Committee approves bill letting Game and Fish cap landowner hunting licenses; bill moves forward 8-4
October 29, 2025 | Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Wyoming
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A joint Agriculture, State & Public Lands & Water Resources Committee voted to advance 26LSO0176 after amending the bill to clarify that any limit on landowner hunting licenses must be applied when deemed necessary to "maintain a public hunting opportunity." The measure, which passed the committee by an 8‑4 roll call, would amend Wyoming statute 23‑1‑302(h) to permit the Game and Fish Commission to limit the number of landowner hunting licenses issued in a limited‑quota hunt area.
The bill drew testimony from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. "This bill draft is entitled 26 LSO 1 76 landowner hunting licenses limitation," LSO staff told the committee, and Director Angie Bruce said the commission developed the idea after an 18‑month wildlife task force review and numerous commission meetings. Bruce said the proposal is intended as a narrowly applied management tool. "They would use this very limiting, in just some circumstances around the state when they need to," Bruce said, adding that the commission would follow its standard public rule‑making process before adopting any cap.
Committee members pressed staff and agency witnesses on how a cap would be applied. Chief of Wildlife Dan Smith described the commission's thinking: a cap is more likely to be expressed as a percentage of the available license pool rather than an absolute number, and landowners would be allocated a separate draw if the pool is limited. "So it would not put you into a draw with the public, but it would be a separate draw for landowners then," Smith said, adding that any allocation method would remain at the commission's discretion.
Public witnesses included representatives of agricultural organizations and individual ranchers. The Wyoming Stock Growers Association recommended a minimum‑percentage approach, suggesting as an example that no less than 40% of licenses be reserved for landowners; the Farm Bureau urged data‑driven deliberation in rulemaking. Ranchers testified they rely on landowner licenses as a partial compensation for forage they provide to migrating wildlife and pressed for protections so family producers would not be disproportionately affected.
Commissioner John Masterson, appearing by phone, told the committee the language is permissive and designed to be used area‑by‑area when necessary to preserve public opportunity: "It is giving the commission a tool that is, if I may, elegant in its simplicity," he said, adding that the commission had held many meetings and a public process would precede any cap.
Lawmakers debated additional constraints. Committee members inserted as an amendment language that the commission may promulgate rules "when deemed necessary to maintain a public hunting opportunity," and considered — but later rejected — tighter residency or production thresholds. After final discussion, the committee adopted the bill as amended and approved it on roll call with eight ayes and four nays (two members were excused).
Votes at a glance: 26LSO0176 — Committee action: advanced as amended; roll call: 8 yes, 4 no, 2 excused.
What the bill does: Amends Wyoming statute 23‑1‑302(h) to permit the Game and Fish Commission to limit the number of landowner hunting licenses issued in any limited‑quota hunt area; requires rulemaking for any limit. The bill does not itself set a statewide percentage or numeric cap; those details would be set by the commission through its rules and public process.
The committee recessed for lunch with the measure reported out; the file will move on for further consideration consistent with committee rules.
The bill drew testimony from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. "This bill draft is entitled 26 LSO 1 76 landowner hunting licenses limitation," LSO staff told the committee, and Director Angie Bruce said the commission developed the idea after an 18‑month wildlife task force review and numerous commission meetings. Bruce said the proposal is intended as a narrowly applied management tool. "They would use this very limiting, in just some circumstances around the state when they need to," Bruce said, adding that the commission would follow its standard public rule‑making process before adopting any cap.
Committee members pressed staff and agency witnesses on how a cap would be applied. Chief of Wildlife Dan Smith described the commission's thinking: a cap is more likely to be expressed as a percentage of the available license pool rather than an absolute number, and landowners would be allocated a separate draw if the pool is limited. "So it would not put you into a draw with the public, but it would be a separate draw for landowners then," Smith said, adding that any allocation method would remain at the commission's discretion.
Public witnesses included representatives of agricultural organizations and individual ranchers. The Wyoming Stock Growers Association recommended a minimum‑percentage approach, suggesting as an example that no less than 40% of licenses be reserved for landowners; the Farm Bureau urged data‑driven deliberation in rulemaking. Ranchers testified they rely on landowner licenses as a partial compensation for forage they provide to migrating wildlife and pressed for protections so family producers would not be disproportionately affected.
Commissioner John Masterson, appearing by phone, told the committee the language is permissive and designed to be used area‑by‑area when necessary to preserve public opportunity: "It is giving the commission a tool that is, if I may, elegant in its simplicity," he said, adding that the commission had held many meetings and a public process would precede any cap.
Lawmakers debated additional constraints. Committee members inserted as an amendment language that the commission may promulgate rules "when deemed necessary to maintain a public hunting opportunity," and considered — but later rejected — tighter residency or production thresholds. After final discussion, the committee adopted the bill as amended and approved it on roll call with eight ayes and four nays (two members were excused).
Votes at a glance: 26LSO0176 — Committee action: advanced as amended; roll call: 8 yes, 4 no, 2 excused.
What the bill does: Amends Wyoming statute 23‑1‑302(h) to permit the Game and Fish Commission to limit the number of landowner hunting licenses issued in any limited‑quota hunt area; requires rulemaking for any limit. The bill does not itself set a statewide percentage or numeric cap; those details would be set by the commission through its rules and public process.
The committee recessed for lunch with the measure reported out; the file will move on for further consideration consistent with committee rules.
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