U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
This blue goose, designed National Elk Refuge by J.N. “Ding” Darling, is the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Elk Hunting Information and Regulations
1. Who manages hunting on the National Elk Refuge? Hunting on the National Elk Refuge Hunting activities prohibited Other activities illegal on the NER: (NER, Refuge) is managed through on the NER: ■ Collecting natural or cultural a cooperative effort between the ■ Intentional herding or harassment resources, including but not limited NER, Grand Teton National Park, and of wildlife. to antlers, skulls, and artifacts. Wyoming Game & Fish Department ■ Discharging firearms other than for ■ Possession or use of alcoholic (WGFD), with the goal of achieving lawful hunting (i.e. target shooting beverages. optimum herd size. The NER posts and sighting in). ■ Possession of non-certified information and updates related ■ Indiscriminant shooting, shooting weed-free hay. to the Refuge and Refuge hunting multiple times into a running herd, ■ Starting or maintaining any fires. programs on its website: http://www. or injuring multiple animals. fws.gov/refuge/national_elk_refuge ■ Shooting from parking areas or public 5. What are the requirements for 2. W hat must I have while hunting elk roads. animal retrieval? ■ on the Refuge? ■ Possessing more than seven cartridges Following harvest, elk hunters may use retrieval roads starting at ■ NER permit for elk hunting per license per day. ■ 10:00 am. If retrieving after dark, ■ WGFD elk hunting license Interfering with or harassing other hunters. hunters should notify Refuge staff by Note: The applicant must possess a full leaving a message on the NER Hunt ■ Using decoys outside of the Archery price license to apply for the Any Elk Information Line at 307 / 201 5437. and Youth Hunt periods. Only Area or using blinds that ■ Hunters may not leave animal parts, ■ WGFD Conservation Stamp completely obstruct visible fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink garment. including gut piles and carcasses, (if required by WGFD) within 100 feet of parking areas. ■ WGFD Elk Special Management Transportation activities prohibited on ■ No game retrieval is allowed within Permit the Refuge: Grand Teton National Park. This ■ Hunter Safety Certificate (if required ■ Driving off designated roads. includes retrieval to Gros Ventre Road by WGFD) ■ Stopping or unloading hunters along parking areas at Milepost 1.1 and 2.3 Refuge roads. or across Highway 89. Hunters must 3. How do I get a permit for hunting elk ■ bring their vehicle inside the gate to on the Refuge? Parking outside of designated hunt parking lots. load the animal at the Highway 89 The application process for a NER parking lot. permit for elk hunting is done online ■ Overnight camping or parking. via the WGFD Access Yes! Hunter ■ Using bicycles off designated roads. Management Area Program. ■ ATVs are allowed on public roads but must be registered, insured, and 4. What Refuge-specific laws regulate operated by a licensed driver. ATVs hunting on the Refuge? and snowmobiles are not allowed on In addition to all Federal and WGFD Refuge retrieval roads. requirements, the following Refuge ■ Horses used for hunting are restricted specific regulations are enforced. to the Any Weapon Area north of Hunters must be knowledgeable of all Flat Creek (including West Hunt regulations prior to hunting as violations Lot) as depicted on the hunt map. may result in forfeiture of the animal, Horses are allowed Refuge-wide for criminal penalties, and permit revocation. retrieval purposes. (Regulations continued on page 2) Elk Hunting Information and Regulations Page 1 not to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service scale National Elk Refuge
Hwy 89
Flat Creek Peterson Elk Hunt Areas Jackson National Fish Hatchery Refuge Linked symbols Hatchery boundary designate Gate Federal accessible highway features Fishing (For Peterson Gate Hunt retrieval & Long Hollow, loop see Section 13.) Hunt retrieval spur Parking # Spur road Any weapon numbers area Direct access Archery only route area Public road Limited range area North boundary of horse-free Area closed hunting area to hunting Miller and hunter House Visitor access center Pump House Area closed to Administrative hunting and ofce hunter access until October 20
6. What hunting areas can I hunt, Limited Range Area 7. What should I do before I 8. What regulations apply to the and what are their restrictions? (Brown on map) pursue an injured animal non-hunting assistants? Elk hunting is allowed in three Hunters must carry and are off or onto the Refuge? ■ hunting areas (see map). All hunt restricted to possessing only Prior to December 1, if an injured Elk hunters are allowed one areas must be accessed from limited range weapons, including animal crosses from the National assistant and must ensure that designated parking lots or direct handguns, muzzle loading rifles, Forest onto the Refuge, or if assistant is compliant with access routes that correspond to shotguns with slugs, or archery retrieval would be more efficient all Refuge regulations. Youth the legal hunting method allowed equipment legal for taking elk as through the Refuge, hunters hunters are allowed additional in that area. All Refuge hunting defined by the WGFD. Handguns should call the NER Hunt assistants. areas have specific restrictions. are further restricted to straight- Information Line and leave a ■ Assistants must stay within 50 walled cartridges with a barrel message detailing their situation yards of the permitted hunter, Archery Only Area (Green on map) length no longer than 12 inches. and plan for recovery. Following unless retrieving. Hunters must carry and are this notice, the hunter may pursue ■ Assistants must wear a restricted to