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. Bison Hunting Information and Regulations
1. Who manages hunting on the National Elk Refuge? Hunting on the National Elk Refuge (NER, Refuge) is managed through a cooperative effort between NER, Grand Teton National Park, and Wyoming Game & Fish Department (WGFD), with the goal of achieving optimum herd size. The NER staff posts information and updates related to the Refuge and Refuge hunting programs on its website: http://www. fws.gov/refuge/National_Elk_Refuge.
2. W hat must I have while hunting
bison on the Refuge? USFWS ■ NER permit for bison hunting The National Elk Refuge provides winter habitat for elk and bison herds. ■ WGFD bison hunting license ■ WGFD Conservation Stamp (if required by WGFD) ■ Shooting from parking areas or public Other activities illegal on the Refuge: ■ Hunter Safety Certificate (if required roads. ■ Collecting natural or cultural by WGFD) ■ Interfering with or harassing other resources, including but not limited to hunters. antlers, skulls, and artifacts. 3. H ow do I get a permit for bison ■ Using decoys outside of the ■ Possession or use of alcoholic hunting on the Refuge? Archery Only Area or using blinds beverages. The application process for the NER that completely obstruct hunter’s ■ Possession of non-certified permit for bison hunting is done online fluorescent orange or pink garment. weed-free hay. via the WGFD Access Yes, Hunter Transportation activities illegal on the ■ Starting or maintaining any fires. Management Area Program. Refuge: continued on page 3 4. What Refuge-specific laws ■ Driving off designated roads. regulate hunting on the Refuge? ■ Stopping or unloading hunters along In addition to all Federal and WGFD Refuge roads. requirements, the following Refuge ■ Parking outside of designated hunt specific regulations are enforced. parking lots. Hunters should be knowledgeable of all ■ Overnight camping or parking. regulations prior to hunting. Violations ■ Using bicycles off designated roads. may result in forfeiture of the animal, criminal penalties, and permit revocation. ■ ATVs are allowed on public roads, but they must be registered, insured, and Hunting activities illegal on the Refuge: operated by a licensed driver. ATVs ■ Intentional herding or harassment and snowmobiles are not allowed on of wildlife. Refuge retrieval roads. ■ Discharging firearms other than for ■ Horses may be used for hunting but lawful hunting (i.e. target shooting and are restricted to the Any Weapon Area sighting in). north of Flat Creek (including West
Hunt Lot) as shown on the hunt map. USFWS ■ Indiscriminate shooting, shooting multiple times into a running herd, Horses may be used Refuge-wide for Young adult bison have yet to develop or injuring multiple animals. retrieval purposes. obvious horn shapes that help identify gender. Bison Hunting Information and Regulations Page 1 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Elk Refuge
not to scale
Hwy 89
Peterson Bison Hunt Areas Jackson National Fish Hatchery Refuge Administrative boundary ofce Federal highway Linked symbols designate Hunt retrieval accessible loop features Hunt retrieval Parking spur Any weapon Spur road area # numbers Archery only Direct access area route Limited range Public road area North boundary Area closed Miller House of horse-free to hunting hunting area and hunter access Visitor center Area closed to hunting and hunter access until October 20
What hunting areas can I hunt Limited Range Area Contact Information Jackson Hole & and what are their restrictions? (Brown on map) Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center Hunters must carry and are National Elk Refuge (NER) 532 North Cache Street Bison hunting is allowed in three restricted to possessing only Hunt Information Line Jackson, WY 83001 hunting areas (see map). All hunt limited range weapons, including 307 / 201 5437 areas must be accessed from handguns, muzzle loading rifles, Teton Interagency Dispatch designated parking lots or direct National Elk Refuge 307 / 739 3301 shotguns with slugs, or archery Administrative Office access routes that correspond to equipment legal for taking wild In an emergency, dial 911 the legal hunting method allowed in (PO Box 510) 675 E. Broadway Avenue For State relay service bison as defined by the WGFD. Jackson, WY 83001 that area. All Refuge hunting areas Handguns are further restricted to TTY / Voice: 711 have specific restrictions. 307 / 733 9212 straight-walled cartridges with a www.fws.gov/refuge/ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Archery Only Area (Green on map) barrel length no longer than national_elk_refuge/ http://www.fws.gov Hunters must carry and are 12 inches. restricted to possessing only a bow Wyoming Game & Fish Department For Refuge Information Any Weapon Area (Yellow on map) Jackson Office 1 800 / 344 WILD or crossbow legal for taking wild Hunters may hunt with any weapon bison as defined by the WGFD. (PO Box 67) 420 North Cache Street legal for taking wild bison as Jackson, WY 83001 June 2020 Hunters must be at least 200 yards defined by the WGFD. from all residences. 307 / 733 2321
