gray Partridge Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Red, grey and fox squirrel - statewide (Area 1)Sep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027Wyoming small game licence + conservation stamp; 10 daily, 20 in possession
Chukar partridge - statewide (Area 1)Sep 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp; 5 daily, 15 in possession
Gray partridge - statewide (Area 1)Sep 15, 2026Jan 31, 2027Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp; 5 daily, 15 in possession

Wilson's Snipe Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Regular, statewideSep 1, 2026Dec 16, 2026Wyoming game bird licence + conservation stamp + HIP permit

Ducks, Mergansers, Coots and Geese Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Ducks and mergansers - Pacific FlywaySep 26, 2026Jan 8, 2027Game bird licence + conservation stamp + federal duck stamp (16 and older) + HIP
Coots - Pacific FlywaySep 26, 2026Jan 8, 2027Game bird licence + conservation stamp + HIP
Early Canada goose - Pacific FlywaySep 1, 2026Sep 8, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Dark geese - Pacific FlywaySep 26, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Light geese - Pacific FlywaySep 26, 2026Dec 31, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Ducks and mergansers (first segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1Oct 3, 2026Oct 20, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Ducks and mergansers (second segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1Nov 14, 2026Jan 31, 2027Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Dark geese (first segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1Oct 3, 2026Oct 20, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Dark geese (second segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1Nov 20, 2026Feb 14, 2027Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Ducks and mergansers (first segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1AOct 3, 2026Oct 20, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Ducks and mergansers (second segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1ANov 14, 2026Jan 31, 2027Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Dark geese (first segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1AOct 3, 2026Oct 14, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP; daily bag 2 in this segment only
Dark geese (second segment) - Central Flyway Zone C1ANov 14, 2026Feb 14, 2027Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP; daily bag 5
Ducks and mergansers (first segment) - Central Flyway Zone C2Sep 26, 2026Nov 29, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Ducks and mergansers (second segment) - Central Flyway Zone C2Dec 12, 2026Jan 12, 2027Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Early Canada goose - Central Flyway Zone C2Sep 1, 2026Sep 8, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Dark geese (first segment) - Central Flyway Zone C2Sep 26, 2026Nov 29, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Dark geese (second segment) - Central Flyway Zone C2Dec 12, 2026Jan 12, 2027Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP
Light geese (first segment) - Central Flyway, all zones: Central Flyway (all zones)Oct 3, 2026Dec 30, 2026Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP; 20 daily, 60 in possession
Light geese (second segment) - Central Flyway, all zones: Central Flyway (all zones)Jan 30, 2027Feb 14, 2027Game bird licence + federal duck stamp + HIP; 20 daily, 60 in possession
Light Goose Conservation Order - Central Flyway: Central Flyway (all zones)Feb 15, 2027Apr 30, 2027Game bird licence + conservation stamp + Conservation Order Special Management Permit; 50 daily, no possession limit. No federal duck stamp or HIP permit required.
Special hunting days for youths, veterans and active military - Pacific FlywaySep 19, 2026Sep 20, 2026Youth 17 or younger accompanied by an adult 18 or older, or documented veteran or active military
Special hunting days for youths, veterans and active military - Central Flyway Zone C2Sep 19, 2026Sep 20, 2026Youth 17 or younger accompanied by an adult 18 or older, or documented veteran or active military
Special hunting days for youths, veterans and active military - Central Flyway Zones C1 and C1A: Central Flyway Zone C1Sep 26, 2026Sep 27, 2026Youth 17 or younger accompanied by an adult 18 or older, or documented veteran or active military

White-tailed Deer Season Dates

SeasonOpensClosesTag
Special archery - hunt areas whose regular season opens Oct. 1 or laterSep 1, 2026Sep 30, 2026Deer licence valid for the hunt area + archery licence
General season, any white-tailed deer - Hunt Areas 11, 12, 13 and 14Oct 16, 2026Nov 30, 2026General deer licence valid in hunt areas 11-14
Verify before you hunt. These dates are compiled for planning and can change between when they're published and when the season opens, and many states vary dates by unit, zone, or WMU. Always confirm with Wyoming Game & Fish Department before heading out. Nothing here is legal advice.
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