possessing only a Any Weapon Area (Yellow on map) or retrieve the animal as planned, florescent orange or pink bow or crossbow legal for taking Hunters may hunt with any legal giving consideration to limiting garment that is visible from 360 elk as defined by the WGFD. weapon for taking elk as defined by any resource damage. Beginning degrees, the same as required for Hunters must be at least 200 the WGFD. December 1, Forest Service the hunter, by state law. yards from all residences and the lands adjacent to the NER are National Fish Hatchery. After closed to all human presence per November 1, the Archery Hunting Winter Travel Restrictions. Area along Highway 89 may be accessed by either the Fishing or If the injured animal crosses Hatchery gate parking areas. into Grand Teton National Park, the hunter must immediately notify Teton Interagency Dispatch at 307 / 739 3301. (Regulations continued on page 3) Elk Hunting Information and Regulations Page 2 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Elk Refuge
9. What else do I need to know? 12. What do I need to know about Accessibility Information ■ Hunters may fill up to three WGFD elk biological testing of elk? Equal opportunity to participate in and licenses on a single NER permit. Hunters are required to participate in benefit from programs and activities ■ Prior to the start date of their hunt a Chronic Wasting Disease sampling of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is period, hunters may only access program by depositing the animal’s available to all individuals regardless Refuge areas open to the general head at a collection box or allowing a of physical or mental ability. Dial 711 public. biologist to collect samples in the field. for a free connection to the State relay ■ Hunters are only allowed in hunt areas Hunters are advised to take personal service for TTY and voice calls to and when they have a Refuge permit and a safety precautions by wearing rubber from people with hearing and speech valid matching license. gloves while field dressing. All ear disabilities. For more information or tags and radio collars from harvested to address accessibility needs, please ■ Refuge roads or parking areas may be animals must be returned to the NER contact the Refuge staff at 307 / 733 9212, closed or inaccessible due to inclement or WGFD, Jackson Regional Office. or the U.S. Department of the Interior, weather or management decisions. Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C ■ Harvest Reports are included with 13. What do I need to know about Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. every Refuge permit and must be youth hunter opportunities? completed for each hunt period drawn The NER Youth Only Hunt will National Elk Refuge (NER) whether successful or not. Directions occur Thursday through Saturday of Hunt Information Line for submission are on the Harvest Thanksgiving weekend. For those three 307 / 201 5437 Report. days, full-priced youth license holders National Elk Refuge Administrative Office ■ Use of non-lead ammunition is who have applied for and drawn a (PO Box 510) 675 E. Broadway Avenue encouraged. Refuge permit may take one bull elk. Jackson, WY 83001 ■ During high fire danger, a fire Youth hunters may take two additional 307 / 733 9212 extinguisher and shovel are cow/calf elk with additional licenses. www.fws.gov/refuge/ recommended. The Youth Hunter Development national_elk_refuge/ ■ Grizzly bears frequent the Refuge. Program on the NER provides Carrying bear spray is recommended. Wyoming Game & Fish Department opportunities for youth mentoring Jackson Office when the adult has drawn a permit and (PO Box 67) 420 North Cache Street 10. What guide and retrieval companies wishes to hunt with a youth that has not are permitted to operate on the Refuge? Jackson, WY 83001 drawn a permit. This program does not 307 / 733 2321 Commercial guiding and retrieval allow an adult to hunt when the youth companies may be available. The hunter draws a permit but the adult Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone company currently permitted to did not. For more information, please Visitor Center operate on the NER is Double call the NER Hunt Information Line. 532 North Cache Street Diamond Tag-n-Drag, 307 / 248 1490. Jackson, WY 83001 Per Wyoming Statute, any hunter 11. Does the Refuge allow Wyoming hunter that is 12 or 13 years old shall at all Teton Interagency Dispatch assistance / disabled hunter programs? times be accompanied by an adult who 307 / 739 3301 Hunters enrolled in the WGFD possesses and can exhibit a hunter safety Hunter Mentor Program may receive certificate, or who currently holds or has a Refuge permit. been issued a Wyoming big game hunting In an emergency, dial 911 license within the last five years. If the For State relay service TTY / Voice: 711 The NER encourages hunters with person who is accompanying the hunter disabilities to participate in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under the age of 14 years old is not the http://www.fws.gov hunt program and offers reasonable parent or guardian of the hunter, the accommodation for the activity. hunter shall have in their possession a June 2020 Hunters who have both a WGFD permission slip signed by their parent or Disabled Hunter Permit and a Refuge guardian allowing them to hunt under hunting permit are eligible to reserve supervision. one of two designated hunt sites. Each accompanying adult shall Reservations must be made at the supervise only one hunter Refuge Administrative Offices at under the age of 14 years. 675 E. Broadway in Jackson, WY. The reservation is limited to a 4-day period. The WGFD Disabled Hunter Companion Permit is also valid on the Refuge. Contact the WGFD for further information on these programs.
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