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continued from page 1 5. What are the requirements for animal retrieval? ■ Following harvest, bison hunters may use retrieval roads immediately. If retrieving after dark, hunters should notify Refuge staff by leaving a message on the NER Hunt Information Line at 307 / 201 5437. ■ Hunters may not leave animal parts, including gut piles and carcasses,
within 100 feet of parking areas. USFWS USFWS ■ No game retrieval is allowed through Bull bison on National Elk Refuge. Mature cow with calf. Calves of the year Grand Teton National Park. This have short straight horns. includes retrieval to Gros Ventre parking areas at Milepost 1.1 and 2.3. If 8. What else do I need to know? 11. D oes the Refuge allow Wyoming retrieving to Highway 89 lot, hunters ■ Prior to the start date of their hunt hunter assistance programs for must bring their vehicle inside the gate period, hunters may only access hunters with disabilities? to load the animal at the Highway 89 Refuge areas open to the general Hunters enrolled in the WGFD lot. public. Hunter Mentor Program may ■ receive a Refuge permit. 6. W hat should I do before I pursue an Hunters are allowed into hunt areas injured animal off of or onto the Refuge? only when they have a Refuge permit The Refuge encourages hunters Prior to December 1, if an injured animal and a valid matching license. with disabilities to participate in the crosses from the National Forest onto ■ Refuge roads or parking areas may be hunt program and offers reasonable the Refuge, or if retrieval would be more closed or inaccessible due to inclement accommodation for the activity. Hunters efficient through the Refuge, hunters weather or management decisions. who have both a WGFD Disabled Hunter should call the NER Hunt Information ■ Use of non-lead ammunition Permit and a Refuge hunting permit are Line and leave a message describing is encouraged. eligible to reserve one of two designated their situation and plan for recovery. ■ During high fire danger, a fire hunt sites. Reservations must be made extinguisher and shovel are at the Refuge Administrative Offices Following this notice, the hunter may recommended. at 675 E. Broadway in Jackson, WY. pursue or retrieve the animal as planned, The reservation is limited to a 4-day giving consideration to limiting any ■ Grizzly bears frequent the Refuge. Carrying bear spray is recommended. period. The WGFD Disabled Hunter resource damage. Beginning December Companion Permit is also valid on the 1, Forest Service lands adjacent to 9. How can I tell the difference Refuge. Contact the WGFD for further the Refuge are closed to all human information on these programs. presence per winter travel restrictions. between a cow and bull bison? It can be difficult to distinguish between If the injured animal crosses into a one to two year-old bull and a mature Accessibility Information Grand Teton National Park, the cow. It is recommended that hunters Equal opportunity to participate in and hunter must immediately notify Teton become proficient with the bison benefit from programs and activities Interagency Dispatch at 307 / 739 3301. identification exam available on the of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is WGFD website. Misidentification of available to all individuals regardless 7. W hat regulations apply to the sex or age when killing a bison will of physical or mental ability. Dial 711 non-hunting assistants? result in the seizure of the animal in for a free connection to the State relay ■ Bison hunters are allowed multiple addition to a fine. service for TTY and voice calls to and assistants and must ensure their entire from people with hearing and speech hunt party is compliant with all Refuge 10. What guide and retrieval companies disabilities. For more information or regulations. are permitted to operate on the to address accessibility needs, please contact the Refuge staff at 307 / 733 9212, ■ Assistants must stay within 50 yards National Elk Refuge? of the permitted hunter, unless Commercial guiding and retrieval or the U.S. Department of the Interior, retrieving. services may be available. The Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C company currently authorized to Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. ■ Assistants must wear a florescent orange or pink garment that is visible operate on the Refuge is Double from 360 degrees, the same as required Diamond Tag-n-Drag 307 / 248-1490. for the hunter, by state law.
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