Wyoming 2026-2027 Hunting Seasons – Zones, Weapons & Licensing Rules
If you’re planning a trip into Wyoming’s wide-open sage, timber, and high-country basins this year, this guide pulls the important stuff into one place: big-game openers, bird dates, turkey windows, access tips, tag basics, and where to look up your exact hunt area before you burn vacation days or fuel. We’ve also flagged a few places where dates vary by unit, because in this state, “one statewide opener” is usually not how it works.
Wyoming Hunting Season Overview 2026-2027
Here’s the big headline: the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission approved the 2026 chapters for pronghorn, deer, elk, moose, sheep/goat, upland birds, migratory birds, bison, and turkey during its April 2026 meeting. The agency also noted ongoing drought and wildfire concerns, which matter because habitat conditions can shape last-minute access, closures, and herd performance. In plain English: the dates are live, but smart hunters should still re-check right before heading out. If you like comparing nearby states too, you can browse state-by-state season guides for a broader trip-planning view.
One quick beginner note: this state runs heavily on hunt areas, license types, and draw structure. The first time I helped a buddy sort his pronghorn plan, we realized “opening day” depended on the unit, weapon, and tag type sitting in his pocket. So think of the tables below as your practical roadmap, then confirm your exact area before you roll.
Summary Table of Key Species
| Species | 2026-2027 Open/Close Window | Main Methods | Quick Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn 🏜️ | Archery usually Aug. 15–Sep. 30 or day before regular opener; regular dates range from Aug. 15–Dec. 31 depending on area/type | Archery, rifle | Dates are highly area-specific |
| Deer 🦌 | Archery usually Sep. 1–Sep. 30; regular dates range Sep. 10–Jan. 31 depending on area/type | Archery, rifle | General and limited-quota structures both matter |
| Elk 🫎 | Archery mainly in September; regular dates range Aug. 1–Jan. 31, 2027 depending on area/type | Archery, rifle, muzzleloader in some areas | Some units also require special management permits |
| Moose | Archery often Sep. 1–Sep. 30; overall dates run Aug. 15–Nov. 30 | Archery, rifle | Very tag-driven and unit-specific |
| Black Bear 🐻 | Spring starts as early as Apr. 15; fall runs into Oct. 31 or Nov. 15 in some areas | Archery, rifle | Female mortality limits can close areas early |
| Turkey | Fall 2026: Sep. 1–Jan. 31 depending on license; Spring 2027: Apr. 1 or Apr. 20–May 31 | Shotgun, archery | One statewide hunt area with license-type differences |
| Upland Birds | Mostly Sep. 1–Jan. 31 depending on species | Shotgun, falconry, some archery | Sage grouse has a short September window |
| Waterfowl | Sep. 1, 2026 through Apr. 30, 2027 depending on species/zone | Shotgun, falconry | Flyway zone matters a lot |
All Big Games: Archery & Rifle
Wyoming’s big-game framework is best understood as “broad statewide windows, exact unit-by-unit details.” Special archery dates are often earlier and separate from the regular firearm opener, and many areas carry type restrictions like Any, Doe/Fawn, Cow/Calf, or archery-only licenses. That means your calendar should match your tag, not just the species.
| Species | Special Archery Window | Regular/Firearm Window | Tag & Zone Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronghorn | Mostly Aug. 15–Sep. 30, or closes the day before regular opener in some areas | Earliest regular dates start Aug. 15 in select doe/fawn hunts; latest closings run to Dec. 31 | Example areas: 1 Oct. 1–Nov. 20, 11 Oct. 1–Oct. 31, 73 Sep. 15–Oct. 31, 102 Oct. 15–Nov. 15 |
| Deer | Usually Sep. 1–Sep. 30; some mountain/wilderness-style areas shorten to Sep. 14 | Overall regular range Sep. 10–Jan. 31 | Example areas: 1 Nov. 1–20, 15 Oct. 20–31, 102 Oct. 15–31, 115 Sep. 10–Oct. 27, 171 Oct. 1–31 |
| Elk | Commonly Sep. 1–Sep. 30, with area-specific variants like Sep. 1–14 or Sep. 15–30 | Overall regular range Aug. 1–Jan. 31, 2027 | Example areas: 1 Oct. 15–Nov. 30, 7 Oct. 15–Nov. 20, 19 Oct. 1–14 and Dec. 1–14, 21 Oct. 15–31, 100 Oct. 9–31 |
| Moose | Most commonly Sep. 1–Sep. 30 | Overall dates Aug. 15–Nov. 30 | Example areas: 1 Oct. 1–31, 3 Sep. 20–Oct. 31, 25 Oct. 1–31, 38 Oct. 1–Nov. 30 |
| Black Bear | Varies by area; some spring and fall archery windows occur before regular dates | Overall dates start as early as Apr. 15 and extend into Oct. 31 or Nov. 15 | Female mortality limits can shut an area down early; archery and bait rules matter |
A few especially useful takeaways for first-timers: pronghorn archery is often the earliest big-game opportunity; deer rifle dates can run surprisingly late in some whitetail-focused units; elk may have split or extended antlerless periods; and black bear hunters must pay attention to female mortality closures, not just the printed opener and end date. Also, an archery license is required for special archery periods unless you hold a Type 9 archery-only tag. Source
Turkey Season: Spring, Fall, Youth
- Fall 2026 – General license: Sep. 1–Sep. 30 for archery only, then Oct. 1–Jan. 31 for any wild turkey.
