Wyoming Wilderness Restriction on Non-res

[mburrows]

Anybody have any background or logic on why non-residents cannot hunt in wilderness areas in Wyoming?  Theyll allow you to hike and backpack in there as a non-resident but if you go in to hunt its illegal? Its federal land so how is this ok?

[jjhunter]

Powerful outfitters association

[Widgeondeke]

If I recall it's not illegal to hunt, but you must have a resident guide.  My brother played guide for a friend this year.  Got a very good bull.
Saw a few grizzlies and tons of elk.

[jjhunter]

I hunted H wilderness  in 2009 and 2010 with a resident guide.  I'll be in G this year with 6 pts.

[syoungs]

The outfitters lobbied for it hard, doesn't make any sense to me.

[mburrows]

If I recall it's not illegal to hunt, but you must have a resident guide.  My brother played guide for a friend this year.  Got a very good bull.
Saw a few grizzlies and tons of elk.

You are right, not illegal to hunt but you must be accompanied by an outfitter or resident licensed guide. 

[bobcat]

It's so the outfitters don't have competition from un-guided non-resident hunters. And you actually can hunt in wilderness- just not for big game. I don't like it but really don't have a problem with it. States have the right to regulate hunting any way they want. They could just as easily make it so that non-residents cannot buy a deer or elk tag unless you go through an outfitter. But instead, they are very generous with the percentage of deer and elk tags that are allocated for non-residents. Their fees are also reasonable. So I don't hold it against them too much that we can't hunt wilderness areas. Although it's obvious that it's simply outfitter welfare. I believe if you were to ask the WGFD the reasoning for the regulation, they would say it's to prevent incompetent non-resident hunters from becoming lost and/or injured in the wilderness.

[Karl Blanchard]

I hunted H wilderness  in 2009 and 2010 with a resident guide.  I'll be in G this year with 6 pts.

unless it creeps again 

[Curly]

Since it's federal land, I don't think they should be able to dictate that.

[Stickerbush]

Classic predicament of state vs federal manager of wildlife and lands. Pretty goofy

[bigtex]

It's a state law, not a federal one. The Rocky Mountain states have powerful guide/outfitter associations. Idaho has an entire state agency that all they do is regulate guides and outfitters.

[Hot Lunch]

There is plenty of non-wilderness land in Wyoming that holds lots of elk. That being said I don't agree with the law and have heard the gov of Wyoming speak on the issue and it is a firm stance by the state. Super strong outfitters keeping US citizens off federal lands.

[actionshooter]

I hunted H wilderness  in 2009 and 2010 with a resident guide.  I'll be in G this year with 6 pts.

unless it creeps again 

Yep.....

[mburrows]

It's so the outfitters don't have competition from un-guided non-resident hunters. And you actually can hunt in wilderness- just not for big game. I don't like it but really don't have a problem with it. States have the right to regulate hunting any way they want. They could just as easily make it so that non-residents cannot buy a deer or elk tag unless you go through an outfitter. But instead, they are very generous with the percentage of deer and elk tags that are allocated for non-residents. Their fees are also reasonable. So I don't hold it against them too much that we can't hunt wilderness areas. Although it's obvious that it's simply outfitter welfare. I believe if you were to ask the WGFD the reasoning for the regulation, they would say it's to prevent incompetent non-resident hunters from becoming lost and/or injured in the wilderness.

I guess i can understand it but the idea of not being able to hunt federal land really chaffs me. I wonder if its ever been challenged in court, ill have to do some research.

[bigtex]

It's so the outfitters don't have competition from un-guided non-resident hunters. And you actually can hunt in wilderness- just not for big game. I don't like it but really don't have a problem with it. States have the right to regulate hunting any way they want. They could just as easily make it so that non-residents cannot buy a deer or elk tag unless you go through an outfitter. But instead, they are very generous with the percentage of deer and elk tags that are allocated for non-residents. Their fees are also reasonable. So I don't hold it against them too much that we can't hunt wilderness areas. Although it's obvious that it's simply outfitter welfare. I believe if you were to ask the WGFD the reasoning for the regulation, they would say it's to prevent incompetent non-resident hunters from becoming lost and/or injured in the wilderness.

I guess i can understand it but the idea of not being able to hunt federal land really chaffs me. I wonder if its ever been challenged in court, ill have to do some research.

It's a state hunting law. It's no different then saying you need to wear hunter orange or need a hunting license.