- Fall 2026 – Type 3 limited quota: Same dates as above; area validity is more restricted than the general tag.
- Spring 2027 – General license: Apr. 20–May 31 for any male or any bird with a visible beard.
- Spring 2027 – Type 3 limited quota: Apr. 1–May 31 for any male or any bird with a visible beard.
- Youth note: The current Chapter 20 rule does not list a separate youth-only turkey opener; younger hunters follow the same fall/spring dates, while standard hunter-ed and license rules still apply.
- Handy restriction: During spring, rifles are prohibited off private land, and some wildlife habitat areas require nontoxic shot.
Furbearers Season
- The official trapping page currently lists the 2025-26 furbearer brochure and area maps, not a fully refreshed 2026-27 brochure as of June 16, 2026.
- What is current and confirmed: furbearer applications opened Apr. 1 and closed Jun. 1, with draw results posted Jul. 15.
- The page also points trappers to beaver, marten, bobcat, and statewide trapping-area maps, plus trap ID information.
- Written permission is required before trapping on state lands.
Upland Birds Season
| Species | 2026 Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sage Grouse | Sep. 19–Sep. 30 in Area 1 | Short, tightly controlled window |
| Sharp-tailed Grouse | Sep. 1–Dec. 31 | Area 1 |
| Blue (Dusky) Grouse | Sep. 1–Dec. 31 | Statewide area structure |
| Ruffed Grouse | Sep. 1–Dec. 31 | Statewide area structure |
| Chukar Partridge | Sep. 15–Jan. 31 | Good late-fall option |
| Gray Partridge | Sep. 15–Jan. 31 | Same long window as chukar |
| Pheasant Areas 1, 5, 7, 9, 11 | Nov. 1–Dec. 31 | Standard general dates |
| Pheasant Area 2 | Nov. 1–Nov. 30; Dec. 1–Dec. 31 male-only | Watch sex restrictions |
| Springer Area 8 | Oct. 15–Oct. 31 permit period; Nov. 1–Nov. 30 | Permit structure applies |
| Glendo youth dates | Sundays Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 | Youth-specific opportunity |
Upland Animals Season
Small-game fans get a long runway here, which is part of the charm. If you want a lower-pressure way to learn access points, dog work, or just enjoy a crisp afternoon without a once-in-a-decade tag in your pocket, this is a nice lane to stay in.
| Species | 2026-2027 Dates | Daily / Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Cottontail Rabbit | Sep. 1–Mar. 31 | 10 / 20 |
| Snowshoe Hare | Sep. 1–Mar. 31 | 4 / 8 |
| Red, Grey & Fox Squirrel | Sep. 1–Mar. 31 | 10 / 20 |
Other Small Games Season
| Species | Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jackrabbits | Year-round | No license required |
| Coyotes | Year-round | No license required; cannot shoot from a public road |
| Prairie Dogs | Year-round | No license required |
| Mourning Dove | Sep. 1–Nov. 29 | Listed under migratory birds, not small game |
Migratory Birds Season
Mourning dove runs Sep. 1–Nov. 29 statewide, sora and Virginia rail run Sep. 1–Nov. 9, and snipe run Sep. 1–Dec. 16. Sandhill crane is permit-based, with dates varying by area: for example, Areas 1 and 2 run Sep. 1–20, Area 4 runs Sep. 26–Oct. 18, Area 6 runs Sep. 5–Oct. 4, and general-permit Area 7 runs Sep. 12–Nov. 8.
Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese Season
| Zone | Ducks / Mergansers / Coots | Goose Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Flyway | Sep. 26–Jan. 8 | Early Canada goose Sep. 1–8; dark and light geese Sep. 26–Dec. 31 |
| Central C1 | Oct. 3–20 and Nov. 14–Jan. 31 | Dark geese Oct. 3–20 and Nov. 20–Feb. 14 |
| Central C1A | Oct. 3–20 and Nov. 14–Jan. 31 | Dark geese Oct. 3–14 and Nov. 14–Feb. 14 |
| Central C2 | Sep. 26–Nov. 29 and Dec. 12–Jan. 12 | Early Canada goose Sep. 1–8; dark geese Sep. 26–Nov. 29 and Dec. 12–Jan. 12 |
Scaup has an extra wrinkle: in the Pacific Flyway, no scaup may be taken after Dec. 20.
Other Waterfowls Season
- Youth, veteran, and active military days: Sep. 19–20 in the Pacific Flyway and Central C2; Sep. 26–27 in Central C1/C1A.
- Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb. 15–Apr. 30 in the Central Flyway.
- HIP permit: Required for migratory bird hunters.
- Federal duck stamp: Required for waterfowl hunters age 16 and older.
More Games Season
- Bighorn sheep: Most archery opportunities run Aug. 15–31, while many regular dates run Sep. 1–Oct. 31, with some areas extending into Nov. 30.
- Mountain goat: Archery generally Aug. 15–31; regular dates usually Sep. 1–Oct. 31.
- Wild bison: Area 2 Type 1 and Type 4 run Aug. 15, 2026–Jan. 31, 2027; Area 3 is closed. National Elk Refuge access requires a separate refuge permit.
For live updates and brochure downloads, bookmark the Wyoming Game & Fish regulations page.
Wyoming Hunt Planner Game Units & Public Access
For maps, draw odds, harvest data, and public access layers, the best one-stop tool is the official Wyoming Hunt Planner. On the access side, the public-access page says updated Hunter Management Area and Walk-In Area information becomes available in July, and permission-slip applications for fall begin July 21. That matters a lot in this state because private-land access, HMAs, and Walk-In parcels can make or break a trip.
License Details
| License Type | 2026 Price Snapshot |
|---|---|
| Resident Deer / Youth | $42 / $15 |
| Nonresident Deer / Youth | $374 / $110 |
| Resident Elk / Youth | $57 / $25 |
| Nonresident Elk / Youth | $692 / $275 |
| Resident Antelope / Youth | $37 / $15 |
| Nonresident Antelope / Youth | $326 / $110 |
| Resident Black Bear | $47 |
| Nonresident Black Bear | $373 |
| Resident Turkey | $16 |
| Nonresident Turkey | $74 |
| Resident Game Bird/Small Game 12-month | $27 |
| Resident Daily Bird/Small Game | $9 |
| Nonresident Game Bird/Small Game 12-month | $74 |
| Nonresident Daily Bird/Small Game | $22 |
| Resident / Nonresident Archery | $16 / $72 |
| Resident / Nonresident Youth Archery | $6 / $12 |
| Conservation Stamp | $21.50 |
| Resident / Nonresident Application Fee | $5 / $15 |
Short FAQ
Do I need a conservation stamp?
Yes, in most cases, licensed hunters need one valid for 12 months from purchase.
Do nonresidents need a guide in wilderness?
Yes, for big or trophy game in federally designated wilderness areas, a licensed outfitter or qualified resident guide is required.
Can I use one archery permit for more than one species?
Yes. One archery license covers all big and trophy game special archery periods for the year, unless you hold an archery-only license type.
Is night hunting allowed?
For predatory animals, Wyoming law now allows night take on public or state land with artificial light, thermal, or infrared under current rules; do not assume that applies to regular game species.
Do I need permission on private land?
Absolutely. Crossing or entering private land without permission is a fast way to wreck an otherwise good trip.
Prepare for Your Wyoming Hunt
If there’s one smart way to approach Wyoming, it’s this: match your tag to your exact hunt area, then build your plan around access timing just as carefully as you build it around the opener. In this state, a great unit on paper can still disappoint if you forgot an HMA permission slip, missed a refuge permit rule, ignored a female-mortality closure on black bear, or assumed your archery dates were statewide when they weren’t. The hunters who do best here are usually the ones who plan like map nerds first and pull the trigger second.
